Job, 1

1. There was once a man in the land of Uz called Job: a sound and honest man who feared God and shunned evil.

1. There 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. Seven sons and three daughters were born to him.

2. And there were born unto him seven sons and three daughters.

3. And he owned seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen and five hundred she-donkeys, and many servants besides. This man was the most prosperous of all the Sons of the East.

3. His 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. It was the custom of his sons to hold banquets in one another's houses in turn, and to invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them.

4. And 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. Once each series of banquets was over, Job would send for them to come and be purified, and at dawn on the following day he would make a burnt offering for each of them. 'Perhaps', Job would say, 'my sons have sinned and in their heart blasphemed.' So that was what Job used to do each time.

5. And 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. One day when the sons of God came to attend on Yahweh, among them came Satan.

6. Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them.

7. So Yahweh said to Satan, 'Where have you been?' 'Prowling about on earth,' he answered, 'roaming around there.'

7. And 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. So Yahweh asked him, 'Did you pay any attention to my servant Job? There is no one like him on the earth: a sound and honest man who fears God and shuns evil.'

8. And 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. 'Yes,' Satan said, 'but Job is not God-fearing for nothing, is he?

9. Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought?

10. Have you not put a wall round him and his house and all his domain? You have blessed all he undertakes, and his flocks throng the countryside.

10. Hast 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. But stretch out your hand and lay a finger on his possessions: then, I warrant you, he will curse you to your face.'

11. But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.

12. 'Very well,' Yahweh said to Satan, 'all he has is in your power. But keep your hands off his person.' So Satan left the presence of Yahweh.

12. And 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. On the day when Job's sons and daughters were eating and drinking in their eldest brother's house,

13. And there was a day when his sons and his daughters [were] eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house:

14. a messenger came to Job. 'Your oxen', he said, 'were at the plough, with the donkeys grazing at their side,

14. And there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them:

15. when the Sabaeans swept down on them and carried them off, and put the servants to the sword: I alone have escaped to tell you.'

15. And 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. He had not finished speaking when another messenger arrived. 'The fire of God', he said, 'has fallen from heaven and burnt the sheep and shepherds to ashes: I alone have escaped to tell you.'

16. While 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. He had not finished speaking when another messenger arrived. 'The Chaldaeans,' he said, 'three bands of them, have raided the camels and made off with them, and put the servants to the sword: I alone have escaped to tell you.'

17. While 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. He had not finished speaking when another messenger arrived. 'Your sons and daughters', he said, 'were eating and drinking at their eldest brother's house,

18. While 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. when suddenly from the desert a gale sprang up, and it battered all four corners of the house which fell in on the young people. They are dead: I alone have escaped to tell you.'

19. And, 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. Then Job stood up, tore his robe and shaved his head. Then, falling to the ground, he prostrated himself

20. Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped,

21. and said: Naked I came from my mother's womb, naked I shall return again. Yahweh gave, Yahweh has taken back. Blessed be the name of Yahweh!

21. And 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. In all this misfortune Job committed no sin, and he did not reproach God.

22. In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.