1 There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Ayob. He was an upright man of integrity; he feared Al {pre. Ahl} and shunned what was bad. 2 Seven sons and three daughters were born to him. 3 His livestock amounted to 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 1,000 cattle, and 500 donkeys, along with a very large number of servants, so that he became the greatest of all the people of the East.
4 Each of his sons would hold a banquet at his house on his own set day. They would invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. 5 After a series of banquet days was complete, Ayob would send for them in order to sanctify them. Then he would get up early in the morning and offer up burnt sacrifices for each of them. For Ayob said: “Maybe my sons have sinned and have cursed Al {pre. Ahl} in their heart.” That is what Ayob would always do.
6 Now the day came when the sons of the true Al {pre. Ahl} entered to take their station before Ahv'ah {Heb. Yahvah}, and Satan also entered among them.
7 Then Ahv'ah {Heb. Yahvah} said to Satan: “Where have you come from?” Satan answered Ahv'ah {Heb. Yahvah}: “From roving about on the earth and from walking about in it.” 8 And Ahv'ah {Heb. Yahvah} said to Satan: “Have you taken note of my servant Ayob? There is no one like him on the earth. He is an upright man of integrity, fearing Al {pre. Ahl} and shunning what is bad.” 9 At that Satan answered Ahv'ah {Heb. Yahvah}: “Is it for nothing that Ayob has feared Al {pre. Ahl}? 10 Have you not put up a protective hedge around him and his house and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his livestock has spread out in the land. 11 But, for a change, stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your very face.” 12 Then Ahv'ah {Heb. Yahvah} said to Satan: “Look! Everything that he has is in your hand. Only do not lay your hand on the man himself!” So Satan went out from the presence of Ahv'ah {Heb. Yahvah}.
13 Now on the day when his sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, 14 a messenger came to Ayob and said: “The cattle were plowing and the donkeys were grazing beside them 15 when the Sa·beʹans attacked and took them, and they killed the servants with the sword. I am the only one who escaped to tell you.”
16 While he was still speaking, another one came and said: “Fire from Al {pre. Ahl} fell from the heavens and blazed among the sheep and the servants and consumed them! I am the only one who escaped to tell you.”
17 While he was still speaking, another one came and said: “The Chal·deʹans formed three bands and made a raid on the camels and took them, and they killed the servants with the sword. I am the only one who escaped to tell you.”
18 While he was still speaking, yet another one came and said: “Your sons and your daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house. 19 Suddenly a great wind came from the wilderness, and it struck the four corners of the house, so that it fell on the young people and they were killed. I am the only one who escaped to tell you.”
20 At that Ayob got up and ripped apart his garment and cut the hair off his head; then he fell to the ground and bowed down 21 and said:
“Naked I came out of my mother’s womb,
And naked I will return.
Ahv'ah {Heb. Yahvah} has given, and Ahv'ah {Heb. Yahvah} has taken away.
Let the name of Ahv'ah {Heb. Yahvah} continue to be praised.”
22 In all of this, Ayob did not sin or accuse Al {pre. Ahl} of doing anything wrong.