1:1¹ There was a man² in the land of Uz³ whose⁴ name was Job.⁵ And that man was pure⁶ and upright,⁷ one who feared God and turned away from evil.⁸ 1:2 Seven⁹ sons and three daughters were born to him.¹⁰ 1:3 And his possessions¹¹ included seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred female donkeys; in addition he had a very great household.¹² And that man was the greatest of all the people in the east.¹³

1:4 Now, his sons used to go¹⁴ and hold¹⁵ a feast in the house of each one on his day,¹⁶ and they would send and invite¹⁷ their three sisters to eat and to drink with them. 1:5 When¹⁸ the days of their feasting were finished,¹⁹ Job would send²⁰ for them and sanctify them; he would rise up early²¹ in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to²² the number of all of them. For Job thought, “Perhaps²³ my sons have sinned and cursed²⁴ God in their hearts.” Thus Job always did.²⁵

1:6 Now the day came when²⁷ the sons of God²⁸ came to present themselves before²⁹ Yahweh—and Satan³⁰ also came among them. 1:7 And Yahweh said to Satan, “From where do you come?”³¹ And Satan answered Yahweh and said, “From roving about³² in the earth, and from walking up and down³³ in it.” 1:8 And Yahweh said to Satan, “Have you considered³⁴ my servant Job, for there is no one like him on the earth, a pure and upright man, one who fears God and turns away³⁵ from evil?”

1:9 Then Satan answered Yahweh and said, “Is it for nothing that Job fears God?³⁶ 1:10 Have you³⁷ not made a hedge³⁸ around him, and his house, and all that he has on every side? You have blessed³⁹ the work of his hands, and his cattle⁴⁰ have increased⁴¹ in the land. 1:11 But⁴² put stretch out your hand and strike⁴³ all that he has, and he will indeed⁴⁴ curse you⁴⁵ to your face!”

1:12 So Yahweh said to Satan, “Alright then,⁴⁶ all that he has is⁴⁷ in your power.⁴⁸ Only upon himself⁴⁹ do not stretch forth your hand.” So Satan went out⁵⁰ from the presence of Yahweh.⁵¹

1:13 Now the day came when⁵³ when his sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in the house of their eldest brother, 1:14 and a messenger came to Job, saying, “The cattle were plowing⁵⁴ and the donkeys grazing beside them 1:15 and the Sabaeans⁵⁵ swooped down⁵⁶ and have taken them all away; and the servants they killed⁵⁷ with the sword.⁵⁸ And I, only I,⁵⁹ escaped alone to tell you.”

1:16 While this one was still speaking⁶⁰ another arrived⁶¹ and said, “The fire of God⁶² has fallen from heaven and has burned up the sheep and the servants—it has consumed them. And I, only I, escaped alone to tell you.”

1:17 While this one was still speaking another arrived and said, “The Chaldeans⁶³ formed three companies and made a raid⁶⁴ on the camels and have taken them all away; and the servants they killed with the sword.⁶⁵ And I, only I, escaped alone to tell you.”

1:18 While this one was still speaking another arrived and said, “Your sons and your daughters were eating and drinking wine in the house of their eldest brother, 1:19 and suddenly⁶⁶ there came a great wind across⁶⁷ the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young people, and they died. And I, only I, escaped alone to tell you.”

1:20 Then Job got up⁶⁸ and tore his robe.⁶⁹ He shaved his head.⁷⁰ And then he fell down to the ground and prostrated himself.⁷¹ 1:21 And he said, “Naked⁷² I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will return there.⁷³ Yahweh gives, and Yahweh takes away.⁷⁴ May the name of Yahweh⁷⁵ be blessed.” 1:22 In all this Job did not sin, and neither did he charge God with moral impropriety.⁷⁶