Job’s Character and Wealth (James 5:7–12)
1 UST In the land of Uz there lived a man whose name was Job. He was a man of complete integrity. He respected God and so he avoided doing evil things. BSB BSB: There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job. And this man was blameless and upright, fearing God and shunning evil.
2 UST Now Job had seven sons and three daughters. BSB BSB: He had seven sons and three daughters,
3 UST He owned 7, 000 sheep, 3, 000 camels, 1, 000 oxen, and 500 donkeys. He also had many servants. Job was richer than anyone else who lived in the area east of the Jordan River. BSB BSB: and he owned 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, 500 female donkeys, and a very large number of servants. Job was the greatest man of all the people of the East.
4 UST Job’ s sons often held feasts in their homes. Whenever any of them held a feast, he would invite all of his brothers and sisters to share the meal with him. BSB BSB: Job’s sons would take turns holding feasts in their homes, and they would invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them.
5 UST After all of the sons had each held a feast, Job would gather his children together. He would ask Yahweh to cleanse them from any action they might have committed during their feasting that would have made them unacceptable to him. He would get up early in the morning, kill animals, and burn them on the altar{ as sacrifices}, one for each{ of his children}.{ For} Job{ always said},“Perhaps my children have sinned by saying something evil about God in their thoughts.{ If they have, I need to ask God to forgive them.}” Job did this after each time his sons had all hosted feasts. BSB BSB: And when the days of feasting were over, Job would send for his children to purify them, rising early in the morning to offer burnt offerings for all of them. For Job thought, “Perhaps my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” This was Job’s regular practice.
Satan’s First Attack 6 UST One day the angels came and gathered together in front of Yahweh, and Satan came too. BSB BSB: One day the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came with them.
7 UST Yahweh asked Satan,“Where have you just come from?” Satan replied,“I have come from the earth, where I was traveling around{ to see what was happening}.” BSB BSB: “Where have you come from?” said the LORD to Satan. “From roaming through the earth,” he replied, “and walking back and forth in it.”
8 UST Yahweh said to Satan,“Have you noticed Job, who worships me? I mention him because no one else on earth has such complete integrity as he does. He respects me and so he refuses to do anything evil.” BSB BSB: Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one on earth like him, a man who is blameless and upright, who fears God and shuns evil.”
9 UST Satan replied to Yahweh,“Job only worships you because of what you have done for him. BSB BSB: Satan answered the LORD, “Does Job fear God for nothing?
10 UST You have always protected him, his family, and everything he owns. You make him succeed in whatever work he does. As a result, he has built very large herds of livestock. BSB BSB: Have You not placed a hedge on every side around him and his household and all that he owns? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land.
11 UST But if you attack what he owns and take it away, he will certainly curse you in front of everyone.” BSB BSB: But stretch out Your hand and strike all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face.”
12 UST Yahweh replied to Satan,“All right, I permit you to take away everything that he has. But do not harm him in his own body.” Satan{ agreed and then} left Yahweh{ in order to carry out his attack on Job}. BSB BSB: “Very well,” said the LORD to Satan. “Everything he has is in your hands, but you must not lay a hand on the man himself.” Then Satan went out from the presence of the LORD.
Job Loses His Children and Possessions 13 UST One day after that, Job’ s sons and daughters were attending a feast at the home of the oldest brother. BSB BSB: One day, while Job’s sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house,
14 UST { While they were doing that,} a messenger arrived at Job’ s home. He told Job,“Your oxen were plowing the fields and your donkeys were grazing nearby. BSB BSB: a messenger came and reported to Job: “While the oxen were plowing and the donkeys were grazing nearby,
15 UST But a group of men, Sabeans, came and attacked us. They killed all of your servants who were working in the fields. They took away all the oxen and donkeys! I am the only one who has escaped to come and tell you what happened.” BSB BSB: the Sabeans swooped down and took them away. They put the servants to the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you!”
16 UST While he was still talking to Job, another messenger arrived. He said to Job,“Lightning from the sky struck and killed all the sheep and all the men who were taking care of them! I am the only one who has escaped to come and tell you what happened.” BSB BSB: While he was still speaking, another messenger came and reported: “The fire of God fell from heaven. It burned and consumed the sheep and the servants, and I alone have escaped to tell you!”
17 UST While he was still talking to Job, a third messenger arrived. He said to Job,“Three groups of robbers from the region of Chaldea came and attacked us. They stole all the camels and killed all the men who were taking care of them. I am the only one who has escaped to come and tell you what happened.” BSB BSB: While he was still speaking, another messenger came and reported: “The Chaldeans formed three bands, raided the camels, and took them away. They put the servants to the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you!”
18 UST While he was still talking to Job, a fourth messenger arrived. He said to Job:“Your sons and daughters were feasting in the home of their oldest brother. BSB BSB: While he was still speaking, another messenger came and reported: “Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house,
19 UST Suddenly a very strong wind came from the desert and struck the house. The house collapsed on your sons and daughters and killed them all! I am the only one who has escaped to come and tell you what happened.” BSB BSB: when suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on the young people and they are dead, and I alone have escaped to tell you!”
20 UST Then Job stood up and tore his robe and shaved his head{ because he was very sad}. Then he lay down on the ground to worship God. BSB BSB: Then Job stood up, tore his robe, and shaved his head. He fell to the ground and worshiped,
21 UST He said,“When I was born, I was wearing no clothes. When I die, I will not take any clothes with me. It is Yahweh who gave me everything that I possessed, and it is Yahweh who has taken it all away. I find no fault with Yahweh.” BSB BSB: saying: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the name of the LORD.”
22 UST So in spite of all the things that had happened to him, Job did not sin by saying that what God had done was wrong. BSB BSB: In all this, Job did not sin or charge God with wrongdoing.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.