| International Standard Version | NET Bible |
| 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. | 1There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job. And that man was pure and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil. |
| 2Seven sons and three daughters had been born to him. | 2Seven sons and three daughters were born to him. |
| 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. | 3His possessions included 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, and 500 female donkeys; in addition he had a very great household. Thus he was the greatest of all the people in the east. |
| 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. | 4Now his sons used to go and hold a feast in the house of each one in turn, and they would send and invite their three sisters to eat and to drink with them. |
| 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. | 5When the days of their feasting were finished, Job would send for them and sanctify them; he would get up early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job thought, "Perhaps my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts." This was Job's customary practice. |
| 6One day, divine beings presented themselves to the LORD, and Satan accompanied them. | 6Now the day came when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD--and Satan also arrived among them. |
| 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." | 7The LORD said to Satan, "Where have you come from?" And Satan answered the LORD, "From roving about on the earth, and from walking back and forth across it." |
| 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." | 8So the LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one like him on the earth, a pure and upright man, one who fears God and turns away from evil." |
| 9But in response, Satan asked the LORD, "Does Job fear God for nothing? | 9Then Satan answered the LORD, "Is it for nothing that Job fears God? |
| 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. | 10Have you not made a hedge around him and his household and all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his livestock have increased in the land. |
| 11However, stretch out your hand and strike everything he owns, and he will curse you to your face." | 11But extend your hand and strike everything he has, and he will no doubt curse you to your face!" |
| 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. | 12So the LORD said to Satan, "All right then, everything he has is in your power. Only do not extend your hand against the man himself!" So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD. |
| 13Some time later, when his children were celebrating in their oldest brother's house, | 13Now the day came when Job's sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother's house, |
| 14a messenger approached Job and said, "The oxen were plowing and the female donkeys were grazing nearby | 14and a messenger came to Job, saying, "The oxen were plowing and the donkeys were grazing beside them, |
| 15when the Sabeans attacked, captured the servants, and killed them with swords. I alone escaped to tell you!" | 15and the Sabeans swooped down and carried them all away, and they killed the servants with the sword! And I--only I alone--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!" | 16While this one was still speaking, another messenger arrived and said, "The fire of God has fallen from heaven and has burned up the sheep and the servants--it has consumed them! And I--only I alone--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." | 17While this one was still speaking another messenger arrived and said, "The Chaldeans formed three bands and made a raid on the camels and carried them all away, and they killed the servants with the sword! And I--only I alone--escaped to tell you!" |
| 18While this messenger was still speaking, another came and announced, "Your children were celebrating in their oldest brother's house | 18While this one was still speaking another messenger arrived and said, "Your sons and your daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother's house, |
| 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!" | 19and suddenly a great wind swept across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young people, and they died! And I--only I alone--escaped to tell you!" |
| 20Then Job stood up, tore his robe, shaved his head, fell to the ground, bowed very low, | 20Then Job got up and tore his robe. He shaved his head, and then he threw himself down with his face to the ground. |
| 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." | 21He said, "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will return there. The LORD gives, and the LORD takes away. May the name of the LORD be blessed!" |
| 22Job neither sinned nor charged God with wrongdoing in all of this. | 22In all this Job did not sin, nor did he charge God with moral impropriety. |
|
