Job 1:7-17

7 The Lord said to Satan, "Where have you come from?" Satan answered the Lord, "I have been wandering around the earth, going back and forth in it."
8 Then the Lord said to Satan, "Have you noticed my servant Job? No one else on earth is like him. He is an honest and innocent man, honoring God and staying away from evil."
9 But Satan answered the Lord, "Job honors God for a good reason.
10 You have put a wall around him, his family, and everything he owns. You have blessed the things he has done. His flocks and herds are so large they almost cover the land.
11 But reach out your hand and destroy everything he has, and he will curse you to your face."
12 The Lord said to Satan, "All right, then. Everything Job has is in your power, but you must not touch Job himself." Then Satan left the Lord's presence.
13 One day Job's sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine together at the oldest brother's house.
14 A messenger came to Job and said, "The oxen were plowing and the donkeys were eating grass nearby,
15 when the Sabeans attacked and carried them away. They killed the servants with swords, and I am the only one who escaped to tell you!"
16 The messenger was still speaking when another messenger arrived and said, "Lightning from God fell from the sky. It burned up the sheep and the servants, and I am the only one who escaped to tell you!"
17 The second messenger was still speaking when another messenger arrived and said, "The Babylonians sent three groups of attackers that swept down and stole your camels and killed the servants. I am the only one who escaped to tell you!"
Scripture taken from the New Century Version. Copyright © 1987, 1988, 1991 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.