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Apocyphra of Job
Apocyphra of Job
1 Thrice the sons of God came before the Lord, and Satan also came with them. 2 On the third the Lord said to Satan, "Where have you come from?"
Satan answered the Lord, "From roaming throughout the earth, going back and forth on it."
3 Then the Lord said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil. You have incited me to stretch out my hand against his worldly possessions and his very flesh. And yet he still maintains his integrity by not sinning against me."
4 "Pact for pact!" Satan replied. "Does Job witness the blessings of the other Gods who reward their servants? 5 A man will shun his faith for the blessings and temptations that others can satisfy unto him. Stretch out your hand once again to test his devotion, and he will surely forsake you for other Gods."
6 The Lord said to Satan, "Very well, then, he is in your hands; but you must not tempt him. Only a mortal tongue may speak to Job."
7 So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord to speak of Job across the land. 8 Priests from near and far soon learned of the misfortune that befell Job, and they came to him in the land of Uz with their gospels.
9 The iron priests of Mekhane came to Job from the city of Enoch with their mastery of machines. 10 They said to Job, "Lo! We have built wonders that surpass the works of flesh and bone. 11 In the age of bronze, our forges constructed Colossi that crossed the wine-dark sea. Cain, the firstborn son of Adam and Eve, became whole again by the angels of Mekhane. 12 We can free you from the torment of flesh and bone with copper and iron. What is broken can be reforged if only you drink deep the silver blood of Mekhane."
13 Job said to the priests of Mekhane, "I reject your gospel for your path is marked by indifference and earthly possessions. 14 Your grand machines can be broken by hammers and rust. 15 Cain remains marked for the blood of his brother Abel that still cries out to him from the earth. Even now the descendants of Cain in the city of Enoch improve upon his work through your gospel. 16 Only the Lord can truly reforge those who are broken."
17 The cursed priests of Yaldabaoth came to Job from the city of Adytum with their mastery of flesh. 18 They said to Job, "Lo! We are in league with the beasts and pestilences of the earth. 19 Through our prophet Ion we broke the chains forced upon us by Daevite masters. 20 We will consume the wicked Gods who wish to stretch their hands against us in our deathless kingdom of flesh and bone. 21 We can teach you how to shepherd the flesh, and become liberated from your aches caused by a wicked God."
22 Job said to the priests of Yaldabaoth, "I reject your gospel for your path is marked by hunger and vengeance. 23 All your followers descend into madness until none remain to speak your gospel. 24 Your people broke the mighty chains of your Daevite masters, but your prophet led you astray with the sins of the flesh. 25 Those who partake in flesh will reap only destruction as the spirit that walks with the Lord inherits eternal life in his kingdom."
26 The unclean priests of Namakhim came to Job from the land of Nod with their mastery of rot. 27 They said to Job, "Lo! We are in league with the great rot that will fester in all of Creation. 28 We walk alongside the dead who have been blessed to walk the earth. 29 We do not fear any pestilence or the maggots that devour our weary flesh. 30 The aching sores and dust that cover your skin can be a gift from the Rotten Lord if you so choose. 31 Feast upon putrid flesh with us and find salvation in the rot that will claim us all."
32 Job said to the priests of Namakhim, "I reject your gospel for your path is marked by dust and uncleaniness. 33 The fruit of a tree may rot, but it will bear fruit once more in the spring. 34 If the tree itself rots another will rise from the earth where it once stood. 35 The Lord grants healing and eternal life in his kingdom, which is a realm beyond corruption."
36 The gardening priests of the Green God came to Job from the land of Egypt with their mastery of plants. 37 They said to Job, "Lo! We plant the seed of miracles into the earth that sprout for all. The pharaohs and their priests have failed to uproot us from our paradise. 38 There is no man or beast of flesh that is pure as wood and figs. Come and receive blessings by eating the fruit of life from our most sacred gardens."
39 Job said to the priests of the Green God, "I reject your gospel for your path is marked by foolishness and idolatry. 40 Why do you only see divinity in the trees and grass? Who made the earth for you to plant the seeds of your miracles? Are your hands divine like the Lord when his hand is outstretched to all of Creation? Does Lord God Almighty not provide your green idols with the rain they need to sprout from the earth? Who made the sun that grants the field a bountiful harvest in the spring? 41 Man was cast out of paradise with the curse of death by eating fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Only the Lord can deliver us from evil and bestow blessings that never wither to the righteous."
42 The scarlet priests of Khahrahk came to Job from the land of the Daeva with their mastery of destruction. 43 They said to Job, "Lo! Our strength is mighty for we march in the endless horde of the Scarlet King. 44 We are united with the Daevites and the Zadotek under the great banner of conquest. 45 Give yourself as tribute to the Scarlet King and become one of his many apostles. In your heart you shall forever know his law of stone, blood and howling."
46 Job said to the priests of Khahrahk, "I reject your gospel for your path is marked by dust and blood. 47 The wrath and folly of your merciless king shall be your undoing for who lives by the sword die by the sword. Blessed are the peacemakers."
48 In all this, Job did not sin against God by rejecting him, and Job fell on his knees in worship of the Lord. 49 He said, "The Lord rewards his faithful servants who endure against wickedness. Man was made in his image, and only he can grant us salvation. None are as merciful as the Most High."
2 As Job praised the Lord while covered in dust, more priests came with gospels. 2 They were a infernal lot who mastered sin and praised the fallen sons of God.
3 The Philistines among them spoke of Beelzebub who reigned in Ekron, and Dagon who reigned from Ashdod to Gaza. 4 Those with brazen hearts spoke of Moloch in Ammon and Jerusalem. 5 Nephilim priests from the land of Anakagir also came to Job, and they spoke to him the gospel of Samyaza and the Watchers. 6 Job rejected all their wicked gospels and remained faithful to the Most High.
7 Satan returned to the presence of God, and the Lord said to Satan, "Did I not tell you my faithful servant Job is upright and shuns evil? The servants of your kin and the false idols have failed to tempt him into wickedness."
8 Satan said to the Lord, "I would be able to tempt Job myself if you have permitted it, but he will eventually kneel before the might of the priests without your protection."
9 "Pact for pact!" God replied. "I will reward Job for his devotion to me with prosperity from before you approached me. 10 As for the priests who came to Job they shall reap destruction lest they repent. None of them can bring harm to Job for I shall set my face against them, and smite the wicked where they stand. 11 There is nothing more to be said for I am the Lord."
12 Satan left the presence of God to roam throughout the earth, and incite man to sin against God. 13 After the Lord restored all the fortunes of Job and doubled it, the wicked priests coveted what belonged to Job so they may flaunt the might bestowed upon them by their Gods.
14 The Mekhanites desired the pieces of silver and gold rings gifted to Job for their machines. 15 As shepherds the Sarkics desired Job's fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, a thousand yoke of oxen and a thousand donkeys. 16 The Unclean of Namakhim desired the servants of Job to bear their festering rot with sores and dust. 17 The Gardeners desired the fields where the oxen plowed and the donkeys grazed to plant their seeds. 18 The Nephilim desired the three daughters of Job to bear their children for they were beautiful. 19 As tribute the scarlet priests desired the seven sons of Job to become conquerors for their king.
20 For their wickedness the Lord stretched out his hand against the priests and their followers. 20 He plagued the Mekhanites with rust that stiffen their joints and broke them apart. 21 The fire of God came down from Heaven to burn the Sarkics, the Gardeners, and the Unclean. 22 A storm rained down a deluge that washed away the Nephilim into the depths of the sea. 23 The wrath of God turned the priests of Khahrahk into dust carried off by the wind.
24 Job with his family and friends kneeled before the glory of the Lord. 25 Then Job lived for many years and witnessed the fourth generation of his children. 26 His spirit entered the kingdom of God for he walked upright and shunned evil.