2 On another day the angels^[a](A) came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came with them^(B) to present himself before him. ² And the Lord said to Satan, “Where have you come from?”

Satan answered the Lord, “From roaming throughout the earth, going back and forth on it.”^(C)

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.^(D) And he still maintains his integrity,^(E) though you incited me against him to ruin him without any reason.”^(F)

⁴ “Skin for skin!” Satan replied. “A man will give all he has^(G) for his own life. ⁵ But now stretch out your hand and strike his flesh and bones,^(H) and he will surely curse you to your face.”^(I)

⁶ The Lord said to Satan, “Very well, then, he is in your hands;^(J) but you must spare his life.”^(K)

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 crown of his head.^{(L) 8} Then Job took a piece of broken pottery and scraped himself with it as he sat among the ashes.^(M)

⁹ His wife said to him, “Are you still maintaining your integrity?^(N) Curse God and die!”^(O)

¹⁰ He replied, “You are talking like a foolish^[b] woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?”^(P)

In all this, Job did not sin in what he said.^(Q)

¹¹ When Job’s three friends, Eliphaz the Temanite,^(R) Bildad the Shuhite^(S) and Zophar the Naamathite,^(T) 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.^{(U) 12} When they saw him from a distance, they could hardly recognize him;^(V) they began to weep aloud,^(W) and they tore their robes^(X) and sprinkled dust on their heads.^{(Y) 13} Then they sat on the ground^(Z) with him for seven days and seven nights.^(AA) No one said a word to him,^(AB) because they saw how great his suffering was.

Renewal of Ezekiel’s Call as Watchman

33 The word of the Lord came to me: ² “Son of man, speak to your people and say to them: ‘When I bring the sword^(A) against a land, and the people of the land choose one of their men and make him their watchman,^{(B) 3} and he sees the sword coming against the land and blows the trumpet^(C) to warn the people, ⁴ then if anyone hears the trumpet but does not heed the warning^(D) and the sword comes and takes their life, their blood will be on their own head.^{(E) 5} Since they heard the sound of the trumpet but did not heed the warning, their blood will be on their own head.^(F) If they had heeded the warning, they would have saved themselves.^{(G) 6} But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet to warn the people and the sword comes and takes someone’s life, that person’s life will be taken because of their sin, but I will hold the watchman accountable for their blood.’^(H)

⁷ “Son of man, I have made you a watchman^(I) for the people of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me.^{(J) 8} When I say to the wicked, ‘You wicked person, you will surely die,^(K)’ and you do not speak out to dissuade them from their ways, that wicked person will die for^[a] their sin, and I will hold you accountable for their blood.^{(L) 9} But if you do warn the wicked person to turn from their ways and they do not do so,^(M) they will die for their sin, though you yourself will be saved.^(N)

¹⁰ “Son of man, say to the Israelites, ‘This is what you are saying: “Our offenses and sins weigh us down, and we are wasting away^(O) because of^[b] them. How then can we live?^(P)”’ ¹¹ Say to them, ‘As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live.^(Q) Turn!^(R) Turn from your evil ways! Why will you die, people of Israel?’^(S)

Living for God

4 Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body,^(A) arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin.^{(B) 2} As a result, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires,^(C) but rather for the will of God. ³ For you have spent enough time in the past^(D) doing what pagans choose to do—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry.^{(E) 4} They are surprised that you do not join them in their reckless, wild living, and they heap abuse on you.^{(F) 5} But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.^{(G) 6} For this is the reason the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead,^(H) so that they might be judged according to human standards in regard to the body, but live according to God in regard to the spirit.

⁷ The end of all things is near.^(I) Therefore be alert and of sober mind^(J) so that you may pray. ⁸ Above all, love each other deeply,^(K) because love covers over a multitude of sins.^{(L) 9} Offer hospitality^(M) to one another without grumbling.^{(N) 10} Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others,^(O) as faithful^(P) stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. ¹¹ If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God.^(Q) If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides,^(R) so that in all things God may be praised^(S) through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.^(T)

Suffering for Being a Christian

¹² Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you^(U) to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. ¹³ But rejoice^(V) inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ,^(W) so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.^{(X) 14} If you are insulted because of the name of Christ,^(Y) you are blessed,^(Z) for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. ¹⁵ If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. ¹⁶ However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.^{(AA) 17} For it is time for judgment to begin with God’s household;^(AB) and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God?^{(AC) 18} And,

¹⁹ So then, those who suffer according to God’s will^(AE) should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.

Jesus Sends Out the Seventy-Two^(A)(B)(C)

10 After this the Lord^(D) appointed seventy-two^[a] others^(E) and sent them two by two^(F) ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go.^{(G) 2} He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.^{(H) 3} Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves.^{(I) 4} Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road.

⁵ “When you enter a house, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’ ⁶ If someone who promotes peace is there, your peace will rest on them; if not, it will return to you. ⁷ Stay there, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages.^(J) Do not move around from house to house.

⁸ “When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is offered to you.^{(K) 9} Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God^(L) has come near to you.’ ¹⁰ But when you enter a town and are not welcomed, go into its streets and say, ¹¹ ‘Even the dust of your town we wipe from our feet as a warning to you.^(M) Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God has come near.’^{(N) 12} I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom^(O) than for that town.^(P)

¹³ “Woe to you,^(Q) Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth^(R) and ashes. ¹⁴ But it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you. ¹⁵ And you, Capernaum,^(S) will you be lifted to the heavens? No, you will go down to Hades.^[b]

¹⁶ “Whoever listens to you listens to me; whoever rejects you rejects me; but whoever rejects me rejects him who sent me.”^(T)

¹⁷ The seventy-two^(U) returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.”^(V)

¹⁸ He replied, “I saw Satan^(W) fall like lightning from heaven.^{(X) 19} I have given you authority to trample on snakes^(Y) and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. ²⁰ However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”^(Z)

²¹ At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.^(AA) Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.

²² “All things have been committed to me by my Father.^(AB) No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and no one knows who the Father is except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”^(AC)

²³ Then he turned to his disciples and said privately, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. ²⁴ For I tell you that many prophets and kings wanted to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.”^(AD)