Job and His Family

There was a man in the country of Uz(A) named Job.(B) He was a man of complete integrity,(C) who feared God and turned away from evil.(D) He had seven sons and three daughters.(E) His estate included seven thousand sheep and goats, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred female donkeys,(F) and a very large number of servants. Job was the greatest man among all the people of the east.(G)

His sons used to take turns having banquets at their homes. They would send an invitation to their three sisters to eat and drink with them. Whenever a round of banqueting was over, Job would send for his children and purify them, rising early in the morning to offer burnt offerings for[a] all of them. For Job thought, “Perhaps my children have sinned, having cursed God in their hearts.”(H) This was Job’s regular practice.

Satan’s First Test of Job

One day the sons of God(I) came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan[b] also came with them. The Lord asked Satan, “Where have you come from?”

“From roaming through the earth,”(J) Satan answered him, “and walking around on it.”

Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? No one else on earth is like him, a man of perfect integrity,(K) who fears God and turns away from evil.”(L)

Satan answered the Lord, “Does Job fear God for nothing? 10 Haven’t you placed a hedge around(M) him, his household, and everything he owns? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. 11 But stretch out your hand and strike(N) everything he owns, and he will surely curse you to your face.”

12 “Very well,” the Lord told Satan, “everything he owns is in your power. However, do not lay a hand on Job himself.” So Satan left the Lord’s presence.

13 One day when Job’s sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, 14 a messenger came to Job and reported, “While the oxen were plowing and the donkeys grazing nearby, 15 the Sabeans(O) swooped down and took them away. They struck down the servants with the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you!”

16 He was still speaking when another messenger came and reported, “God’s fire fell from heaven.(P) It burned the sheep and the servants and devoured them, and I alone have escaped to tell you!”

17 That messenger was still speaking when yet another came and reported, “The Chaldeans formed three bands, made a raid on the camels, and took them away. They struck down the servants with the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you!”

18 He was still speaking when another messenger came and reported, “Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house. 19 Suddenly a powerful wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on the young people so that they died, and I alone have escaped to tell you!”

20 Then Job stood up, tore(Q) his robe, and shaved(R) his head. He fell to the ground and worshiped, 21 saying:

Naked I came from my mother’s womb,(S)
and naked I will leave this life.[c](T)
The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away.
Blessed be the name of the Lord.(U)

22 Throughout all this Job did not sin or blame God for anything.[d](V)

Footnotes

  1. 1:5 Lit for the number of
  2. 1:6 Or the adversary
  3. 1:21 Lit will return there; Ps 139:13,15
  4. 1:22 Lit or ascribe blame to God

Hiobs Glaube wird auf die Probe gestellt (Kapitel 1–2)

Hiobs Frömmigkeit

Im Land Uz lebte ein Mann namens Hiob, der rechtschaffen und aufrichtig war. Weil er Ehrfurcht vor Gott hatte, hütete er sich davor, Böses zu tun. Er hatte eine große Familie mit sieben Söhnen und drei Töchtern und besaß riesige Viehherden: 7000 Schafe und Ziegen, 3000 Kamele, 500 Rindergespanne und 500 Esel, dazu sehr viele Hirten und Mägde. Hiob war der reichste und angesehenste von allen Herdenbesitzern im Osten.

Jahr für Jahr feierten seine Söhne reihum in ihren Häusern Feste, zu denen sie auch ihre Schwestern einluden. Immer wenn die Festtage vorbei waren, ließ Hiob seine Kinder zu sich kommen, um sich mit ihnen auf ein Opfer vorzubereiten. Schon früh am Morgen stand er auf und brachte Gott viele Brandopfer dar, für jedes Kind eins. Das tat Hiob jedes Mal, denn er dachte: »Vielleicht haben sie sich schuldig gemacht und Gott insgeheim verflucht.«

Eine schwere Prüfung für Hiob

Eines Tages versammelten sich die Gottessöhne im Himmel und traten vor den Herrn, unter ihnen auch der Satan[a]. »Woher kommst du?«, fragte ihn der Herr. »Ich habe die Erde durchstreift«, gab dieser zur Antwort. Der Herr erwiderte: »Dann ist dir sicher auch mein Diener Hiob aufgefallen. Ich kenne keinen Zweiten auf der Erde, der so rechtschaffen und aufrichtig ist wie er, der mich achtet und sich nichts zuschulden kommen lässt.«

»Überrascht dich das?«, fragte der Satan. »Er tut’s doch nicht umsonst! 10 Du hast ihn, seine Familie und seinen ganzen Besitz stets bewahrt. Seine Arbeit war erfolgreich, und seine Herden haben sich gewaltig vermehrt. 11 Aber – versuch es doch einmal und lass ihn Hab und Gut verlieren, dann wird er dich ganz sicher vor allen Leuten verfluchen.«

12 »Gut«, sagte der Herr, »mach mit seinem Besitz, was du willst, nur ihn selbst taste nicht an!« So verließ der Satan die Gegenwart des Herrn.

13 Eines Tages feierten Hiobs Kinder wieder einmal im Haus ihres ältesten Bruders. 14 Da kam ein Bote zu Hiob und meldete: »Wir pflügten gerade mit den Rindern, die Esel weideten nebenan, 15 da überfiel uns eine Räuberbande aus der Gegend von Saba und jagte uns die Tiere ab. Alle Hirten haben sie umgebracht, nur ich konnte entkommen, um es dir zu melden.«

16 Im selben Moment stürzte schon ein anderer Bote herein: »Ein Unwetter[b] hat deine Schaf- und Ziegenherden mitsamt den Hirten vernichtet, nur ich habe es überlebt, und jetzt bin ich hier, um es dir zu berichten.«

17 Kaum hatte er ausgeredet, als schon der nächste Bote atemlos meldete: »Nomaden aus Babylonien haben unsere Kamelherden von drei Seiten überfallen und weggetrieben. Alle Hirten haben sie umgebracht, ich bin der einzige Überlebende!«

18 Im nächsten Augenblick kam wieder ein Bote an: »Hiob«, rief er, »deine Kinder feierten gerade, 19 als ein Wirbelsturm aus der Wüste das Haus deines ältesten Sohnes erfasste und einstürzen ließ. Alle deine Kinder liegen unter den Trümmern begraben! Sie sind tot! Ich habe als Einziger dieses Unglück überlebt.«

20 Da stand Hiob auf, zerriss sein Obergewand und schor sich den Kopf. Dann fiel er zu Boden und betete: 21 »Nackt bin ich zur Welt gekommen, und nackt verlasse ich sie wieder. Herr, du hast mir alles gegeben, du hast mir alles genommen, dich will ich preisen!«

22 Obwohl dieses Leid über ihn hereinbrach, versündigte Hiob sich nicht. Kein böses Wort gegen Gott kam über seine Lippen.

Footnotes

  1. 1,6 Wörtlich: der Ankläger. – Vgl. »Satan« in den Sacherklärungen.
  2. 1,16 Wörtlich: Das Feuer Gottes fiel vom Himmel und.

Prologue: Job’s Prosperity, Woes, and Resignation[a]

Chapter 1

A Good and Righteous Man.[b] Job, a good and righteous man, lived in the land of Uz. He feared God and shunned evil. He was the father of seven sons and three daughters, and he possessed seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred donkeys, in addition to a large number of servants. Thus, he was the greatest man throughout the entire East.

Job’s sons had the custom of taking turns hosting banquets in one another’s house, and they would invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. And when each banquet had been completed, Job would send for his children and sanctify them, rising early in the morning and sacrificing burnt offerings for each of them. For Job said, “It could perhaps have happened that my sons have sinned and blasphemed against God in their hearts.” This was his regular custom.

“Why Should Job Not Be a God-Fearing Man?”[c] One day the sons of God assembled to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan was with them. The Lord said to Satan, “Where have you come from?” Satan answered the Lord and said, “I have been roaming the earth and going back and forth in it.” The Lord asked him, “Have you paid any notice to my servant Job? You will not find anyone like him on the entire earth. He is a good and righteous man who fears God and shuns evil.”

Satan said in reply, “Why should Job not be a God-fearing man? 10 You have safeguarded him and his family and all his possessions with your protection. You have blessed every one of his undertakings, and his flocks have continued to increase throughout the land. 11 But if you stretch out your hand and strike all that he has, he will surely curse you to your face.” 12 The Lord then said, “Very well. All that he has is in your power. However, you may not lay a hand upon him.” So Satan went forth from the presence of the Lord.

13 Messengers of Woe.[d] One day when Job’s sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house, 14 a messenger came to Job and said, “While your oxen were plowing and the donkeys were grazing beside them, 15 the Sabeans[e] swooped down on them and carried them off, after first putting the herdsmen to the sword. I alone have escaped to tell you.”

16 While he was speaking, another messenger arrived and said, “The fire of God[f] flashed from heaven, striking the sheep and their shepherds and consuming them. I alone have escaped to tell you.”

17 While he was still speaking, another messenger ran up and said, “Three bands of Chaldeans[g] made a raid on the camels and carried them off and slaughtered those who were tending them. I alone have escaped to tell you.”

18 While he was still speaking, yet another messenger came forth and said, “Your sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house. 19 Then suddenly a powerful wind swept across the desert. It struck the four corners of the house, which collapsed upon the young people, and they are all dead. I alone have escaped to tell you.”

Blessed Be the Name of the Lord.[h]

20 Then Job arose, tore his cloak, and shaved his head. He threw himself prostrate on the ground 21 and said:

“Naked I emerged from my mother’s womb,
    and naked I will return.
The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away;
    blessed be the name of the Lord.”

22 In all this, Job did not sin, nor did he revile God.

Footnotes

  1. Job 1:1 Job, a personage celebrated for his virtues and his misfortunes, is one of those nomadic or seminomadic leaders—“the people of the East”—who had a reputation for wisdom. He is not an Israelite but lives in the Arabian wilderness that surrounds southern Palestine. He belongs to a distant past as one of a trio of legendary figures celebrated in Israel—the others being Noah, the hero of the flood, and Daniel, the protagonist of the biblical Book modeled after an earlier Phoenician king renowned for wisdom, right judgment, and true piety (Ezek 14:14-20).
  2. Job 1:1 Job represents the ideal righteous person according to the Old Covenant, one who is faithful to all the religious observances. God blesses him in his children and in his possessions.
  3. Job 1:6 The ancient story imagines God as surrounded by his court of heavenly beings for a discussion of human destinies. Satan is one of these servants; as his name indicates, his role is that of a prosecutor who is hostile to this human being (see Zec 3:1). Later on, Satan (Greek, diabolos, devil) will be turned into God’s principal adversary, the leader of the demons, and will be identified with the “serpent” of Gen 3:1.
  4. Job 1:13 Four times without respite the announcement of disaster takes place. The accounts are linked together and are given along the same lines in order to dramatize the catastrophe.
  5. Job 1:15 Sabeans: nomadic raiders from northern Arabia.
  6. Job 1:16 Fire of God: that is, lightning (see Num 11:1; 1 Ki 18:38; 2 Ki 1:12).
  7. Job 1:17 Chaldeans: Syrian nomads.
  8. Job 1:19 Submissive to God in misfortune, Job is the model of pure religion, bereft of any egotism. He already announces the ideal of the Gospel.

Prologue

In the land of Uz(A) there lived a man whose name was Job.(B) This man was blameless(C) and upright;(D) he feared God(E) and shunned evil.(F) He had seven sons(G) and three daughters,(H) and he owned seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen and five hundred donkeys,(I) and had a large number of servants.(J) He was the greatest man(K) among all the people of the East.(L)

His sons used to hold feasts(M) in their homes on their birthdays, and they would invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. When a period of feasting had run its course, Job would make arrangements for them to be purified.(N) Early in the morning he would sacrifice a burnt offering(O) for each of them, thinking, “Perhaps my children have sinned(P) and cursed God(Q) in their hearts.” This was Job’s regular custom.

One day the angels[a](R) came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan[b](S) also came with them.(T) The Lord said to Satan, “Where have you come from?”

Satan answered the Lord, “From roaming throughout the earth, going back and forth on it.”(U)

Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job?(V) There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God(W) and shuns evil.”(X)

“Does Job fear God for nothing?”(Y) Satan replied. 10 “Have you not put a hedge(Z) around him and his household and everything he has?(AA) You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land.(AB) 11 But now stretch out your hand and strike everything he has,(AC) and he will surely curse you to your face.”(AD)

12 The Lord said to Satan, “Very well, then, everything he has(AE) is in your power, but on the man himself do not lay a finger.”(AF)

Then Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.

13 One day when Job’s sons and daughters(AG) were feasting(AH) and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house, 14 a messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys were grazing(AI) nearby, 15 and the Sabeans(AJ) attacked and made off with them. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”

16 While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, “The fire of God fell from the heavens(AK) and burned up the sheep and the servants,(AL) and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”

17 While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, “The Chaldeans(AM) formed three raiding parties and swept down on your camels and made off with them. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”

18 While he was still speaking, yet another messenger came and said, “Your sons and daughters(AN) were feasting(AO) and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house, 19 when suddenly a mighty wind(AP) swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on them and they are dead,(AQ) and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!(AR)

20 At this, Job got up and tore his robe(AS) and shaved his head.(AT) Then he fell to the ground in worship(AU) 21 and said:

“Naked I came from my mother’s womb,
    and naked I will depart.[c](AV)
The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away;(AW)
    may the name of the Lord be praised.”(AX)

22 In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.(AY)

Footnotes

  1. Job 1:6 Hebrew the sons of God
  2. Job 1:6 Hebrew satan means adversary.
  3. Job 1:21 Or will return there