Select: First Reading Second Reading Bible Background
First Reading: Job Chapter 1 and 2 and 3
Job 1
1:1 Job and His Family in Uz
There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was blameless
and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil. 2 And seven sons and three
daughters were born to him. 3 Also, his possessions were seven thousand sheep,
three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred female donkeys,
and a very large household, so that this man was the greatest of all the people
of the East.
4 And his sons would go and feast in their houses, each on his appointed day,
and would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. 5
So it was, when the days of feasting had run their course, that Job would send
and sanctify them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer 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 Job did regularly.
6 Satan Attacks Job's Character
Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before
the LORD, and Satan also came among them. 7 And the LORD said to Satan, "From
where do you come?"
So Satan answered the LORD and said, "From going to and fro on the earth,
and from walking back and forth on it."
8 Then the LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered My servant Job, that
there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears
God and shuns evil?"
9 So Satan answered the LORD and said, "Does Job fear God for nothing?
10 Have You not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all
that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions
have increased in the land. 11 But now, stretch out Your hand and touch all
that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face!"
12 And the LORD said to Satan, "Behold, all that he has is in your power;
only do not lay a hand on his person."
So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD.
13 Job Loses His Property and Children
Now there was a day when his sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine
in their oldest brother's house; 14 and a messenger came to Job and said, "The
oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding beside them, 15 when the Sabeans raided
them and took them away — indeed they have killed the servants with the
edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell you!"
16 While he was still speaking, another also came and said, "The fire of
God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants, and consumed
them; and I alone have escaped to tell you!"
17 While he was still speaking, another also came and said, "The Chaldeans
formed three bands, raided the camels and took them away, yes, and killed the
servants with the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell you!"
18 While he was still speaking, another also came and said,"Your sons and
daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother's house, 19
and suddenly a great wind came from across the wilderness and struck the four
corners of the house, and it fell on the young people, and they are dead; and
I alone have escaped to tell you!"
20 Then Job arose, tore his robe, and shaved his head; and he fell to the ground
and worshiped. 21 And he said:
"Naked I came from my mother's womb,And naked shall I return there.The
LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away;Blessed be the name of the LORD."
22 In all this Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong.
Job 2
2:1 Satan Attacks Job's Health
Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before
the LORD, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the LORD.
2 And the LORD said to Satan, "From where do you come?"
Satan answered the LORD and said, "From going to and fro on the earth,
and from walking back and forth on it."
3 Then the LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered My servant Job, that
there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears
God and shuns evil? And still he holds fast to his integrity, although you incited
Me against him, to destroy him without cause."
4 So Satan answered the LORD and said, "Skin for skin! Yes, all that a
man has he will give for his life. 5 But stretch out Your hand now, and touch
his bone and his flesh, and he will surely curse You to Your face!"
6 And the LORD said to Satan, "Behold, he is in your hand, but spare his
life."
7 So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD, and struck Job with painful
boils from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head. 8 And he took for
himself a potsherd with which to scrape himself while he sat in the midst of
the ashes.
9 Then his wife said to him, "Do you still hold fast to your integrity?
Curse God and die!"
10 But he said to her, "You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall
we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?" In
all this Job did not sin with his lips.
11 Job's Three Friends
Now when Job's three friends heard of all this adversity that had come upon him, each one came from his own place — Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite. For they had made an appointment together to come and mourn with him, and to comfort him. 12 And when they raised their eyes from afar, and did not recognize him, they lifted their voices and wept; and each one tore his robe and sprinkled dust on his head toward heaven. 13 So they sat down with him on the ground seven days and seven nights, and no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his grief was very great.
Job 3
3:1 Job Deplores His Birth
After this Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth. 2 And Job
spoke, and said:
3 "May the day perish on which I was born,And the night in which it was
said,'A male child is conceived.' 4 May that day be darkness;May God above not
seek it,Nor the light shine upon it. 5 May darkness and the shadow of death
claim it;May a cloud settle on it;May the blackness of the day terrify it. 6
As for that night, may darkness seize it;May it not rejoice among the days of
the year,May it not come into the number of the months. 7 Oh, may that night
be barren!May no joyful shout come into it! 8 May those curse it who curse the
day,Those who are ready to arouse Leviathan. 9 May the stars of its morning
be dark;May it look for light, but have none,And not see the dawning of the
day; 10 Because it did not shut up the doors of my mother's womb,Nor hide sorrow
from my eyes.
11 "Why did I not die at birth?Why did I not perish when I came from the
womb? 12 Why did the knees receive me?Or why the breasts, that I should nurse?
13 For now I would have lain still and been quiet,I would have been asleep;Then
I would have been at rest 14 With kings and counselors of the earth,Who built
ruins for themselves, 15 Or with princes who had gold,Who filled their houses
with silver; 16 Or why was I not hidden like a stillborn child,Like infants
who never saw light? 17 There the wicked cease from troubling,And there the
weary are at rest. 18 There the prisoners rest together;They do not hear the
voice of the oppressor. 19 The small and great are there,And the servant is
free from his master.
20 "Why is light given to him who is in misery,And life to the bitter of
soul, 21 Who long for death, but it does not come,And search for it more than
hidden treasures; 22 Who rejoice exceedingly,And are glad when they can find
the grave? 23 Why is light given to a man whose way is hidden,And whom God has
hedged in? 24 For my sighing comes before I eat, And my groanings pour out like
water. 25 For the thing I greatly feared has come upon me,And what I dreaded
has happened to me. 26 I am not at ease, nor am I quiet;I have no rest, for
trouble comes."
Psalms 53
53:1 Folly of the Godless, and the Restoration of Israel
(Ps 14)
To the Chief Musician. Set to "Mahalath." A Contemplation of David.
The fool has said in his heart,"There is no God."They are corrupt,
and have done abominable iniquity;There is none who does good.
2 God looks down from heaven upon the children of men,To see if there are any
who understand, who seek God. 3 Every one of them has turned aside;They have
together become corrupt;There is none who does good,No, not one.
4 Have the workers of iniquity no knowledge,Who eat up my people as they eat
bread,And do not call upon God? 5 There they are in great fear Where no fear
was,For God has scattered the bones of him who encamps against you;You have
put them to shame,Because God has despised them.
6 Oh, that the salvation of Israel would come out of Zion!When God brings back
the captivity 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::
Select: First Reading Second Reading Bible Background