Job 1

Job, a blameless man in the land of Uz

¹There was a man in the land of Uz named Job. He was blameless and upright; he feared God and turned away from evil.^{ab 2}He had seven sons and three daughters. ³He owned 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen and 500 female donkeys, and he had a great many servants. He was the greatest man among all the peoples of the East. ⁴His sons used to take turns holding a feast, each in his own house on his day, and they would send for their three sisters and invite them to eat and drink with them. ⁵Whenever a round of feasting was over, Job would send for his children and consecrate them. He would get up early in the morning and offer a burnt offering for each one of them, because Job said to himself, “Perhaps my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” This is what Job always did.^c

Does Job fear God for nothing?

⁶One day the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and the Accuser also came among them.^{de 7}The LORD said to the Accuser, “Where have you come from?” The Accuser answered the LORD, “From roaming the earth and walking up and down on it.” ⁸The LORD said to the Accuser, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one like him on earth: a man blameless and upright, who fears God and turns away from evil.” ⁹The Accuser answered the LORD, “Does Job fear God for nothing?”^{f 10}Have you not put a protective hedge around him and his household and everything he owns on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his flocks and herds have spread throughout the land. ¹¹But stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face.^{g 12}The LORD said to the Accuser, “Very well, everything he has is in your power. Only do not lay a hand on the man himself.” Then the Accuser went out from the presence of the LORD. ¹³One day Job’s sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in the house of their oldest brother. ¹⁴A messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys were grazing beside them, ¹⁵when the Sabeans swept down and carried them off. They killed the servants with 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 sky and burned up the sheep and the servants and consumed them. 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, swept down on the camels and carried them off. They killed the servants with the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you.” ¹⁸While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, “Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in the house of their oldest brother, ¹⁹when suddenly a great wind came from across the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It fell on the young people, and they are dead. I am the only one who has escaped to tell you.” ²⁰Then Job got up, tore his robe and shaved his head. He fell to the ground and worshiped. ²¹He said, “I came naked from my mother’s womb, \q and naked I will go back there. \q The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; \q may the name of the LORD be blessed.” ²²In all this Job did not sin or accuse God of wrongdoing.