Job’s Character and Greatness

1 There was a man in the land of Uz whose[fn] namewas Job. That[fn] man was blameless and upright and God-fearing and turning away from evil. 2 And seven sons and three daughters were born to him. 3 Then[fn] his livestock came to be seven thousand sheep and goats and three thousand camels and five hundred pairs[fn] of oxen and five hundred female donkeys, and he had very many slaves, and that man was greater than all the people of the east. 4 And his sons used to go and hold a feast at each other’s house[fn] on his day, and they would send, and they would invite their three sisters to eat and to drink with them. 5 Then when[fn] the days of the feast had run their course,Job would send,[fn] and he would sanctify them. Thus[fn] he would arise early in the morning and offer burnt offeringsaccording to the number of all of them, because Job thought,[fn] “Perhaps my children have sinned andcursed[fn] God in their heart.” This is what Job used to doall the time.[fn]

6 And it happened one day[fn]that[fn] the sons of God[fn] came to present themselves before Yahweh, and Satan[fn] also came into their midst.

7 So[fn] Yahweh said to Satan,[fn] “From where have you come?”Then[fn] Satan[fn] answered Yahweh and said, “From roaming on the earth and from walking about in it.”

8 So[fn] Yahweh said to Satan,[fn] “Have youconsidered[fn] my servant Job? Indeed,[fn] there is no one like him on the earth—a blameless man and upright and God-fearing and turning away from evil.”

9 Then[fn] Satan[fn] answered Yahweh and said, “Does Job fear God for nothing? 10 Have you[fn] not put a fence around him and his household and aroundall that belongs to him[fn]on every side?[fn] You have blessed the work of his hands, and his livestock[fn] has increased in the land. 11 But,[fn] on the other hand, stretch out[fn] your hand and touchall that belongs to him[fn]and see whether[fn] he willcurse[fn] you to your face.”

12 So[fn] Yahweh said to Satan,[fn] “Look,all that belongs to him[fn] is in yourpower.[fn] Only do not stretch out your handagainst[fn] him.” So[fn] Satan[fn] went out from Yahweh’spresence.[fn]