< 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.
A man, there was—in the land of Uz, Job, his name, —and that man was blameless and upright, and one who revered God, and avoided evil.
2 He had seven sons and three daughters.
And there were born unto 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.
And his substance was—seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she-asses, and a body of servants exceeding large, —thus was that man the greatest of all the sons 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.
Now his sons were wont to go, and make a banquet, at the house of each one upon his day, —and to send and call 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 so it was, when the days of the banquet came round, that Job sent and hallowed them, and rising early in the morning offered ascending-sacrifices according to the number of them all; for Job said, Peradventure my sons have sinned, and have cursed God in their hearts. Thus and thus, was Job wont to do all the days.
6 One day the angels came to present themselves to the Lord, and Satan came with them.
Now there came a certain day, when the sons of God entered in to present themselves unto Yahweh, —so the accuser also entered, in their midst.
7 The Lord asked Satan, “What have you been doing?” “Traveling around on earth, going here and there,” Satan replied.
And Yahweh said unto the accuser, Whence comest thou? And the accuser answered Yahweh, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and wandering about therein.
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 Yahweh said unto the accuser, Hast thou applied thy heart unto my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a man blameless and upright, one revering God and avoiding 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.
And the accuser answered Yahweh, and said, Is it, for nought, that Job revereth God?
10 You have blessed everything he does. His flocks and herds have increased so much they fill the whole land!
Hast not, thou thyself, made a hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath, on every side? The work of his hands, thou hast blessed, and, his substance, hath broken forth in the land.
11 But if you reach out and take everything he has, he will definitely curse you to your face.”
But, in very deed, put forth, I pray thee, thy hand, and smite all that he hath, —verily, unto thy face, will he curse thee.
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 Yahweh said unto the accuser, Lo! all that he hath, is in thy hand, only, against himself, do not put forth thy hand. So the accuser went forth from the presence of Yahweh.
13 The day came when while Job's sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house,
And there came a certain day, —when his sons and his daughters were eating, and drinking wine, in the house of their eldest brother.
14 a messenger came to Job and told him, “As the oxen were plowing and female donkeys were grazing nearby,
And, a messenger, came in unto 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.”
when the Sabeans swooped down, and took them, and, the young men, smote they with the edge of the sword, —and escaped am, only I alone, too 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.”
Yet was this one speaking, when, another, came in and said, —A fire of God, fell out of the heavens, and burned up the sheep and the young men, and consumed them; and escaped am, only I 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.”
Yet was this one speaking, when, another, came in and said, The Chaldeans, appointed three chiefs, and spread out against the camels, and took them, and, the young men, smote they with the edge of the sword; and escaped am, only I 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
Yet was this one speaking, when, another, came in and said, —Thy sons and thy daughters, were eating, and drinking wine, in the house of their eldest brother;
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.”
when lo! a great wind, came from over the desert, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they died, —and escaped am, only I 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 robe, and shaved his head, and fell to the earth and worshipped;
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 forth from the womb of my mother, and naked must I return thither, Yahweh, gave, and, Yahweh, hath taken away, —The name of Yahweh be blessed!
22 In all of this Job did not sin, nor blame God.
In all this, Job sinned not, nor imputed folly unto God.

< Job 1 >