1 Havia um homem chamado Jó que vivia na terra de Uz. Ele era íntegro e correto, temia a Deus e se mantinha afastado do mal. 2 Tinha sete filhos e três filhas. 3 Era dono de sete mil ovelhas, três mil camelos, quinhentas juntas de bois e quinhentas jumentas. Também tinha muitos servos. Na verdade, era o homem mais rico de toda aquela região.
4 Os filhos de Jó se revezavam em preparar banquetes em suas casas e convidavam suas três irmãs para celebrar com eles. 5 Quando terminavam esses dias de festas, Jó mandava chamar seus filhos, a fim de purificá-los. Levantava-se de manhã bem cedo e oferecia um holocausto em favor de cada um deles, pois pensava: "Pode ser que meus filhos tenham pecado e amaldiçoado a Deus em seu coração". Essa era a prática habitual de Jó.
6 Certo dia, os anjos vieram à presença do Senhor, e Satanás, o acusador, veio com eles. 7 "De onde você vem?", perguntou o Senhor.
Satanás respondeu: "Estive rodeando a terra, observando o que nela acontece".
8 Então o Senhor perguntou: "Você reparou em meu servo Jó? Não há ninguém na terra como ele. É homem íntegro e correto, teme a Deus e se mantém afastado do mal".
9 Satanás respondeu: "É verdade, mas Jó tem bons motivos para temer a Deus. 10 Tu puseste um muro de proteção ao redor dele, de sua família e de seus bens e o abençoaste em tudo que ele faz. Vê como ele é rico! 11 Estende tua mão e toma tudo que ele tem, e certamente ele te amaldiçoará na tua face!".
12 "Pois bem, você pode prová-lo", disse o Senhor. "Faça o que quiser com tudo que ele possui, mas não lhe cause nenhum dano físico." Então Satanás saiu da presença do Senhor.
13 Certo dia, quando os filhos e as filhas de Jó estavam num banquete na casa do irmão mais velho, 14 chegou à casa de Jó um mensageiro com esta notícia: "Seus bois estavam arando, e os jumentos, pastando perto deles, 15 quando os sabeus nos atacaram. Roubaram todos os animais e mataram todos os empregados. Só eu escapei para lhe contar".
16 Enquanto ele falava, outro mensageiro chegou com esta notícia: "O fogo de Deus caiu do céu e queimou suas ovelhas e todos os seus pastores. Só eu escapei para lhe contar".
17 Enquanto ele falava, outro mensageiro chegou com esta notícia: "Três bandos de saqueadores caldeus roubaram seus camelos e mataram seus servos. Só eu escapei para lhe contar".
18 Enquanto ele falava, ainda outro mensageiro chegou com esta notícia: "Seus filhos e suas filhas estavam num banquete na casa do irmão mais velho. 19 De repente, veio do deserto um vendaval terrível e atingiu a casa de todos os lados. A casa desabou, e todos os seus filhos morreram. Só eu escapei para lhe contar".
20 Então Jó se levantou e rasgou seu manto. Depois, raspou a cabeça, prostrou-se com o rosto no chão em adoração 21 e disse:
"Saí nu do ventre de minha mãe,
e estarei nu quando partir.
O Senhor me deu o que eu tinha,
e o Senhor o tomou.
Louvado seja o nome do Senhor!".
22 Em tudo isso, Jó não pecou nem culpou a Deus.
1 There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job, and that man was perfect and upright, and one who feared God, and turned away from evil.
2 And there were born to 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-donkeys, and a very great household, so that this man was the greatest of all the sons of the east.
4 And his sons went and held a feast in the house of each one upon his day, and they 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 completed, 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 so
6 Now it came to pass on the day when the sons of God came to present themselves before LORD, that Satan also came among them.
7 And LORD said to Satan, From where do thou come? Then Satan answered LORD, and said, From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.
8 And LORD said to Satan, Have thou considered my servant Job? For there is none like him on the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one who fears God, and turns away from evil.
9 Then Satan answered LORD, and said, Does Job fear God for nothing?
10 Have thou not made a hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he has, on every side? Thou have blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.
11 But put forth thy hand now, and touch all that he has, and he will renounce thee to thy face.
12 And LORD said to Satan, Behold, all that he has is in thy power, only upon himself do not put forth thy hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of LORD.
13 And it fell on a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house,
14 that there came a messenger to Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the donkeys 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 only I alone have escaped to tell thee.
16 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of God fell from heaven, and has burned up the sheep and the servants, and consumed them, and only I alone have escaped to tell thee.
17 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The Chaldeans made three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have taken them away, yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword, and only I alone have escaped
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 only I alone have escaped to tell thee.
20 Then Job arose, and tore his robe, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped.
21 And he said, Naked I came out of my mother's womb, and naked I shall return there. LORD gave, and LORD has taken away, blessed be the name of LORD.
22 In all this Job did not sin, nor foolishly accuse God.