Job and His Family
1 Many years ago, a man named Job lived in the land of Uz. He was a truly good person, who respected God and refused to do evil.
2 Job had 7 sons and 3 daughters. 3 He owned 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 pair of oxen, 500 donkeys, and a large number of servants. He was the richest person in the East.
4 Job's sons took turns having feasts in their homes, and they always invited their three sisters to join in the eating and drinking. 5 After each feast, Job would send for his children and perform a ceremony, as a way of asking God to forgive them of any wrongs they may have done. He would get up early the next morning and offer a sacrifice for each of them, just in case they had sinned or silently cursed God.
Angels, the Lord, and Satan
6 One day, when the angels had gathered around the Lord, and Satan was there with them, 7 the Lord asked, “Satan, where have you been?”
Satan replied, “I have been going all over the earth.”
8 Then the Lord asked, “What do you think of my servant Job? No one on earth is like him—he is a truly good person, who respects me and refuses to do evil.”
9 “Why shouldn't he respect you?” Satan remarked. 10 “You are like a wall protecting not only him, but his entire family and all his property. You make him successful in whatever he does, and his flocks and herds are everywhere. 11 Try taking away everything he owns, and he will curse you to your face.”
12 The Lord replied, “All right, Satan, do what you want with anything that belongs to him, but don't harm Job.”
Then Satan left.
Job Loses Everything
13 Job's sons and daughters were having a feast in the home of his oldest son, 14 when someone rushed up to Job and said, “While your servants were plowing with your oxen, and your donkeys were nearby eating grass, 15 a gang of Sabeans attacked and stole the oxen and donkeys! Your other servants were killed, and I am the only one who escaped to tell you.”
16 That servant was still speaking, when a second one came running and said, “God sent down a fire that killed your sheep and your servants. I am the only one who escaped to tell you.”
17 Before that servant finished speaking, a third one raced up and said, “Three gangs of Chaldeans attacked and stole your camels! All of your other servants were killed, and I am the only one who escaped to tell you.”
18 That servant was still speaking, when a fourth one dashed up and said, “Your children were having a feast and drinking wine at the home of your oldest son, 19 when suddenly a windstorm from the desert blew the house down, crushing all of your children. I am the only one who escaped to tell you.”
20 When Job heard this, he tore his clothes and shaved his head because of his great sorrow. He knelt on the ground, then worshiped God 21 and said:
“We bring nothing at birth;
we take nothing
with us at death.
The Lord alone gives and takes.
Praise the name of the Lord!”
22 In spite of everything, Job did not sin or accuse God of doing wrong.
Prologs
1 Ūca zemē bija kāds vīrs, vārdā Ījabs. Šis vīrs bija krietns un taisns, bijās Dieva un vairījās ļauna. 2 Viņam piedzima septiņi dēli un trīs meitas. 3 Viņam bija septiņi tūkstoši avju, trīs tūkstoši kamieļu, pieci simti jūgu vēršu, pieci simti ēzeļmāšu un ļoti liela saime. Šis vīrs bija varenāks par visiem Austrumpusē. 4 Viņa dēli katrs savā namā pēc kārtas mēdza rīkot dzīres. Tie sūtīja pēc savām trim māsām un sauca tās ēst un dzert kopā ar viņiem. 5 Kad bija apritējušas dzīru dienas, Ījabs sūtīja pēc tiem un svētīja tos. Viņš cēlās agri no rīta un upurēja sadedzināmo upuri, pēc visu skaita. Ījabs sacīja: varbūt grēkojuši mani dēli un Dievu lādējuši savās sirdīs? Tā Ījabs darīja ikreiz.
Ījaba pirmais pārbaudījums
6 Kādu dienu Dieva dēli nāca stāties Kunga priekšā un arī sātans nāca ar tiem. 7 Kungs vaicāja sātanam: “No kurienes tu nāc?” Sātans atbildēja Kungam: “No gaitām un tekām pa zemi.” 8 Kungs vaicāja sātanam: “Vai ievēroji Ījabu, manu kalpu, – tam nav līdzīga virs zemes! – krietnu un taisnu vīru, kas bīstas Dieva un vairās ļauna?”
9 Sātans atbildēja Kungam: “Vai tad Ījabs velti bīstas Dieva? 10 Vai tu neesi apjozis ar žogu viņu un viņa namu, un visu, kas tam pieder? Tu esi svētījis viņa roku darbu, un viņa ganāmpulki piepilda zemi. 11 Nudien, izstiep tik roku un aizskar visu, kas viņam pieder, – vai gan viņš nelādēs tevi tieši vaigā?” 12 Kungs sacīja sātanam: “Lai notiek! Kas viņam pieder, viss tavā rokā, vien pēc viņa paša neizstiep roku!” Tad sātans atkāpās no Kunga vaiga.
13 Kādu dienu Ījaba dēli un meitas ēda un dzēra vīnu pirmdzimtā brāļa namā. 14 Te pie Ījaba nāk ziņnesis un saka: “Vērši ara un ēzeļmātes ganījās blakus, 15 un šebieši nāca un aizdzina tos, jaunekļus kāva ar zobena asmeni – es viens izglābos, lai tev pastāstītu!”
16 Šis vēl runā, jau cits nāk un saka:
“Dieva uguns krita no debesīm,
tā aizdedza avis un jaunekļus
un aprija tos –
es viens izglābos, lai tev pastāstītu!”
17 Šis vēl runā, jau cits nāk un saka:
“Kaldieši sajāja trijos baros,
uzbruka kamieļiem un aizdzina tos –
es viens izglābos, lai tev pastāstītu!”
18 Šis vēl runā, jau cits nāk un saka:
“Tavi dēli un tavas meitas
ēda un vīnu dzēra pirmdzimtā brāļa namā,
19 un redzi –
liels vējš nāca tuksnesim pāri
un satrieca četrus nama stūrus,
un tas sagruva pār jaunekļiem,
nu tie pagalam –
es viens izglābos, lai tev pastāstītu!”
Ījaba otrais pārbaudījums
20 Tad Ījabs cēlās, saplēsa savu svārku, apcirpa galvu, krita pie zemes un zemojās. 21 Viņš sacīja:
“Pliks es nācu no mātes klēpja,
un pliks es turp atgriezīšos!
Kungs deva, un Kungs ņēma –
Kunga vārds slavēts!”
22 Visā, kas notika, Ījabs tik un tā negrēkoja un nenievāja Dievu!
