Job 1

¹ There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job. That man was blameless and upright, and one who feared God, and turned away from evil.

² There were born to him seven sons and three daughters.

³ His possessions also were seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred female donkeys, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the children of the east.

⁴ His sons went and held a feast in the house of each one on his birthday; and they sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them.

⁵ It was so, when the days of their feasting had run their course, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, “It may be that my sons have sinned, and renounced God in their hearts.” Job did so continually.

⁶ Now on the day when God’s sons came to present themselves before the LORD, Satan also came among them.

⁷ The LORD said to Satan, “Where have you come from?” Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, “From going back and forth on the earth, and from walking up and down in it.”

⁸ The LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant, Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and an upright man, one who fears God, and turns away from evil.”

⁹ Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, “Does Job fear God for nothing?

¹⁰ Haven’t you made a hedge around him, and around his house, and around all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.

¹¹ But stretch out your hand now, and touch all that he has, and he will renounce you to your face.”

¹² The LORD said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your power. Only on himself don’t stretch out your hand.” So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD.

¹³ It fell on a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house,

¹⁴ that a messenger came to Job, and said, “The oxen were plowing, and the donkeys feeding beside them,

¹⁵ and the Sabeans attacked, and took them away. Yes, they have killed the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.”

¹⁶ While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “The fire of God has fallen from the sky, and has burned up the sheep and the servants, and consumed them, and I alone have escaped to tell you.”

¹⁷ While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “The Chaldeans made three bands, and swept down on the camels, and have taken them away, yes, and killed the servants with the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell you.”

¹⁸ While he was still speaking, there came also another, and said, “Your sons and your daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house,

¹⁹ and behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young men, and they are dead. I alone have escaped to tell you.”

²⁰ Then Job arose, and tore his robe, and shaved his head, and fell down on the ground, and worshiped.

²¹ He said, “Naked I came out of my mother’s womb, and naked will I return there. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the LORD’s name.”

²² In all this, Job didn’t sin, nor charge God with wrongdoing.

¹ TThere was a man in the land of Hus, whose name was Job, and that man was simple and upright, and fearing God, and avoiding evil.

² And there were born to him seven sons and three daughters.

³ And his possession was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she asses, and a family exceedingly great: and this man was great among all the people of the east.

⁴ And his sons went, and made a feast by houses, every one in his day. And sending, they called their three sisters, to eat and drink with them.

⁵ And when the days of their feasting were gone about, Job sent to them, and sanctified them: and rising up early, offered holocausts for every one of them. For he said: Lest perhaps my sons have sinned, and have blessed God in their hearts. So did Job all days.

⁶ Now on a certain day, when the sons of God came to stand before the Lord, Satan also was present among them.

⁷ And the Lord said to him: Whence comest thou? And he answered and said: I have gone round about the earth, and walked through it.

⁸ And the Lord said to him: Hast thou considered my servant, Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a simple and upright man, and fearing God, and avoiding evil?

⁹ And Satan answering, said: Doth Job fear God in vain?

¹⁰ Hast thou not made a fence for him, and his house, and all his substance round about, blessed the works of his hands, and his possession hath increased on the earth?

¹¹ But stretch forth thy hand a little, and touch all that he hath, and see if he bless thee not to thy face.

¹² Then the Lord said to Satan: Behold, all that he hath is in thy hand: only put not forth thy hand upon his person. And Satan went forth from the presence of the Lord.

¹³ Now upon a certain day, when his sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine, in the house of their eldest brother,

¹⁴ There came a messenger to Job, and said: The oxen were ploughing, and the asses feeding beside them,

¹⁵ And the Sabeans rushed in, and took all away, and slew the servants with the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell thee.

¹⁶ And while he was yet speaking, another came, and said: The fire of God fell from heaven, and striking the sheep and the servants, hath consumed them; and I alone have escaped to tell thee.

¹⁷ And while he also was yet speaking, there came another, and said: The Chaldeans made three troops, and have fallen upon the camels, and taken them; moreover, they have slain the servants with the sword: and I alone have escaped to tell thee.

¹⁸ He was yet speaking, and behold another came in, and said: Thy sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in the house of their eldest brother,

¹⁹ A violent wind came on a sudden from the side of the desert, and shook the four corners of the house, and it fell upon thy children, and they are dead: and I alone have escaped to tell thee.

²⁰ Then Job rose up, and rent his garments, and having shaven his head, fell down upon the ground, and worshipped,

²¹ And said: Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away: as it hath pleased the Lord, so is it done: blessed be the name of the Lord.

²² In all these things Job sinned not by his lips, nor spoke he any foolish thing against God.