1. Many years ago, a man named Job lived in the land of Uz. He was a truly good person, who respected God and refused to do evil.
2. Job had seven sons and three daughters.
3. He owned seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred pair of oxen, five hundred donkeys, and a large number of servants. He was the richest person in the East.
4. Job's sons took turns having feasts in their homes, and they always invited their three sisters to join in the eating and drinking.
5. After each feast, Job would send for his children and perform a ceremony, as a way of asking God to forgive them for any wrongs they might have done. He would get up early the next morning and offer a sacrifice for each of them, just in case they had sinned or silently cursed God.
6. One day, when the angels had gathered around the Lord, and Satan was there with them,
7. the Lord asked, “Satan, where have you been?”Satan replied, “I have been going all over the earth.”
8. Then the Lord asked, “What do you think of my servant Job? No one on earth is like him—he is a truly good person, who respects me and refuses to do evil.”
9. “Why shouldn't he respect you?” Satan remarked.
10. “You are like a wall protecting not only him, but his entire family and all his property. You make him successful in whatever he does, and his flocks and herds are everywhere.
11. Try taking away everything he owns, and he will curse you to your face.”
12. The Lord replied, “All right, Satan, do what you want with anything that belongs to him, but don't harm Job.”Then Satan left.
13. Job's sons and daughters were having a feast in the home of his eldest son,
14. when someone rushed up to Job and said, “While your servants were ploughing with your oxen, and your donkeys were nearby eating grass,