Dual PanelPrologue
1THERE lived in the land of Uz a man of blameless and upright life named Job, who feared God and set his face against wrongdoing.
2He had seven sons and three daughters;
3and he owned seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she-donkeys, together with a large number of slaves. Thus Job was the greatest man in all the East.
4His sons used to meet together and give, each in turn, a banquet in his own house, and they would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them.
5Then, when a round of banquets was over, Job would send for his children and sanctify them, rising early in the morning and sacrificing a whole-offering for each of them; for he thought that they might somehow have sinned against God and committed blasphemy in their hearts. This Job did regularly.
6The day came when the members of the court of heaven took their places in the presence of the LORD, and the Adversary, Satan, was there among them.
7The LORD asked him where he had been. “Ranging over the earth”, said the Adversary, “from end to end.”
8The LORD asked him, “Have you considered my servant Job? You will find no one like him on earth, a man of blameless and upright life, who fears God and sets his face against wrongdoing.”
9“Has not Job good reason to be godfearing?” answered the Adversary.
10“Have you not hedged him round on every side with your protection, him and his family and all his possessions? Whatever he does you bless, and everywhere his herds have increased beyond measure.
11But just stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and see if he will not curse you to your face.”
12“Very well,” said the LORD. “All that he has is in your power; only the man himself you must not touch.” With that the Adversary left the LORD's presence.
13On the day when Job's sons and daughters were eating and drinking in the eldest brother's house,
14a messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were ploughing and the donkeys were grazing near them,
15when the Sabaeans swooped down and carried them off, after putting the herdsmen to the sword; only I have escaped to bring you the news.”
16While he was still speaking, another messenger arrived and said, “God's fire flashed from heaven, striking the sheep and the shepherds and burning them up; only I have escaped to bring you the news.”
17While he was still speaking, another arrived and said, “The Chaldaeans, three bands of them, have made a raid on the camels and carried them off, after putting those tending them to the sword; only I have escaped to bring you the news.”
18While this man was speaking, yet another arrived and said, “Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking in their eldest brother's house,
19when suddenly a whirlwind swept across from the desert and struck the four corners of the house, which fell on the young people. They are dead, and only I have escaped to bring you the news.”
20At this Job stood up, tore his cloak, shaved his head, and threw himself prostrate on the ground,
21saying: “Naked I came from the womb, naked I shall return whence I came. The LORD gives and the LORD takes away; blessed be the name of the LORD.”
22Throughout all this Job did not sin, nor did he ascribe any fault to God.