The First Test: Family and Fortune

6-7 One day when the angels came to report to God, Satan, who was the Designated Accuser, came along with them. God singled out Satan and said, “What have you been up to?”

Satan answered God, “Going here and there, checking things out on earth.”

God said to Satan, “Have you noticed my friend Job? There’s no one quite like him—honest and true to his word, totally devoted to God and hating evil.”

9-10 Satan retorted, “So do you think Job does all that out of the sheer goodness of his heart? Why, no one ever had it so good! You pamper him like a pet, make sure nothing bad ever happens to him or his family or his possessions, bless everything he does—he can’t lose!

11 “But what do you think would happen if you reached down and took away everything that is his? He’d curse you right to your face, that’s what.”

12 God replied, “We’ll see. Go ahead—do what you want with all that is his. Just don’t hurt him.” Then Satan left the presence of God.

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One day the angels[a](A) came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan[b](B) also came with them.(C) The Lord said to Satan, “Where have you come from?”

Satan answered the Lord, “From roaming throughout the earth, going back and forth on it.”(D)

Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job?(E) There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God(F) and shuns evil.”(G)

“Does Job fear God for nothing?”(H) Satan replied. 10 “Have you not put a hedge(I) around him and his household and everything he has?(J) You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land.(K) 11 But now stretch out your hand and strike everything he has,(L) and he will surely curse you to your face.”(M)

12 The Lord said to Satan, “Very well, then, everything he has(N) is in your power, but on the man himself do not lay a finger.”(O)

Then Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.

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Footnotes

  1. Job 1:6 Hebrew the sons of God
  2. Job 1:6 Hebrew satan means adversary.