The Book of Job

A timeless work of wisdom literature, Book of Job, The pulses with moral energy, outrage, and spiritual insight; it is nothing less than human suffering and the transcendence of it.

Now, Book of Job, The has been translated into English by the eminent translator and scholar Stephen Mitchell, whose versions of Rilke, Israeli poetry, and the Tao Te Ching have been widely praised. In this masterful literary translation, the original Hebrew verse has been rendered into powerful English verse for the first time in any language, ancient or modern, resulting in a triumph.

Mitchell’s acclaimed translation, accompanied by his insightful introduction, delivers a profound exploration of one of civilization’s greatest spiritual texts:

• A Groundbreaking Verse Translation: The first-ever translation of the original Hebrew into powerful, rhythmic English verse that captures the passion and raw energy of the text.
• The Problem of Evil: A profound exploration of the central question: Why do the righteous suffer? Mitchell frames this as the great Jewish theme of the victim and the central parable of a post-Holocaust age.
• An Illuminating Introduction: A comprehensive essay by the translator that delves into the text’s spiritual power, its critique of conventional theology, and Job’s journey toward a radical spiritual transformation.
• The Voice from the Whirlwind: A fresh interpretation of God’s famous response, presenting a vision of reality beyond human concepts of good and evil.