The Story Begins
1There was a man who lived in the land of Uz. His name was Job. He was honest. He did what was right. He had respect for God and avoided evil. 2Job had seven sons and three daughters. 3He owned 7,000 sheep and 3,000 camels. He owned 500 pairs of oxen and 500 donkeys. He also had a large number of servants. He was the most important man among all the people in the east.
4His sons used to give feasts in their homes on their birthdays. They would invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. 5The time for enjoying good food would end. Then Job would make plans for his children to be made pure and “clean.” He would sacrifice a burnt offering for each of them. He would do it early in the morning. He would think, “Perhaps my children have sinned. Maybe they have spoken evil things against God in their hearts.” That’s what Job always did for his children when he felt they had sinned.
6One day angels came to the Lord. Satan also came with them. 7The Lord said to Satan, “Where have you come from?”
Satan answered, “From traveling all around the earth. I’ve been going from one end of it to the other.”
8Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you thought about my servant Job? There isn’t anyone on earth like him. He is honest. He does what is right. He has respect for God and avoids evil.”
9“You always give Job everything he needs,” Satan replied. “That’s why he has respect for you. 10Haven’t you guarded him and his family? Haven’t you taken care of everything he has? You have blessed everything he does. His flocks and herds are spread all through the land. 11But now reach out your hand and strike down everything he has. Then I’m sure he will speak evil things against you. In fact, he’ll do it right in front of you.”
12The Lord said to Satan, “All right. I am handing everything he has over to you. But do not touch the man himself.”
Then Satan left the Lord and went on his way.
13One day Job’s sons and daughters were at their oldest brother’s house. They were enjoying good food and drinking wine. 14During that time a messenger came to Job. He said, “The oxen were plowing. The donkeys were eating grass near them. 15Then the Sabeans attacked us and carried off the animals. They killed some of the servants with their swords. I’m the only one who has escaped to tell you!”
16While he was still speaking, a second messenger came. He said, “God sent lightning from the sky. It struck the sheep and killed them. It burned up some of the servants. I’m the only one who has escaped to tell you!”
17While he was still speaking, a third messenger came. He said, “The Chaldeans separated themselves into three groups. They attacked your camels and carried them off. They killed the rest of the servants with their swords. I’m the only one who has escaped to tell you!”
18While he was still speaking, a fourth messenger came. He said, “Your sons and daughters were at their oldest brother’s house. They were enjoying good food and drinking wine. 19Suddenly a strong wind blew in from the desert. It struck the four corners of the house. The house fell down on your children. Now all of them are dead. I’m the only one who has escaped to tell you!”
20After Job heard all these reports, he got up and tore his robe. He shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground and worshiped the Lord. 21He said,
“I was born naked.
And I’ll leave here naked.
The Lord has given, and the Lord has taken away.
May the name of the Lord be praised.”
22In spite of everything, Job didn’t sin by blaming God for doing anything wrong.
Ang Matarong nga Kinabuhi ni Job
1May usa ka tawo nga ginganlag Job, nga nagpuyo sa yuta sa Uz. Matarong ug walay ikasaway sa iyang kinabuhi. Nagatahod siya sa Dios ug nagalikay sa paghimo ug daotan. 2Aduna siyay pito ka anak nga lalaki ug tulo ka anak nga babaye. 3Aduna siyay 7,000 ka mga karnero, 3,000 ka mga kamelyo, 500 ka parisan nga mga baka, ug 500 ka mga bayeng asno. Aduna usab siyay daghang mga sulugoon. Siya ang pinakaadunahan sa tanang mga tawo dapit sa sidlakan sa Israel.
4Nabatasan na sa iyang mga anak nga lalaki nga magpuli-puli sila ug pakombira sa ilang matag ka pinuy-anan ug patambongon nila ang ilang tulo ka mga igsoong babaye. 5Sa matag human sa kombira, maghalad gayod si Job aron mahinloan ang iyang mga anak. Sayo pa siyang mobangon ug maghalad sa mga halad nga sinunog alang sa tagsa-tagsa niya ka mga anak kay naghunahuna siya nga basig nakasala ang iyang mga anak ug nakasulti ug daotan batok sa Dios. Mao kini kanunay ang ginahimo ni Job.
Ang Unang Pagsulay kang Job
6Usa ka adlaw, nagtigom ang mga anghel1:6 mga anghel: sa literal, mga anak sa Dios. sa presensya sa Ginoo, ug nagauban kanila si Satanas. 7Miingon ang Ginoo kang Satanas, “Asa ka gikan?” Mitubag si Satanas sa Ginoo, “Naglibot-libot ako sa kalibotan.” 8Miingon ang Ginoo kaniya, “Nakamatikod ka ba sa akong alagad nga si Job? Walay sama kaniya sa kalibotan. Matarong siya ug walay ikasaway sa iyang kinabuhi. Nagatahod siya kanako ug nagalikay sa paghimo ug daotan.” 9Mitubag si Satanas, “Gitahod ka lang niya tungod kay gipanalanginan mo man siya. 10Gipanalipdan mo siya ug ang iyang panimalay, apil ang tanan niyang kabtangan. Gipanalanginan mo ang tanan niyang gibuhat, busa midaghan ang iyang kahayopan sa tibuok kayutaan. 11Apan kuhaa gani ang tanang anaa kaniya ug sigurado gayod nga tunglohon ka niya.” 12Miingon ang Ginoo kang Satanas, “Sige, kuhaa ang tanan nga anaa kaniya, apan ayaw siyag hilabti.” Busa mibiya si Satanas sa presensya sa Ginoo.
13Usa ka adlaw, samtang nagkombira ang mga anak ni Job sa balay sa ilang kamagulangang igsoon, 14may miabot nga usa ka tawo ngadto kang Job ug nagbalita, “Samtang nagadaro kami gamit ang imong mga baka ug nagasabsab ang imong mga asno duol kanamo, 15kalit lang kaming gisulong sa mga Sabeanhon. Gipangkuha nila ang mga kahayopan, ug gipamatay ang imong mga sulugoon. Ako ra gayoy nakaikyas aron sa pagsugilon kanimo.”
16Samtang nagsulti pa ang maong tawo, may laing tawo nga miabot ug nagbalita, “Naigo sa kilat ang imong mga karnero ug ang mga magbalantay niini. Ako ra gayoy nakaikyas aron sa pagsugilon kanimo.”
17Samtang nagsulti pa ang maong tawo, may lain na usab nga miabot ug nagbalita, “Gisulong kami sa tulo ka grupo sa mga Kaldeanhon. Gipanguha nila ang imong mga kamelyo ug gipamatay ang akong kaubang mga sulugoon. Ako ra gayoy nakaikyas aron sa pagsugilon kanimo.”
18Samtang nagsulti pa ang maong tawo, may lain na usab nga miabot ug nagbalita, “Samtang nagkombira ang imong mga anak didto sa balay sa ilang kamagulangan nga igsoon, 19kalit lang nga mihapak ang makusog nga hangin gikan sa disyerto, ug nabungkag ang tibuok balay. Nalumpagan ang imong mga anak ug nangamatay sila. Ako ra gayoy nakaikyas aron sa pagsugilon kanimo.”
20Pagkadungog niadto ni Job, mitindog siya ug gigisi niya ang iyang bisti. Unya gikiskisan niya ang iyang ulo ug mihapa sa yuta sa pagsimba sa Ginoo. 21Miingon siya, “Natawo ako nga walay dala ug mamatay usab ako nga walay dala. Ang Ginoo ang naghatag sa tanan nga anaa kanako, ug siya usab ang nagbawi. Dayegon ang ngalan sa Ginoo!” 22Luyo niining tanan, wala makasala si Job ug wala niya basola ang Dios.
