Did Mr. Mitchell Miss the Point? (A Jewish Perspective)

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	• The Book of Job Stephen Mitchell Harper Perennial, 1992 - 176 pages average customer review:based on 13 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

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 the beginning, Job is essentially self-centered. At the end, Job prays for his friends and as a result, all is restored. In Mr. Mitchell's book this lesson doesn't exist.

For an elaboration on this theme, see Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik's essay "Out of the Whirlwind" in his book by the same name (KTAV, 2003).

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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.

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From John in Virginia

This book intelligently discusses the myths that surround the Book of Job. Stephen Mitchell does a credible job dispelling these. Surprisingly many have entered the mainstream of Christian belief. This has distorted the original intent of the author(s) of the Book.
(My first attempt at a review -J)

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 translation is worthy of the work. The give and take of the conversation among Job and his friends is much more accessible in this format and the language rather more powerful. This work stands with other recent translations of familiar classics--his "Gilgamesh", Heaney's Beowulf, Fagles' versions of Homer, Pevear & Volokhonsky's Dostoevsky--it is Job in our language and with our cultural approach to language.

Sure, it isn't the original, but the power of Job lies in its story--the words are the icing on the cake, but such icing... Modern Christianity seems to have lost the fact that we did not spring forth as new creation at birth but that we were with God from the beginning. Mitchell demonstrates in this translation that God is quite clear; states God to Job, "Where is the road to light? Where does darkness live? . . . You know, since you have been there and are older than all creation." This context answers so many questions not the least of which is to explain that our sojourn on this earth is only a short test before we return to our Father. (And, yes, I'm reading the text literally.)

Mitchell's translation also demonstrates that the God of Job is neither vengeful nor cruel. Though Job is permitted to suffer at the hands of the accuser, this book is the story of Job's triumph. God knows Job perfectly and knew that Job's faith and understanding was sufficient to allow him to survive the experience. But why? Because Job can now forever state that he knows things that were formerly had on faith. Nothing comes without a price--if so, wouldn't God be unfair? Such are heavenly lessons, they teach us our own power and reveal the true desires of our hearts. For the day will come when, as did Job, we shall say "I had heard of you with my ears; but now my eyes have seen you."

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It did the job

I finally found a version that encouraged me to spend enough time with the work to get to know it and also to appreciate the poetry. The introduction and notes were also helpful.

I needed this.

reviews: page 1, 2, 3

The theme of The Book of Job is nothing less than human suffering and the transcendence of it: it pulses with moral energy, outrage, and spiritual insight.

Now, The Book of Job has been rendered 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. This is the first time ever that the Hebrew verse of Job has been translated into verse in any language, ancient or modern, and the result is a triumph.

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