Study Desk

There was a man in the country of Uz^(a) named Job.^(b) He was a man of perfect integrity,^(c) who feared God and turned away from evil.^(d)

He had seven sons and three daughters.

His estate included 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, 500 female donkeys, and a very large number of servants. Job was the greatest man among all the people of the east.

His sons used to take turns having banquets at their homes. They would send an invitation to their three sisters to eat and drink with them.

Whenever a round of banqueting was over, Job would send for his children and purify them, rising early in the morning to offer burnt offerings for^[a] all of them. For Job thought: Perhaps my children have sinned, having cursed God in their hearts. This was Job's regular practice.

One day the sons of God^(e) came to present themselves before the Lord , and Satan^[b] also came with them.

The Lord asked Satan, "Where have you come from?" "From roaming through the earth,"^(f) Satan answered Him, "and walking around on it."

Then the Lord said to Satan, "Have you considered My servant Job? No one else on earth is like him, a man of perfect integrity, who fears God and turns away from evil."

Satan answered the Lord , "Does Job fear God for nothing?

Haven't You placed a hedge around^(g) him, his household, and everything he owns? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land.

But stretch out Your hand and strike^(h) everything he owns, and he will surely curse You to Your face."

"Very well," the Lord told Satan, "everything he owns is in your power. However, you must not lay a hand on Job himself." So Satan left the Lord 's presence.

One day when Job's sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother's house,

a messenger came to Job and reported: "While the oxen were plowing and the donkeys grazing nearby,

the Sabeans⁽ⁱ⁾ swooped down and took them away. They struck down the servants with the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you!"

He was still speaking when another messenger came and reported: "A lightning storm^[c] struck from heaven.^(j) It burned up the sheep and the servants and devoured them, and I alone have escaped to tell you!"

That messenger was still speaking when yet another came and reported: "The Chaldeans formed three bands, made a raid on the camels, and took them away. They struck down the servants with the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you!"

He was still speaking when another messenger came and reported: "Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother's house.

Suddenly a powerful wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on the young people so that they died, and I alone have escaped to tell you!"

Then Job stood up, tore^(k) his robe, and shaved^(l) his head.^[d] He fell to the ground and worshiped,

saying: Naked I came from my mother's womb,^(m) and naked I will leave this life.^[e](n) The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away. Praise the name of Yahweh.^(o)

Throughout all this Job did not sin or blame God for anything.^[f](p)