Liber Iob, 1

1. Vir erat in terra Us nomine Iob, et erat vir ille simplex et rectus ac timens Deum et recedens a malo.

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. Natique sunt ei septem filii et tres filiae.

2. There were born to him seven sons and three daughters.

3. Et fuit possessio eius septem milia ovium et tria milia camelorum, quingenta quoque iuga boum et quingentae asinae ac familia multa nimis; eratque vir ille magnus inter omnes Orientales.

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. Et ibant filii eius et faciebant convivium per domos unusquisque in die suo; et mittentes vocabant tres sorores suas, ut comederent et biberent cum eis.

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. Cumque in orbem transissent dies convivii, mittebat ad eos Iob et sanctificabat illos; consurgensque diluculo offerebat holocausta pro singulis. Dicebat enim: “Ne forte peccaverint filii mei et benedixerint Deo in cordibus suis”. Sic faciebat Iob cunctis diebus.

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. Quadam autem die, cum venissent filii Dei, ut assisterent coram Domino, affuit inter eos etiam 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. Cui dixit Dominus: “Unde venis?”. Qui respondens ait: “Circuivi terram et perambulavi eam”.

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. Dixitque Dominus ad eum: “Numquid considerasti servum meum Iob, quod non sit ei similis in terra, homo simplex et rectus ac timens Deum et recedens a malo?”.

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. Cui respondens Satan ait: “Numquid Iob frustra timet Deum?

9. Then Satan answered the LORD, "Does Job fear God for nought?

10. Nonne tu vallasti eum ac domum eius universamque substantiam per circuitum, operibus manuum eius benedixisti, et possessio eius crevit in terra?

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. Sed extende paululum manum tuam et tange cuncta, quae possidet, nisi in faciem benedixerit tibi”.

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

12. Dixit ergo Dominus ad Satan: “Ecce, universa, quae habet, in manu tua sunt; tantum in eum ne extendas manum tuam”. Egressusque est Satan a facie Domini.

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. Cum autem quadam die filii et filiae eius comederent et biberent vinum in domo fratris sui primogeniti,

13. Now there was a day when his sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house;

14. nuntius venit ad Iob, qui diceret: “Boves arabant, et asinae pascebantur iuxta eos;

14. and there came a messenger to Job, and said, "The oxen were plowing and the asses feeding beside them;

15. et irruerunt Sabaei tuleruntque eos et pueros percusserunt gladio, et evasi ego solus, ut nuntiarem tibi”.

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. Cumque adhuc ille loqueretur, venit alter et dixit: “Ignis Dei cecidit e caelo et ussit oves puerosque consumpsit, et effugi ego solus, ut nuntiarem tibi”.

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. Sed et illo adhuc loquente, venit alius et dixit: “Chaldaei fecerunt tres turmas et invaserunt camelos et tulerunt eos necnon et pueros percusserunt gladio, et ego fugi solus, ut nuntiarem tibi”.

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. Adhuc loquebatur ille, et ecce alius intravit et dixit: “Filiis tuis et filiabus vescentibus et bibentibus vinum in domo fratris sui primogeniti,

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. repente ventus vehemens irruit a regione deserti et concussit quattuor angulos domus; quae corruens oppressit liberos tuos, et mortui sunt, et effugi ego solus, ut nuntiarem tibi”.

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. Tunc surrexit Iob et scidit vestimenta sua et, tonso capite, corruens in terram adoravit

20. Then Job arose, and rent his robe, and shaved his head, and fell upon the ground, and worshiped.

21. et dixit: “Nudus egressus sum de utero matris meae et nudus revertar illuc. Dominus dedit, Dominus abstulit; sicut Domino placuit, ita factum est: sit nomen Domini benedictum”.

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 omnibus his non peccavit Iob labiis suis neque stultum quid contra Deum locutus est.

22. In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong.