Job and His Family

1There was a man in the country of Uza named Job.b He was a man of complete integrity,c who feared God and turned away from evil.d 2He had seven sons and three daughters.a 3His estate included seven thousand sheep and goats, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred female donkeys,a and a very large number of servants. Job was the greatest man among all the people of the east.b

4His sons used to take turns having banquets at their homes. They would send an invitation to their three sisters to eat and drink with them. 5Whenever a round of banqueting was over, Job would send for his children and purify them, rising early in the morning to offer burnt offerings forA all of them. For Job thought, “Perhaps my children have sinned, having cursed God in their hearts.”a This was Job’s regular practice.

Satan’s First Test of Job

6One day the sons of Goda came to present themselves before the Lord, and SatanA also came with them. 7The Lord asked Satan, “Where have you come from? ”

“From roaming through the earth,”a Satan answered him, “and walking around on it.”

8Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? No one else on earth is like him, a man of perfect integrity,a who fears God and turns away from evil.”b

9Satan answered the Lord, “Does Job fear God for nothing? 10Haven’t you placed a hedge arounda him, his household, and everything he owns? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. 11But stretch out your hand and strikea everything he owns, and he will surely curse you to your face.”

12“Very well,” the Lord told Satan, “everything he owns is in your power. However, do not lay a hand on Job himself.” So Satan left the Lord’s presence.

13One day when Job’s sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, 14a messenger came to Job and reported, “While the oxen were plowing and the donkeys grazing nearby, 15the Sabeansa swooped down and took them away. They struck down the servants with the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you! ”

16He was still speaking when another messenger came and reported, “God’s fire fell from heaven.a It burned the sheep and the servants and devoured them, and I alone have escaped to tell you! ”

17That messenger was still speaking when yet another came and reported, “The Chaldeans formed three bands, made a raid on the camels, and took them away. They struck down the servants with the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you! ”

18He was still speaking when another messenger came and reported, “Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house. 19Suddenly a powerful wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on the young people so that they died, and I alone have escaped to tell you! ”

20Then Job stood up, torea his robe, and shavedb his head. He fell to the ground and worshiped, 21saying:

Naked I came from my mother’s womb,a

and naked I will leave this life.a b

The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away.

Blessed be the name of the Lord.c

22Throughout all this Job did not sin or blame God for anything.a a