Christian Standard Bible | International Standard Version |
1There was a man in the country of Uz named Job. He was a man of complete integrity, who feared God and turned away from evil. | 1There once was a man in the land of Uz named Job. The man was blameless as well as upright. He feared God and kept away from evil. |
2He had seven sons and three daughters. | 2Seven sons and three daughters had been born to him. |
3His estate included seven thousand sheep and goats, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred female donkeys, and a very large number of servants. Job was the greatest man among all the people of the east. | 3His livestock included 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 teams of oxen, 500 female donkeys, and many servants. Indeed, the man's stature greatly exceeded that of many people who lived in the East. |
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. | 4His sons used to travel to each other's houses in turn on a regular schedule and hold festivals, inviting their three sisters to celebrate 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 for all of them. For Job thought, "Perhaps my children have sinned, having cursed God in their hearts." This was Job's regular practice. | 5When their time of feasting had concluded, Job would rise early in the morning to send for them and consecrate them to God. He would offer a burnt offering for each one, because Job thought, "Perhaps my children sinned by cursing God in their hearts." Job did this time and again. |
6One day the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came with them. | 6One day, divine beings presented themselves to the LORD, and Satan accompanied them. |
7The LORD asked Satan, "Where have you come from?" "From roaming through the earth," Satan answered him, "and walking around on it." | 7The LORD asked Satan, "Where have you come from?" In response, Satan answered the LORD, "From wandering all over the earth and walking back and forth throughout 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, who fears God and turns away from evil." | 8Then the LORD asked Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one like him on earth. The man is blameless as well as upright. He fears God and keeps away from evil." |
9Satan answered the LORD, "Does Job fear God for nothing? | 9But in response, Satan asked the LORD, "Does Job fear God for nothing? |
10Haven't you placed a hedge around him, his household, and everything he owns? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. | 10Haven't you surrounded him with a fence on all sides, around his house, and around all that he owns? You have blessed everything he puts his hands on and you have increased his livestock in the land. |
11But stretch out your hand and strike everything he owns, and he will surely curse you to your face." | 11However, stretch out your hand and strike everything he owns, and he will 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. | 12Then the LORD told Satan, "Very well then, everything he owns is under your control, only you may not extend your hand against him." 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, | 13Some time later, when his children were celebrating in their oldest brother's house, |
14a messenger came to Job and reported: "While the oxen were plowing and the donkeys grazing nearby, | 14a messenger approached Job and said, "The oxen were plowing and the female donkeys were grazing nearby |
15the Sabeans swooped down and took them away. They struck down the servants with the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you!" | 15when the Sabeans attacked, captured the servants, and killed them with swords. I alone escaped to tell you!" |
16He was still speaking when another messenger came and reported: "God's fire fell from heaven. It burned the sheep and the servants and devoured them, and I alone have escaped to tell you!" | 16While this messenger was still speaking, another came and announced, "A lightning storm struck and incinerated the flock and the servants while they were eating. I alone 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!" | 17While this messenger was still speaking, another came and announced, "The Chaldeans formed three companies, raided the camels, captured the servants, and killed them with swords. Only I alone 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. | 18While this messenger was still speaking, another came and announced, "Your children were celebrating 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!" | 19when a strong wind came straight out of the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on the young people, and they died. I alone escaped to tell you!" |
20Then Job stood up, tore his robe, and shaved his head. He fell to the ground and worshiped, | 20Then Job stood up, tore his robe, shaved his head, fell to the ground, bowed very low, |
21saying: Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will leave this life. The LORD gives, and the LORD takes away. Blessed be the name of the LORD. | 21and exclaimed: "I left my mother's womb naked, and I will return to God naked. The LORD has given, and the LORD has taken. May the name of the LORD be blessed." |
22Throughout all this Job did not sin or blame God for anything. | 22Job neither sinned nor charged God with wrongdoing in all of this. |
The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. | The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. |
|