The Book of Job

By: Stephen Mitchell

Narrated by: Peter Coyote

Found in the Old Testament and the Hebrew Bible, this parable of a righteous man tested for his faith answers the question of why bad things happen to good people. Perhaps no other biblical tale penetrates so deeply into the everyday travails of the common person as The Book of Job. A well-to-do, God-fearing man, Job leads a content life of piety. But Job's faith is put to the test by God when he allows Satan to inflict pain on the devout man. The story of a righteous man beset by torment and misfortune, this parable of bad things happening to a good person addresses the eternal question of why we are here and why we suffer. This translation by Stephen Mitchell is read by acclaimed narrator Peter Coyote.

©1988 Stephen Mitchell (P)1988 Phoenix Books

Critic reviews

"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." ( Harvey Cox, Harvard Divinity School)

A beautiful performance for a beautiful story. tr

The performance really helped me me to what the words really mean to me. 5 stars

I Highly recommend this book!

Amazing translation by Stephen Mitchell and superbly narration by Peter Coyote.

I highly recommend this book of wisdom for anyone that are looking for a deeper intimacy and understanding of God and the human relationship with the creator. Surpassed all my expectations!

Incredibly powerful performance

Peter Coyote brings the ancient story of Job’s trials to life with a terrific reading. As usual, Stephen Mitchell’s translation makes the arcane context of the story perfectly understandable to the modern reader. A fabulous accomplishment. I would read Mitchell’s translation of an Abyssinian Telephone Book. Or better yet, listen to Peter Coyote reading it aloud!

Peter Coyote’s narration is incredible.

Peter Coyote is a masterful narrator, bringing a depth of wisdom and gravitas to every work he voices. His narration of The Book of Job was absolutely mesmerizing—his rich, steady tone and impeccable pacing made the ancient poetry feel both timeless and deeply personal. He captures the weight of Job’s suffering and the grandeur of God’s response with a reverence that enhances the text’s profound themes. Few narrators can blend warmth, authority, and storytelling finesse as seamlessly as Coyote. A truly exceptional performance.

Great performance, wholly inaccurate translation.

Having read multiple translations of the Book of Job, and reveled in its poetic mastery, I was very disappointed to hear a version that is so fabricated and far from the original. Mitchell's version is lively and the performance is captivating, but this version loses much of the eloquence of the original poetry.

As a reviewer in the 1987 New York Times Book Review said, "I don't think that ''God damn the day I was born'' is as good as ''Let the day perish,'' and I prefer the horse that says ''Ha, ha!'' among the trumpets to the somehow less exultant one that says ''Ah!''"

But if you don't take issue with how far from a literal translation it is you'll probably enjoy this book. I did. it just wasn't what I'd hoped for.