The Testing of Job
Job 1
Job is described as a righteous and blameless man richly blessed with children and possessions, who offers sacrifices on behalf of his feasting sons for fear they have sinned in their hearts. In the heavenly court the devil questions Job's motives and is permitted by the Lord to strip him of his flocks, servants, and children in a single day, yet Job falls down and worships, blessing the name of the Lord without sinning.
About these editions
The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.
Thomson 1808Septuagint
Brenton 1851Septuagint
Greek · BrentonSeptuagint
KJV 1769Masoretic
JPS 1917Masoretic
1
ThomsonTHERE was a man in the country of Ausitis whose name was Job. He was a man of truth and integrity, just, pious, and who abstained from everything that was evil.
BrentonThere was a certain man in the land of Ausis, whose name was Job; and that man was true, blameless, righteous, and godly, abstaining from everything evil.
GreekἌΝΘΡΩΠΟΣ τις ἦν ἐν χώρᾳ τῇ Αὐσίτιδι, ᾧ ὄνομα Ἰὼβ, καὶ ἦν ὁ ἄνθρωπος ἐκεῖνος ἀληθινὸς, ἄμεμπτος, δίκαιος, θεοσεβὴς, ἀπεχόμενος ἀπὸ παντὸς πονηροῦ πράγματος.
KJVThere was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil.
JPSTHERE was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was whole-hearted and upright, and one that feared God, and shunned evil.
2
ThomsonHe had seven sons and three daughters; and his cattle were seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred breeding asses.
BrentonAnd he had seven sons and three daughters.
GreekἘγένοντο δὲ αὐτῷ υἱοὶ ἑπτὰ καὶ θυγατέρες τρεῖς.
KJVAnd there were born unto him seven sons and three daughters.
JPSAnd there were born unto him seven sons and three daughters.
3
Thomson—
BrentonAnd his cattle consisted of seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred she-asses in the pastures, and a very great household, and he had a great husbandry on the earth; and that man was most noble of the men of the east.
GreekΚαὶ ἦν τὰ κτήνη αὐτοῦ πρόβατα ἑπτακισχίλια, κάμηλοι τρισχίλιαι, ζεύγη βοῶν πεντακόσια, θήλειαι ὄνοι νομάδες πεντακόσιαι, καὶ ὑπηρεσία πολλὴ σφόδρα, καὶ ἔργα μεγάλα ἦν αὐτῷ ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς, καὶ ἦν ὁ ἄνθρωπος ἐκεῖνος εὐγενὴς τῶν ἀφʼ ἡλίου ἀνατολῶν.
KJVHis substance also was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she asses, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the men of the east.
JPSHis possessions also were seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she-asses, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the children of the east.
4
ThomsonNow his sons had a custom of meeting at each other’s houses, and making an entertainment, each on his day, taking along with him their three sisters to eat and drink with them.
BrentonAnd his sons visiting one another prepared a banquet every day, taking with them also their three sisters to eat and drink with them.
GreekΣυμπορευόμενοι δὲ οἱ υἱοὶ αὐτοῦ πρὸς ἀλλήλους, ἐποιοῦσαν πότον καθʼ ἑκάστην ἡμέραν, συμπαραλαμβάνοντες ἅμα καὶ τὰς τρεῖς ἀδελφὰς αὐτῶν, ἐσθίειν καὶ πίνειν μετʼ αὐτῶν.
KJVAnd his sons went and feasted in their houses, every one his day; and sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them.
JPSAnd his sons used to go and hold a feast in the house of each one upon his day; and they would send and invite their three sisters to eat and to drink with them.
5
ThomsonAnd soon as the days of the entertainment were over, Job sent for, and purified them early the next morning, and offered sacrifices for them according to their numbers; a young bull for a sin offeringfor each of them; for Job said, Perhaps my children have in their mind conceived evil before God. In this manner therefore Job acted after every of those days.
BrentonAnd when the days of the banquet were completed, Job sent and purified them, having risen up in the morning, and offered sacrifices for them, according to their number, and one calf for a sin-offering for their souls: for Job said, Lest peradventure my sons have thought evil in their minds against God. Thus then Job did continually.
GreekΚαὶ ὡς ἂν συνετελέσθησαν αἱ ἡμέραι τοῦ πότου, ἀπέστελλεν Ἰὼβ καὶ ἐκαθάριζεν αὐτοὺς ἀνιστάμενος τοπρωῒ, καὶ προσέφερε περὶ αὐτῶν θυσίας, κατὰ τὸν ἀριθμὸν αὐτῶν, καὶ μόσχον ἕνα περὶ ἁμαρτίας περὶ τῶν ψυχῶν αὐτῶν· ἔλεγε γὰρ Ἰὼβ, μή ποτε οἱ υἱοί μου ἐν τῇ διανοίᾳ αὐτῶν κακὰ ἐνενόησαν πρὸς Θεόν· οὕτως οὖν ἐποίει Ἰὼβ πάσας τὰς ἡμέρας.
KJVAnd it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered 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 did Job continually.
JPSAnd it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt-offerings according to the number of them all; for Job said: ‘It may be that my sons have sinned, and blasphemed God in their hearts.’ Thus did Job continually.
6
ThomsonAnd it came to pass that on the same day, when lo! the angels of God came to present themselves before the Lord, Satan also came with them;
BrentonAnd it came to pass on a day, that, behold, the angels of God came to stand before the Lord, and the devil came with them.
GreekΚαὶ ἐγένετο ὡς ἡ ἡμέρα αὕτη, καὶ ἰδοὺ ἦλθον οἱ ἄγγελοι τοῦ Θεοῦ παραστῆναι ἐνώπιον τοῦ Κυρίου, καὶ ὁ διάβολος ἦλθε μετʼ αὐτῶν.
KJVNow there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them.
JPSNow it fell upon a day, that the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them.
7
Thomsonand the Lord said to Satan, Whence comest thou? And Satan in reply said to the Lord, Having gone round the earth, and roved the whole of it under heaven, I am come here.
BrentonAnd the Lord said to the devil, Whence art thou come? And the devil answered the Lord, and said, I am come from compassing the earth, and walking up and down in the world.
GreekΚαὶ εἶπεν ὁ Κύριος τῷ διαβόλῳ, πόθεν παραγέγονας; καὶ ἀποκριθεὶς ὁ διάβολος τῷ Κυρίῳ, εἶπε, περιελθὼν τὴν γῆν καὶ ἐμπεριπατήσας τὴν ὑπʼ οὐρανὸν πάρειμι.
KJVAnd the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.
JPSAnd the LORD said unto Satan: ‘Whence comest thou?’ Then Satan answered the LORD, and said: ‘From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.’
8
ThomsonAnd the Lord said to him, Hast thou harboured in thy mind anything against My servant Job? For there is not like him on the earth, a man unblamable, true, pious, abstaining from everything evil.
BrentonAnd the Lord said to him, Hast thou diligently considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a man blameless, true, godly, abstaining from everything evil?
GreekΚαὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ ὁ Κύριος, προσέσχες τῇ διανοίᾳ σου κατὰ τοῦ παιδός μου Ἰώβ; ὅτι οὐκ ἔστι κατʼ αὐτὸν ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς; ἄνθρωπος ἄμεμπτος, ἀληθινὸς, θεοσεβὴς, ἀπεχόμενος ἀπὸ παντὸς πονηροῦ πράγματος;
KJVAnd the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?
JPSAnd the LORD said unto Satan: ‘Hast thou considered My servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a whole-hearted and an upright man, one that feareth God, and shunneth evil?’
9
ThomsonAnd Satan in reply said before the Lord, Doth Job worship the Lord for nothing?
BrentonThen the devil answered, and said before the Lord, Does Job worship the Lord for nothing?
GreekἈπεκρίθη δὲ ὁ διάβολος, καὶ εἶπεν ἐναντίον τοῦ Κυρίου, μὴ δωρεὰν Ἰὼβ σέβεται τὸν Κύριον;
KJVThen Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought?
JPSThen Satan answered the LORD, and said: ‘Doth Job fear God for nought?
10
ThomsonHast Thou not made a hedge about all that he hath, abroad and at home, and about all that belong to him round about, and blessed the works of his hands, and multiplied his cattle on the earth?
BrentonHast thou not made a hedge about him, and about his household, and all his possessions round about? and hast thou not blessed the works of his hands, and multiplied his cattle upon the land?
GreekΟὐ σὺ περιέφραξας τὰ ἔξω αὐτοῦ, καὶ τὰ ἔσω τῆς οἰκίας αὐτοῦ, καὶ τὰ ἔξω πάντων τῶν ὄντων αὐτοῦ κύκλῳ; τὰ δὲ ἔργα τῶν χειρῶν αὐτοῦ εὐλόγησας; καὶ τὰ κτήνη αὐτοῦ πολλὰ ἐποίησας ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς;
KJVHast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.
JPSHast not Thou made a hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath, on every side? Thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions are increased in the land.
11
ThomsonBut put forth Thine hand and touch all that he hath, he will indeed openly renounce Thee.
BrentonBut put forth thine hand, and touch all that he has: verily he will bless thee to thy face.
GreekἈλλὰ ἀπόστειλον τὴν χεῖρά σου, καὶ ἅψαι πάντων ὧν ἔχει· ἦ μὴν εἰς πρόσωπόν σε εὐλογήσει.
KJVBut put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.
JPSBut put forth Thy hand now, and touch all that he hath, surely he will blaspheme Thee to Thy face.’
12
ThomsonThen the Lord said to Satan, Behold all that he hath I deliver into thine hand; but himself thou must not touch. So Satan went out from the Lord, and after that,
BrentonThen the Lord said to the devil, Behold, I give into thine hand all that he has, but touch not himself. So the devil went out from the presence of the Lord.
GreekΤότε εἶπεν ὁ Κύριος τῷ διαβόλῳ, ἰδοὺ πάντα ὅσα ἐστὶν αὐτῷ, δίδωμι ἐν τῇ χειρί σου, ἀλλʼ αὐτοῦ μὴ ἅψῃ· καὶ ἐξῆλθεν ὁ διάβολος παρὰ τοῦ Κυρίου.
KJVAnd the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.
JPSAnd the LORD said unto Satan: ‘Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thy hand.’ So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.
13
Thomsonon the same day, when the sons and daughters of Job were drinking wine at their elder brother’s house,
BrentonAnd it came to pass on a certain day, that Job's sons and his daughters were drinking wine in the house of their elder brother.
GreekΚαὶ ἦν ὡς ἡ ἡμέρα αὕτη, οἱ υἱοὶ Ἰὼβ καὶ αἱ θυγατέρες αὐτοῦ ἔπινον οἶνον ἐν τῇ οἰκίᾳ τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ αὐτῶν τοῦ πρεσβυτέρου.
KJVAnd there was a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house:
JPSAnd it fell on a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house,
14
Thomsonlo! a messenger came to Job, and said to him, The oxen were ploughing and the asses feeding near them,
BrentonAnd, behold, there came a messenger to Job, and said to him, The yokes of oxen were ploughing, and the she-asses were feeding near them;
GreekΚαὶ ἰδοὺ ἄγγελος ἦλθε πρὸς Ἰὼβ, καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ, τὰ ζεύγη τῶν βοῶν ἠροτρία, καὶ αἱ θήλειαι ὄνοι ἐβόσκοντο ἐχόμεναι αὐτῶν,
KJVAnd there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them:
JPSthat there came a messenger unto Job, and said: ‘The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them;
15
Thomsonand the plunderers came and carried them off. Thy servants also they slew with the sword, and I alone having escaped, am come to tell thee.
Brentonand the spoilers came and took them for a prey, and slew the servants with the sword; and I having escaped alone am come to tell thee.
Greekκαὶ ἐλθόντες οἱ αἰχμαλωτεύοντες ᾐχμαλώτευσαν αὐτὰς, καὶ τοὺς παῖδας ἀπέκτειναν ἐν μαχαίραις· σωθεὶς δὲ ἐγὼ μόνος ἦλθον τοῦ ἀπαγγεῖλαί σοι.
KJVAnd the Sabeans fell upon them, and took them away; yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.
JPSand the Sabeans made a raid, and took them away; yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.’
16
ThomsonWhile he was yet speaking, another messenger came, and said to Job: Fire hath fallen from heaven and burned up the sheep, and devoured the shepherds likewise; and I, alone having escaped, am come to tell thee.
BrentonWhile he was yet speaking, there came another messenger, and said to Job, Fire has fallen from heaven, and burnt up the sheep, and devoured the shepherds likewise; and I having escaped alone am come to tell thee.
GreekἜτι τούτου λαλοῦντος, ἦλθεν ἕτερος ἄγγελος, καὶ εἶπε πρὸς Ἰὼβ, πῦρ ἔπεσεν ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ, καὶ κατέκαυσε τὰ πρόβατα, καὶ τοὺς ποιμένας κατέφαγεν ὁμοίως· σωθεὶς δέ ἐγὼ μόνος ἦλθον τοῦ ἀπαγγεῖλαί σοι.
KJVWhile he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.
JPSWhile he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said: ‘A fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.’
17
ThomsonWhile this one was still speaking, another messenger came and said to Job, The horsemen, having formed three bands against us, surrounded the camels and have carried them off, and slain thy servants with the sword; and I, alone having escaped, am come to tell thee.
BrentonWhile he was yet speaking, there came another messenger, and said to Job, The horsemen formed three companies against us, and surrounded the camels, and took them for a prey, and slew the servants with the sword; and I only escaped, and am come to tell thee.
GreekἜτι τούτου λαλοῦντος, ἦλθεν ἕτερος ἄγγελος, καὶ εἶπεν πρὸς Ἰὼβ, οἱ ἱππεῖς ἐποίησαν ἡμῖν κεφαλᾶς τρεῖς, καὶ ἐκύκλωσαν τὰς καμήλους, καὶ ᾐχμαλώτευσαν αὐτὰς, καὶ τοὺς παῖδας ἀπέκτειναν ἐν μαχαίραις· ἐσώθην δὲ ἐγὼ μόνος, καὶ ἦλθον τοῦ ἀπαγγεῖλαί σοι.
KJVWhile he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The Chaldeans made out three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have carried them away, yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.
JPSWhile he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said: ‘The Chaldeans set themselves in three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have taken them away, yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.’
18
ThomsonWhile he was still speaking, another messenger came, and said to Job, While thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking at their eldest brother’s,
BrentonWhile he is yet speaking, another messenger comes, saying to Job, While thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking with their elder brother,
GreekἜτι τούτου λαλοῦντος, ἄλλος ἄγγελος ἔρχεται λέγων τῷ Ἰὼβ, τῶν υἱῶν σου καὶ τῶν θυγατέρων σου ἐσθίοντων καὶ πινόντων παρὰ τῷ ἀδελφῷ αὐτῶν τῷ πρεσβυτέρῳ,
KJVWhile he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, Thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house:
JPSWhile he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said: ‘Thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house;
19
Thomsona great blast of wind came up suddenly from the wilderness, and took the four corners of the house, so that the house fell upon thy children, and they are dead, and I, alone having escaped, am come to tell thee.
Brentonsuddenly a great wind came on from the desert, and caught the four corners of the house, and the house fell upon thy children, and they are dead; and I have escaped alone, and am come to tell thee.
Greekἐξαίφνης πνεῦμα μέγα ἐπῆλθεν ἐκ τῆς ἐρήμου, καὶ ἥψατο τῶν τεσσάρων γωνιῶν τῆς οἰκίας, καὶ ἔπεσεν ἡ οἰκία ἐπὶ τὰ παιδία σου, καὶ ἐτελεύτησαν· ἐσώθην δὲ ἐγὼ μόνος, καὶ ἦλθον τοῦ ἀπαγγεῖλαί σοι.
KJVAnd, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.
JPSAnd, behold, there came a great wind from across the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young people, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.’
20
ThomsonUpon this Job rising up rent his clothes, and shaved his head, and falling on the ground he worshipped
BrentonSo Job arose, and rent his garments, and shaved the hair of his head, and fell on the earth, and worshipped,
GreekΟὕτως ἀναστὰς Ἰὼβ ἔῤῥξε τὰ ἱμάτια ἑαυτοῦ, καὶ ἐκείρατο τὴν κόμην τῆς κεφαλῆς, καὶ πεσὼν χαμαὶ, προσεκύνησε, καὶ εἶπεν,
KJVThen Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped,
JPSThen Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped;
21
Thomsonand said, Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I shall depart hence. The Lord gave and the Lord hath taken away. As it pleased the Lord, so hath it come to pass. Blessed be the name of the Lord.
Brentonand said, I myself came forth naked from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, the Lord has taken away: as it seemed good to the Lord, so has it come to pass; blessed be the name of the Lord.
Greekαὐτὸς γυμνὸς ἐξῆλθον ἐκ κοιλίας μητρός μου, γυμνὸς καὶ ἀπελεύσομαι ἐκεῖ· ὁ Κύριος ἔδωκεν, ὁ Κύριος ἀφείλατο· ὡς τῷ Κυρίῳ ἔδοξεν, οὕτως ἐγένετο· εἴη τὸ ὄνομα Κυρίου εὐλογημένον.
KJVAnd 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; blessed be the name of the LORD.
JPSAnd he 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; Blessed be the name of the LORD.
22
ThomsonIn all these things which befell him, Job transgressed not against the Lord, nor imputed indiscretion to his God.
BrentonIn all these events that befel him Job sinned not at all before the Lord, and did not impute folly to God.
GreekἘν τούτοις πᾶσι τοῖς συμβεβηκόσιν αὐτῷ οὐδὲν ἥμαρτεν Ἰὼβ ἐναντίον τοῦ Κυρίου· καὶ οὐκ ἔδωκεν ἀφροσύνην τῷ Θεῷ.
KJVIn all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.
JPSFor all this Job sinned not, nor ascribed aught unseemly to God.