Job's Affliction and Silent Friends
Job 2
In a second heavenly council the devil is permitted to strike Job's body with painful boils, and Job sits among ashes scraping his sores while his wife urges him to curse God and die, but he refuses and does not sin with his lips. Three friends, Eliphaz, Baldad, and Sophar, come from their own countries and sit beside him in silence for seven days, seeing that his affliction is dreadful and very great.
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
ThomsonAGAIN on the day when the angels of God came to present themselves before the Lord, Satan also came among them to present himself before the Lord.
BrentonAnd it came to pass on a certain day, that the angels of God came to stand before the Lord, and the devil came among them to stand before the Lord.
GreekἘγένετο δὲ ὡς ἡ ἡμέρα αὕτη, καὶ ἦλθον οἱ ἄγγελοι τοῦ Θεοῦ παραστῆναι ἔναντι Κυρίου, καὶ ὁ διάβολος ἦλθεν ἐν μέσῳ αὐτῶν παραστῆναι ἐναντίον τοῦ Κυρίου.
KJVAgain there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the LORD.
JPSAgain it fell upon a day, that the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the LORD.
2
ThomsonAnd the Lord said to Satan, Whence comest thou? And Satan said before the Lord, Having traversed that which is under heaven, and roved through the whole of it, I am come here.
BrentonAnd the Lord said to the devil, Whence comest thou? Then the devil said before the Lord, I am come from going through the world, and walking about the whole earth.
GreekΚαὶ εἶπεν ὁ Κύριος τῷ διαβόλῳ, πόθεν σὺ ἔρχῃ; τότε εἶπεν ὁ διάβολος ἐνώπιον τοῦ Κυρίου, διαπορευθεὶς τὴν ὑπʼ οὐρανὸν, καὶ ἐμπεριπατήσας τὴν σύμπασαν, πάρειμι.
KJVAnd the LORD said unto Satan, From whence comest thou? And 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: ‘From whence comest thou?’ And Satan answered the LORD, and said: ‘From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.’
3
ThomsonAnd the Lord said to Satan, Thou hast therefore taken notice of my servant Job, that there is not of those on the earth a man like him,—guiltless, true, unblamable, abstaining from all evil. Still he retaineth his innocence; so that thou hast ordered the destruction of his property, without accomplishing thy purpose.
BrentonAnd the Lord said to the devil, Hast thou then observed my servant Job, that there is none of men upon the earth like him, a harmless, true, blameless, godly man, abstaining from all evil? and he yet cleaves to innocence, whereas thou hast told me to destroy his substance without cause?
GreekΕἶπε δὲ ὁ Κύριος πρὸς τὸν διάβολον, προσέσχες οὖν τῷ θεράποντί μου Ἰὼβ, ὅτι οὐκ ἔστι κατʼ αὐτὸν τῶν ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς; ἄνθρωπος ἄκακος, ἀληθινὸς, ἄμεμπτος, θεοσεβὴς, ἀπεχόμενος ἀπὸ παντὸς κακοῦ, ἔτι δὲ ἔχεται ἀκακίας· σὺ δὲ εἶπας ὑπάρχοντα αὐτοῦ διακενῆς ἀπολέσαι.
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? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause.
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? and he still holdeth fast his integrity, although thou didst move Me against him, to destroy him without cause.’
4
ThomsonIn reply to which Satan said to the Lord, Skin for skin. All that a man hath he will give for his life.
BrentonAnd the devil answered and said to the Lord, Skin for skin, all that a man has will he give as a ransom for his life.
GreekὙπολαβὼν δὲ ὁ διάβολος εἶπε τῷ Κυρίῳ, δέρμα ὑπὲρ δέρματος, ὅσα ὑπάρχει ἀνθρώπῳ ὑπέρ τῆς ψυχῆς αὐτοῦ ἐκτίσει.
KJVAnd Satan answered the LORD, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life.
JPSAnd Satan answered the LORD, and said: ‘Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life.
5
ThomsonOnly put forth Thy hand, and touch his bones and his flesh, he will indeed openly renounce Thee.
BrentonNay, but put forth thine hand, and touch his bones and his flesh: verily he will bless thee to thy face.
GreekΟὐ μὴν δὲ ἀλλὰ ἀποστείλας τὴν χεῖρά σου, ἅψαι τῶν ὀστῶν αὐτοῦ καὶ τῶν σαρκῶν αὐτοῦ· ἦ μὴν εἰς πρόσωπόν σε εὐλογήσει.
KJVBut put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face.
JPSBut put forth Thy hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, surely he will blaspheme Thee to Thy face.’
6
ThomsonThen the Lord said to Satan, Behold I deliver him up to thee, only preserve his life.
BrentonAnd the Lord said to the devil, Behold, I deliver him up to thee; only save his life.
GreekΕἶπε δὲ ὁ Κύριος τῷ διαβόλῳ, ἰδοὺ παραδίδωμί σοι αὐτόν· μόνον τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ διαφύλαξον.
KJVAnd the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life.
JPSAnd the LORD said unto Satan: ‘Behold, he is in thy hand; only spare his life.’
7
ThomsonThereupon Satan withdrew from the presence of the Lord, and smote Job with foul ulcers from head to foot,
BrentonSo the devil went out from the Lord, and smote Job with sore boils from his feet to his head.
GreekἘξῆλθε δὲ ὁ διάβολος ἀπὸ τοῦ Κυρίου· καὶ ἔπαισε τὸν Ἰὼβ ἕλκει πονηρῷ ἀπὸ ποδῶν ἕως κεφαλῆς.
KJVSo went Satan forth from the presence of the LORD, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown.
JPSSo Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot even unto his crown.
8
Thomsonso that he took a shell to scrape away the ichor, and sat down in an unclean place without the city.
BrentonAnd he took a potsherd to scrape away the discharge, and sat upon a dung-heap outside the city.
GreekΚαὶ ἔλαβεν ὄστρακον, ἵνα τὸν ἰχῶρα ξύῃ, καὶ ἐκάθητο ἐπὶ τῆς κοπρίας ἔξω τῆς πόλεως.
KJVAnd he took him a potsherd to scrape himself withal; and he sat down among the ashes.
JPSAnd he took him a potsherd to scrape himself therewith; and he sat among the ashes.
9
Thomson—
BrentonAnd when much time had passed, his wife said to him, How long wilt thou hold out, saying,
GreekΧρόνου δὲ πολλοῦ προβεβηκότος, εἶπεν αὐτῷ ἡ γυνὴ αὐτοῦ, μέχρι τίνος καρτερήσεις, λέγων,
KJV—
JPS—
9a
ThomsonAnd much time having elapsed, his wife said to him, How long wilt thou persist saying, Behold I will wait yet a little longer, in hope and expectation of my deliverance? For behold the memorial of thee—those sons and daughters, whom I brought forth with pangs and sorrow, and for whom I toiled in vain, are vanished from the earth; and thou thyself sittest among the putrefaction of worms, all night long in the open air, while I am wandering about, or working for wages, from place to place and from house to house, wishing for the setting of the sun, that I may rest from the labours and sorrows I endure. Do but say something for the Lord and die.
BrentonBehold, I wait yet a little while, expecting the hope of my deliverance?
Greekἰδοὺ ἀναμένω χρόνον ἔτι μικρὸν, προσδεχόμενος τὴν ἐλπίδα τῆς σωτηρίας μου;
KJV—
JPS—
9b
Thomson—
Brentonfor, behold, thy memorial is abolished from the earth, even thy sons and daughters, the pangs and pains of my womb which I bore in vain with sorrows;
Greekἰδοὺ γὰρ ἠφάνισταί σου τὸ μνημόσυνον ἀπὸ τῆς γῆς· υἱοὶ καὶ θυγατέρες, ἐμῆς κοιλίας ὠδῖνες καὶ πόνοι, οὓς εἰς τὸ κενὸν ἐκοπίασα μετὰ μόχθων·
KJV—
JPS—
9c
Thomson—
Brentonand thou thyself sittest down to spend the nights in the open air among the corruption of worms,
Greekσύ τε αὐτὸς ἐν σαπρίᾳ σκωλήκων κάθησαι διανυκτερεύων αἴθριος,
KJV—
JPS—
9d
Thomson—
Brentonand I am a wanderer and a servant from place to place and house to house, waiting for the setting of the sun, that I may rest from my labours and my pangs which now beset me:
Greekκᾀγὼ πλανωμένη καὶ λάτρις τόπον ἐκ τόπου καὶ οἰκίαν ἐξ οἰκίας, προσδεχομένη τὸν ἥλιον πότε δύσεται, ἵνα ἀναπαύσωμαι τῶν μόχθων μου καὶ τῶν ὀδυνῶν αἵ με νῦν συνέχουσιν·
KJV—
JPS—
9e
Thomson—
Brentonbut say some word against the Lord, and die.
Greekἀλλὰ εἶπόν τι ῥῆμα εἰς Κύριον, καὶ τελεύτα.
KJV—
JPS—
10
ThomsonWhereupon he looking steadfastly at her said, Like one of the women without understanding hast thou spoken? If we have received good things at the hand of the Lord, shall we not bear up under afflictions? In all these things which befell him, Job transgressed not with his lips against God.
BrentonBut he looked on her, and said to her, Thou hast spoken like one of the foolish women. If we have received good things of the hand of the Lord, shall we not endure evil things? In all these things that happened to him, Job sinned not at all with his lips before God.
GreekὉ δὲ ἐμβλέψας, εἶπεν αὐτῇ, ὥσπερ μία τῶν ἀφρόνων γυναικῶν ἐλάλησας· εἰ τὰ ἀγαθὰ ἐδεξάμεθα ἐκ χειρὸς Κυρίου, τὰ κακὰ οὐχ ὑποίσομεν; Ἐν πᾶσι τούτοις τοῖς συμβεβηκόσιν αὐτῷ οὐδὲν ἥμαρτεν Ἰὼβ τοῖς χείλεσιν ἐναντίον τοῦ Θεοῦ.
KJVBut he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.
JPSBut he said unto her: ‘Thou speakest as one of the impious women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?’ For all this did not Job sin with his lips.
11
ThomsonNow when his three friends heard of all the calamities which were come upon him, they came to him each from his own country, namely, Eliphaz the king of the Thaimanites, Baldad the sovereign of the Saucheans, and Sophar the king of the Minaians. Having made an appointment they came to him to comfort and take care of him, but seeing him at a distance they did not know him.
BrentonNow his three friends having heard of all the evil that was come upon him, came to him each from his own country: Eliphaz the king of the Thæmans, Baldad sovereign of the Saucheans, Sophar king of the Minæans: and they came to him with one accord, to comfort and to visit him.
GreekἈκούσαντες δὲ οἱ τρεῖς φίλοι αὐτοῦ τὰ κακὰ πάντα τὰ ἐπελθόντα αὐτῷ, παρεγένοντο ἕκαστος ἐκ τῆς ἰδίας χώρας πρὸς αὐτόν· Ἐλιφὰζ ὁ Θαιμανῶν βασιλεὺς, Βαλδὰδ ὁ Σαυχέων τύραννος, Σωφὰρ Μιναίων βασιλεύς· καὶ παρεγένοντο πρὸς αὐτὸν ὁμοθυμαδὸν, τοῦ παρακαλέσαι καὶ ἐπισκέψασθαι αὐτόν.
KJVNow when Job’s three friends heard of all this evil that was come upon him, they came every one from his own place; Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite: for they had made an appointment together to come to mourn with him and to comfort him.
JPSNow when Job’s three friends heard of all this evil that was come upon him, they came every one from his own place, Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite; and they made an appointment together to come to bemoan him and to comfort him.
12
ThomsonThen raising their voices they wept aloud, and having rent each his robe and sprinkled themselves with dust,
BrentonAnd when they saw him from a distance they did not know him; and they cried with a loud voice, and wept, and rent every one his garment, and sprinkled dust upon their heads,
GreekἸδόντες δὲ αὐτὸν πόῤῥωθεν, οὐκ ἐπέγνωσαν· καὶ βοήσαντες φωνῇ μεγάλῃ ἔκλαυσαν, ῥήξαντες ἕκαστος τὴν ἑαυτοῦ στολὴν, καὶ καταπασάμενοι γῆν.
KJVAnd when they lifted up their eyes afar off, and knew him not, they lifted up their voice, and wept; and they rent every one his mantle, and sprinkled dust upon their heads toward heaven.
JPSAnd when they lifted up their eyes afar off, and knew him not, they lifted up their voice, and wept; and they rent every one his mantle, and threw dust upon their heads toward heaven.
13
Thomsonthey sat down by him seven days and seven nights. And none of them spoke. For they saw that the stroke was grievous and very great.
Brentonand they sat down beside him seven days and seven nights, and no one of them spoke; for they saw that his affliction was dreadful and very great.
Greekπαρεκάθισαν αὐτῷ ἑπτὰ ἡμέρας καὶ ἑπτὰ νύκτας, καὶ οὐδεὶς αὐτῶν ἐλάλησεν· ἑώρων γὰρ τὴν πληγὴν δεινὴν οὖσαν καὶ μεγάλην σφόδρα.
KJVSo they sat down with him upon the ground seven days and seven nights, and none spake a word unto him: for they saw that his grief was very great.
JPSSo they sat down with him upon the ground seven days and seven nights, and none spoke a word unto him; for they saw that his grief was very great.