| New Living Translation | NET Bible |
| 1There once was a man named Job who lived in the land of Uz. He was blameless—a man of complete integrity. He feared God and stayed 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. |
| 2He had seven sons and three daughters. | 2Seven sons and three daughters were born to him. |
| 3He owned 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 teams of oxen, and 500 female donkeys. He also had many servants. He was, in fact, the richest person in that entire area. | 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. |
| 4Job’s sons would take turns preparing feasts in their homes, and they would also invite 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 these celebrations ended—sometimes after several days—Job would purify his children. He would get up early in the morning and offer a burnt offering for each of them. For Job said to himself, “Perhaps my children have sinned and have cursed God in their hearts.” This was Job’s regular practice. Job’s First Test | 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 the members of the heavenly court came to present themselves before the LORD, and the Accuser, Satan, came with them. | 6Now the day came when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD--and Satan also arrived among them. |
| 7“Where have you come from?” the LORD asked Satan. Satan answered the LORD, “I have been patrolling the earth, watching everything that’s going on.” | 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 noticed my servant Job? He is the finest man in all the earth. He is blameless—a man of complete integrity. He fears God and stays 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." |
| 9Satan replied to the LORD, “Yes, but Job has good reason to fear God. | 9Then Satan answered the LORD, "Is it for nothing that Job fears God? |
| 10You have always put a wall of protection around him and his home and his property. You have made him prosper in everything he does. Look how rich he is! | 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. |
| 11But reach out and take away everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face!” | 11But extend your hand and strike everything he has, and he will no doubt curse you to your face!" |
| 12“All right, you may test him,” the LORD said to Satan. “Do whatever you want with everything he possesses, but don’t harm him physically.” 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. |
| 13One day when Job’s sons and daughters were feasting at the 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 arrived at Job’s home with this news: “Your oxen were plowing, with the donkeys feeding beside them, | 14and a messenger came to Job, saying, "The oxen were plowing and the donkeys were grazing beside them, |
| 15when the Sabeans raided us. They stole all the animals and killed all the farmhands. I am the only one who 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 he was still speaking, another messenger arrived with this news: “The fire of God has fallen from heaven and burned up your sheep and all the shepherds. I am the only one who 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 he was still speaking, a third messenger arrived with this news: “Three bands of Chaldean raiders have stolen your camels and killed your servants. I am the only one who 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 he was still speaking, another messenger arrived with this news: “Your sons and daughters were feasting in their oldest brother’s home. | 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, |
| 19Suddenly, a powerful wind swept in from the wilderness and hit the house on all sides. The house collapsed, and all your children are dead. I am the only one who 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!" |
| 20Job stood up and tore his robe in grief. Then he shaved his head and fell to the ground to worship. | 20Then Job got up and tore his robe. He shaved his head, and then he threw himself down with his face to the ground. |
| 21He said, “I came naked from my mother’s womb, and I will be naked when I leave. The LORD gave me what I had, and the LORD has taken it away. Praise the name of the LORD!” | 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!" |
| 22In all of this, Job did not sin by blaming God. | 22In all this Job did not sin, nor did he charge God with moral impropriety. |
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