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First Reading: Job Chapter 1 and 2 and 3
Job 1
1:1 In the land of Uz there lived a man whose name was Job. This man was blameless
and upright; he feared God and shunned evil. 2 He had seven sons and three daughters,
3 and 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.
4 His sons used to take turns holding feasts in their homes, and they would
invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. 5 When a period of feasting
had run its course, Job would send and have them 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.
6 One day the angels came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also
came with them. 7 The LORD said to Satan, "Where have you come from?"
Satan answered the LORD, "From roaming through the earth and going back
and forth in it."
8 Then 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. 11 But stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he
will surely curse you to your face."
12 The LORD said to Satan, "Very well, then, everything he has is in your
hands, but on the man himself do not lay a finger."
Then Satan went out from the presence of the LORD.
13 One day when Job's sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at
the oldest brother's house, 14 a messenger came to Job and said, "The oxen
were plowing and the donkeys were grazing nearby, 15 and the Sabeans attacked
and carried them off. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only
one who has escaped to tell you!"
16 While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, "The fire
of God fell from the sky and burned up the sheep and the servants, and I am
the only one who has escaped to tell you!"
17 While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, "The Chaldeans
formed three raiding parties and swept down on your camels and carried them
off. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped
to tell you!"
18 While 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,
19 when 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!"
20 At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to
the ground in worship 21 and said:
"Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD
gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised."
22 In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.
Job 2
2:1 On another day the angels came to present themselves before the LORD, and
Satan also came with them to present himself before him. 2 And the LORD said
to Satan, "Where have you come from?"
Satan answered the LORD, "From roaming through the earth and going back
and forth in it."
3 Then 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. And he still maintains his integrity, though you incited me
against him to ruin him without any reason."
4 "Skin for skin!" Satan replied. "A man will give all he has
for his own life. 5 But stretch out your hand and strike his flesh and bones,
and he will surely curse you to your face."
6 The LORD said to Satan, "Very well, then, he is in your hands; but you
must spare his life."
7 So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD and afflicted Job with painful
sores from the soles of his feet to the top of his head. 8 Then Job took a piece
of broken pottery and scraped himself with it as he sat among the ashes.
9 His wife said to him, "Are you still holding on to your integrity? Curse
God and die!"
10 He replied, "You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good
from God, and not trouble?"
In all this, Job did not sin in what he said.
11 When Job's three friends, Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar
the Naamathite, heard about all the troubles that had come upon him, they set
out from their homes and met together by agreement to go and sympathize with
him and comfort him. 12 When they saw him from a distance, they could hardly
recognize him; they began to weep aloud, and they tore their robes and sprinkled
dust on their heads. 13 Then they sat on the ground with him for seven days
and seven nights. No one said a word to him, because they saw how great his
suffering was.
Job 3
3:1 After this, Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth. 2 He
said:
3 "May the day of my birth perish, and the night it was said, 'A boy is
born!' 4 That day-may it turn to darkness; may God above not care about it;
may no light shine upon it. 5 May darkness and deep shadow claim it once more;
may a cloud settle over it; may blackness overwhelm its light. 6 That night-may
thick darkness seize it; may it not be included among the days of the year nor
be entered in any of the months. 7 May that night be barren; may no shout of
joy be heard in it. 8 May those who curse days curse that day, those who are
ready to rouse Leviathan. 9 May its morning stars become dark; may it wait for
daylight in vain and not see the first rays of dawn, 10 for it did not shut
the doors of the womb on me to hide trouble from my eyes.
11 "Why did I not perish at birth, and die as I came from the womb? 12
Why were there knees to receive me and breasts that I might be nursed? 13 For
now I would be lying down in peace; I would be asleep and at rest 14 with kings
and counselors of the earth, who built for themselves places now lying in ruins,
15 with rulers who had gold, who filled their houses with silver. 16 Or why
was I not hidden in the ground like a stillborn child, like an infant who never
saw the light of day? 17 There the wicked cease from turmoil, and there the
weary are at rest. 18 Captives also enjoy their ease; they no longer hear the
slave driver's shout. 19 The small and the great are there, and the slave is
freed from his master.
20 "Why is light given to those in misery, and life to the bitter of soul,
21 to those who long for death that does not come, who search for it more than
for hidden treasure, 22 who are filled with gladness and rejoice when they reach
the grave? 23 Why is life given to a man whose way is hidden, whom God has hedged
in? 24 For sighing comes to me instead of food; my groans pour out like water.
25 What I feared has come upon me; what I dreaded has happened to me. 26 I have
no peace, no quietness; I have no rest, but only turmoil."
Second Reading: Psalms Chapter 53
Psalms 53
53:1 For the director of music. According to mahalath. A maskil of David.
The fool says in his heart,"There is no God."They are corrupt, and
their ways are vile;there is no one who does good.
2 God looks down from heaven on the sons of men to see if there are any who
understand,any who seek God. 3 Everyone has turned away,they have together become
corrupt;there is no one who does good,not even one.
4 Will the evildoers never learn those who devour my people as men eat
bread and who do not call on God? 5 There they were, overwhelmed with dread,where
there was nothing to dread.God scattered the bones of those who attacked you;you
put them to shame, for God despised them.
6 Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion!When God restores the
fortunes of his people,let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad!
BOOKS OF THE BIBLE
LUKE
Part 3 of 3
Luke includes several incidents in the life and teachings of Jesus that are not included elsewhere. Among them are::
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