1In the land of Uz there lived a man whose name was Job. This man was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil.2He had seven sons and three daughters,3and he owned seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen and five hundred donkeys, and had a large number of servants. He was the greatest man among all the people of the East.4His sons used to hold feasts in their homes on their birthdays, and they would invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them.5When a period of feasting had run its course, Job would make arrangements for them to be purified. Early in the morning he would sacrifice a burnt offering for each of them, thinking, ‘Perhaps my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.’ This was Job’s regular custom.6One day the angels[1] came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan[2] also came with them.7The Lord said to Satan, ‘Where have you come from?’ Satan answered the Lord, ‘From roaming throughout the earth, going to and fro on it.’8Then the Lord said to Satan, ‘Have you considered my servant Job? There is no-one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.’9‘Does Job fear God for nothing?’ Satan replied.10‘Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land.11But now stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face.’12The Lord said to Satan, ‘Very well, then, everything he has is in your power, but on the man himself do not lay a finger.’ Then Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.13One day when Job’s sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the eldest brother’s house,14a messenger came to Job and said, ‘The oxen were ploughing and the donkeys were grazing nearby,15and the Sabeans attacked and made off with them. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!’16While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, ‘The fire of God fell from the heavens and burned up the sheep and the servants, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!’17While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, ‘The Chaldeans formed three raiding parties and swept down on your camels and made off with them. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!’18While he was still speaking, yet another messenger came and said, ‘Your sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the eldest brother’s house,19when suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on them and they are dead, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!’20At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship21and said: ‘Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I shall depart.[3] The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.’22In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.
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)