Translation:Job

Chapter 1
There was a man in the land of Uz, and his name was Job. This man was innocent and honest and God-fearing and avoided evil.

And seven sons were born to him, and three daughters.

And his livestock were seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels and five hundred pairs of cattle, and five hundred she-mules. And many laborers, and this man became bigger than all the men of old.

And his sons went and made a feast, each man's household his day, and they sent out and called to their three sisters to eat and to drink with them.

And it was when their feasting days loomed, and Job sent out and blessed them, and he awoke in the morning, and raised a number of burnt offerings, because Job said, "Maybe my sons sinned and cursed God in their hearts": thus did Job every day.

And it was the day and the sons of God filed up before Yahweh, and the Accuser also came among them.

And Yahweh said to the Accuser, "From where do you come?", and the Accuser answered Yahweh and said "From roaming the Earth, and walking it."

And Yahweh said to the Accuser, "Have you set your heart to my servant Job? Because there is not like him on Earth, a man innocent, honest, God fearing and avoiding evil."

And the Accuser answered Yahweh, and said: "At no cost, does Job fear God.

For did you not ensure him and his household and all he has around: you have blessed his hands' doing, and his livestock has burst forth on the land.

But if you put please out your hand, and affect all he has, will he not curse you to your face."

And Yahweh said to the Accuser: "Here is all he has in your hands, only upon him do not send your hand." And the Accuser left from within Yahweh's presence.

And it was the day, and his sons and daughters are eating and drinking wine in the house of their eldest brother.

And a messenger came to Job and said: "The oxen were plowing, and the she-mules were grazing next to them.

And Shva(Sabeans) fell upon them and took them, and the boys they fell by the sword, and only I alone escaped, to tell you."

While this one still spoke, another came and said "The fire of God fell from the skies, and burned at the sheep and the boys and consumed them; and only I alone escaped, to tell you."

While this one still spoke, another came and said "Cashdim(Chaldeans) came three heads and spread on the camels and took them, and the boys they struck by the sword, and only I alone escaped, to tell you."

While this one still spoke, another came and said: "Your sons and daughters are eating and drinking wine in the household of their eldest brother.

And here a great wind came from over the savanna, and touched the four corners of the house, and it fell on the boys and they died; and only I alone escaped, to tell you."

And Job rose up, and tore his frock, and chopped his hair, and fell to Earth, and bowed.

And said: "Naked I came from my mother's belly, and naked I shall return--- Yahweh gave, and Yahweh took, let Yahweh's name be blessed."

Despite this, Job did not sin, and did not put a slight unto God.

Chapter 2
On [another] day, the divine court came to attend Yahweh, and among them came the Accuser to attend Yahweh.

And Yahweh said to the Accuser: "Where did you come from?" and the Accuser answered Yahweh and said: "From wandering on the earth."

And Yahweh said to the Accuser : "Have you noticed my servant Job? There is none like him on earth, an innocent and honest man, who fears God and avoids evil. He still holds on to his innocence, [even though] you incited me to harm him for no reason."

And the Accuser answered Yahweh and said: "Skin for skin ! A man would give everything he has for his life.

But extend your hand and touch his bones and flesh, and see if he doesn't curse you to your face!"

And Yahweh said to the Accuser: "He is in your power ,but watch for his life."

And the Accuser left the presence of Yahweh, and struck Job with terrible boils, from the soles of his feet to the top of his head.

So he took a piece of pottery to scratch himself with, and sat in the ashes.

And his wife said to him: "Do you still hold on to your innocence? Curse God and die!"

But he said to her: "Will you talk like a wicked woman? Can we accept the good from God but not the bad?" In all this, Job had not sinned with his lips.

Then Job's three friends heard about all these calamities which had befallen him, and each came from his place: Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shukhite, and Tzofar the Naamathite. And they conferred together, to sympathize with him and to console him.

And they looked [at him] from afar, bu did not recognize him. So they raised their voices and wept, and each tore off his coat, and threw dust on their heads, up to heaven.

And they sat with him on the earth [for] seven days and seven nights, but none would speak to him at all, for they saw how great his pain was.

After this Job opened his mouth and cursed his day [of birth].

Chapter 3
And Job answered and said:

Let the day I was born be lost,

and the night on which it was said: "She bears a man."

Let that day be darkness. Let not God above seek it,

and let no illumination reach it.

Let darkness and the shadow of death receive it, a cloud dwell on it,

and it be bitter as the day.

Let that night be taken by blackness, let it not be counted among the days of the year,

let it not be in the account of the months.

See! That night shall be lonely,

no joyous singing will come upon it.

Let the accursers of the day curse it,

those who would wake Leviathan.

Let its evening stars go dark. It shall hope for light, but there shall be none,

and let it not see the brows of the dawn.

[All this] because the door of my [mother's] stomach was not closed,

which would have prevented me from seeing travail.

Why was I not dead when I came out of the womb?

Why did I not die immediately out of her stomach?

Why where there knees to receive me,

and why breasts for me to suck?

For [had there not been] I would be lying quiet,

sleeping, and would then have rest.

With kings and the counselors of the earth,

who build ruins for themselves.

Or with princes who have gold,

who fill their houses with silver.

Or that I would not be at all, as a buried stillborn,

as infants who did not see light.

There the wicked cease from making trouble,

and there the weary rest. Together, the prisoners are secure,

[for] they do not hear the voice of the tormenter.

The great and small are all there,

and the slave is free of his master.

Why is the travailer given light,

and the bitter of soul life?

They who wait for death, but it does not come,

and dig for it more than they would for treasure.

They who are happy in rejoicing,

who are glad when they find the grave.

To the man whose way is hidden,

and a God blocks his path.

For before I have bread my wailing comes,

and my [pained] roar surges like water.

For I feared a fear, and it came true,

and what I dreaded came upon me.

I was not calm, had no quiet, and did not rest,

and trouble came.

Chapter 4
And Eliphaz of Teman answered and said:

Shall you try to hinder what is spoken to you,

and who is able to stop words?

See! You educated many,

and strengthened weak hands.

Your words raised the straggler,

and you gave courage to bowed knees.

But now, it [disaster] comes to you and you blanch,

it but touches you, and you are afraid.

Is not your fear [of God] your foolishness,

your hope, and your innocent ways.

Please, remember, who is [among] the blameless that was lost,

and where have the honest been annihilated?

As I see [it], those who plow malice,

and those who plant trouble will reap it.

They are lost by the breath of a God,

and the [storm] wind of his wrath turns them to nothing.

The roar of a lion, the shout of a lionet,

and the teeth of the lion cubs are all weakened.

The young lion is lost because there is no prey,

and the sons of the lioness go their separate ways.

But to me, a matter was given secretly,

and my ear picked up a bit of it.

Suddenly, amid the visions of the night,

when sleep falls on men.

A fear took me, and I shook,

and it frightened my many bones.

And a wind flew by my face,

causing the hair on my flesh to stand on end.

It stood, and I did not recognize its likeness, an image before my eyes,

silence, then I heard a voice.

"Can a human be more righteous than a God?

Or can a man be purer than his maker?

For he [God] does not trust his [mortal] servants,

and even his messengers are given foolishness.

Even those who dwell in mud houses, whose foundations are in dust,

they are crushed before a moth.

They are struck from morning to evening,

and are lost forever, and no one notices.

Does not their greatness go away,

and they die, without even wisdom?"

Chapter 5
Cry now, will anyone answer you?

And to whom of the holy ones will you turn?

For the unjust will die of anger,

and the tempter will be killed by jealousy.

I saw an unjust one putting down roots,

so I cursed his dwelling suddenly.

His children are far from help,

so they beg at the city gates, but no one saves them.

Whose harvest, he eats, hungry, and takes it to the thorns,

and the robbers eat up all their possessions.

For injustice does not grow from dust,

and neither does trouble from the earth.

For man is born to trouble,

and what is born of fire flies high.

But I seek the divine,

and I put my words to God.

Who makes great and inscrutable things,

and innumerable wonders.

Who gives rain to the earth,

and sends water upon the roads.

So that the low are raised to the heights,

and the troubled are exalted by help.

Who thwarts the plans of the devious,

and their hands are unable to do mischief.

Who catches the wise with their own plots,

and the advice of the crafty is quickly thwarted.

In day they [suddenly] meet darkness,

and they feel their way around at noon, as if it was night.

And he saves from the sword, from their mouths,

and the impoverished from the strong.

And the poor have hope,

and injustice shuts its mouth.

See, happy is the man who is reproved by a God,

and do not reject the message of Shaddai.

For he gives pain, but also binds wounds,

he crushes, but his hands also heal.

He will save you from six perils,

and in seven no evil will touch you.

In hunger, he saved you from death,

and in war from the sword.

When tongues whip at you, hide,

and do not fear robbery if it comes.

Laugh at robbery and bondage,

and do not fear the animals of the earth.

For you have an alliance with the stones of the field,

and a truce with the animals thereof.

And know that your tent is at peace,

and visit your dwelling, and do not sin.

And know that your seed are many,

and your descendants are like the grass of the earth.

You will come full to the grave,

like a stack of grain raised at its [appropriate] time.

See this, we have investigated it, and it is so,

hear it, and know it yourself.

Chapter 6
Then Job said:

If only my grief were weighed out, and my ruin -- set on scales together.

By now they would outweigh the ocean's sand. That is why my words have been rash.

For Shaddai's arrows are within me; my spirit drinks up their poison; God's terrors are arrayed against me.

Does a wild ass bray when he has grass, or the ox low over his fodder?

Can flavorless food be consumed without salt? Is there any taste in rir hallamut?

I loathe to touch them; they are nauseating food.