< Job 1 >

1 There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job, and that man was blameless and upright, and one who feared God, and turning away from evil. 2 There were born to him seven sons and three daughters. 3 His possessions also were seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred female donkeys, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the people of the east. 4 His sons went and held a feast in the house of each one on his day; and they sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them. 5 It was so, when the days of their feasting had run their course, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up 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." Job did so continually. 6 Now it happened on the day when the sons of God came to present themselves before Jehovah, that Satan also came among them. 7 Jehovah said to Satan, "Where have you come from?" Then Satan answered Jehovah, and said, "From going back and forth on the earth, and from walking up and down on it." 8 Jehovah said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant, Job? For there is none like him in the earth, a blameless and an upright man, one who fears God, and turns away from evil." 9 Then Satan answered Jehovah, and said, "Does Job fear God for nothing? 10 Haven't you made a hedge around him, and around his household, and around all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his livestock have increased in the land. 11 But put forth your hand now, and strike all that he has, and he will curse you to your face." 12 Jehovah said to Satan, "Look, all that he has is in your power. Only do not put forth your hand on him." So Satan went forth from the presence of Jehovah. 13 Now the day came when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house, 14 that there came a messenger to Job, and said, "The oxen were plowing, and the donkeys grazing beside them, 15 and Sheba attacked, and took them away. Yes, they have killed the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you." 16 While he was still speaking, there also came another, and said, "The fire of God has fallen from the sky, and has burned up the sheep and the young men, and consumed them, and I alone have escaped to tell you." 17 While he was still speaking, there came also another, and said, "The Kasdim made three bands, and swept down on the camels, and have taken them away, and killed the young men with the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell you." 18 While he was still speaking, there came also another, and said, "Your sons and your daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house, 19 and look, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young men, and they are dead. I alone have escaped to tell you." 20 Then Job arose, and tore his robe, and shaved his head, and fell down with his face to the ground. 21 He said, "Naked I came out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return there. Jehovah gave, and Jehovah has taken away. Blessed be the name of Jehovah." 22 In all this, Job did not sin, nor charge God with wrongdoing.

< Job 1 >