Job and His Family
1 There was a man in the country of Uznamed Job.He was a man of perfect integrity,who feared God and turned away from evil.
2 He had seven sons and three daughters.
3 His 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.
4 His 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.
5 Whenever a round of banqueting was over, Job would send for his children and purify them, rising early in the morning to offer burnt offerings forall of them. For Job thought: Perhaps my children have sinned, having cursed God in their hearts.This was Job’s regular practice.
Satan’s First Test of Job
6 One day the sons of Godcame to present themselves before theLord, and Satanalso came with them.
7 TheLordasked Satan, “Where have you come from? ”
“From roaming through the earth,”Satan answered Him, “and walking around on it.”
8 Then theLordsaid 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.”
9 Satan answered theLord, “Does Job fear God for nothing?
10 Haven’t You placed a hedge aroundhim, his household, and everything he owns? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land.
11 But stretch out Your hand and strikeeverything he owns, and he will surely curse You to Your face.”
12 “Very well,” theLordtold Satan, “everything he owns is in your power. However, you must not lay a hand on Job himself.” So Satan left theLord’s presence.
13 One day when Job’s sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house,
14 a messenger came to Job and reported: “While the oxen were plowing and the donkeys grazing nearby,
15 the Sabeansswooped down and took them away. They struck down the servants with the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you! ”
16 He was still speaking when another messenger came and reported: “A lightning stormstruck from heaven.It burned up the sheep and the servants and devoured them, and I alone have escaped to tell you! ”
17 That 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! ”
18 He was still speaking when another messenger came and reported: “Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house.
19 Suddenly 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! ”
20 Then Job stood up, torehis robe, and shavedhis head.He fell to the ground and worshiped,
21 saying:
Naked I came from my mother’s womb,
and naked I will leave this life.
TheLordgives, and theLordtakes away.
Praise the name of Yahweh.
22 Throughout all this Job did not sin or blame God for anything.
—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/JOB/1-e5c7dbbf774c35a0e69a0cfb97845f5d.mp3?version_id=72—