⁸ Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job?^(A) There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God^(B) and shuns evil.”^(C)

⁹ “Does Job fear God for nothing?”^(D) Satan replied. ¹⁰ “Have you not put a hedge^(E) around him and his household and everything he has?^(F) You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land.^{(G) 11} But now stretch out your hand and strike everything he has,^(H) and he will surely curse you to your face.”^(I)

¹² The Lord said to Satan, “Very well, then, everything he has^(J) is in your power, but on the man himself do not lay a finger.”^(K)

Then Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.

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.^(A) And he still maintains his integrity,^(B) though you incited me against him to ruin him without any reason.”^(C)

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

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

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.^(I)

²⁰ At this, Job got up and tore his robe^(A) and shaved his head.^(B) Then he fell to the ground in worship^(C)

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

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

²⁰ You intended to harm me,^(A) but God intended^(B) it for good^(C) to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.^(D)

³⁹ Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup^(A) be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”^(B)

⁴⁰ Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Couldn’t you men keep watch with me^(C) for one hour?” he asked Peter. ⁴¹ “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.^(D) The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

⁴² He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.”^(E)

¹⁰ And by that will, we have been made holy^(A) through the sacrifice of the body^(B) of Jesus Christ once for all.^(C)

⁷ or because of these surpassingly great revelations.^(A) Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh,^(B) a messenger of Satan,^(C) to torment me. ⁸ Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me.^{(D) 9} But he said to me, “My grace^(E) is sufficient for you, for my power^(F) is made perfect in weakness.^(G)”^(H) Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. ¹⁰ That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight^(I) in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships,^(J) in persecutions,^(K) in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.^(L)