Job

There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil.

1There was a man named Job who lived in a land called Uz. He was honest and did what was right. He respected God and stayed away from evil.

NoteThe KJV says Job was "perfect" and "eschewed" evil. "Perfect" here means blameless and honest all the way through, not flawless. "Eschewed" means avoided.

2And there were born unto him seven sons and three daughters.

2He had seven sons and three daughters.

3His substance also was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she asses, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the men of the east.

3He owned 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 pairs of oxen, and 500 female donkeys. He also had many servants. He was the greatest man in all the East.

NoteA "yoke of oxen" is a pair of oxen harnessed to work together, so 500 yoke means 1,000 animals. The KJV's "she asses" are female donkeys.

4And his sons went and feasted in their houses, every one his day; and sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them.

4Job's sons took turns holding feasts in their own homes. They always invited their three sisters to come eat and drink with them.

5And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually.

5When the days of feasting were over, Job sent for his children to make them clean before God. Early in the morning he offered a burnt offering for each one. He thought, "Maybe my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts." Job did this every time.

6Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them.

6One day the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came along with them.

7And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.

7The LORD said to Satan, "Where have you come from?" Satan answered, "From roaming around the earth, walking back and forth on it."

8And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?

8The LORD said to Satan, "Have you thought about my servant Job? No one on earth is like him. He is honest and does what is right. He respects God and stays away from evil."

9Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought?

9Satan answered the LORD, "Does Job respect God for nothing?

10Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.

10Haven't you put a fence of protection around him, around his family, and around everything he owns? You have blessed his work, and his herds have grown all over the land.

11But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.

11But reach out your hand and strike everything he has. Then he will curse you right to your face."

12And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.

12The LORD said to Satan, "Very well. Everything he owns is in your hands. But do not lay a hand on Job himself." So Satan left the LORD's presence.

13And there was a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house:

13One day Job's sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine at their oldest brother's house.

14And there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them:

14A messenger came to Job and said, "The oxen were plowing and the donkeys were feeding beside them.

15And the Sabeans fell upon them, and took them away; yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.

15Then the Sabeans attacked and carried them off. They killed the servants with swords. I am the only one who escaped to tell you."

16While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.

16He was still speaking when another messenger came and said, "The fire of God fell from the sky. It burned up the sheep and the servants. I am the only one who escaped to tell you."

17While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The Chaldeans made out three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have carried them away, yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.

17He was still speaking when another messenger came and said, "The Chaldeans came in three raiding groups and took the camels away. They killed the servants with swords. I am the only one who escaped to tell you."

18While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, Thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house:

18He was still speaking when another messenger came and said, "Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine at their oldest brother's house.

19And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.

19Suddenly a strong wind swept in from the desert and struck all four corners of the house. It fell on the young people, and they are dead. I am the only one who escaped to tell you."

20Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped,

20Then Job stood up. He tore his robe and shaved his head. He fell to the ground and worshipped.

NoteTearing your robe and shaving your head were the normal ways people showed deep grief in Job's time, the way people today wear black to a funeral.

21And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.

21He said, "I came from my mother's body with nothing, and with nothing I will go back. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away. May the name of the LORD be blessed."

22In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.

22Through all of this, Job did not sin. He did not accuse God of doing anything wrong.