³ and owned seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred pairs of oxen, five hundred female donkeys, and a vast number of servants, so that he was greater than all the people of the east.

Job passes the test

¹³ One day Job’s sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house. ¹⁴ A messenger came to Job and said: “The oxen were plowing, and the donkeys were grazing nearby ¹⁵ when the Sabeans took them and killed the young men with swords. I alone escaped to tell you.”

¹⁶ While this messenger was speaking, another arrived and said: “A raging fire fell from the sky and burned up the sheep and devoured the young men. I alone escaped to tell you.”

¹⁷ While this messenger was speaking, another arrived and said: “Chaldeans set up three companies, raided the camels and took them, killing the young men with swords. I alone escaped to tell you.”

¹⁸ While this messenger was speaking, another arrived and said: “Your sons and your daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, ¹⁹ when a strong wind came from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It fell upon the young people, and they died. I alone escaped to tell you.”