Job 1

¹ There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job. That man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil.

² Seven sons and three daughters were born to him.

³ His livestock amounted to seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred female donkeys, along with a very large household. This man was the greatest of all the people of the east.

⁴ His sons would go and hold a feast in each one's house on his appointed day, and they would send word and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them.

⁵ When the days of feasting had completed their cycle, Job would send for them and consecrate them. He would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all, for Job said, "Perhaps my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts." This is what Job did continually.

⁶ Now there came a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and the Adversary also came among them.

⁷ The LORD said to the Adversary, "Where have you come from?" The Adversary answered the LORD and said, "From roaming about on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it."

⁸ The LORD said to the Adversary, "Have you set your mind on my servant Job? For there is no one like him on earth — a blameless and upright man who fears God and turns away from evil."

⁹ The Adversary answered the LORD and said, "Does Job fear God for nothing?"

¹⁰ "Have you not put a hedge around him and around his household and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his livestock has spread across the land."

¹¹ "But stretch out your hand now and strike all that he has — surely he will curse you to your face."

¹² The LORD said to the Adversary, "Very well, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him himself do not stretch out your hand." Then the Adversary went out from the presence of the LORD.

¹³ Now there came a day when his sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother's house.

¹⁴ A messenger came to Job and said, "The oxen were plowing and the donkeys were grazing beside them,

¹⁵ and the Sabeans attacked and took them. They struck down the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone escaped to tell you."

¹⁶ While he was still speaking, another came and said, "The fire of God fell from the sky and burned up the sheep and the servants and consumed them, and I alone escaped to tell you."

¹⁷ While he was still speaking, another came and said, "The Chaldeans formed three bands and raided the camels and took them. They struck down the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone escaped to tell you."

¹⁸ While he was still speaking, yet another came and said, "Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother's house,

¹⁹ and suddenly a great wind came across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young people, and they are dead. And I alone escaped to tell you."

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

²¹ He said, "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will return there. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the name of the LORD."

²² In all this, Job did not sin and did not attribute wrongdoing to God.