| Berean Study Bible | New Living Translation |
| 1There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job. And this man was blameless and upright, fearing God and shunning 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. |
| 3and he owned 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 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. |
| 4Job’s sons would take turns holding feasts in their homes, and they would 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 feasting were over, Job would send for his children to purify them, rising early in the morning to offer burnt offerings for all of them. For Job thought, “Perhaps my children have sinned and 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. Job’s First Test |
| 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. |
| 7“Where have you come from?” said the LORD to Satan. “From roaming through the earth,” he replied, “and walking back and forth in 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? For there is no one on earth like him, a man who is blameless and upright, who fears God and shuns 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. |
| 10Have You not placed a hedge on every side around him and his household and all that 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 all that he has, 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,” said the LORD to Satan. “Everything he has is in your hands, but you must not lay a hand on the man himself.” Then 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. |
| 13One day, while 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 and reported to Job: “While the oxen were plowing and the donkeys were 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 put the servants to 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 still speaking, another messenger came and reported: “The fire of God fell from heaven. It burned and consumed the sheep and the servants, 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 still speaking, another messenger came and reported: “The Chaldeans formed three bands, raided the camels, and took them away. They put the servants to 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 still speaking, 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. |
| 19when suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on 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 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 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 wrongdoing. | 22In all of this, Job did not sin by blaming God. |
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