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The Patience of Job — Job, God
Old Testament · Job 1:1-22

The Patience of Job

Job was a man of complete integrity who feared God and stayed far from evil. He was the greatest man among all the people of the East, blessed with seven sons, three daughters, and vast flocks and herds.

One day, Satan came before the LORD and accused Job of only being faithful because God had blessed him so richly. "Stretch out your hand and strike everything he has," Satan challenged, "and he will surely curse you to your face." The LORD gave Satan permission to test Job, though he was not permitted to touch Job himself.

In a single day, messengers arrived one after another with devastating news: raiders had stolen Job's oxen and donkeys, fire had destroyed his sheep, and a great wind had collapsed the house where his ten children were feasting together, killing them all.

Job stood up, tore his robe in grief, shaved his head, and fell to the ground -- not to curse God, but to worship him. "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart," he said. "The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised." In all of this, Job did not sin or blame God for what had happened -- his faith held firm even in his deepest sorrow.

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  1. 1:1There 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.
  2. 1:2And there were born unto him seven sons and three daughters.
  3. 1:3His 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.
  4. 1:4And 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.
  5. 1:5And 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.
  6. 1:6Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them.
  7. 1:7And 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.
  8. 1:8And 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?
  9. 1:9Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought?
  10. 1:10Hast 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.
  11. 1:11But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.
  12. 1:12And 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.
  13. 1:13And there was a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house:
  14. 1:14And there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them:
  15. 1:15And 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.
  16. 1:16While 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.
  17. 1:17While 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.
  18. 1:18While 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:
  19. 1:19And, 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.
  20. 1:20Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped,
  21. 1:21And 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.
  22. 1:22In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.
Read the full chapter in the Bible (Job 1) →

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