A blameless man in the land of Uz
1There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job. That man was blameless and upright; he feared God and turned away from evil. 2Seven sons and three daughters were born to him. 3His livestock came to seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen and five hundred female donkeys, and he had a very large household. This man was the greatest of all the people of the East. 4His sons used to go and hold a feast in the house of each one on his own day, and they would send word and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. 5And when the days of feasting had gone round, Job would send for them and consecrate them. He would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings, one for each of them, for Job said, “Perhaps my sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” This is what Job did, always. 6One day the sons of God came to present themselves before Yahweh, and the Adversary came among them as well. 7Yahweh said to the Adversary, “Where have you come from?” The Adversary answered Yahweh, “From roaming the earth and walking up and down in it.” 8Yahweh said to the Adversary, “Have you set your heart on my servant Job? There is no one like him on earth: a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil.” 9The Adversary answered Yahweh, “Is it for nothing that Job fears God? 10Have you not put a hedge around him and around his house and around everything he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his livestock has spread across the land. 11But stretch out your hand and touch all that he has — surely he will curse you to your face.” 12Yahweh said to the Adversary, “See, everything he has is in your hand; only against him do not stretch out your hand.” And the Adversary went out from the presence of Yahweh.
Four messengers in a single day
13One day, while his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in the house of their eldest brother, 14a messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys were grazing beside them, 15when the Sabeans fell on them and carried them off. They struck down the young men with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” 16He was still speaking when another came and said, “The fire of God fell from the sky and burned among the sheep and the young men and consumed them, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” 17He was still speaking when another came and said, “The Chaldeans formed three companies, made a raid on the camels and carried them off. They struck down the young men with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” 18He was still speaking when another came and said, “Your sons and your daughters were eating and drinking wine in the house of their eldest brother, 19when a great wind came from beyond the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It fell on the young people and they are dead, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” 20Then Job stood up, tore his robe and shaved his head. He fell to the ground and bowed low, 21and he said, “Naked I came out of my mother’s womb, and naked I will return there. Yahweh gave and Yahweh has taken away; may the name of Yahweh be blessed.” 22In all this Job did not sin, and he charged God with no wrongdoing.
