The Message Bible MSG
World English Bible WEB
1 Job was a man who lived in Uz. He was honest inside and out, a man of his word, who was totally devoted to God and hated evil with a passion.
1
There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job. That man was blameless and upright, and one who feared God, and turned away from evil.
2 He had seven sons and three daughters.
2
There were born to him seven sons and three daughters.
3 He was also very wealthy - seven thousand head of sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred teams of oxen, five hundred donkeys, and a huge staff of servants - the most influential man in all the East!
3
His possessions also were seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred she-donkeys, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the children of the east.
4 His sons used to take turns hosting parties in their homes, always inviting their three sisters to join them in their merrymaking.
4
His sons went and held a feast in the house of each one on his birthday; and they sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them.
5 When the parties were over, Job would get up early in the morning and sacrifice a burnt offering for each of his children, thinking, "Maybe one of them sinned by defying God inwardly." Job made a habit of this sacrificial atonement, just in case they'd sinned. The First Test: Family and Fortune
5
It was so, when the days of their feasting had run their course, 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 renounced God in their hearts." Thus did Job continually.
6 One day when the angels came to report to God, Satan, who was the Designated Accuser, came along with them.
6
Now it happened on the day when the sons of God came to present themselves before Yahweh, that Satan also came among them.
7 God singled out Satan and said, "What have you been up to?" Satan answered God, "Going here and there, checking things out on earth."
7
Yahweh said to Satan, "Where have you come from?" Then Satan answered Yahweh, and said, "From going back and forth in the earth, and from walking up and down in it."
8 God said to Satan, "Have you noticed my friend Job? There's no one quite like him - honest and true to his word, totally devoted to God and hating evil."
8
Yahweh said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant, Job? For there is none like him in the earth, a blameless and an upright man, one who fears God, and turns away from evil."
9 Satan retorted, "So do you think Job does all that out of the sheer goodness of his heart?
9
Then Satan answered Yahweh, and said, "Does Job fear God for nothing?
10 Why, no one ever had it so good! You pamper him like a pet, make sure nothing bad ever happens to him or his family or his possessions, bless everything he does - he can't lose!
10
Haven't you made a hedge around him, and around his house, and around all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.
11 "But what do you think would happen if you reached down and took away everything that is his? He'd curse you right to your face, that's what."
11
But put forth your hand now, and touch all that he has, and he will renounce you to your face."
12 God replied, "We'll see. Go ahead - do what you want with all that is his. Just don't hurt him." Then Satan left the presence of God.
12
Yahweh said to Satan, "Behold, all that he has is in your power. Only on himself don't put forth your hand." So Satan went forth from the presence of Yahweh.
13 Sometime later, while Job's children were having one of their parties at the home of the oldest son,
13
It fell on a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house,
14 a messenger came to Job and said, "The oxen were plowing and the donkeys grazing in the field next to us
14
that there came a messenger to Job, and said, "The oxen were plowing, and the donkeys feeding beside them,
15 when Sabeans attacked. They stole the animals and killed the field hands. I'm the only one to get out alive and tell you what happened."
15
and the Sabeans attacked, and took them away. Yes, they have killed the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you."
16 While he was still talking, another messenger arrived and said, "Bolts of lightning struck the sheep and the shepherds and fried them - burned them to a crisp. I'm the only one to get out alive and tell you what happened."
16
While he was still speaking, there also came another, and said, "The fire of God has fallen from the sky, and has burned up the sheep and the servants, and consumed them, and I alone have escaped to tell you."
17 While he was still talking, another messenger arrived and said, "Chaldeans coming from three directions raided the camels and massacred the camel drivers. I'm the only one to get out alive and tell you what happened."
17
While he was still speaking, there came also another, and said, "The Chaldeans made three bands, and swept down on the camels, and have taken them away, yes, and killed the servants with the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell you."
18 While he was still talking, another messenger arrived and said, "Your children were having a party at the home of the oldest brother
18
While he was still speaking, there came also another, and said, "Your sons and your daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house,
19 when a tornado swept in off the desert and struck the house. It collapsed on the young people and they died. I'm the only one to get out alive and tell you what happened."
19
and, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young men, and they are dead. I alone have escaped to tell you."
20 Job got to his feet, ripped his robe, shaved his head, then fell to the ground and worshiped:
20
Then Job arose, and tore his robe, and shaved his head, and fell down on the ground, and worshiped.
21 Naked I came from my mother's womb, naked I'll return to the womb of the earth. God gives, God takes. God's name be ever blessed.
21
He said, "Naked I came out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return there. Yahweh gave, and Yahweh has taken away. Blessed be the name of Yahweh."
22 Not once through all this did Job sin; not once did he blame God.
22
In all this, Job did not sin, nor charge God with wrongdoing.