| Holman Christian Standard Bible | New Living Translation |
| 1There was a man in the country of Uz named Job. He was a man of perfect integrity, 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. |
| 2He had seven sons and three daughters. | 2He had seven sons and three daughters. |
| 3His estate included 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, 500 female donkeys, and a very large number of servants. Job was the greatest man among 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 take turns having banquets at their homes. They would send an invitation to 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. |
| 5Whenever a round of banqueting was over, Job would send for his children and purify them, rising early in the morning to offer burnt offerings for all of them. For Job thought: Perhaps my children have sinned, having cursed God in their hearts. This was Job's regular practice. | 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. |
| 6One day the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came with 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 asked Satan, "Where have you come from?" "From roaming through the earth," Satan answered Him, "and walking around 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." |
| 8Then the LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered My servant Job? No one else on earth is like him, a man of perfect integrity, 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." |
| 9Satan answered the LORD, "Does Job fear God for nothing? | 9Satan replied to the LORD, "Yes, but Job has good reason to fear God. |
| 10Haven't You placed a hedge around him, his household, and everything he owns? 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 strike everything he owns, and he will surely curse You to Your face." | 11But reach out and take away everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face!" |
| 12"Very well," the LORD told Satan, "everything he owns is in your power. However, you must not lay a hand on Job himself." So Satan left the LORD's presence. | 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. |
| 13One day when Job's 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, |
| 14a messenger came to Job and reported: "While the oxen were plowing and the donkeys grazing nearby, | 14a messenger arrived at Job's home with this news: "Your oxen were plowing, with the donkeys feeding beside them, |
| 15the Sabeans swooped down and took them away. They struck down the servants with 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." |
| 16He was still speaking when another messenger came and reported: "A lightning storm struck from heaven. It burned up the sheep and the servants and devoured 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." |
| 17That messenger was still speaking when yet another came and reported: "The Chaldeans formed three bands, made a raid on the camels, and took them away. They struck down the servants with 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." |
| 18He was still speaking when another messenger came and reported: "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. |
| 19Suddenly a powerful wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on the young people so that they died, 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 stood up, tore his robe, and shaved his head. He fell to 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. |
| 21saying: Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will leave this life. The LORD gives, and the LORD takes away. Praise the name of Yahweh. | 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!" |
| 22Throughout all this Job did not sin or blame God for anything. | 22In all of this, Job did not sin by blaming God. |
| Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. | Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007.
Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All Rights Reserved. |
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