Job, 1

1. 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.

1. Job, a blameless and upright man who feared God and shunned evil, once lived in the land of Uz.

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

2. He had seven sons and three daughters.

3. 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.

3. Owner of seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred donkeys and a large number of servants, he was considered the greatest man among the people of the East.

4. 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.

4. His sons used to take turns holding banquets in their homes and they would invite their three sisters to dine and drink with them.

5. 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.

5. After each series of banquets, Job would send for his sons and daughters and have them purified. He would rise early in the morning, offer a holocaust for each of his children, thinking, "Perhaps they have sinned and blasphemed God in their hearts." This had been quite a routine for Job.

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

6. One day the sons of God came to present themselves before Yahweh, and Satan came with them.

7. 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.

7. Yahweh asked Satan, "Where have you been?" Satan answered, "Going up and down the earth, roaming about."

8. 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?

8. Yahweh asked again, "Have you noticed my servant Job? No one on earth is as blameless and upright as he, a man who fears God and avoids evil."

9. Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought?

9. But Satan returned the question, "Does Job fear God for nothing?

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.

10. Have you not built a protective wall around him and his family and all his possessions? You have blessed and prospered him, with his livestock all over the land.

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

11. But stretch out your hand and strike where his riches are, and I bet he will curse you to your 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.

12. Yahweh said to Satan, "Very well, all that he has is in your power. But do not lay a finger upon the man himself." So Satan left the presence of Yahweh.

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

13. One day, while his sons and daughters were feasting in the house of their eldest brother,

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

14. a messenger came to Job and said, "Your oxen were plowing, and your donkeys were grazing nearby

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.

15. when the Sabaeans came and carried them off. They killed the herdsmen. I alone escaped to tell you."

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.

16. While he was still speaking, another messenger came, "God's fire fell from the sky and burned all your sheep and the shepherds as well. I alone have escaped to tell you."

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.

17. He had hardly finished speaking when another messenger arrived, "Three raiding teams of Chaldeans have killed your servants and carried off your camels. I alone have escaped to tell you."

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:

18. He was still speaking when a third messenger came and said to Job, "Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking in the house of their eldest brother

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.

19. when suddenly a great wind blew across the desert and struck the house. It collapsed on the young people and they all died. I alone have escaped to tell you."

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

20. In grief Job tore his clothes and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground and worshiped,

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.

21. saying, "Naked I came from my mother's womb, naked shall I return. Yahweh gave, Yahweh has taken away. Blessed be his name!"

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

22. In spite of this calamity, Job did not sin by blaspheming God.