There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil.

And there were born unto him seven sons and three daughters.

His substance also was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she asses, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the men of the east.

And his sons went and feasted in their houses, every one his day; and sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them.

And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually.

Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them.

And the Lord said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.

And the Lord said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?

Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought?

10 Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.

11 But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.

12 And the Lord said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the Lord.

13 And there was a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house:

14 And there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them:

15 And the Sabeans fell upon them, and took them away; yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.

16 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.

17 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The Chaldeans made out three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have carried them away, yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.

18 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, Thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house:

19 And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.

20 Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped,

21 And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.

22 In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.

Job

1 The holiness, riches, and care of Job for his children. 10 Satan hath permission to tempt him. 13 He tempteth him by taking away his substance, and his children. 20 His faith and patience.

There was a man in the land of [a]Uz called Job, and this man [b]was an upright and just man, [c]one that feared God, and eschewed evil.

And he had seven sons, and three daughters.

His [d]substance also was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she asses, and his family was very great, so that this man was the greatest of all the [e]men of [f]the East.

And his sons went and banqueted in their houses, every one his day, and sent, and called their three sisters to eat and to drink with them.

And when the days of their banqueting were gone about, Job sent, and [g]sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and [h]offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job thought, It may be that my sons have sinned, and [i]blasphemed God in their hearts, thus did Job [j]every day.

¶ Now on a day when the [k]children of God came and stood [l]before the Lord, Satan [m]came also among them.

Then the Lord said unto Satan, Whence [n]comest thou? And Satan answered the Lord, saying, [o]From compassing the earth to and fro, and from walking in it.

And the Lord said unto Satan, Hast thou not considered my servant Job, how none is like him in the earth? an upright and just man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?

Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, Doth Job fear God for [p]nought?

10 Hast thou not made [q]an hedge about him and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.

11 But stretch out now thine hand and [r]touch all that he hath, to see if he will not blaspheme thee [s]to thy face.

12 Then the Lord said unto Satan, Lo, all that he hath is in [t]thine hand: only upon himself shalt thou not stretch out thine hand. So Satan departed from the [u]presence of the Lord.

13 ¶ And on a day, when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house,

14 There came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding in their places,

15 And the [v]Sabeans came violently, and took them: yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword: but I only am escaped alone to tell thee.

16 And while he was yet speaking, another came, and said, The [w]fire of God is fallen from the heaven, and hath burnt up the sheep and the servants, and devoured them: but I only am escaped alone to tell thee.

17 And while he was yet speaking, another came, and said, The Chaldeans set on three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have taken them, and have slain the servants with the edge of the sword: but I only am escaped alone to tell thee.

18 And while he was yet speaking, came another, and said, Thy [x]sons, and thy daughters were eating, and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house,

19 And behold, there came a great wind from beyond the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, which fell upon the children, and they are dead, and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.

20 Then Job arose, and [y]rent his garment, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped,

21 And said, (A)Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return [z]thither: the Lord hath given, and the Lord hath taken it: [aa]blessed be the Name of the Lord.

22 In all this did not Job sin, nor charge God [ab]foolishly.

Footnotes

  1. Job 1:1 That is, of the country of Idumea, as Lam. 4:21, or bordering thereupon: for the land was called by the name of Uz, the son of Dishan the son of Seir, Gen. 36:28.
  2. Job 1:1 Forasmuch as he was a Gentile, and not a Jew, and yet is pronounced upright, and without hypocrisy, it declareth that among the heathen God hath his.
  3. Job 1:1 Hereby is declared, what is meant by an upright and just man.
  4. Job 1:3 His children and riches are declared, to commend his virtue in his prosperity and his patience, and constancy, when God had taken them from him.
  5. Job 1:3 Hebrew, children.
  6. Job 1:3 Meaning, the Arabians, Chaldeans, Idumeans, etc.
  7. Job 1:5 That is, commanded them to be sanctified: meaning, that they should consider the faults that they had committed, and reconcile themselves for the same.
  8. Job 1:5 That is, he offered for every one of his children an offering of reconciliation, which declared his religion toward God, and the care that he had toward his children.
  9. Job 1:5 In Hebrew it is, and blessed God, which is sometimes taken for blaspheming and cursing, as here and 1 Kings 21:10, 13, etc.
  10. Job 1:5 While the feast lasted.
  11. Job 1:6 Meaning, the Angels, which are called the sons of God, because they are willing to execute his will.
  12. Job 1:6 Because our infirmity cannot comprehend God in his majesty, he is set forth unto us as a King, that our capacity may be able to understand that which is spoken of him.
  13. Job 1:6 This declareth, that although Satan be adversary to God, yet he is compelled to obey him, and do him all homage, without whose permission and appointment he can do nothing.
  14. Job 1:7 This question is asked for our infirmity: for God knew whence he came.
  15. Job 1:7 Herein is described the nature of Satan, which is ever ranging for his prey, 1 Pet. 5:8.
  16. Job 1:9 He feareth thee not for thine own sake, but for the commodity that he received by thee.
  17. Job 1:10 Meaning, the grace of God, which served Job as a rampart against all tentations.
  18. Job 1:11 This signifieth, that Satan is not able to touch us, but it is God that must do it.
  19. Job 1:11 Satan noteth the vice whereunto men are commonly subject, that is, to hide their rebellion, and to be content with God in the time of prosperity, which view is disclosed in the time of their adversity.
  20. Job 1:12 God giveth not Satan power over man to gratify him, but to declare that he hath no power over man, but that which God giveth him.
  21. Job 1:12 That is, went to execute that which God had permitted him to do: for else he can never go out of God’s presence.
  22. Job 1:15 That is, the Arabians.
  23. Job 1:16 Which thing was also done by the craft of Satan, to tempt Job the more grievously, forasmuch as he might see, that not only men were his enemies, but that God made war against him.
  24. Job 1:18 This last plague declareth, that when one plague is past which seemeth hard to be borne, God can send us another far more grievous, to try his, and teach them obedience.
  25. Job 1:20 Which came not of impatience, but declareth that the children of God are not insensible like blocks, but that in their patience they feel affliction and grief of mind: yet they keep a mean herein, and rebel not against God, as the wicked do.
  26. Job 1:21 That is, into the belly of the earth, which is the mother of all.
  27. Job 1:21 Hereby he confesseth that God is just, and good, although his hand be sore upon him.
  28. Job 1:22 But declared that God did all things according to justice and equity.