Léctio libri lob (1,6-22)
Quadam die, cum veníssent fílii Dei, ut assísterent coram Dómino, áffuit inter eos étiam Satan. Cui dixit Dóminus: “Unde venis?” Qui respóndens ait: “Circuívi terram et perambulávi eam.” Dixítque Dóminus ad eum: “Númquid considerásti servum meum Iob, quod non sit ei símilis in terra, homo simplex et rectus ac timens Deum et recédens a malo?” Cui respóndens Satan ait: “Númquid Iob frustra timet Deum? Nonne tu vallásti eum ac domum eíus universámque substántiam per circúitum, opéribus mánuum eíus benedixísti, et posséssio eíus crevit in terra? Sed exténde páululum manum tuam et tange cuncta, quæ póssidet, nisi in fáciem benedíxerit tibi.” Dixit ergo Dóminus ad Satan: “Ecce, univérsa, quæ habet, in manu tua sunt; tantum in eum ne exténdas manum tuam.” Egressúsque est Satan a fácie Dómini. Cum autem quadam die fílii et fíliæ eíus coméderent et bíberent vinum in domo fratris sui primogéniti, núntius venit ad Iob, qui díceret: “Boves árabant, et ásinæ pascebántur iúxta eos; et irruérunt Sabǽi tulerúntque eos et púeros percussérunt gládio, et evási ego solus, ut nuntiárem tibi.” Cumque adhuc ille loquerétur, venit alter et dixit: “Ignis Dei cécidit e cælo et ussit oves puerósque consúmpsit, et effúgi ego solus, ut nuntiárem tibi.” Sed et illo adhuc loquénte, venit álius et dixit: “Chaldǽi fecérunt tres turmas et invasérunt cámelos et tulérunt eos necnon et púeros percussérunt gládio, et ego fugi solus, ut nuntiárem tibi.” Adhuc loquebátur ille, et ecce álius intrávit et dixit: “Fíliis tuis et filiábus vescéntibus et bibéntibus vinum in domo fratris sui primogéniti, repénte ventus vehémens írruit a regióne desérti et concússit quáttuor ángulos domus; quæ córruens oppréssit líberos tuos, et mórtui sunt, et effúgi ego solus, ut nuntiárem tibi.” Tunc surréxit Iob et scidit vestiménta sua et, tonso cápite, córruens in terram adorávit et dixit: “Núdus egréssus sum de útero matris meæ et nudus revértar illuc. Dóminus dedit, Dóminus ábstulit; sicut Dómino plácuit, ita factum est: sit nomen Dómini benedíctum.” In ómnibus his non peccávit Iob lábiis suis neque stultum quid contra Deum locútus est.
On a certain day when the sons of God were come to assist before our Lord, Satan also was present among them. To whom our Lord said: From whence comest thou? Who answering, said: I have gone round about the earth, & walked through it. And our Lord said to him: Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is not the like to him in the earth, a man simple, and right, and fearing God, and departing from evil? To whom Satan answering, said: Why, doth Job fear God in vain? hast not thou fenced him, and his house, and all his substance round about, blessed the works of his hands, and his possession hath increased on the earth? But stretch forth thy hand a little, and touch all things that he possesseth, unless he bless thee in the face. Our Lord therefore said to Satan: behold, all things that he hath, are in thy hand, only upon him extend not thy hand. And Satan went forth from the face of our Lord. And when upon a certain day his sons and daughters did eat, and drink wine in the house of their eldest brother, there came a messenger to Job, which said: The oxen ploughed, and the she-asses fed beside them, and the Sabeians came in violently, and have taken all things, and have strucken the servants with the sword, and I only have escaped to tell thee. And when he yet spake, another came, and said: The fire of God fell from heaven, and striking the sheep and the servants hath consumed them, and I only have escaped to tell thee. But whilst he also was yet speaking, there came another and said: The Chaldees made three troops, and have invaded the camels, and taken them, moreover the servants also they have strucken with the sword, and I alone am fled to tell thee. He yet spake, and behold another came in, and said: Thy sons and daughters eating and drinking wine in the house of their eldest brother, suddenly a vehement wind came violently from the country of the desert, and shook the four corners of the house, which falling oppressed thy children and they are dead, and I alone have escaped to tell thee. Then Job rose up, and rent his garments, & with polled head falling on the ground, adored, and said: Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: Our Lord gave, and our Lord hath taken away: as it hath pleased our Lord, so is it done: the name of our Lord be blessed. In all these things Job sinned not with his lips, neither spake he any foolish thing against God.
