1There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job. And that man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil.
2And there were born to him seven sons and three daughters.
3His livestock were seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred female donkeys, and a very great household of servants; so that this man was greater than all the sons of the east.
4And his sons would go and hold a feast, each in his house on his day, and they would send and call for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them.
5And when the days of feasting had run their course, Job would send and consecrate them, rising early in the morning and offering burnt offerings according to the number of them all; for Job said, “Perhaps my sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” Thus Job would do all the days.
6Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before Yahweh, and the Accuser also came among them.
7And Yahweh said to the Accuser, “From where have you come?” And the Accuser answered Yahweh and said, “From roaming about on the earth and walking to and fro on it.”
8And Yahweh said to the Accuser, “Have you set your heart upon my servant Job? For there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and turns away from evil.”
9And the Accuser answered Yahweh and said, “Does Job fear God for nothing?
10Have you not yourself put 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 livestock has spread out in the land.
11But stretch out your hand now and touch all that he has, and see if he does not curse you to your face.
12And Yahweh said to the Accuser, “Behold, all that he has is in your hand; only against him do not stretch out your hand.” And the Accuser went out from the presence of Yahweh.
13Now there was a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in the house of their firstborn brother.
14And a messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the female donkeys were grazing beside them,
15when Sheba fell upon them and took them, and they struck down the servants with the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped, only I, to tell you.”
16While this one was still speaking, another came and said, “The fire of God fell from heaven and burned among the sheep and the servants and consumed them; and I alone have escaped, only I, to tell you.”
17While this one was still speaking, another came and said, “The Chaldeans formed three raiding bands and made a raid on the camels and took them, and they struck down the servants with the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped, only I, to tell you.”
18While this one was still speaking, another came and said, “Your sons and your daughters were eating and drinking wine in the house of their firstborn brother,
19and behold, a great wind came from across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young people, and they died; and I alone have escaped, only I, to tell you.”
20Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell to the ground and worshiped.
21And he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I shall return there. Yahweh gave, and Yahweh has taken away; may the name of Yahweh be blessed.”
22In all this Job did not sin, nor did he charge God with wrongdoing.
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