1 There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil. 2 And there were born unto him seven sons and three daughters. 3 His substance also was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she asses, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the men of the east.
4 And his sons went and feasted in their houses, every one his day; and sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them. 5 And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually.
6 ¶ Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them. 7 And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. 8 And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? 9 Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought? 10 Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. 11 But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face. 12 And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.
13 ¶ And there was a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house: 14 And there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them: 15 And the Sabeans fell upon them , and took them away; yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. 16 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. 17 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The Chaldeans made out three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have carried them away, yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. 18 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, Thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house: 19 And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.
20 Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped, 21 And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD. 22 In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.
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!
