Job 1

In the land of Uz there lived a man whose name was Job. He was a man of complete integrity. He respected God and so he avoided doing evil things.

Now Job had seven sons and three daughters.

He owned 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 1,000 oxen, and 500 donkeys. He also had many servants. Job was richer than anyone else who lived in the area east of the Jordan River. \*

Job’s sons often held feasts in their homes. Whenever any of them held a feast, he would invite all of his brothers and sisters to share the meal with him.

After all of the sons had each held a feast, Job would gather his children together. He would ask God to cleanse them from any action they might have committed during their feasting that would have made them unacceptable to him. He would get up early in the morning, kill animals, and burn them on the altar {as sacrifices}, one for each {of his children}. {For} Job {always said}, “Perhaps my children have sinned by saying something evil about God in their thoughts. {If they have, I need to ask God to forgive them.}” Job did this after each time his sons had all hosted feasts. \*

One day the angels came and gathered together in front of God, and Satan came too.

God asked Satan, “Where have you just come from?” Satan replied, “I have come from the earth, where I was traveling around {to see what was happening}.”

God said to Satan, “Have you noticed Job, who worships me? I mention him because no one else on earth has such complete integrity as he does. He respects me and so he refuses to do anything evil.” \*

Satan replied to God, “Job only worships you because of what you have done for him.

You have always protected him, his family, and everything he owns. You make him succeed in whatever work he does. As a result, he has built very large herds of livestock.

But if you attack what he owns and take it away, he will certainly curse you in front of everyone.”

God replied to Satan, “All right, I permit you to take away everything that he has. But do not harm him in his own body.” Satan {agreed and then} left God {in order to carry out his attack on Job}. \*

One day after that, Job’s sons and daughters were attending a feast at the home of the oldest brother.

{While they were doing that,} a messenger arrived at Job’s home. He told Job, “Your oxen were plowing the fields and your donkeys were grazing nearby.

But a group of men, Sabeans, came and attacked us. They killed all of your servants who were working in the fields. They took away all the oxen and donkeys! I am the only one who has escaped to come and tell you what happened.” \*

While he was still talking to Job, another messenger arrived. He said to Job, “Lightning from the sky struck and killed all the sheep and all the men who were taking care of them! I am the only one who has escaped to come and tell you what happened.”

While he was still talking to Job, a third messenger arrived. He said to Job, “Three groups of robbers from the region of Chaldea came and attacked us. They stole all the camels and killed all the men who were taking care of them. I am the only one who has escaped to come and tell you what happened.” \*

While he was still talking to Job, a fourth messenger arrived. He said to Job: “Your sons and daughters were feasting in the home of their oldest brother.

Suddenly a very strong wind came from the desert and struck the house. The house collapsed on your sons and daughters and killed them all! I am the only one who has escaped to come and tell you what happened.” \*

Then Job stood up and tore his robe and shaved his head {because he was very sad}. Then he lay down on the ground to worship God.

He said, “When I was born, I was wearing no clothes. When I die, I will not take any clothes with me. It is God who gave me everything that I possessed, and it is God who has taken it all away. I find no fault with God.”

So in spite of all the things that had happened to him, Job did not sin by saying that what God had done was wrong. \*