Job 1

1In the land of Uz there lived a man named Job. This man was blameless and upright; he feared God and kept away from evil.

2Seven sons and three daughters were born to him.

3His livestock numbered seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred female donkeys, and he had a very large household of servants. No one among the people of the East was as great as that man.

4His sons used to hold feasts, each one in his own house on his appointed day, and they would send for their three sisters to come and eat and drink with them.

5Whenever a round of feasting days was complete, Job would send for them and consecrate them. He would rise early in the morning and offer a burnt offering for every one of them, because Job said, “Maybe my sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” This was Job’s practice at all times.

6One day the sons of God came to take their stand before Yahweh, and Satan also arrived in their midst.

7Yahweh said to Satan, “Where are you coming from?” Satan answered Yahweh, “From ranging over the earth and walking about on it.”

8Yahweh said to Satan, “Have you paid attention to my servant Job? No one on the earth is like him, a man blameless and upright, who fears God and keeps away from evil.”

9Satan answered Yahweh, “Is it for nothing that Job fears God?

10Have you not built a fence around him and his household and all that belongs to him, on every side? You have blessed what his hands do, and his livestock has multiplied throughout the land.

11But just reach out your hand and touch everything he has, and see if he does not curse you to your face.”

12Yahweh said to Satan, “All right, everything he has is in your hands; just do not reach out your hand against the man himself.” Then Satan left Yahweh’s presence.

13One day, when his sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in the house of their oldest brother,

14a messenger came to Job and reported, “The cattle were plowing, with the donkeys grazing next to them,

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

16While he was still speaking, another came and said, “God’s fire fell from the sky; it burned among the flocks and the servants and consumed them, and I alone have escaped to tell you.”

17While he was still speaking, another came and said, “The Chaldeans divided into three bands, made a raid on the camels, and carried them off. They struck down the servants with the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.”

18While he was still speaking, another came and said, “Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in the house of their oldest brother,

19and suddenly a powerful wind swept in from beyond the desert and hit the four corners of the house. It collapsed on the young people, and they died, and I alone have escaped to tell you.”

20Job stood up, ripped his robe, and shaved his head; then he threw himself to the ground and bowed in worship.

21He said, “Naked I came out of my mother’s womb, and naked I will go back there. Yahweh has given, and Yahweh has taken; let Yahweh’s name be blessed.”

22Through all of this Job did not sin, nor did he accuse God of doing anything improper.