Prologue
1In the land of Uz there lived a man whose name was Job. This man was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil. 2He had seven sons and three daughters, 3and he owned seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen and five hundred donkeys, and had a large number of servants. He was the greatest man among all the people of the East.
4His sons used to hold feasts in their homes on their birthdays, and they would invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. 5When a period of feasting had run its course, Job would make arrangements for them to be purified. Early in the morning he would sacrifice a burnt offering for each of them, thinking, “Perhaps my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” This was Job’s regular custom.
6One day the angels1:6 Hebrew the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan1:6 Hebrew satan means adversary. also came with them. 7The Lord said to Satan, “Where have you come from?”
Satan answered the Lord, “From roaming throughout the earth, going back and forth on it.”
8Then 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.”
9“Does Job fear God for nothing?” Satan replied. 10“Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. 11But now stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face.”
12The Lord said to Satan, “Very well, then, everything he has is in your power, but on the man himself do not lay a finger.”
Then Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.
13One day when Job’s sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house, 14a messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys were grazing nearby, 15and the Sabeans attacked and made off with them. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”
16While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, “The fire of God fell from the heavens and burned up the sheep and the servants, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”
17While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, “The Chaldeans formed three raiding parties and swept down on your camels and made off with them. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”
18While he was still speaking, yet another messenger came and said, “Your sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house, 19when suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on them and they are dead, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”
20At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship 21and said:
“Naked I came from my mother’s womb,
and naked I will depart.1:21 Or will return there
The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away;
may the name of the Lord be praised.”
22In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.
Ang Matuwid na Pamumuhay ni Job
1May isang lalaking nakatira sa lupain ng Uz na ang pangalan ay Job. Matuwid siya, walang kapintasan ang pamumuhay, may takot sa Dios at umiiwas sa kasamaan. 2Mayroon siyang pitong anak na lalaki at tatlong anak na babae. 3Ang mga pag-aari naman niya ay 7,000 tupa, 3,000 kamelyo, 500 pares ng baka at 500 ang kanyang asnong babae. Marami ang kanyang alipin. Siya ang pinakamayaman sa buong silangan ng Israel.
4Nakaugalian na ng mga anak niyang lalaki na halinhinang maghanda sa kani-kanilang mga bahay at inaanyayahan nilang dumalo ang tatlo nilang kapatid na babae. 5Tuwing matatapos ang handaan, naghahandog si Job para sa kanyang mga anak. Maaga siyang gumigising at nag-aalay ng handog na sinusunog1:5 handog na sinusunog: Tingnan sa Talaan ng mga Salita sa likod. para sa bawat anak niya, dahil naisip niyang baka nagkasala ang mga ito at sinadyang magsalita ng masama laban sa Dios. Ito ang palaging ginagawa ni Job.
Ang Unang Pagsubok kay Job
6Isang araw, nagtipon ang mga anghel1:6 anghel: sa literal, mga anak ng Dios. sa presensya ng Panginoon, at sumali sa kanila si Satanas. 7Sinabi ng Panginoon kay Satanas, “Saan ka nanggaling?” Sumagot si Satanas, “Parooʼt parito na naglilibot sa mundo.” 8Sinabi sa kanya ng Panginoon, “Napansin mo ba ang lingkod kong si Job? Wala siyang katulad sa buong mundo. Matuwid siya at malinis ang pamumuhay. May takot siya sa akin at umiiwas sa kasamaan.” 9Sumagot si Satanas, “May takot si Job sa iyo dahil pinagpapala mo siya. 10Iniingatan mo siya at ang sambahayan niya, pati na ang lahat ng ari-arian niya. Pinagpapala mo ang lahat ng ginagawa niya. Kaya lalong dumarami ang kanyang mga hayop sa buong lupain. 11Pero subukan mong kunin ang lahat ng iyan sa kanya at siguradong isusumpa ka niya.” 12Sinabi ng Panginoon kay Satanas, “Sige, kunin mo ang lahat ng mayroon siya, pero huwag mo siyang sasaktan.” Kaya umalis agad si Satanas sa harapan ng Panginoon.
13Isang araw, habang nagkakasayahan sa handaan ang mga anak ni Job sa bahay ng panganay, 14dumating sa bahay ni Job ang isa niyang tauhan at ibinalita ang ganito, “Habang nag-aararo po kami gamit ang inyong mga baka, at pinapastol ang inyong mga asno sa di-kalayuan, 15bigla kaming sinalakay ng mga Sabeo. Kinuha po nila ang mga hayop at pinatay ang aking mga kasama. Ako lang po ang nakatakas para magbalita sa inyo!”
16Habang nagsasalita pa ang tauhan, dumating din ang isa pang tauhan ni Job at sinabi, “Tinamaan po ng apoy ng Dios ang inyong mga tupa at ang mga pastol nito, at nasunog. Ako lang po ang nakaligtas para magbalita sa inyo!”
17Habang nagsasalita pa siya, may isa pang dumating at nagbalita, “Sinalakay po kami ng tatlong pangkat ng mga Caldeo. Kinuha po nila ang mga kamelyo at pinatay ang aking mga kasama. Ako lang po ang nakatakas para magbalita sa inyo!”
18Habang nagsasalita pa siya, may isa pang dumating at nagbalita, “Habang nagkakasayahan po ang inyong mga anak sa bahay ng kanilang nakatatandang kapatid, 19bigla pong dumating ang malakas na hangin mula sa ilang at nawasak po ang bahay. Nabagsakan po ang inyong mga anak at namatay. Ako lang po ang nakaligtas para magbalita sa inyo!”
20Nang marinig iyon ni Job, tumayo siya at pinunit ang kanyang damit dahil sa pagdadalamhati. Pagkatapos, inahitan niya ang kanyang buhok sa ulo at nagpatirapa sa lupa para sumamba sa Panginoon. 21Sinabi niya, “Ipinanganak akong walang dala at mamamatay din akong walang dala. Ang Panginoon ang nagbigay ng lahat ng mayroon ako at ang Panginoon din ang kumuha nito. Purihin ang pangalan ng Panginoon!” 22Sa kabila ng lahat ng nangyari, hindi nagkasala si Job. Hindi niya sinisi ang Dios.