⁴ But when ^(A)the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, ⁵ he saved us, ^(B)not because of works done by us in righteousness, but ^(C)according to his own mercy, by ^(D)the washing of regeneration and ^(E)renewal of the Holy Spirit, ⁶ whom he ^(F)poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior,

How Majestic Is Your Name

To the choirmaster: according to The ^(A)Gittith.^[a] A Psalm of David.

Job's Character and Wealth

1 There was a man in the land of ^(A)Uz whose name was ^(B)Job, and that man was ^(C)blameless and upright, one who ^(D)feared God and ^(E)turned away from evil.

Satan Attacks Job's Health

2 Again ^(A)there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them to present himself before the Lord. ² And the Lord said to Satan, “From where have you come?” Satan answered the Lord and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.” ³ And 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, who fears God and turns away from evil? He still ^(B)holds fast his integrity, although you incited me against him to destroy him ^(C)without reason.” ⁴ Then Satan answered the Lord and said, “Skin for skin! All that a man has he will give for his life. ⁵ But ^(D)stretch out your hand and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will ^(E)curse you to your face.” ⁶ And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, he is in your hand; only spare his life.”

⁷ So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord and struck Job with loathsome ^(F)sores from ^(G)the sole of his foot to the crown of his head. ⁸ And he took ^(H)a piece of broken pottery with which to scrape himself while he sat in ^(I)the ashes.

⁹ Then his wife said to him, “Do you still ^(J)hold fast your integrity? ^(K)Curse God and die.” ¹⁰ But he said to her, “You speak as one of the ^(L)foolish women would speak. ^(M)Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?”^{[a] (N)}In all this Job did not ^(O)sin with his lips.

The Supremacy of God's Son

1 Long ago, at many times and ^(A)in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, ² but ^(B)in these last days ^(C)he has spoken to us by ^(D)his Son, whom he appointed ^(E)the heir of all things, ^(F)through whom also he created ^(G)the world. ³ He is the radiance of the glory of God and ^(H)the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. ^(I)After making purification for sins, ^(J)he sat down ^(K)at the right hand of the Majesty on high, ⁴ having become as much superior to angels as the name ^(L)he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.

The Founder of Salvation

⁵ For it was not to angels that God subjected the world ^(A)to come, of which we are speaking. ⁶ It has been testified somewhere,

Now in putting everything in subjection to him, he left nothing outside his control. At present, ^(C)we do not yet see everything in subjection to him. ⁹ But we see him ^(D)who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, ^(E)crowned with glory and honor ^(F)because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might ^(G)taste death ^(H)for everyone.

¹⁰ For it ^(I)was fitting that he, ^(J)for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons ^(K)to glory, should make the ^(L)founder of their salvation ^(M)perfect through suffering. ¹¹ For ^(N)he who sanctifies and ^(O)those who are sanctified ^(P)all have one source.^[b] That is why he is not ashamed to call them ^(Q)brothers,^{[c] 12} saying,

Seven Chosen to Serve

6 Now in these days ^(A)when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists^[a] arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in ^(B)the daily distribution. ² And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. ^3 (C)Therefore, brothers,^[b] pick out from among you seven men ^(D)of good repute, ^(E)full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. ⁴ But ^(F)we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” ⁵ And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, ^(G)a man full of faith and ^(H)of the Holy Spirit, and ^(I)Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, ^(J)a proselyte of Antioch. ⁶ These they set before the apostles, and ^(K)they prayed and ^(L)laid their hands on them.

⁷ And ^(M)the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests ^(N)became obedient to ^(O)the faith.

Benediction

²⁰ Now ^(A)may the God of peace ^(B)who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, ^(C)the great shepherd of the sheep, by ^(D)the blood of the eternal covenant, ^21 (E)equip you with everything good that you may do his will, ^(F)working in us^[a] that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, ^(G)to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.