1 Havia um homem chamado Job que vivia na terra de Uz. Era uma pessoa recta que temia Deus, e que se afastava do mal.
2 Tinha muitos filhos - sete rapazes e três raparigas - e era muito rico: possuía 7000 ovelhas, 3000 camelos, 500 juntas de bois e 500 jumentas; tendo ao seu serviço um número considerável de pessoas. Era, sem dúvida, o mais rico comerciante de gado em toda aquela zona.
4 Os seus filhos costumavam juntar-se para comerem e beberem juntos na casa de um deles de cada vez, convidando também as três irmãs. Nessas ocasiões comiam e bebiam abundantemente. Quando aquelas festanças acabavam, e por vezes prolongavam-se por vários dias, Job mandava chamar os filhos e santificava-os, levantando-se de manhã cedo e oferecendo um sacrifício por cada um deles. Porque Job pensava desta forma: Talvez os meus filhos tenham pecado e tenham ofendido Deus nos seus corações. Essa a razão porque fazia isso regularmente.
6 Um dia os anjos vieram apresentar-se perante Deus, e Satanás veio com eles.
7 Donde vens?, perguntou o Senhor a Satanás.De rondar a Terra.
8 Reparaste no meu servo Job? E em como não há na Terra ninguém semelhante a ele? É um homem recto, que teme Deus e que se afasta do mal.
9 Sim, mas não é para admirar - ele é assim porque tu o recompensas bem, respondeu Satanás. Ele tem da tua parte protecção garantida para a sua casa e para os seus bens. Fizeste-o prosperar em tudo o que faz - por isso é tão rico! Não admira pois que te adore!
11 Contudo, basta que lhe tires a riqueza, e verás como te amaldiçoa na cara!
12 E o Senhor replicou-lhe: Podes fazer o que quiseres com os seus bens, mas não lhe toques fisicamente. Satanás retirou-se da presença do Senhor.
13 Sucedeu então que, estando os filhos e filhas de Job comendo em casa do irmão mais velho, um mensageiro veio a correr à casa de Job com esta notícia: Os teus bois estavam a lavrar, e as jumentas a pastar ao lado, quando se chegaram os sabeus que cairam sobre os animais e mataram os guardadores; só eu escapei.
16 Ainda este não tinha acabado de falar quando se chega outro: Veio fogo do céu sobre as ovelhas e os pastores todos; só eu consegui escapar, e vim logo trazer-te a notícia.
17 Mal este tinha acabado de falar, eis que um terceiro chega: Apareceram três bandos de caldeus que deram sobre os camelos e mataram os teus criados; só eu escapei e consegui vir até aqui para te dar a notícia.
18 Imediatamente após este, apareceu ainda outro a dizer: Teus filhos e filhas estavam a fazer uma festa na casa do mais velho quando, subitamente, se levantou um forte vento do deserto que fez ruir a casa sobre os que lá estava, morrendo todos; só eu escapei.
20 Então Job levantou-se, rasgou a roupa que trazia e rapou o cabelo , ficou profundamente abatido, e lançou-se por terra na presença de Deus:
21 Saí nu do ventre de minha mãe; nada levarei quando morrer. Foi o Senhor quem me deu tudo quanto possuía; por isso ele tinha o direito de tornar a levar aquiloque afinal lhe pertencia. Que o Senhor seja louvado.
22 Em tudo isto Job não pecou nem atribuiu a Deus culpa alguma do sucedido.
1 There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one who feared God, and turned away from evil.
2 And there were born to him seven sons and three daughters.
3 His substance also was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she-donkeys, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the sons of the east.
4 And his sons went and held a feast in the house of each one on his day; and they sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them.
5 And it was so, when the days of their feasting had 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 renounced God in their hearts. Thus Job did continually.
6 Now it came to pass on the day when the sons of God came to present themselves before Yahweh, that Satan also came among them.
7 And Yahweh said to Satan, Where do you come from? Then Satan answered Yahweh, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.
8 And Yahweh said to Satan, Have you considered my slave Job? For there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one who fears God, and turns away from evil.
9 Then Satan answered Yahweh, and said, Does Job fear God for nothing?
10 Haven't you made a hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his substance has increased in the land.
11 But put forth your hand now, and touch all that he has, and he will renounce you to your face.
12 And Yahweh said to Satan, Look, all that he has is in your power; only on him do not put forth your hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of Yahweh.
13 And it fell on a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house,
14 that there came a messenger to Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the donkeys pasturing beside them;
15 and the Sabeans fell [on them], and took them away: yes, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only have escaped alone to tell you.
16 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of God has fallen from heaven, and has burned up the sheep and the servants, and consumed them; and I only have escaped alone to tell you.
17 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The Chaldeans made three bands, and fell on the camels, and have taken them away, yes, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only have escaped alone to tell you.
18 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, Your sons and your daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house;
19 and, look, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young men, and they are dead; and I only have escaped alone to tell you.
20 Then Job arose, and rent his robe, and shaved his head, and fell down on the ground, and worshiped;
21 and he said, Naked I came out of my mother's womb, and naked I will return there: Yahweh gave, and Yahweh has taken away; blessed be the name of Yahweh.
22 In all this Job did not sin, nor charge God foolishly.