JOB
CHAPTER 1
Job 1:1 In the land of Uz there lived a man whose name was Job.
This man was blameless and upright; he feared God and
shunned evil.
Job 1:2 He had seven sons and three daughters,
Job 1:3 and he owned seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels,
five hundred yoke of oxen and five hundred donkeys, and had
a large number of servants. He was the greatest man among
all the people of the East.
Job 1:4 His sons used to take turns holding feasts in their homes, and
they would invite their three sisters to eat and drink with
them.
Job 1:5 When a period of feasting had run its course, Job would send
and have them purified. Early in the morning he would
sacrifice a burnt offering for each of them, thinking, "Perhaps
my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts." This
was Job's regular custom.
Job 1:6 One day the angels [Hebrew the sons of God] came to
present themselves before the LORD, and Satan [Satan
means accuser.] also came with them.
Job 1:7 The LORD said to Satan, "Where have you come from?"
Satan answered the LORD, "From roaming through the earth
and going to and fro in it."
Job 1:8 Then the LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered my
servant Job? There is no-one on earth like him; he is
blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil."
Job 1:9 "Does Job fear God for nothing?" Satan replied.
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Job 1:10 "Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and
everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands,
so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land.
Job 1:11 But stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and
he will surely curse you to your face."
Job 1:12 The LORD said to Satan, "Very well, then, everything he has
is in your hands, but on the man himself do not lay a finger."
Then Satan went out from the presence of the LORD.
Job 1:13 One day when Job's sons and daughters were feasting and
drinking wine at the oldest brother's house,
Job 1:14 a messenger came to Job and said, "The oxen were ploughing
and the donkeys were grazing nearby,
Job 1:15 and the Sabeans attacked and carried them off. They put the
servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has
escaped to tell you!"
Job 1:16 While he was still speaking, another messenger came and
said, "The fire of God fell from the sky and burned up the
sheep and the servants, and I am the only one who has
escaped to tell you!"
Job 1:17 While he was still speaking, another messenger came and
said, "The Chaldeans formed three raiding parties and swept
down on your camels and carried them off. They put the
servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has
escaped to tell you!"
Job 1:18 While he was still speaking, yet another messenger came and
said, "Your sons and daughters were feasting and drinking
wine at the oldest brother's house,
Job 1:19 when suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and
struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on them and
they are dead, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell
you!"
Job 1:20 At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head.
Then he fell to the ground in worship
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Job 1:21 and said: "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked
I shall depart. [Or shall return there] The LORD gave and the
LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be
praised."
Job 1:22 In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.
CHAPTER 2
Job 2:1 On another day the angels [Hebrew the sons of God] came to
present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came
with them to present himself before him.
Job 2:2 And the LORD said to Satan, "Where have you come from?"
Satan answered the LORD, "From roaming through the earth
and going to and fro in it."
Job 2:3 Then the LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered my
servant Job? There is no-one on earth like him; he is
blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.
And he still maintains his integrity, though you incited me
against him to ruin him without any reason."
Job 2:4 "Skin for skin!" Satan replied. "A man will give all he has for
his own life.
Job 2:5 But stretch out your hand and strike his flesh and bones, and
he will surely curse you to your face."
Job 2:6 The LORD said to Satan, "Very well, then, he is in your
hands; but you must spare his life."
Job 2:7 So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD and
afflicted Job with painful sores from the soles of his feet to
the top of his head.