< Job 1 >

1 Once there was a man called Job who lived in the land of Uz. He was a man of integrity who did what was right. He respected God and avoided evil.
There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name [was] Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and shunned evil.
2 He had seven sons and three daughters.
And there were born to him seven sons and three daughters.
3 He owned seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred teams of oxen, and five hundred female donkeys, as well as many servants. He was more wealthy than anyone else in the East.
His substance also was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she-asses, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the men of the east.
4 Job's sons used to take turns holding feasts in their homes on their specific day, also inviting their sisters to come and eat and drink with them.
And his sons went and feasted [in their] houses, every one his day; and sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them.
5 When the days of feasting were over, Job would send for them and purify them by getting up early in the morning to offer a burnt offering for each of them. He was concerned, thinking to himself, “Maybe my children have sinned in some way and have unintentionally offended God.” This is what Job always did.
And it was so, when the days of [their] feasting were ended, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose early in the morning, and offered burnt-offerings [according] to the number of them all; for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually.
6 One day the angels came to present themselves to the Lord, and Satan came with them.
Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them.
7 The Lord asked Satan, “What have you been doing?” “Traveling around on earth, going here and there,” Satan replied.
And the LORD said to Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down upon it.
8 “Have you paid attention to Job, my servant?” asked the Lord. “There's no one like him on earth, a man of integrity who does what is right, who respects God and avoids evil.”
And the LORD said to Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that [there is] none like him on the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and shunneth evil?
9 “Is it for nothing that Job respects God?” Satan answered. “You've placed a protective fence around him and his family—in fact around everything he has.
Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for naught?
10 You have blessed everything he does. His flocks and herds have increased so much they fill the whole land!
Hast not thou made a hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.
11 But if you reach out and take everything he has, he will definitely curse you to your face.”
But put forth thy hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.
12 The Lord told Satan, “Very well, you have the power to do whatever you want to everything he has, but don't hurt him physically.” Then Satan left the Lord's presence.
And the LORD said to Satan, Behold, all that he hath [is] in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thy hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.
13 The day came when while Job's sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house,
And there was a day when his sons and his daughters [were] eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house:
14 a messenger came to Job and told him, “As the oxen were plowing and female donkeys were grazing nearby,
And there came a messenger to Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them:
15 the Sabeans attacked and took them, killing the herdsmen. Only I escaped to bring you this news.”
And the Sabeans fell [upon them], and took them away; yes, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only have escaped alone to tell thee.
16 While he was still speaking another messenger arrived and said, “The fire of God fell from heaven and set the sheep and shepherds on fire and burned them up. Only I escaped to bring you this news.”
While he [was] yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of God hath fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep and the servants, and consumed them; and I only have escaped alone to tell thee.
17 While he was still speaking another messenger arrived and said, “Three armed companies of Chaldeans attacked the camels and took them, killing the herdsmen. Only I escaped to bring you this news.”
While he [was] yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The Chaldeans made three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have carried them away, yes, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only have escaped alone to tell thee.
18 While he was still speaking another messenger arrived and said, “Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in the house of their eldest brother
While he [was] yet speaking, there came also another, and said, Thy sons and thy daughters [were] eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house:
19 when all of a sudden a tremendous wind came in from the desert. It hit the house on all four sides so that it collapsed on them and they died. Only I escaped to bring you this news.”
And behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only have escaped alone to tell thee.
20 Then Job stood up and tore his robe. Then cut off his hair and fell to the ground in worship.
Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell upon the ground, and worshiped,
21 “I was naked when I came out of my mother's womb, and I shall be naked when I leave,” he said. “The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away. May the Lord's name be honored.”
And said, Naked came I from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: The LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.
22 In all of this Job did not sin, nor blame God.
In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.

< Job 1 >