1There was a man named Job in the land of Uz. He was a man who showed no fault, was honest, feared God, and stayed away from evil.
2He had seven sons and three daughters.
3He owned seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred pairs of oxen, five hundred female donkeys, and a very large household. This made him the wealthiest man among all the people of the east.
4His sons would go and hold a feast at each of their houses on their birthday. They would send for their three sisters to eat and drink with them.
5When the days of their feasting were over, Job would send for them and make them pure. Early in the morning, he would offer burnt sacrifices for each of them, because Job thought, "Perhaps my sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts." Job did this regularly.
6One day, the sons of God came to present themselves before Yahweh, and Satan also came with them.
7Yahweh asked Satan, "Where have you come from?" Satan answered Yahweh, "From roaming through the earth and walking back and forth in it."
8Yahweh said to Satan, "Have you thought about my servant Job? There is no one else like him on earth—a man who shows no fault, is honest, fears God, and stays away from evil."
9Then Satan answered Yahweh, "Does Job fear God for no reason?
10Haven't you put a protective wall around him, his house, and everything he owns? You have blessed everything he does, and his wealth has increased in the land.
11But just reach out now and harm everything he has, and he will curse you to your face.
12Yahweh said to Satan, “Look, everything he has is in your power. Just don’t harm him personally.” So Satan left Yahweh’s presence.
13One day, when Job’s sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house,
14a messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys were grazing nearby,
15when the Sabeans attacked and took them away. They killed the servants with swords, and I am the only one who escaped to tell you.”
16While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, “God’s fire fell from the sky and burned up the sheep and the servants, consuming them. I am the only one who escaped to tell you.”
17While he was still speaking, yet another messenger came and said, “The Chaldeans formed three groups and raided the camels, taking them away. They also killed the servants with swords, and I am the only one who escaped to tell you.”
18While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, “Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house,
19when suddenly a strong wind came from the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on the young people, and they are dead. I am the only one who escaped to tell you.”
20Then Job stood up, tore his robe, shaved his head, fell to the ground, and worshiped.
21He said, “I came naked from my mother’s womb, and naked I will return there. Yahweh gave, and Yahweh has taken away. May Yahweh’s name be praised.”
22Through all of this, Job did not sin or blame God for anything.