撒旦控告约伯

有一天,众天使[a]来朝见耶和华,撒旦也在他们当中。 耶和华问撒旦:“你从哪里来?”撒旦答道:“我在地上到处游走。” 耶和华问撒旦:“你注意到我的仆人约伯了吗?世上没有人像他那样纯全正直,敬畏我,远离罪恶。” 撒旦说:“约伯敬畏你难道无缘无故吗? 10 你岂不是像篱笆一样四面保护他及其全家和一切产业吗?你使他事事蒙福,牛羊遍地。 11 倘若你伸手毁坏他拥有的一切,他必当面亵渎你。” 12 耶和华对撒旦说:“好吧,他的一切都在你手中,但不可伤害他。”撒旦便从耶和华面前退去。

约伯失去所有

13 有一天,约伯的儿女正在长兄家吃喝, 14 有报信的人来对约伯说:“牛正在耕田、驴正在旁边吃草的时候, 15 示巴人忽然来袭,抢走了牲口,用刀杀了你的仆人,只有我一人逃脱来向你报信。” 16 话音未落,又有人来报信说:“上帝的火从天而降,烧死了羊群和牧人,只有我一人逃脱来向你报信。” 17 话音未落,又有人来报信说:“迦勒底人分三队来袭,抢走了骆驼,用刀杀了你的仆人,只有我一人逃脱来向你报信。” 18 话音未落,又有人来报信说:“你的儿女正在长兄家吃喝的时候, 19 忽然从旷野刮来一阵狂风,摧毁了房子四角,房子倒塌,压死了屋里所有的人,只有我一人逃脱来向你报信。”

20 约伯站起来,撕裂外袍,剃掉头发,俯伏在地上敬拜, 21 说:“我从母腹赤身而来,也必赤身而去。赏赐的是耶和华,收回的也是耶和华。耶和华的名当受称颂!” 22 约伯遭此不幸,仍没有犯罪,也没有埋怨上帝。

约伯失去健康

又有一天,众天使来朝见耶和华,撒旦也在他们当中。 耶和华问撒旦:“你从哪里来?”撒旦答道:“我在地上到处游走。” 耶和华问道:“你注意到我的仆人约伯了吗?世上没有人像他那样纯全正直,敬畏我,远离罪恶。虽然你鼓动我无缘无故地攻击他、毁灭他,他仍然持守自己的纯正。” 撒旦回答说:“人会以皮换皮,为了保全生命,情愿舍弃一切。 倘若你伸手伤害他的骨和肉,他必当面亵渎你。” 耶和华说:“好吧,他在你手中,但要留他一命。” 于是,撒旦从耶和华面前退去,开始加害约伯,使他从头到脚长毒疮。 约伯坐在炉灰中,拿瓦片刮身体。 他的妻子对他说:“你还要持守自己的纯正吗?不如亵渎上帝,死掉算了!” 10 但约伯回答说:“你说话像个愚昧的妇人。难道我们只从上帝手里接受祝福,却不接受灾殃吗?”约伯遭此不幸,仍毫无怨言。

Footnotes

  1. 1:6 众天使”希伯来文是“上帝的众子”,2:138:7同。

One day the angels[a](A) came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan[b](B) also came with them.(C) 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.”(D)

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

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

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

Then Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.

13 One day when Job’s sons and daughters(P) were feasting(Q) 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(R) nearby, 15 and the Sabeans(S) 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(T) and burned up the sheep and the servants,(U) 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(V) 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(W) were feasting(X) and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house, 19 when suddenly a mighty wind(Y) swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on them and they are dead,(Z) and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!(AA)

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

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

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

On another day the angels[d](AI) came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came with them(AJ) to present himself before him. And 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.”(AK)

Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.(AL) And he still maintains his integrity,(AM) though you incited me against him to ruin him without any reason.”(AN)

“Skin for skin!” Satan replied. “A man will give all he has(AO) for his own life. But now stretch out your hand and strike his flesh and bones,(AP) and he will surely curse you to your face.”(AQ)

The Lord said to Satan, “Very well, then, he is in your hands;(AR) but you must spare his life.”(AS)

So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord and afflicted Job with painful sores from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head.(AT) Then Job took a piece of broken pottery and scraped himself with it as he sat among the ashes.(AU)

His wife said to him, “Are you still maintaining your integrity?(AV) Curse God and die!”(AW)

10 He replied, “You are talking like a foolish[e] woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?”(AX)

In all this, Job did not sin in what he said.(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
  4. Job 2:1 Hebrew the sons of God
  5. Job 2:10 The Hebrew word rendered foolish denotes moral deficiency.