"This translation finds the timeless center of the Job saga, and the reader interprets it with just the right combination of anger, eloquence and faith. This is a text which was meant to be heard. Here we hear it at its best."--Professor Harvey Cox, Harvard Divinity School.
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 4.5 / 5.0
A Lovely Read:
I truly enjoyed this translation. I'm not a Hebrew scholar, so I can't compare it to the original, but it had the "feel" of other ancient Near Eastern literature, e.g. The Epic of Gilgamesh. I also very much enjoyed his introduction, which gave me a new perspective on the work. I recommend it! It's a fascinating stand-alone read.
A Must Read for... Everyone:
I had a very skeptical feelings twords this piece of literature since it was a requirement for my freshman literature class. I was extremely supprised it captured my intrest only a few pages into the poem, it's just one of those storys you can live by.
Did Mr. Mitchell Miss the Point? (A Jewish Perspective):
From a Jewish perspective, this is an ultimately flawed but wonderfully easy-to-read adaptation (rather than a straight translation) of Job (Iyov). Be aware that some verses are moved from their places, Elihu's monolog is deleted entirely (understandable from an academic perspective but unthinkable from a Jewish one) and a key (perhaps "the" key) part of Job's epilogue is left out, deleting what is arguably the main point of the book: Job was restored only when he prayed for his friends. In... more info
Why?:
To meaningfully ask the question "why?" in a religious context, one must first be familiar with Job--there is simply nothing in scripture that approaches the question of human suffering with such detail. Sadly, Mr. Mitchell correctly notes that the original book is long gone--victimized by the mistakes of translators. Yet the story remains universal; any reader can sympathize with Job's dilemma. Obviously any translator has choices to make and such choices will always present controversy. However, this... more info
