Job 1

1There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job, and that man was blameless and upright, fearing God and turning away from evil.

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

3His livestock were seven thousand sheep and goats, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred female donkeys, and a very large number of servants; and that man was the greatest of all the people of the east.

4His sons would go and hold a feast, each in his own house on his day, and they would send for their three sisters to eat and drink with them.

5And when the days of the feasting had run their course, Job would send for them and consecrate them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, “Perhaps my sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” Thus Job would do continually.

6There was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before Yahweh, and the Adversary also came among them.

7Then Yahweh said to the Adversary, “Where have you come from?” The Adversary replied to Yahweh, “From roaming the earth and walking about on it.”

8And Yahweh said to the Adversary, “Have you considered my servant Job? For there is none like him on the earth: a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and turns away from evil.”

9Then the Adversary answered Yahweh, “Does Job fear God for nothing?”

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

11But stretch out your hand, please, and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse you to your face.

12And Yahweh said to the Accuser, “Look, all that he has is in your hand; only against him do not stretch out your hand.” Then the Accuser went out from the presence of Yahweh.

13There was a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in the house of their oldest brother.

14And a messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing, and the donkeys were grazing beside them,”

15And Sheba fell upon them and took them, and they struck down the young men with the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell you.

16While this one was still speaking, another came and said, “Fire of God fell from heaven and burned the sheep and the young men and consumed them, and I alone have escaped to tell you.”

17While this one was still speaking, another came and said, “The Chaldeans formed three raiding parties, swept down on the camels and took them, and they struck down the young men with the edge of the sword. And I alone have escaped to tell you.”

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

19And look, a great wind came from across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young men, and they died; and I alone have escaped to tell you.

20Then Job rose, tore his robe, shaved his head, fell to the ground, and bowed down.

21And he said, “Naked I came out from my mother’s womb, and naked I will return there. Yahweh gave, and Yahweh has taken away. May the name of Yahweh be blessed.”

22In all this, Job did not sin, nor did he charge God with wrongdoing.