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Job, the Good Man

A man named Job lived in the land of Uz [C east of Israel in Edom (present-day Jordan); Lam. 4:21]. He was an ·honest [innocent; blameless; Prov. 2:7, 21] and ·innocent [virtuous; Prov. 1:3] man; he ·honored [feared; respected] God [28:28; Prov. 1:7] and stayed away from evil [C these terms are used to describe the wise in Proverbs]. Job had seven sons and three daughters [C indicating a large and complete family]. He owned seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred teams of oxen, and five hundred female donkeys. He also had a large number of servants. He was the ·greatest [or richest] man among all the people of the East [C the expected reward of wisdom].

Job’s sons took turns holding feasts [L on their day; C perhaps birthday celebrations] in their homes and invited their sisters to eat and drink with them. After a feast was over, Job would send and have them ·made clean [consecrated; made holy]. Early in the morning Job would offer a burnt offering [C an atonement offering; Lev. 1:1–17] for each of them, because he thought, “My children may have sinned and ·cursed [L blessed; C a euphemism for “cursed”] God in their hearts.” Job did this every time.

Satan Appears Before the Lord

One day the ·angels [L sons of God] came to ·show themselves [stand] before the Lord, and ·Satan [L the Satan; C means “the Accuser” or “the Adversary”; either the Devil or a member of God’s heavenly court] was with them. The Lord said to Satan, “Where have you come from?”

Satan [1:6] answered the Lord, “I have been ·wandering around [roaming] the earth, ·going back and forth in [patrolling] it.”

Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you noticed [considered; L set your heart on] my servant Job? No one else on earth is like him. He is an honest and innocent man, honoring God and staying away from evil [1:1].”

But Satan [1:6] answered the Lord, “·Job honors God for a good reason [L Does Job honor/fear/respect God for no good reason?]. 10 ·You have [L Don’t you…?] put a ·wall [hedge; C to protect from danger] around him, his family, and everything he owns. You have blessed ·the things he has done [L all the works of his hands]. His flocks and herds ·are so large they almost cover [L burst forth on] the land. 11 But ·reach out [stretch forth] your hand and ·destroy [afflict] everything he has, and [L see if] he will curse you to your face.”

12 The Lord said to Satan [1:6], “All right, then. Everything Job has is in your ·power [L hand], but ·you must not touch Job himself [L but don’t send your hand against him].” Then Satan [1:6] left the Lord’s presence.

13 One day Job’s sons and daughters were ·eating and drinking wine [feasting; celebrating] together at the ·oldest [L firstborn] brother’s house. 14 A messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys were eating grass nearby, 15 when the Sabeans [C a people from southern Arabia] attacked and carried them away. They killed the servants with swords, and I am the only one who escaped to tell you!”

16 The messenger was still speaking when another messenger arrived and said, “·Lightning [L Fire] from God fell from ·the sky [heaven]. It burned up the sheep and the servants, and I am the only one who escaped to tell you!”

17 The second messenger was still speaking when another messenger arrived and said, “The ·Babylonians [L Chaldeans; C a people located in present-day southern Iraq] sent three ·groups of attackers [raiding parties] that swept down and stole your camels and killed the servants [L with the sword]. I am the only one who escaped to tell you!”

18 The third messenger was still speaking when another messenger arrived and said, “Your sons and daughters were ·eating and drinking wine [feasting; celebrating] together at the ·oldest [L firstborn] brother’s house. 19 Suddenly a ·great [strong; mighty] wind came from the desert, hitting all four corners of the house at once. The house fell in on the young people, and they are all dead. I am the only one who escaped to tell you!”

20 When Job heard this, he got up and tore his robe and shaved his head [C ancient mourning customs]. Then he bowed down to the ground to worship God. 21 He said:

“I was naked when I ·was born [L came from my mother’s womb],
    and I will be naked when I ·die [L return there].
The Lord gave these things to me,
    and he has taken them away.
    ·Praise [Blessed be] the name of the Lord.”

22 In all this Job did not sin or blame God.

Prologue

In the land of Uz(A) there lived a man whose name was Job.(B) This man was blameless(C) and upright;(D) he feared God(E) and shunned evil.(F) He had seven sons(G) and three daughters,(H) and he owned seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen and five hundred donkeys,(I) and had a large number of servants.(J) He was the greatest man(K) among all the people of the East.(L)

His sons used to hold feasts(M) in their homes on their birthdays, and they would invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. When a period of feasting had run its course, Job would make arrangements for them to be purified.(N) Early in the morning he would sacrifice a burnt offering(O) for each of them, thinking, “Perhaps my children have sinned(P) and cursed God(Q) in their hearts.” This was Job’s regular custom.

One day the angels[a](R) came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan[b](S) also came with them.(T) The Lord said to Satan, “Where have you come from?”

Satan answered the Lord, “From roaming throughout the earth, going back and forth on it.”(U)

Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job?(V) There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God(W) and shuns evil.”(X)

“Does Job fear God for nothing?”(Y) Satan replied. 10 “Have you not put a hedge(Z) around him and his household and everything he has?(AA) You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land.(AB) 11 But now stretch out your hand and strike everything he has,(AC) and he will surely curse you to your face.”(AD)

12 The Lord said to Satan, “Very well, then, everything he has(AE) is in your power, but on the man himself do not lay a finger.”(AF)

Then Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.

13 One day when Job’s sons and daughters(AG) were feasting(AH) and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house, 14 a messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys were grazing(AI) nearby, 15 and the Sabeans(AJ) attacked and made off with them. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”

16 While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, “The fire of God fell from the heavens(AK) and burned up the sheep and the servants,(AL) and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”

17 While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, “The Chaldeans(AM) formed three raiding parties and swept down on your camels and made off with them. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”

18 While he was still speaking, yet another messenger came and said, “Your sons and daughters(AN) were feasting(AO) and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house, 19 when suddenly a mighty wind(AP) swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on them and they are dead,(AQ) and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!(AR)

20 At this, Job got up and tore his robe(AS) and shaved his head.(AT) Then he fell to the ground in worship(AU) 21 and said:

“Naked I came from my mother’s womb,
    and naked I will depart.[c](AV)
The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away;(AW)
    may the name of the Lord be praised.”(AX)

22 In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.(AY)

Footnotes

  1. Job 1:6 Hebrew the sons of God
  2. Job 1:6 Hebrew satan means adversary.
  3. Job 1:21 Or will return there