CHAPTER 1
There once was
a man
in the land
of Uz
whose name was
Job.
And this man
was blameless
and upright,
fearing
God
and shunning
evil.
and 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.
Job's sons
would take turns
holding
feasts
in their homes,
and they would invite
their three
sisters
to eat
and drink
with them.
And
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.
One day
the sons
of God
came
to present
themselves before
the LORD,
and Satan
also
came
with them.
“Where
have you come from?”
said
the LORD
to
Satan.
“From roaming
through the earth,”
he
replied,
“and from walking back and forth
in it.”
Then 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.”
Have 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.
But
stretch out
Your hand
and strike
all
that
he has,
and he will surely
curse You
to
Your face.”
“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.
One day,
while Job’s sons
and daughters
were eating
and drinking
wine
in their oldest
brother’s
house,
a messenger
came
and reported
to
Job:
“While the oxen
were
plowing
and the donkeys
grazing
nearby,
the Sabeans
swooped down
and took them away.
They struck down
the servants
with the sword,
and I
alone
have escaped
to tell
you!”
While 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!"
While he
was still
speaking,
another messenger
came
and reported:
“The Chaldeans
formed
three
bands,
raided
the camels,
and took them away.
They struck down
the servants
with the sword,
and I
alone
have escaped
to tell
you!"
While
he
was still speaking,
another messenger
came
and reported:
“Your sons
and daughters
were eating
and drinking
wine
in their oldest
brother’s
house,
when 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!”
saying:
“Naked
I came
from my mother’s
womb,
and naked
I shall return.
The LORD
gave,
and the LORD
has taken away.
Blessed
be
the name
of the LORD.”