¹There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job. And that man was integrous and upright, who feared God and departed from evil. ²And there were born to him seven sons and three daughters. ³And his possessions consisted of seven thousand sheep and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she-asses, and he had a very great body of servants. And this man was greater than all other men of the east. ⁴And his sons organized a feast at home, each on his own day, and they sent messengers and invited their three sisters to come and eat and drink with them. ⁵And it came to pass, when the days of the feast came round, that Job sent instructions and sanctified them, and he rose early in the morning and offered burnt offerings according to the number of all of them, for Job said, “Perhaps my sons have sinned and cursed God in their heart.” Job did this every day. ⁶Now the day came when the sons of God came to stand before the Lord, and Satan also came among them. ⁷And the Lord said to Satan, “Where have you come from?” And Satan answered the Lord and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.” ⁸And the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, for there is no-one like him on the earth – an integrous and upright man fearing God and departing from evil.” ⁹Then Satan answered the Lord and said, “Is it for nothing that Job fears God? ¹⁰Have you not hedged him in with his household, and everything he has, all around? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. ¹¹But now, just put out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will certainly curse you to your face.” ¹²Then the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, everything he has is in your hand, only do not put your hand out to him.” And Satan went out from the presence of the Lord. ¹³And the day came, while his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine at the house of their firstborn brother, ¹⁴when a messenger came to Job, who said, “The oxen were ploughing, and the she-asses were feeding next to them, ¹⁵when the Sabaeans attacked them and took them and struck the servant-lads with the blade of the sword, and only I escaped to tell you.” ¹⁶While this man was still speaking, another came and said, “A very great fire fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servant-lads, and it consumed them, and only I escaped to tell you.” ¹⁷While this man was still speaking, another came and said, “The Chaldeans formed three contingents, and they raided the camels and took them, and they struck the servant-lads with the blade of the sword, and only I escaped to tell you.” ¹⁸While this man was still speaking, another came and said, “Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in the house of their firstborn brother, ¹⁹when a great wind came from across the desert and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the lads, and they died, and only I have escaped to tell you.” ²⁰Then Job rose and tore his coat and shaved his head, and he fell to the ground and worshipped, ²¹and he said,

“Naked I came out of my mother's womb,

And naked I will return there.

The Lord has given,

And the Lord has taken;

Blessed be the name of the Lord.”

²²Despite all this, Job did not sin, and he did not charge God with foolishness.