Job’s Character and Wealth

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 Seven sons and three daughters were born to him. 3 His possessions also were 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, 500 female donkeys, and a very great household, so that this man was the greatest of all the people of the east.

4 His sons used to hold a feast in the house of each one on his birthday, and they invited and sent 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 all of them. For Job said,’ “It may be that my sons have sinned, and renounced God in their hearts.”

Job did this continually.

Satan’s First Attack

6 Now on the day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, Satan also came among them. 7 The Lord asked 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 God 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 possessions have 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, “All that he has is in your power, except on Job himself, do not lay a hand.”

So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.

Job Loses his Children and Property

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 there came a messenger 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, there also came another, who said, “The fire of God has fallen from heaven 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, there came also another, who 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, who said, “Your sons and your daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, 19 and 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 from my mother’s womb, and naked will I return there. The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.”

22 In all this, Job did not sin, nor charge God with wrongdoing.

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