Job's Character and Wealth
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There was a man in the land of 1Uz whose name was 2Job, and that man was 3blameless and upright, one who 4feared God and 5turned away from evil.
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He possessed 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, and 500 female donkeys, and very many servants, so that this man was the greatest of all 7the people of the east.
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His sons used to go and hold a feast in the house of each one on his day, and they would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them.
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And when the days of the feast had run their course, Job would send and 8consecrate them, and he would rise early in the morning and 9offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, "It may be that my children have sinned, and 10curseda God in their hearts." Thus Job did continually.
Satan Allowed to Test Job
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Now there was a day when 11the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and 12Satanb also came among them.
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The LORD said to Satan, "From where have you come?" Satan answered the LORD and said, "From 13going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it."
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And the LORD said to Satan, "Have you 14considered my 15servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, 16a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?"
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Then Satan answered the LORD and said, "Does Job fear God for no reason?
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Have you not put 17a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have 18blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land.
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But 19stretch out your hand and 20touch all that he has, and he will 21curse you 22to your face."
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And the LORD said to Satan, "Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand." So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD.
Satan Takes Job's Property and Children
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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,
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and there came a messenger to Job and said, "The oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding beside them,
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and 23the Sabeans fell upon them and took them and struck down the servantsc with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you."
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While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, 24"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."
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While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, 25"The Chaldeans formed 26three groups and made a raid on the camels and took them and struck down the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you."
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While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, 27"Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother's house,
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and behold, a great wind came across 28the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young people, and they are dead, and I alone have escaped to tell you."
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Then Job arose and 29tore his 30robe and 31shaved his head 32and fell on the ground and worshiped.
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.
(English Standard Version - The Holy Bible Online)