Job 1

Job’s Character and Wealth

1There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job. And this man was blameless and upright, fearing God and shunning evil.

1There was a man in the land of Uz—Job was his name—and that man was blameless and upright and fearing God and turning away from evil.

2He had seven sons and three daughters,

2And there were born to him seven sons and three daughters.

3and he owned 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, 500 female donkeys, and a very large number of servants. Job was the greatest man of all the people of the East.

3And his possessions were seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred pair of oxen, and five hundred female donkeys, and a very large service. And that man was greater than all the sons of the East.

4Job’s sons would take turns holding feasts in their homes, and they would invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them.

4And his sons would go and make a feast at the house of each man in his day, and they would send and call to their three sisters to eat and to drink with them.

5And when the days of feasting were over, Job would send for his children to purify them, rising early in the morning to offer burnt offerings for all of them. For Job thought, “Perhaps my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” This was Job’s regular practice.

5And it came to pass that the days of the feasting had gone around, and Job would send and would sanctify them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer up burnt offerings, the number of them all, for Job said, “Perhaps my sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” Thus Job did all the days.

Satan’s First Attack

6One day the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came with them.

6And there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before YHWH, that Satan also came into their midst.

7“Where have you come from?” said the LORD to Satan.

“From roaming through the earth,” he replied, “and walking back and forth in it.”

7And YHWH said to Satan, “From where have you come?” And Satan answered YHWH and said, “From roaming on the earth, and walking back and forth on it.”

8Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one on earth like him, a man who is blameless and upright, who fears God and shuns evil.”

8And YHWH said to Satan, “Have you set your heart upon My servant Job, how there is no one like him on the earth, a man blameless and upright, fearing God and turning aside from evil?”

9Satan answered the LORD, “Does Job fear God for nothing?

9And Satan answered YHWH and said, “Does Job fear God for nothing?

10Have You not placed a hedge on every side around him and his household and all that he owns? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land.

10Have you not put a hedge around him and around his house, and around all that is unto him, surrounding on every side? The work of his hands You have blessed, and the animals of his possession have burst forth in the land.

11But stretch out Your hand and strike all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face.”

11But now stretch out Your hand and touch against all that is unto him, if he will not curse you to your face!”

12“Very well,” said the LORD to Satan. “Everything he has is in your hands, but you must not lay a hand on the man himself.”

Then Satan went out from the presence of the LORD.

12And YHWH said to Satan, “Behold, all that is unto him is in your hand; only against him do not stretch out your hand.” And Satan went out from the face of YHWH.

Job Loses His Children and Possessions

13One day, while Job’s sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house,

13And there came to be a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in the house of their brother, the firstborn.

14a messenger came and reported to Job: “While the oxen were plowing and the donkeys were grazing nearby,

14And a messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys were grazing at their sides,

15the Sabeans swooped down and took them away. They put the servants to the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you!”

15when the Sabeans fell on them and took them, and they struck the servants with the mouth of the sword—and only I have escaped, by myself alone, to declare it to you.”

16While he was still speaking, another messenger came and reported: “The fire of God fell from heaven. It burned and consumed the sheep and the servants, and I alone have escaped to tell you!”

16Still this one was speaking, when this one came and said, “The fire of God fell from the heavens and burned up the sheep and the servants, and it consumed them—and only I have escaped, by myself alone, to declare it to you.”

17While he was still speaking, another messenger came and reported: “The Chaldeans formed three bands, raided the camels, and took them away. They put the servants to the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you!”

17Still this one was speaking, when this one came and said, “The Chaldeans made three heads and rushed upon the camels and took them away, and they struck the servants with the mouth of the sword—and only I have escaped, by myself alone, to declare it to you.”

18While he was still speaking, another messenger came and reported: “Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house,

18Still this one was speaking, when this one came and said, “Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in the house of their brother, the firstborn,

19when suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on the young people and they are dead, and I alone have escaped to tell you!”

19and behold, a great wind came from across the desert and struck against the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young people, and they died—and only I have escaped, by myself alone, to declare it to you.”

20Then Job stood up, tore his robe, and shaved his head. He fell to the ground and worshiped,

20And Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head, and he fell to the ground and bowed low,

21saying:

“Naked I came from my mother’s womb,

and naked I will return.

The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away.

Blessed be the name of the LORD.”

21and he said, “Naked I came forth from the womb of my mother, and naked I shall return there. YHWH gave, and YHWH has taken away. Let the name of YHWH be blessed.”

22In all this, Job did not sin or charge God with wrongdoing.

22In all this Job did not sin, and he did not ascribe foolishness to God.