Job's Repentance and Restoration

Job 42

Job answers the Lord, confessing that he had spoken of things too wonderful for him, and repents in dust and ashes. The Lord then rebukes Job's three friends, has Job offer sacrifice and pray for them, and restores Job's fortunes twofold with a new family and long life, and the chapter closes with an account of Job's identity and lineage among the kings of Edom.

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

ThomsonTHEN Job in reply, said to the Lord:

BrentonThen Job answered and said to the Lord,

GreekὙπολαβὼν δὲ Ἰὼβ, λέγει τῷ Κυρίῳ,

KJVThen Job answered the LORD, and said,

JPSThen Job answered the LORD, and said:

ThomsonI know that Thou canst do all things, and that with Thee nothing is impossible.

BrentonI know that thou canst do all things, and nothing is impossible with thee.

GreekΟἶδα ὅτι πάντα δύνασαι, ἀδυνατεῖ δέ σοι οὐδέν.

KJVI know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee.

JPSI know that Thou canst do every thing, And that no purpose can be withholden from Thee.

ThomsonWho indeed can conceal counsel from Thee? Though he forbareth to speak, can he think to hide it from Thee? But who will tell me those things which I did not know—those great and wonderful things which I did not understand.

BrentonFor who is he that hides counsel from thee? or who keeps back his words, and thinks to hide them from thee? and who will tell me what I knew not, great and wonderful things which I understood not?

GreekΤίς γάρ ἐστιν ὁ κρύπτων σε βουλήν; φειδόμενος δὲ ῥημάτων, καὶ σὲ οἴεται κρύπτειν; τίς δὲ ἀναγγελεῖ μοι ἃ οὐκ ᾔδειν, μεγάλα καὶ θαυμαστὰ ἃ οὐκ ἐπιστάμην;

KJVWho is he that hideth counsel without knowledge? therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not.

JPSWho is this that hideth counsel without knowledge? Therefore have I uttered that which I understood not, Things too wonderful for me, which I knew not.

ThomsonHear me, O Lord, that I may speak. And let me ask, and do Thou teach me.

BrentonBut hear me, O Lord, that I also may speak: and I will ask thee, and do thou teach me.

GreekἌκουσον δέ μου Κύριε, ἵνα κᾀγὼ λαλήσω· ἐρωτήσω δέ σε, σὺ δέ με δίδαξον.

KJVHear, I beseech thee, and I will speak: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me.

JPSHear, I beseech Thee, and I will speak; I will demand of Thee, and declare Thou unto me.

ThomsonI have heard the report of Thee by mine ear before; but now mine eye has seen Thee.

BrentonI have heard the report of thee by the ear before; but now mine eye has seen thee.

GreekἈκοὴν μὲν ὠτὸς ἤκουόν σου τὸ πρότερον, νυνὶ δὲ ὁ ὀφθαλμός μου ἑώρακέ σε.

KJVI have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee.

JPSI had heard of Thee by the hearing of the ear; But now mine eye seeth Thee;

ThomsonWherefore I have counted myself vile, and have fainted; and I esteem myself dust and ashes.

BrentonWherefore I have counted myself vile, and have fainted: and I esteem myself dust and ashes.

GreekΔιὸ ἐφαύλισα ἐμαυτὸν, καὶ ἐτάκην· ἥγημαι δὲ ἐμαυτὸν γῆν καὶ σποδόν.

KJVWherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.

JPSWherefore I abhor my words, and repent, Seeing I am dust and ashes.

ThomsonNow after the Lord had spoken all these things to Job, the Lord said to Eliphaz, the Thaimanite, Thou hast sinned and thy two friends. For you have not spoken anything true before Me, as my servant Job hath.

BrentonAnd it came to pass after the Lord had spoken all these words to Job, that the Lord said to Eliphaz the Thæmanite, Thou hast sinned, and thy two friends: for ye have not said anything true before me, as my servant Job has.

GreekἘγένετο δὲ μετὰ τὸ λαλῆσαι τὸν Κύριον πάντα τὰ ῥήματα ταῦτα τῷ Ἰώβ, εἶπεν ὁ Κύριος Ἐλὺιφὰς τῷ Θαιμανὺίτῃ, ἥμαρτες σὺ, καὶ οἱ δὺο φίλοι σου· οὐ γὰρ ἐλαλήσατε ἐνώπιόν μου ἀληθὲς οὐδὲν, ὥσπερ ὁ θεράπων μου Ἰώβ.

KJVAnd it was so, that after the LORD had spoken these words unto Job, the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite, My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends: for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath.

JPSAnd it was so, that after the LORD had spoken these words unto Job, the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite: ‘My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends; for ye have not spoken of Me the thing that is right, as My servant Job hath.

ThomsonNow therefore take seven young bulls and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and he will make an offering for you; and My servant Job will pray for you. For him only I will accept; for were it not for his sake, I would destroy you, because you have not spoken what is true against My servant Job.

BrentonNow then take seven bullocks, and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and he shall offer a burnt-offering for you. And my servant Job shall pray for you, for I will only accept him: for but for his sake, I would have destroyed you, for ye have not spoken the truth against my servant Job.

GreekΝῦν δὲ λάβετε ἑπτὰ μόσχους, καὶ ἑπτὰ κριοὺς, καὶ πορεύθητε πρὸς τὸν θεράποντά μου Ἰὼβ, καὶ ποιήσει κάρπωσιν ὑπὲρ ὑμῶν. Ἰὼβ δὲ ὁ θεράπων μου εὔξεται περὶ ὑμῶν, ὅτι εἰ μὴ πρόσωπον αὐτοῦ λήψομαι· εἰ μὴ γὰρ διʼ αὐτὸν, ἀπώλεσα ἂν ὑμᾶς· οὐ γὰρ ἐλαλήσατε ἀληθὲς κατὰ τοῦ θεράποντός μου Ἰώβ.

KJVTherefore take unto you now seven bullocks and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and my servant Job shall pray for you: for him will I accept: lest I deal with you after your folly, in that ye have not spoken of me the thing which is right, like my servant Job.

JPSNow therefore, take unto you seven bullocks and seven rams, and go to My servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt-offering; and My servant Job shall pray for you; for him will I accept, that I do not unto you aught unseemly; for ye have not spoken of Me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath.’

ThomsonSo Eliphaz the Thaimanite, and Baldad the Sauchean, and Sophar the Minaian, went and did as the Lord commanded them, and He forgave them their sin for Job’s sake. And the

BrentonSo Eliphaz the Thæmanite, and Baldad the Sauchite, and Sophar the Minæan, went and did as the Lord commanded them: and he pardoned their sin for the sake of Job.

GreekἘπορεύθη δὲ Ἐλιφὰζ ὁ Θαιμανίτης, καὶ Βαλδὰδ ὁ Σαυχίτης, καὶ Σωφὰρ ὁ Μιναῖος, καὶ ἐποίησαν καθὼς συνέταξεν αὐτοῖς ὁ Κύριος· καὶ ἔλυσε τὴν ἁμαρτίαν αὐτοῖς διὰ Ἰὼβ.

KJVSo Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite went, and did according as the LORD commanded them: the LORD also accepted Job.

JPSSo Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite went, and did according as the LORD commanded them; and the LORD accepted Job.

ThomsonLord increased Job. Upon his making supplication for his friends, the Lord forgave them their sins, and the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before.

BrentonAnd the Lord prospered Job: and when he prayed also for his friends, he forgave them their sin: and the Lord gave Job twice as much, even the double of what he had before.

GreekὉ δὲ Κύριος ηὔξησε τὸν Ἰώβ· εὐξαμένου δὲ αὐτοῦ καὶ περὶ τῶν φίλων αὐτοῦ, ἀφῆκεν αὐτοῖς τὴν ἁμαρτίαν· ἔδωκε δὲ ὁ Κύριος διπλᾶ, ὅσα ἦν ἔμπροσθεν Ἰὼβ εἰς διπλασιασμόν.

KJVAnd the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.

JPSAnd the LORD changed the fortune of Job, when he prayed for his friends; and the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.

ThomsonWhen all his brethren and his sisters heard what had befallen him, they came to him, together with all those who were formerly acquainted with him, and having eaten and drunk at his house, they comforted him, and expressed their amazement at all that the Lord had brought upon him. And everyone presented to him a lamb, and a quarter of a drachm of gold bullion.

BrentonAnd all his brethren and his sisters heard all that had happened to him, and they came to him, and so did all that had known him from the first: and they ate and drank with him, and comforted him, and wondered at all that the Lord had brought upon him: and each one gave him a lamb, and four drachms' weight of gold, even of unstamped gold.

GreekἬκουσαν δὲ πάντες οἱ ἀδελφοὶ αὐτοῦ καὶ αἱ ἀδελφαὶ αὐτοῦ πάντα τὰ συμβεβηκότα αὐτῷ, καὶ ἦλθον πρὸς αὐτὸν, καὶ πάντες ὅσοι ᾔδεισαν αὐτὸν ἐκ πρώτου· φαγόντες δὲ καὶ πιόντες παρʼ αὐτῷ παρεκάλεσαν αὐτὸν, καὶ ἐθαύμασαν ἐπὶ πᾶσιν οἷς ἐπήγαγεν ἐπʼ αὐτῷ ὁ Κύριος· ἔδωκε δὲ αὐτῷ ἕκαστος ἀμνάδα μίαν, καὶ τετράδραχμον χρυσοῦ καὶ ἀσήμου.

KJVThen came there unto him all his brethren, and all his sisters, and all they that had been of his acquaintance before, and did eat bread with him in his house: and they bemoaned him, and comforted him over all the evil that the LORD had brought upon him: every man also gave him a piece of money, and every one an earring of gold.

JPSThen came there unto him all his brethren, and all his sisters, and all they that had been of his acquaintance before, and did eat bread with him in his house; and they bemoaned him, and comforted him concerning all the evil that the LORD had brought upon him; every man also gave him a piece of money, and every one a ring of gold.

ThomsonAnd the Lord blessed the latter days of Job more than the former: so that his stock was fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, a thousand yoke of oxen, a thousand breeding asses.

BrentonAnd the Lord blessed the latter end of Job, more than the beginning: and his cattle were fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, a thousand yoke of oxen, a thousand she-asses of the pastures.

GreekὉ δὲ Κύριος εὐλόγησε τὰ ἔσχατα Ἰὼβ, ἢ τὰ ἔμπροσθεν· ἦν δὲ τὰ κτήνη αὐτοῦ, πρόβατα μύρια τετρακισχίλια, κάμηλοι ἑξακισχίλιαι, ζεύγη βοῶν χίλια, ὄνοι θήλειαι νομάδες χίλιαι.

KJVSo the LORD blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning: for he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she asses.

JPSSo the LORD blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning; and he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she-asses. .

ThomsonAnd he had seven sons born to him, and three daughters, the eldest of whom he called Hemera, and the second Kasia,

BrentonAnd there were born to him seven sons and three daughters.

GreekΓεννῶνται δὲ αὐτῷ υἱοὶ ἑπτὰ, καὶ θυγατέρες τρεῖς.

KJVHe had also seven sons and three daughters.

JPSHe had also seven sons and three daughters.

Thomsonand the third Amalthaiakeres.

BrentonAnd he called the first, Day, and the second, Casia, and the third, Amalthæa's horn.

GreekΚαὶ ἐκάλεσε τὴν μὲν πρώτην, Ἡμέραν· τὴν δὲ δευτέραν, Κασίαν· τὴν δὲ τρίτην, Ἀμαλθαίας κέρας.

KJVAnd he called the name of the first, Jemima; and the name of the second, Kezia; and the name of the third, Kerenhappuch.

JPSAnd he called the name of the first, Jemimah; and the name of the second, Keziah; and the name of the third, Keren-happuch.

ThomsonAnd in all the land there were no women found so fair as the daughters of Job. And their father gave them an inheritance among their brothers.

BrentonAnd there were not found in comparison with the daughters of Job, fairer women than they in all the world: and their father gave them an inheritance among their brethren.

GreekΚαὶ οὐχ εὑρέθησαν κατὰ τὰς θυγατέρας Ἰὼβ, βελτίους αὐτῶν ἐν τῇ ὑπʼ οὐρανόν· ἔδωκε δὲ αὐταῖς ὁ πατὴρ κληρονομίαν ἐν τοῖς ἀδελφοῖς.

KJVAnd in all the land were no women found so fair as the daughters of Job: and their father gave them inheritance among their brethren.

JPSAnd in all the land were no women found so fair as the daughters of Job; and their father gave them inheritance among their brethren.

ThomsonAnd Job lived after this affliction a hundred and seventy years. So that all the years which he lived were two hundred and forty. And Job saw his children and his childrens’ children, to the fourth generation,

BrentonAnd Job lived after his affliction a hundred and seventy years: and all the years he lived were two hundred and forty: and Job saw his sons and his sons' sons, the fourth generation.

GreekἜζησε δὲ Ἰὼβ μετὰ τὴν πληγὴν ἔτη ἑκατὸν ἑβδομήκοντα· τὰ δὲ πάντα ἔτη ἔζησε, διακόσια τεσσράκοντα· καὶ Σἴδεν Ἰὼβ τοὺς υἱοὺς αὐτοῦ, καὶ τοὺς υἱοὺς τῶν υἱῶν αὐτοῦ, τετάρτην γενεάν.

KJVAfter this lived Job an hundred and forty years, and saw his sons, and his sons’ sons, even four generations.

JPSAnd after this Job lived a hundred and forty years, and saw his sons, and his sons’sons, even four generations.

Thomsonand died an old man and full of days. And it is written that he will rise again with them whom the Lord raiseth up.

BrentonAnd Job died, an old man and full of days:

GreekΚαὶ ἐτελεύτησεν Ἰὼβ πρεσβύτερος, καὶ πλήρης ἡμερῶν·

KJVSo Job died, being old and full of days.

JPSSo Job died, being old and full of days.

17a

Thomson—

Brentonand it is written that he will rise again with those whom the Lord raises up.

Greekγέγραπται δὲ, αὐτὸν πάλιν ἀναστήσεσθαι μεθʼ ὧν ὁ Κύριος ἀνίστησιν.

KJV—

JPS—

17b

Thomson—

BrentonThis man is described in the Syriac book as living in the land of Ausis, on the borders of Idumea and Arabia: and his name before was Jobab;

GreekΟὗτος ἑρμηνεύεται ἐκ τῆς Συριακῆς βίβλου, ἐν μὲν γῇ κατοικῶν τῇ Αὐσίτιδι, ἐπὶ τοῖς ὁρίοις τῆς Ἰδουμαίας καὶ Ἀραβίας· προϋπῆρχε δὲ αὐτῷ ὄνομα Ἰωβάβ·

KJV—

JPS—

17c

Thomson—

Brentonand having taken an Arabian wife, he begot a son whose name was Ennon. And he himself was the son of his father Zare, one of the sons of Esau, and of his mother Bosorrha, so that he was the fifth from Abraam.

Greekλαβὼν δὲ γυναῖκα Ἀράβισσαν, γεννᾷ υἱὸν, ᾧ ὄνομα Ἐννών· ἦν δὲ αὐτὸς πατρὸς μὲν Ζαρὲ ἐκ τῶν Ἡσαῦ υἱῶν υἱὸς, μητρὸς δὲ Βοσόῤῥας, ὥστε εἶναι αὐτὸν πέμπτον ἀπὸ Ἁβραάμ·

KJV—

JPS—

17d

ThomsonThis is translated out of a book in the Syrian language: For he [Job] dwelt in the land of Ausitis, on the confines of Idumea and Arabia. His first name was Jobab, and having married an Arabian woman, he had by her a son whose name was Ennon. Now he himself was a son of [his] father Zare, one of the sons of Esau, and his mother’s name was Bosorrha: so that he was the fifth in descent from Abraham. Now these were the kings who reigned in Edom, over which country he also bore rule. The first was Balak, the son of Beor, and the name of his city was Dannaba. And after Balak, Jobab, who is called Job; and after him, Asom, who was general from the region of Thaimanitis; and after him, Adad, son of Barad, who smote Madiam in the plain of Moab; and the name of his city was Gethaim. And the friends who came to Job were Eliphaz, of the sons of Esau, the king of the Thaimanites; Baldad, the sovereign of the Saucheans, and Sophar, the king of the Minaians.*

BrentonAnd these were the kings who reigned in Edom, which country he also ruled over: first, Balac, the son of Beor, and the name of his city was Dennaba: but after Balac, Jobab, who is called Job: and after him Asom, who was governor out of the country of Thæman: and after him Adad, the son of Barad, who destroyed Madiam in the plain of Moab; and the name of his city was Gethaim.

Greekκαὶ οὗτοι οἱ βασιλεῖς οἱ βασιλεύσαντες ἐν Ἐδὼμ, ἧς καὶ αὐτὸς ἦρξε χώρας· πρῶτος Βαλὰκ ὁ τοῦ Βεὼρ, καὶ ὄνομα τῇ πόλει αὐτοῦ Δενναβά· μετὰ δὲ Βαλὰκ, Ἰωβὰβ ὁ καλούμενος Ἰώβ· μετὰ δὲ τοῦτον, Ἀσὼμ ὁ ὑπάρχων ἡγεμὼν ἐκ τῆς Θαιμανίτιδος χώρας· μετὰ δὲ τοῦτον, Ἀδὰδ υἱὸς Βαρὰδ, ὁ ἐκκόψας Μαδιὰμ ἐν τῷ πεδίῳ Μωὰβ, καὶ ὄνομα τῇ πόλει αὐτοῦ Γεθαίμ·

KJV—

JPS—

17e

Thomson—

BrentonAnd his friends who came to him were Eliphaz, of the children of Esau, king of the Thæmanites, Baldad sovereign of the Sauchæans, Sophar king of the Minæans.

Greekοἱ δὲ ἐλθόντες πρὸς αὐτὸν φίλοι, Ἐλιφὰς τῶν Ἡσαῦ υἱῶν Θαιμανῶν βασιλεὺς, Βαλδὰδ ὁ Σαυχαίων τύραννος, Σωφὰρ ὁ Μιναίων βασιλεύς.

KJV—

JPS—