Job’s Character and Wealth
1 There was a man in the land of aUz whose name was Job, and that man was bblameless and cupright, one who dfeared God and eturned away from evil. 2 There were born to him fseven sons and three daughters. 3 gHe 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 the people of the east. 4 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. 5 And when the days of the feast had run their course, Job would send and consecrate them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer hburnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, “It may be that my children have sinned, and icursed1 God in their hearts.” Thus Job did continually.
Satan Allowed to Test Job
6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and jSatan2 also came among them. 7 The Lord said to Satan, “From where have you come?” Satan answered the Lord and said, k“From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.” 8 And the Lord said to Satan, l“Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?” 9 Then Satan answered the Lord and said, “Does Job fear God for no reason? 10 Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? mYou have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. 11 But nstretch out your hand and otouch all that he has, and he will pcurse you to your face.” 12 And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand.” qSo Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.
Satan Takes Job’s Property and Children
13 Now there was a day when his sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, 14 and there came a messenger to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding beside them, 15 and the rSabeans fell upon them and took them and struck down the servants3 with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” 16 While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, “The fire of God sfell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants and consumed them, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” 17 While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, “The Chaldeans formed three 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.” 18 While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, t“Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, 19 and behold, a great wind came across the 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.”
20 Then Job arose and utore his robe and vshaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped. 21 And he said, w“Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; xblessed be the name of the Lord.”
22 yIn all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong.
The Word Became Flesh
1 aIn the beginning bwas cthe Word, and the Word was dwith God, and ethe Word was God. 2 fHe was in the beginning with God. 3 gAll things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 hIn him was life,1 and the life was the ilight of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
6 jThere was a man ksent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a lwitness, mto bear witness about the light, nthat all might believe through him. 8 oHe was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.
9 The true plight, which gives light qto everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own,2 and rhis own people3 did not sreceive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, twho believed uin his name, he gave the right to become vchildren of God, 13 who were wborn, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
14 And the Word xbecame flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his yglory, glory as of the only zSon4 from the Father, full of agrace and truth. 15 (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, b‘He who comes after me ranks cbefore me, because he was dbefore me.’”) 16 For from his efullness we have all received, grace upon grace.5 17 For the law was given fthrough Moses; ggrace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 hNo one has ever seen God; God the only Son, who6 is iat the Father’s side,7 jhe has made him known.
