1There was a man who lived in the land of Uz. His name was Job. He was honest. He did what was right. He had respect for God and avoided evil.2Job had seven sons and three daughters.3He owned 7,000 sheep and 3,000 camels. He owned 500 pairs of oxen and 500 donkeys. He also had a large number of servants. He was the most important man among all the people in the east.4His sons used to give feasts in their homes on their birthdays. They would invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them.5The time for enjoying good food would end. Then Job would make plans for his children to be made pure and ‘clean’. He would sacrifice a burnt offering for each of them. He would do it early in the morning. He would think, ‘Perhaps my children have sinned. Maybe they have spoken evil things against God in their hearts.’ That’s what Job always did for his children when he felt they had sinned.6One day angels came to the LORD. Satan also came with them.7The LORD said to Satan, ‘Where have you come from?’ Satan answered, ‘From travelling all around the earth. I’ve been going from one end of it to the other.’8Then the LORD said to Satan, ‘Have you thought about my servant Job? There isn’t anyone on earth like him. He is honest. He does what is right. He has respect for God and avoids evil.’9‘You always give Job everything he needs,’ Satan replied. ‘That’s why he has respect for you.10Haven’t you guarded him and his family? Haven’t you taken care of everything he has? You have blessed everything he does. His flocks and herds are spread all through the land.11But now reach out your hand and strike down everything he has. Then I’m sure he will speak evil things against you. In fact, he’ll do it right in front of you.’12The LORD said to Satan, ‘All right. I am handing everything he has over to you. But do not touch the man himself.’ Then Satan left the LORD and went on his way.13One day Job’s sons and daughters were at their eldest brother’s house. They were enjoying good food and drinking wine.14During that time a messenger came to Job. He said, ‘The oxen were ploughing. The donkeys were eating grass near them.15Then the Sabeans attacked us and carried off the animals. They killed some of the servants with their swords. I’m the only one who has escaped to tell you!’16While he was still speaking, a second messenger came. He said, ‘God sent lightning from the sky. It struck the sheep and killed them. It burned up some of the servants. I’m the only one who has escaped to tell you!’17While he was still speaking, a third messenger came. He said, ‘The Chaldeans separated themselves into three groups. They attacked your camels and carried them off. They killed the rest of the servants with their swords. I’m the only one who has escaped to tell you!’18While he was still speaking, a fourth messenger came. He said, ‘Your sons and daughters were at their eldest brother’s house. They were enjoying good food and drinking wine.19Suddenly a strong wind blew in from the desert. It struck the four corners of the house. The house fell down on your children. Now all of them are dead. I’m the only one who has escaped to tell you!’20After Job heard all these reports, he got up and tore his robe. He shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground and worshipped the LORD.21He said, ‘I was born naked. And I’ll leave here naked. The LORD has given, and the LORD has taken away. May the name of the LORD be praised.’22In spite of everything, Job didn’t sin by blaming God for doing anything wrong.
Job 1
English Standard Version
Job’s Character and Wealth
1There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job, and that man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil. (Ge 6:9; Ge 17:1; Job 1:8; Job 2:3; Job 4:6; Job 9:20; Job 28:28; Ps 34:14; Pr 16:6; Jer 25:20; La 4:21; Eze 14:14; Eze 14:20; Jas 5:11)2There were born to him seven sons and three daughters. (Job 42:13)3He possessed 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, and 500 female donkeys, and very many servants, so that this man was the greatest of all the people of the east. (Jud 6:3)4His sons used to go and hold a feast in the house of each one on his day, and they would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them.5And when the days of the feast had run their course, Job would send and consecrate them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, “It may be that my children have sinned, and cursed[1] God in their hearts.” Thus Job did continually. (Ge 8:20; 1Sa 16:5; Job 2:5; Job 42:8; Ps 10:3)
Satan Allowed to Test Job
6Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan[2] also came among them. (Ge 6:2; Ge 6:4; 1Ch 21:1; Job 2:1; Job 38:7; Zec 3:1; Re 12:9)7The Lord said to Satan, “From where have you come?” Satan answered the Lord and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.” (Job 2:2; 1Pe 5:8)8And the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?” (Nu 12:7; 2Sa 7:5; Job 1:1; Job 2:3; Isa 20:3)9Then Satan answered the Lord and said, “Does Job fear God for no reason?10Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. (Ps 3:3; Ps 34:7; Ps 128:1)11But stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face.” (Job 1:5; Job 2:5; Job 19:21; Isa 53:4; Isa 65:3)12And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand.” So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.
Satan Takes Job’s Property and Children
13Now there was a day when his sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house,14and there came a messenger to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding beside them,15and the Sabeans fell upon them and took them and struck down the servants[3] with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” (1Ki 10:1; Job 6:19)16While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, “The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants and consumed them, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” (2Ki 1:12)17While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, “The Chaldeans formed three groups and made a raid on the camels and took them and struck down the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” (Ge 11:28; Jud 7:16; 1Sa 11:11; 2Ki 24:2)18While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, “Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, (Job 1:4; Job 1:13)19and behold, a great wind came across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young people, and they are dead, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” (Isa 21:1; Jer 4:11; Ho 13:15)20Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped. (Ge 37:29; Ezr 9:3; Jer 7:29; 1Pe 5:6)21And he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” (Ge 3:19; Ps 49:17; Ps 90:3; Ps 113:2; Ec 5:15; Ec 5:19; Ec 12:7; Da 2:20; Eph 5:20; 1Th 5:18; 1Ti 6:7; Jas 1:17)22In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong. (Job 2:10; Job 24:12)