1 There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job. That man was blameless and upright, and one who feared God, and turned away from evil. 2 There were born to him seven sons and three daughters. 3 His possessions also were seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred female donkeys, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the children of the east. 4 His sons went and held a feast in the house of each one on his birthday; and they sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them. 5 It was so, when the days of their feasting had run their course, 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." Job did so continually.

6 Now on the day when God’s sons came to present themselves before Yahweh, Satan also came among them. 7 Yahweh said to Satan, "Where have you come from?"

Then Satan answered Yahweh, and said, "From going back and forth in the earth, and from walking up and down in it."

8 Yahweh said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant, Job? For there is no one like him in the earth, a blameless 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 around him, and around his house, and around all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. 11 But stretch out your hand now, and touch all that he has, and he will renounce you to your face."

12 Yahweh said to Satan, "Behold, all that he has is in your power. Only on himself don’t stretch out your hand."

So Satan went out from the presence of Yahweh. 13 It fell on a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, 14 that a messenger came to Job, and said, "The oxen were plowing, and the donkeys feeding beside them, 15 and the Sabeans attacked, and took them away. Yes, they have killed the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you."

16 While he was still speaking, another also came and said, "The fire of God has fallen from the sky, and has burned up the sheep and the servants, and consumed them, and I alone have escaped to tell you."

17 While he was still speaking, another also came and said, "The Chaldeans made three bands, and swept down on the camels, and have taken them away, yes, and killed the servants with the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell you."

18 While he was still speaking, there came also another, and said, "Your sons and your daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, 19 and behold, 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. I alone have escaped to tell you."

20 Then Job arose, and tore his robe, and shaved his head, and fell down on the ground, and worshiped. 21 He said, "Naked I came out of my mother’s womb, and naked will I return there. Yahweh gave, and Yahweh has taken away. Blessed be Yahweh’s name." 22 In all this, Job didn’t sin, nor charge God with wrongdoing.

1 乌斯地有一个人, 名叫约伯。这人完全、正直, 敬畏 神, 远离罪恶。

2 他生了七男三女。

3 他的家产有七千只羊、三千匹骆驼、五百对牛、五百头母驴, 并且有许多仆婢。这人在全东方的人中至为尊贵。

4 他的儿子素常轮流各按自己的日子在家摆设筵席, 并且邀请他们的三个姊妹来一同吃喝。

5 轮流设宴的日子一过, 约伯就差人去叫他们自洁。他清早起来, 按他们的数目献上燔祭。因为他心里想: "说不定孩子犯了罪, 心中亵渎了 神。"约伯经常这样作。

6 有一天, 神的众子都来侍立在耶和华面前, 撒但也来到他们中间。

7 耶和华问撒但: "你从哪里来?"撒但回答耶和华说: "我在地上徘徊, 走来走去。"

8 耶和华问撒但: "你有没有注意到我的仆人约伯?世上再也没有一个人像他那样完全、正直, 敬畏 神, 远离罪恶。"

9 撒但回答耶和华说: "约伯敬畏 神, 难道是无缘无故的吗?

10 你不是在他四周围上篱笆保护他吗?他的家和他所有的一切, 以及他手所作的, 你都赐福, 他的家产也在地上增添。

11 只要你伸手打击他所有的一切, 他一定当面亵渎你。"

12 耶和华对撒但说: "好吧, 他所有的一切都交在你手中, 只是不可以伸手害他。"于是撒但从耶和华面前退去。

13 有一天, 约伯的儿女正在他们长兄的家里吃饭喝酒的时候,

14 有报信的来见约伯, 说: "牛正在耕田, 母驴在附近吃草的时候,

15 示巴人忽然来侵袭, 把牛驴掳去, 又用刀杀了仆人, 只有我一个人逃脱, 来向你报告。"

16 这个人还在说话的时候, 又有人来说: " 神的火从天上降下来, 把群羊和仆人都烧光了, 只有我一个人逃脱, 来向你报告。"

17 他还在说话的时候, 又有人来说: "迦勒底人分成三队突袭骆驼, 把它们掳去, 又用刀杀了仆人, 只有我一个人逃脱, 来向你报告。"

18 他还在说话的时候, 又有人来说: "你的儿女正在他们长兄的家里吃饭喝酒的时候,

19 没想到有一阵狂风, 从旷野那边刮来, 吹袭房屋的四角, 房屋倒塌在他们身上, 他们就都死了, 只有我一个人逃脱, 来向你报告。"

20 于是约伯起来, 撕裂外袍, 剃了头, 俯伏在地上敬拜,

21 说: "我赤身出于母胎, 也必赤身归去。赏赐的是耶和华, 收回的也是耶和华; 耶和华的名是应当称颂的。"

22 在这一切事上, 约伯并没有犯罪, 也没有归咎于 神。