Study Desk

Prologue

In the land of Uz^(a) there lived a man whose name was Job.^(b) This man was blameless^(c) and upright;^(d) he feared God^(e) and shunned evil.^(f)

He had seven sons^(g) and three daughters,^(h)

and he owned seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen and five hundred donkeys,⁽ⁱ⁾ and had a large number of servants.^(j) He was the greatest man^(k) among all the people of the East.^(l)

His sons used to hold feasts^(m) in their homes on their birthdays, and they would invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them.

When a period of feasting had run its course, Job would make arrangements for them to be purified.⁽ⁿ⁾ Early in the morning he would sacrifice a burnt offering^(o) for each of them, thinking, "Perhaps my children have sinned^(p) and cursed God^(q) in their hearts." This was Job's regular custom.

One day the angels^[a](r) came to present themselves before the Lord , and Satan^[b](s) also came with them.^(t)

The Lord said to Satan, "Where have you come from?" Satan answered the Lord , "From roaming throughout the earth, going back and forth on it."^(u)

Then the Lord said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job?^(v) There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God^(w) and shuns evil."^(x)

"Does Job fear God for nothing?"^(y) Satan replied.

"Have you not put a hedge^(z) around him and his household and everything he has?^(aa) You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land.^(ab)

But now stretch out your hand and strike everything he has,^(ac) and he will surely curse you to your face."^(ad)

The Lord said to Satan, "Very well, then, everything he has^(ae) is in your power, but on the man himself do not lay a finger."^(af) Then Satan went out from the presence of the Lord .

One day when Job's sons and daughters^(ag) were feasting^(ah) and drinking wine at the oldest brother's house,

a messenger came to Job and said, "The oxen were plowing and the donkeys were grazing^(ai) nearby,

and the Sabeans^(aj) attacked and made off with them. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!"

While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, "The fire of God fell from the heavens^(ak) and burned up the sheep and the servants,^(al) and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!"

While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, "The Chaldeans^(am) formed three raiding parties and swept down on your camels and made off with them. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!"

While he was still speaking, yet another messenger came and said, "Your sons and daughters^(an) were feasting^(ao) and drinking wine at the oldest brother's house,

when suddenly a mighty wind^(ap) swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on them and they are dead,^(aq) and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!^(ar)"

At this, Job got up and tore his robe^(as) and shaved his head.^(at) Then he fell to the ground in worship^(au)

and said: "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart.^[c](av) The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away;^(aw) may the name of the Lord be praised."^(ax)

In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.^(ay)

On another day the angels^[a](a) came to present themselves before the Lord , and Satan also came with them^(b) to present himself before him.

And the Lord said to Satan, "Where have you come from?" Satan answered the Lord , "From roaming throughout the earth, going back and forth on it."^(c)

Then the Lord said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.^(d) And he still maintains his integrity,^(e) though you incited me against him to ruin him without any reason."^(f)

"Skin for skin!" Satan replied. "A man will give all he has^(g) for his own life.

But now stretch out your hand and strike his flesh and bones,^(h) and he will surely curse you to your face."⁽ⁱ⁾

The Lord said to Satan, "Very well, then, he is in your hands;^(j) but you must spare his life."^(k)

So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord and afflicted Job with painful sores from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head.^(l)

Then Job took a piece of broken pottery and scraped himself with it as he sat among the ashes.^(m)

His wife said to him, "Are you still maintaining your integrity?⁽ⁿ⁾ Curse God and die!"^(o)

He replied, "You are talking like a foolish^[b] woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?"^(p) In all this, Job did not sin in what he said.^(q)

When Job's three friends, Eliphaz the Temanite,^(r) Bildad the Shuhite^(s) and Zophar the Naamathite,^(t) heard about all the troubles that had come upon him, they set out from their homes and met together by agreement to go and sympathize with him and comfort him.^(u)

When they saw him from a distance, they could hardly recognize him;^(v) they began to weep aloud,^(w) and they tore their robes^(x) and sprinkled dust on their heads.^(y)

Then they sat on the ground^(z) with him for seven days and seven nights.^(aa) No one said a word to him,^(ab) because they saw how great his suffering was.