God Promises Deliverance

²² Moses returned to the Lord and said, “Why, Lord, why have you brought trouble on this people?^(A) Is this why you sent me?

²³ Ever since I went to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has brought trouble on this people, and you have not rescued^(A) your people at all.”

⁸ Moses also said, “You will know that it was the Lord when he gives you meat to eat in the evening and all the bread you want in the morning, because he has heard your grumbling^(A) against him. Who are we? You are not grumbling against us, but against the Lord.”^(B)

¹² “I have heard the grumbling^(A) of the Israelites. Tell them, ‘At twilight you will eat meat, and in the morning you will be filled with bread. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God.’”^(B)

²⁶ The Lord said to Moses and Aaron: ²⁷ “How long will this wicked community grumble against me? I have heard the complaints of these grumbling Israelites.^{(A) 28} So tell them, ‘As surely as I live,^(B) declares the Lord, I will do to you^(C) the very thing I heard you say: ²⁹ In this wilderness your bodies will fall^(D)—every one of you twenty years old or more^(E) who was counted in the census^(F) and who has grumbled against me. ³⁰ Not one of you will enter the land^(G) I swore with uplifted hand^(H) to make your home, except Caleb son of Jephunneh^(I) and Joshua son of Nun.^{(J) 31} As for your children that you said would be taken as plunder, I will bring them in to enjoy the land you have rejected.^{(K) 32} But as for you, your bodies will fall^(L) in this wilderness. ³³ Your children will be shepherds here for forty years,^(M) suffering for your unfaithfulness, until the last of your bodies lies in the wilderness. ³⁴ For forty years^(N)—one year for each of the forty days you explored the land^(O)—you will suffer for your sins and know what it is like to have me against you.’ ³⁵ I, the Lord, have spoken, and I will surely do these things^(P) to this whole wicked community, which has banded together against me. They will meet their end in this wilderness; here they will die.^(Q)”

³⁶ So the men Moses had sent^(R) to explore the land, who returned and made the whole community grumble^(S) against him by spreading a bad report^(T) about it— ³⁷ these men who were responsible for spreading the bad report^(U) about the land were struck down and died of a plague^(V) before the Lord.

¹⁰ The Lord said to Moses, “Put back Aaron’s staff^(A) in front of the ark of the covenant law, to be kept as a sign to the rebellious.^(B) This will put an end to their grumbling against me, so that they will not die.”

¹¹ Moses did just as the Lord commanded him.

Prologue

1 In the land of Uz^(A) there lived a man whose name was Job.^(B) This man was blameless^(C) and upright;^(D) he feared God^(E) and shunned evil.^{(F) 2} He had seven sons^(G) and three daughters,^{(H) 3} and he owned seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen and five hundred donkeys,^(I) and had a large number of servants.^(J) He was the greatest man^(K) among all the people of the East.^(L)

⁴ His sons used to hold feasts^(M) in their homes on their birthdays, and they would invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. ⁵ When a period of feasting had run its course, Job would make arrangements for them to be purified.^(N) Early in the morning he would sacrifice a burnt offering^(O) for each of them, thinking, “Perhaps my children have sinned^(P) and cursed God^(Q) in their hearts.” This was Job’s regular custom.

⁶ One day the angels^[a](R) came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan^[b](S) also came with them.^{(T) 7} 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.”^(U)

⁸ Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job?^(V) There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God^(W) and shuns evil.”^(X)

⁹ “Does Job fear God for nothing?”^(Y) Satan replied. ¹⁰ “Have you not put a hedge^(Z) around him and his household and everything he has?^(AA) You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land.^{(AB) 11} But now stretch out your hand and strike everything he has,^(AC) and he will surely curse you to your face.”^(AD)

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

Then Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.

¹³ One day when Job’s sons and daughters^(AG) were feasting^(AH) and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house, ¹⁴ a messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys were grazing^(AI) nearby, ¹⁵ and the Sabeans^(AJ) attacked and made off with them. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”

¹⁶ While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, “The fire of God fell from the heavens^(AK) and burned up the sheep and the servants,^(AL) and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”

¹⁷ While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, “The Chaldeans^(AM) formed three raiding parties and swept down on your camels and made off with them. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”

¹⁸ While he was still speaking, yet another messenger came and said, “Your sons and daughters^(AN) were feasting^(AO) and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house, ¹⁹ when suddenly a mighty wind^(AP) swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on them and they are dead,^(AQ) and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!^(AR)”

²⁰ At this, Job got up and tore his robe^(AS) and shaved his head.^(AT) Then he fell to the ground in worship^{(AU) 21} and said:

²² In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.^(AY)