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 blameless and upright, one who feared God, and turned away from evil.

2. Seven sons and three daughters were born to him.

2. There were born to 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. He had seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she-asses, and very many servants; so that this man was the greatest of all the people 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. His sons used to go and hold a feast in the house of each on his day; and they would send and invite their three sisters to eat and 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 when the days of the feast had run their course, Job would send and sanctify them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer 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 Job did 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 also came among them.

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

7. The LORD said to Satan, "Whence have you come?" Satan answered the LORD, "From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on 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 to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?"

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

9. Then Satan answered the LORD, "Does 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 thou not put a hedge about him and his house and all that he has, on every side? Thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have 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 thy hand now, and touch all that he has, 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 to Satan, "Behold, all that he has is in your power; only upon himself do not put forth your 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. Now there was a day when his sons and 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 to 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 Sabe'ans fell upon them and took them, and slew the servants with the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell you."

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 another, and said, "The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants, and consumed them; and I alone have escaped to tell you."

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 another, and said, "The Chalde'ans formed three companies, and made a raid upon the camels and took them, and slew the servants with the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell you."

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 another, and said, "Your sons and 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, a great wind came across the wilderness, and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young people, and they are dead; and I alone have escaped to tell you."

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 robe, and shaved his head, and fell upon the ground, and worshiped.

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 he said, "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return; the LORD gave, and the LORD has 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 did not sin or charge God with wrong.