< Job 1 >

1 There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job; and Job was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned from evil.
There was a man in the land of Hus, whose name was Job, and that man was simple and upright, and fearing God, and avoiding evil.
2 There were born to him seven sons and three daughters.
And there were born to him seven sons and three daughters.
3 He possessed seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred pairs of oxen, and five hundred donkeys and a great many servants. He was the man who was the greatest of all the people of the East.
And his possession was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she asses, and a family exceeding great: and this man was great among all the people of the east.
4 On each son's assigned day, he would give a feast in his house. They would send and call for their three sisters to eat and drink with them.
And his sons went, and made a feast by houses every one in his day. And sending they called their three sisters to eat and drink with them.
5 When the days of the feast were over, Job would send for them and he would consecrate them. He would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings for each of his children, for he would say, “It may be that my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” Job always did this.
And when the days of their feasting were gone about, Job sent to them, and sanctified them: and rising up early offered holocausts for every one of them. For he said: Lest perhaps my sons have sinned, and have blessed God in their hearts. So did Job all days.
6 Then it was the day when the sons of God came to present themselves before Yahweh. Satan also came with them.
Now on a certain day when the sons of God came to stand before the Lord, Satan also was present among them.
7 Yahweh said to Satan, “From where have you come?” Then Satan answered Yahweh and said, “From wandering on the earth, from going back and forth on it.”
And the Lord said to him: Whence comest thou? And he answered and said: I have gone round about the earth, and walked through it.
8 Yahweh said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and turns from evil.”
And the Lord said to him: Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a simple and upright man, and fearing God, and avoiding evil?
9 Then Satan answered Yahweh and said, “Does Job fear God without reason?
And Satan answering, said: Doth Job fear God in vain?
10 Have you not put a barrier around him, around his house, and around all that is his from every side? You have blessed the deeds of his hands, and his cattle have burst forth in the land.
Hast not thou made a fence for him, and his house, and all his substance round about, blessed the works of his hands, and his possession hath increased on the earth?
11 But now stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and see if he does not curse you to your face.”
But stretch forth thy hand a little, and touch all that he hath, and see if he blesseth thee not to thy face.
12 Yahweh said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him himself do not stretch out your hand.” Then Satan went away from the presence of Yahweh.
Then the Lord said to Satan: Behold, all that he hath is in thy hand: only put not forth thy hand upon his person. And Satan went forth from the presence of the Lord.
13 It came about that on a certain day, his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother's house.
Now upon a certain day when his sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in the house of their eldest brother,
14 A messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys were feeding beside them.
There came a messenger to Job, and said: The oxen were ploughing, and the asses feeding beside them,
15 Then the Sabeans fell on them and took them away. As for the servants, they have struck them with the edge of the sword. I alone have escaped to tell you.”
And the Sabeans rushed in, and took all away, and slew the servants with the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell thee.
16 While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “The fire of God fell from the heavens and burned up the sheep and the servants. I alone have escaped to tell you.”
And while he was yet speaking, another came, and said: The fire of God fell from heaven, and striking the sheep and the servants, hath consumed them, and I alone have escaped to tell thee.
17 While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “The Chaldeans formed three groups, attacked the camels, and have taken them away. As for the servants, they have struck them with the edge of the sword. I alone have escaped to tell you.”
And while he also was yet speaking, there came another, and said: The Chaldeans made three troops, and have fallen upon the camels, and taken them, moreover they have slain the servants with the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell thee.
18 While he was yet speaking, another also came and said, “Your sons and your daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother's house.
He was yet speaking, and behold another came in, and said: Thy sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in the house of their elder brother:
19 A strong wind came from the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house. It fell on the young people, and they died. I alone have escaped to tell you.”
A violent wind came on a sudden from the side of the desert, and shook the four corners of the house, and it fell upon thy children and they are dead, and I alone have escaped to fell thee.
20 Then Job rose, tore his robe, shaved his head, lay facedown on the ground, and worshiped God.
Then Job rose up, and rent his garments, and having shaven his head fell down upon the ground and worshipped,
21 He said, “I was naked when I came out of my mother's womb, and I will be naked when I will return there. It is Yahweh who gave, and it is Yahweh who has taken away. May the name of Yahweh be blessed.”
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: as it hath pleased the Lord so is it done: blessed be the name of the Lord.
22 In all this matter, Job did not sin, nor did he accuse God of wrongdoing.
In all these things Job sinned not by his lips, nor spoke he any foolish thing against God.

< Job 1 >