Common English Bible CEB
New King James Version NKJV
1 A man in the land of Uz was named Job. That man was honest, a person of absolute integrity; he feared God and avoided evil.
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There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil.
2 He had seven sons and three daughters,
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And seven sons and three daughters were born to him.
3 and owned seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred pairs of oxen, five hundred female donkeys, and a vast number of servants, so that he was greater than all the people of the east.
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Also, his possessions were seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred female donkeys, and a very large household, so that this man was the greatest of all the people of the East.
4 Each of his sons hosted a feast in his own house on his birthday. They invited their three sisters to eat and drink with them.
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And his sons would go and feast in their houses, each on his appointed day, and would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them.
5 When the days of the feast had been completed, Job would send word and purify his children. Getting up early in the morning, he prepared entirely burned offerings for each one of them, for Job thought, Perhaps my children have sinned and then cursed God in their hearts. Job did this regularly.
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So it was, when the days of feasting had run their course, that Job would send and sanctify them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer 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 Job did regularly.
6 One day the divine beings came to present themselves before the LORD, and the Adversary also came among them.
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Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them.
7 The LORD said to the Adversary, "Where did you come from?" The Adversary answered the LORD, "From wandering throughout the earth."
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And the Lord said to Satan, "From where do you come?" So Satan answered the Lord and said, "From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it."
8 The LORD said to the Adversary, "Have you thought about my servant Job; surely there is no one like him on earth, a man who is honest, who is of absolute integrity, who reveres God and avoids evil?"
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Then the Lord said to Satan, "Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?"
9 The Adversary answered the LORD, "Does Job revere God for nothing?
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So Satan answered the Lord and said, "Does Job fear God for nothing?
10 Haven't you fenced him in—his house and all he has—and blessed the work of his hands so that his possessions extend throughout the earth?
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Have You not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land.
11 But stretch out your hand and strike all he has. He will certainly curse you to your face."
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But now, stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face!"
12 The LORD said to the Adversary, "Look, all he has is within your power; only don't stretch out your hand against him." So the Adversary left the LORD's presence.
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And the Lord said to Satan, "Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on his person." So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.
13 One day Job's sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother's house.
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Now there was a day when his sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother's house;
14 A messenger came to Job and said: "The oxen were plowing, and the donkeys were grazing nearby
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and a messenger came to Job and said, "The oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding beside them,
15 when the Sabeans took them and killed the young men with swords. I alone escaped to tell you."
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when the Sabeans raided them and took them away--indeed they have killed the servants with the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell you!"
16 While this messenger was speaking, another arrived and said: "A raging fire fell from the sky and burned up the sheep and devoured the young men. I alone escaped to tell you."
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While he was still speaking, another also came and said, "The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants, and consumed them; and I alone have escaped to tell you!"
17 While this messenger was speaking, another arrived and said: "Chaldeans set up three companies, raided the camels and took them, killing the young men with swords. I alone escaped to tell you."
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While he was still speaking, another also came and said, "The Chaldeans formed three bands, raided the camels and took them away, yes, and killed the servants with the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell you!"
18 While this messenger was speaking, another arrived and said: "Your sons and your daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother's house,
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While he was still speaking, another also came and said, "Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother's house,
19 when a strong wind came from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It fell upon the young people, and they died. I alone escaped to tell you."
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and suddenly a great wind came from across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young people, and they are dead; and I alone have escaped to tell you!"
20 Job arose, tore his clothes, shaved his head, fell to the ground, and worshipped.
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Then Job arose, tore his robe, and shaved his head; and he fell to the ground and worshiped.
21 He said: "Naked I came from my mother's womb; naked I will return there. The LORD has given; the LORD has taken; bless the LORD's name."
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And he said: "Naked I came from my mother's womb, And naked shall I return there. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; Blessed be the name of the Lord."
22 In all this, Job didn't sin or blame God.
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In all this Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong.
Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible
Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.