My LORD’s BibleTestament of Job 1
A Jewish retelling of the Book of Job as the dying patriarch's farewell to his children; author unknown, composed in Greek, probably in Egypt, between the 1st century BC and the 1st century AD. Job (here also called Jobab, king of the land of Ausitis) destroys the idol of Satan on an angel's warning, endures the loss of his wealth, children and health, and outlasts Satan, who is finally forced to admit defeat; his wife Sitis sells her hair for bread; Eliphaz, Baldad, Sophar and Elihu arrive as kings, and only Elihu, inspired by Satan, is not forgiven. Job then gives his three daughters magic girdles that lift them into the speech of angels, and at his death a chariot carries his soul to heaven. This is Kaufmann Kohler's English of 1897, made from the Greek and read by him as an Essene midrash (a scholarly theory few now hold); his Introduction, Greek text and footnotes are not reproduced, and the chapter and verse numbers are his. Not part of any canon.
1On the day he became sick and (he) knew that he would have to leave his bodily abode, he called his seven sons and his three daughters together and spake to them as follows:
See also: Job 1:2, Ezekiel 14:14
2"Form a circle around me, children, and hear, and I shall relate to you what the Lord did for me and all that happened to me.
4Know ye then my children, that you are the generation of a chosen one and take heed of your noble birth.
7Hear now, children, and I will reveal unto you what happened to me.
8I was a very rich man living in the East in the land Ausitis, (Utz) and before the Lord had named me Job, I was called Jobab.
See also: Genesis 36:33, Job 1:1
9The beginning of my trial was thus.
11And in that night as I lay asleep, a voice came and called: "Jobab! Jobab! rise up, and I will tell thee who is the one whom thou wishest to know.
12This, however, to whom the people bring burnt-offerings and libations, is not God, but this is the power and work of the Seducer (Satan) by which he beguiles the people".
13And when I heard this, I fell upon the earth and prostrated myself saying:
14"O my Lord who speakest for the salvation of my soul, I pray thee, if this is the idol of Satan, I pray thee, let me go hence and destroy it and purify this spot.
15For there is none that can forbid me doing this, as I am the king of this land, so that those that live in it will no longer be led astray".
16And the voice that spoke out of the flame answered to me: "Thou canst purify this spot.
See also: Exodus 3:2
17But behold, I announce to thee what the Lord ordered me to tell thee. For I am the archangel of God".
18And I said: "Whatever shall be told to his servant, I shall hear".
19And the archangel said to me: "Thus speaketh the Lord: If thou undertakest to destroy and takest away the image of Satan, he will set himself with wrath to wage war against thee, and he will display against thee all his malice.
20He will bring upon thee many and severe plagues, and take from thee all that thou hast.
21He will take away thine children, and will inflict many evils upon thee.
22Then thou must wrestle like an athlete and sustain pain, sure of thy reward, and overcome trials and afflictions.
23But when thou endurest, I shall make thy name renowned throughout all generations of the earth until to the end of the world.
24And I shall restore thee to all that thou hadst had, and the double part of what thou shalt lose will be given to thee in order that thou mayest know that God does not consider the person but giveth to each who deserveth the good.
25And also to thee shall it be given, and thou shalt put on a crown of amarant.
See also: 1 Peter 5:4
26And at the resurrection thou shalt awaken for eternal life. Then shalt thou know that the Lord is just, and true and mighty".
27Whereupon, my children, I replied: "I shall from love of God endure until death all that will come upon me, and I shall not shrink back".
See also: James 5:11