| English Standard Version | New Living Translation |
| 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. | 1There once was a man named Job who lived in the land of Uz. He was blameless—a man of complete integrity. He feared God and stayed away from evil. |
| 2There were born to him seven sons and three daughters. | 2He had seven sons and three daughters. |
| 3He possessed 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, and 500 female donkeys, and very many servants, so that this man was the greatest of all the people of the east. | 3He owned 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 teams of oxen, and 500 female donkeys. He also had many servants. He was, in fact, the richest person in that entire area. |
| 4His sons used to go and hold a feast in the house of each one on his day, and they would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. | 4Job’s sons would take turns preparing feasts in their homes, and they would also invite their three sisters to celebrate with them. |
| 5And when the days of the feast had run their course, Job would send and consecrate them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, “It may be that my children have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts.” Thus Job did continually. | 5When these celebrations ended—sometimes after several days—Job would purify his children. He would get up early in the morning and offer a burnt offering for each of them. For Job said to himself, “Perhaps my children have sinned and have cursed God in their hearts.” This was Job’s regular practice. Job’s First Test |
| 6Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them. | 6One day the members of the heavenly court came to present themselves before the LORD, and the Accuser, Satan, came with them. |
| 7The LORD said to Satan, “From where have you come?” Satan answered the LORD and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.” | 7“Where have you come from?” the LORD asked Satan. Satan answered the LORD, “I have been patrolling the earth, watching everything that’s going on.” |
| 8And the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?” | 8Then the LORD asked Satan, “Have you noticed my servant Job? He is the finest man in all the earth. He is blameless—a man of complete integrity. He fears God and stays away from evil.” |
| 9Then Satan answered the LORD and said, “Does Job fear God for no reason? | 9Satan replied to the LORD, “Yes, but Job has good reason to fear God. |
| 10Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. | 10You have always put a wall of protection around him and his home and his property. You have made him prosper in everything he does. Look how rich he is! |
| 11But stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face.” | 11But reach out and take away everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face!” |
| 12And the LORD said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand.” So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD. | 12“All right, you may test him,” the LORD said to Satan. “Do whatever you want with everything he possesses, but don’t harm him physically.” So Satan left the LORD’s presence. |
| 13Now there was a day when his sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, | 13One day when Job’s sons and daughters were feasting at the oldest brother’s house, |
| 14and there came a messenger to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding beside them, | 14a messenger arrived at Job’s home with this news: “Your oxen were plowing, with the donkeys feeding beside them, |
| 15and the Sabeans fell upon them and took them and struck down the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” | 15when the Sabeans raided us. They stole all the animals and killed all the farmhands. I am the only one who escaped to tell you.” |
| 16While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, “The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants and consumed them, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” | 16While he was still speaking, another messenger arrived with this news: “The fire of God has fallen from heaven and burned up your sheep and all the shepherds. I am the only one who escaped to tell you.” |
| 17While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, “The Chaldeans formed three groups and made a raid on the camels and took them and struck down the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” | 17While he was still speaking, a third messenger arrived with this news: “Three bands of Chaldean raiders have stolen your camels and killed your servants. I am the only one who escaped to tell you.” |
| 18While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, “Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, | 18While he was still speaking, another messenger arrived with this news: “Your sons and daughters were feasting in their oldest brother’s home. |
| 19and behold, a great wind came across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young people, and they are dead, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” | 19Suddenly, a powerful wind swept in from the wilderness and hit the house on all sides. The house collapsed, and all your children are dead. I am the only one who escaped to tell you.” |
| 20Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped. | 20Job stood up and tore his robe in grief. Then he shaved his head and fell to the ground to worship. |
| 21And he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.” | 21He said, “I came naked from my mother’s womb, and I will be naked when I leave. The LORD gave me what I had, and the LORD has taken it away. Praise the name of the LORD!” |
| 22In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong. | 22In all of this, Job did not sin by blaming God. |
| ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved. | Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. |
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