Preview

Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

The Book of Job

By: Stephen Mitchell - translator
Narrated by: Peter Coyote
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $8.54

Buy for $8.54

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

Perhaps no other Biblical tale penetrates so deeply into the everyday travails of the common person as The Book of Job. It tells the story of a righteous man beset by torment and misfortune through no fault of his own. 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 is by Stephen Mitchell.
Recording (P)1988 by Audio Literature; Copyright ©1979, 1987 by Stephen Mitchell
activate_Holiday_promo_in_buybox_DT_T2

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)

What listeners say about The Book of Job

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    191
  • 4 Stars
    51
  • 3 Stars
    19
  • 2 Stars
    3
  • 1 Stars
    4
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    168
  • 4 Stars
    27
  • 3 Stars
    9
  • 2 Stars
    4
  • 1 Stars
    4
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    172
  • 4 Stars
    25
  • 3 Stars
    12
  • 2 Stars
    2
  • 1 Stars
    5

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

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!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

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.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A beautiful performance for a beautiful story. tr

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

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 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!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

The beauty and terror of un answerable questions…

Stephen Mitchell‘s translation is a work of art, and Peter Coyote’s performance is haunting. This is one of those writings that deserves its place as an icon of human literature. Read and listen carefully, it will not be comforting – but it will be enlightning.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Easy to follow!

Stephen Mitchell’s translation is probably not the most accurate but is easy to follow and Peter Coyote does an excellent narration that gives life to this book.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Naked I came...

Loved Mitchell's powerful translation. The audio's production was poor, but STILL Peter Coyote's reading of Mitchell's Job was amazing. It flowed like blood and pounded like the waves. It burned like fire.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

a must buy

I'm going through physical medical problems myself. Dr's are still trying to diagnose me. for instance have a few illnesses and it's puzzling to me and Dr's. I thought of Job way back then when I had a feeling my body was going to get worse. I knew it was really bad before the worse of my symptoms appeared. always had GOD in my heart and released myself to him to guide me. This book should help those who are suffering in any issues that are in thier lives and help others understand those that cannot yet understand.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Looking inward

Excellent.
A story as old as time . As I listened I looked inward, feeling humbled. Job believing he did not sin and as his friends should have comfort him instead talk down to him? Finally God rewarding him for the righteousness.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

The sinners candles flickers and dies...

We've all had our Job moment, this helps us understand what he experienced. Amen to God!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!