Job’s Character and Greatness

1 There was a man in the land of Uz whosename was Job. Thatman was blameless and upright and God-fearing and turning away from evil.

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

3 Thenhis livestock came to be seven thousand sheep and goats and three thousand camels and five hundred pairsof oxen and five hundred female donkeys, and he had very many slaves, and that man was greater than all the people of the east.

4 And his sons used to go and hold a feast at each other’s houseon his day, and they would send, and they would invite their three sisters to eat and to drink with them.

5 Then whenthe days of the feast had run their course, Job would send,and he would sanctify them. Thushe would arise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of all of them, because Job thought,“Perhaps my children have sinned and cursedGod in their heart.” This is what Job used to do all the time.

6 And it happened one daythatthe sons of Godcame to present themselves before Yahweh, and Satanalso came into their midst.

7 SoYahweh said to Satan,“From where have you come?”

ThenSatananswered Yahweh and said, “From roaming on the earth and from walking about in it.”

8 SoYahweh said to Satan,“Have you consideredmy servant Job? Indeed,there is no one like him on the earth—a blameless man and upright and God-fearing and turning away from evil.”

9 ThenSatananswered Yahweh and said, “Does Job fear God for nothing?

10 Have younot put a fence around him and his household and around all that belongs to himon every side?You have blessed the work of his hands, and his livestockhas increased in the land.

11 But,on the other hand, stretch outyour hand and touch all that belongs to himand see whetherhe will curseyou to your face.”

12 SoYahweh said to Satan,“Look, all that belongs to himis in your power.Only do not stretch out your hand againsthim.” SoSatanwent out from Yahweh’s presence.

The Adversary’s Attack on Job’s Possessions

13 And then there was one day whenhis sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their firstborn brother’s house.

14 And a messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing, and the female donkeys were feeding beside them.

15 Thenthe Sabeans attacked,and they took them, and they slew the servants by the edge of the sword.ButI escaped, even I alone, to tell you.”

16 While this one was still speaking, anothercame and said, “The fire of God fell from the heavens, and it blazed up against the sheep and goats and against the servants, and it consumed them. But I escaped, even I alone, to tell you.”

17 While this one was still speaking, anothercame and said, “The Chaldeans formed three divisions, and they made a raid on the camels, and they carried them away, and they struck your servants by the edge of the sword,but I escaped, even I alone, to tell you.”

18 At the timethis one was speaking, anothercame and said, “Your sons and your daughters were eating and drinking wine in their firstborn brother’s house.

19 And behold,a great wind came from across the desert, and it struck the four corners of the house so thatit fell upon the young people, and they died. But I escaped, even I alone, to tell you.”

20 ThenJob arose and tore his outer garmentand shaved his head; thenhe fell upon the ground and he worshiped.

21 Thenhe said, “Naked I came out from my mother’s womb, and naked I will return there. Yahweh gives, and Yahweh takes. Let Yahweh’s name be blessed.”

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