6. One day, when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, the satan also came among them.
7. The Lord said to the satan, “Where have you been?” Then the satan answered the Lord and said, “Roaming the earth and patrolling it.”
8. The Lord said to the satan, “Have you noticed my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him, blameless and upright, fearing God and avoiding evil.”
9. The satan answered the Lord and said, “Is it for nothing that Job is God-fearing?
10. Have you not surrounded him and his family and all that he has with your protection? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his livestock are spread over the land.
11. But now put forth your hand and touch all that he has, and surely he will curse you to your face.”
12. The Lord said to the satan, “Very well, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on him.” So the satan went forth from the presence of the Lord.
13. One day, while his sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in the house of their eldest brother,
14. a messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys grazing beside them,
15. and the Sabeans carried them off in a raid. They put the servants to the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.”
16. He was still speaking when another came and said, “God’s fire has fallen from heaven and struck the sheep and the servants and consumed them; I alone have escaped to tell you.”
17. He was still speaking when another came and said, “The Chaldeans formed three columns, seized the camels, carried them off, and put the servants to the sword; I alone have escaped to tell you.”
18. He was still speaking when another came and said, “Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in the house of their eldest brother,
19. and suddenly a great wind came from across the desert and smashed the four corners of the house. It fell upon the young people and they are dead; I alone have escaped to tell you.”