The Story of Noah

This is the account of Noah and his family. Noah was a righteous man, the only blameless person living on earth at the time, and he walked in close fellowship with God.

Abram Is Named Abraham

When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to him and said, “I am El-Shaddai—‘God Almighty.’ Serve me faithfully and live a blameless life.

“Be sure never to charge anyone falsely with evil. Never sentence an innocent or blameless person to death, for I never declare a guilty person to be innocent.

But you must be blameless before the Lord your God.

I am blameless before God; I have kept myself from sin.

Prologue

There once was a man named Job who lived in the land of Uz. He was blameless—a man of complete integrity. He feared God and stayed away from evil.

Then the Lord asked Satan, “Have you noticed my servant Job? He is the finest man in all the earth. He is blameless—a man of complete integrity. He fears God and stays away from evil.”

Then the Lord asked Satan, “Have you noticed my servant Job? He is the finest man in all the earth. He is blameless—a man of complete integrity. He fears God and stays away from evil. And he has maintained his integrity, even though you urged me to harm him without cause.”

Though I am innocent, my own mouth would pronounce me guilty. Though I am blameless, it would prove me wicked.

Innocent or wicked, it is all the same to God. That’s why I say, ‘He destroys both the blameless and the wicked.’

Yet my friends laugh at me, for I call on God and expect an answer. I am a just and blameless man, yet they laugh at me.

Those who lead blameless lives and do what is right, speaking the truth from sincere hearts.

I am blameless before God; I have kept myself from sin.

I will be careful to live a blameless life— when will you come to help me? I will lead a life of integrity in my own home.

May I be blameless in keeping your decrees; then I will never be ashamed.

Godliness guards the path of the blameless, but the evil are misled by sin.

The blameless will be rescued from harm, but the crooked will be suddenly destroyed.

The bloodthirsty hate blameless people, but the upright seek to help them.

“You were blameless in all you did from the day you were created until the day evil was found in you.

For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return.

Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault.

May he, as a result, make your hearts strong, blameless, and holy as you stand before God our Father when our Lord Jesus comes again with all his holy people. Amen.

Paul’s Final Greetings

Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again.

An elder must live a blameless life. He must be faithful to his wife, and his children must be believers who don’t have a reputation for being wild or rebellious.

A church leader is a manager of God’s household, so he must live a blameless life. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered; he must not be a heavy drinker, violent, or dishonest with money.