⁶ And I said: “O my God, I am too ^(A)ashamed and humiliated to lift up my face to You, my God; for ^(B)our iniquities have risen higher than our heads, and our guilt has ^(C)grown up to the heavens.

¹³ although ^(A)I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an ^[a]insolent man; but I obtained mercy because ^(B)I did it ignorantly in unbelief. ^14 (C)And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, ^(D)with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. ^15 (E)This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that ^(F)Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. ¹⁶ However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life.

Humility Cures Worldliness

⁷ Therefore submit to God. ^(A)Resist the devil and he will flee from you. ^8 (B)Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. ^(C)Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and ^(D)purify your hearts, you double-minded. ^9 (E)Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. ^10 (F)Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.

Job’s Response to God

³ Then Job answered the Lord and said:

^3 (A)Then I set my face toward the Lord God to make request by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes.

⁸ And he took for himself a potsherd with which to scrape himself ^(A)while he sat in the midst of the ashes.

^8 (A)Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time.

⁹ For I am ^(B)the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because ^(C)I persecuted the church of God.