Testament of Job

Kohler1897 English translation, printed page 319

Testament of Job. 319 20. Frequently, however, some of their goods were lost on the road or on the sea, or they would be robbed of them, 21. Then they would come and say: “We pray thee, act generously towards us in order that we may see how we can restore to you thine own”. 22. And when | heard this, 1 had sympathy with them, and handed to them their bond, and often having read it before them tore it up and released them of their debt, saying to them: 23. “What I have con- secrated!) for the benefit of the poor, I shall not take from you”. 24. And so I accepted nothing from my debtor. 25. And when a man with cheerful heart came to me saying: “I am not in need to be compelled to be a paid worker for the poor. 26. But I wish to serve the needy at thy table”, and he consented to work, and he ate his share. 27. So J gave him his wages nevertheless, and I went home rejoicing. 28. And when he did not wish to take it, I forced him to do so, saying: “I know that thou art a laboring man who looks for and waits for his wages, and thou must take it.” 29. Never did I defer paying the wages of the hireling or any other, nor keep back in my house for a single evening his hire that was due to him.2) 30. Those that milked the cows and the ewes signaled to the passers- by that they should take their share. 31. For the milk flowed in such plenty that it curdled into butter on the hills and by the road side; and by the rocks and the hills the cattle lay which had given birth to their offspring.) 32. For my servants grew weary keeping the meat of the widows and the poor and dividing it into small pieces, 33. For they would curse and say: “Oh that we had of his flesh that we could be satisfied” +), although I was very kind to them. 34. I also had six harps [and six slaves to play the harps] and also a cithara, a decachord, and I struck it during the day.5) 35 And I took the cithara, and the widows responded after their meals.) 36. And with the 9 ΕΙΞ,Τ, ΤΙ *) See Leviticus XIX, 18. Ἢ After Job XXIX, 6; sense not clear. *) Compare Midrash to yawa wan jv» Job XXXI, 31 ») Compare Job XXX, 31. *) Compare Midrash Bereshith Rabba 49, 54 and Abotb de R. Nathan 7 (14),