1:1 There was a man ³  in the land of Uz ⁴  whose ⁵  name was Job. ⁶  And that man was pure ⁷  and upright, ⁸  one who feared God and turned away from evil. ⁹  1:2 Seven ¹⁰  sons and three daughters were born to him. ¹¹  1:3 His possessions ¹²  included ¹³  7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, and 500 female donkeys; in addition he had a very great household. ¹⁴  Thus he ¹⁵  was the greatest of all the people in the east. ¹⁶ 

1:4 Now his sons used to go ¹⁷  and hold ¹⁸  a feast in the house of each one in turn, ¹⁹  and they would send and invite ²⁰  their three ²¹  sisters to eat and to drink with them. 1:5 When ²²  the days of their feasting were finished, ²³  Job would send ²⁴  for them and sanctify ²⁵  them; he would get up early ²⁶  in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to ²⁷  the number of them all. For Job thought, “Perhaps ²⁸  my children ²⁹  have sinned and cursed ³⁰  God in their hearts.” This was Job’s customary practice. ³¹ 

1:6 Now the day came when ³³  the sons of God ³⁴  came to present themselves before ³⁵  the Lord – and Satan ³⁶  also arrived among them. 1:7 The Lord said to Satan, “Where have you come from?” ³⁷  And Satan answered the Lord, ³⁸  “From roving about ³⁹  on the earth, and from walking back and forth across it.” ⁴⁰  1:8 So the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered ⁴¹  my servant Job? There ⁴²  is no one like him on the earth, a pure and upright man, one who fears God and turns away ⁴³  from evil.”

1:9 Then Satan answered the Lord, “Is it for nothing that Job fears God? ⁴⁴  1:10 Have you ⁴⁵  not made a hedge ⁴⁶  around him and his household and all that he has on every side? You have blessed ⁴⁷  the work of his hands, and his livestock ⁴⁸  have increased ⁴⁹  in the land. 1:11 But ⁵⁰  extend your hand and strike ⁵¹  everything he has, and he will no doubt ⁵²  curse you ⁵³  to your face!”

1:12 So the Lord said to Satan, “All right then, ⁵⁴  everything he has is ⁵⁵  in your power. ⁵⁶  Only do not extend your hand against the man himself!” ⁵⁷  So Satan went out ⁵⁸  from the presence of the Lord. ⁵⁹ 

1:13 Now the day ⁶¹  came when Job’s ⁶²  sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, 1:14 and a messenger came to Job, saying, “The oxen were plowing ⁶³  and the donkeys were grazing beside them, 1:15 and the Sabeans ⁶⁴  swooped down ⁶⁵  and carried them all away, and they killed ⁶⁶  the servants with the sword! ⁶⁷  And I – only I alone ⁶⁸  – escaped to tell you!”

1:16 While this one was still speaking, ⁶⁹  another messenger arrived ⁷⁰  and said, “The fire of God ⁷¹  has fallen from heaven ⁷²  and has burned up the sheep and the servants – it has consumed them! And I – only I alone – escaped to tell you!”

1:17 While this one was still speaking another messenger arrived and said, “The Chaldeans ⁷³  formed three bands and made a raid ⁷⁴  on the camels and carried them all away, and they killed the servants with the sword! ⁷⁵  And I – only I alone – escaped to tell you!”

1:18 While this one was still speaking another messenger arrived and said, “Your sons and your daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, 1:19 and suddenly ⁷⁶  a great wind ⁷⁷  swept across ⁷⁸  the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young people, and they died! And I – only I alone – escaped to tell you!”

1:20 Then Job got up ⁷⁹  and tore his robe. ⁸⁰  He shaved his head, ⁸¹  and then he threw himself down with his face to the ground. ⁸²  1:21 He said, “Naked ⁸³  I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will return there. ⁸⁴  The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away. ⁸⁵  May the name of the Lord ⁸⁶  be blessed!” 1:22 In all this Job did not sin, nor did he charge God with moral impropriety. ⁸⁷