Job 1
1 A man, there was—in the land of Uz, Job, his name, —and that man was blameless and upright, and one who revered God, and avoided evil.
There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job. He was without sin and upright, fearing God and keeping himself far from evil.
2 And there were born unto him seven sons and three daughters.
And he had seven sons and three daughters.
3 And his substance was—seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she-asses, and a body of servants exceeding large, —thus was that man the greatest of all the sons of the East.
And of cattle he had seven thousand sheep and goats, and three thousand camels, and a thousand oxen, and five hundred she-asses, and a very great number of servants. And the man was greater than any of the sons of the east.
4 Now his sons were wont to go, and make a banquet, at the house of each one upon his day, —and to send and call their three sisters, to eat and to drink with them.
His sons regularly went to one another's houses, and every one on his day gave a feast: and at these times they sent for their three sisters to take part in their feasts with them.
5 And so it was, when the days of the banquet came round, that Job sent and hallowed them, and rising early in the morning offered ascending-sacrifices according to the number of them all; for Job said, Peradventure my sons have sinned, and have cursed God in their hearts. Thus and thus, was Job wont to do all the days.
And at the end of their days of feasting, Job sent and made them clean, getting up early in the morning and offering burned offerings for them all. For, Job said, It may be that my sons have done wrong and said evil of God in their hearts. And Job did this whenever the feasts came round.
6 Now there came a certain day, when the sons of God entered in to present themselves unto Yahweh, —so the accuser also entered, in their midst.
And there was a day when the sons of the gods came together before the Lord, and the Satan came with them.
7 And Yahweh said unto the accuser, Whence comest thou? And the accuser answered Yahweh, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and wandering about therein.
And the Lord said to the Satan, Where do you come from? And the Satan said in answer, From wandering this way and that on the earth, and walking about on it.
8 And Yahweh said unto the accuser, Hast thou applied thy heart unto my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a man blameless and upright, one revering God and avoiding evil?
And the Lord said to the Satan, Have you taken note of my servant Job, for there is no one like him on the earth, a man without sin and upright, fearing God and keeping himself far from evil?
9 And the accuser answered Yahweh, and said, Is it, for nought, that Job revereth God?
And the Satan said in answer to the Lord, Is it for nothing that Job is a god-fearing man?
10 Hast not, thou thyself, made a hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath, on every side? The work of his hands, thou hast blessed, and, his substance, hath broken forth in the land.
Have you yourself not put a wall round him and his house and all he has on every side, blessing the work of his hands, and increasing his cattle in the land?
11 But, in very deed, put forth, I pray thee, thy hand, and smite all that he hath, —verily, unto thy face, will he curse thee.
But now, put out your hand against all he has, and he will be cursing you to your face.
12 And Yahweh said unto the accuser, Lo! all that he hath, is in thy hand, only, against himself, do not put forth thy hand. So the accuser went forth from the presence of Yahweh.
And the Lord said to the Satan, See, I give all he has into your hands, only do not put a finger on the man himself. And the Satan went out from before the Lord.
13 And there came a certain day, —when his sons and his daughters were eating, and drinking wine, in the house of their eldest brother.
And there was a day when his sons and daughters were feasting in the house of their oldest brother,
14 And, a messenger, came in unto Job, and said, —The oxen, were plowing, and, the asses, feeding beside them;
And a man came to Job, and said, The oxen were ploughing, and the asses were taking their food by their side:
15 when the Sabeans swooped down, and took them, and, the young men, smote they with the edge of the sword, —and escaped am, only I alone, too tell thee.
And the men of Sheba came against them and took them away, putting the young men to the sword, and I was the only one who got away safe to give you the news.
16 Yet was this one speaking, when, another, came in and said, —A fire of God, fell out of the heavens, and burned up the sheep and the young men, and consumed them; and escaped am, only I alone, to tell thee.
And this one was still talking when another came, and said, The fire of God came down from heaven, burning up the sheep and the goats and the young men completely, and I was the only one who got away safe to give you the news.
17 Yet was this one speaking, when, another, came in and said, The Chaldeans, appointed three chiefs, and spread out against the camels, and took them, and, the young men, smote they with the edge of the sword; and escaped am, only I alone, to tell thee.
And this one was still talking when another came, and said, The Chaldaeans made themselves into three bands, and came down on the camels and took them away, putting the young men to the sword, and I was the only one who got away safe to give you the news.
18 Yet was this one speaking, when, another, came in and said, —Thy sons and thy daughters, were eating, and drinking wine, in the house of their eldest brother;
And this one was still talking when another came, and said, Your sons and your daughters were feasting together in their oldest brother's house,
19 when lo! a great wind, came from over the desert, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they died, —and escaped am, only I alone, to tell thee.
When a great wind came rushing from the waste land against the four sides of the house, and it came down on the young men, and they are dead; and I was the only one who got away safe to give you the news.
20 Then Job arose, and rent his robe, and shaved his head, and fell to the earth and worshipped;
Then Job got up, and after parting his clothing and cutting off his hair, he went down on his face to the earth, and gave worship, and said,
21 and said—Naked came I forth from the womb of my mother, and naked must I return thither, Yahweh, gave, and, Yahweh, hath taken away, —The name of Yahweh be blessed!
With nothing I came out of my mother's body, and with nothing I will go back there; the Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; let the Lord's name be praised.
22 In all this, Job sinned not, nor imputed folly unto God.
In all this Job did no sin, and did not say that God's acts were foolish.
