Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)
Job’s Reply to Zophar
21 Then Job answered:
17 How often is the lamp(A) of the wicked put out?
Does disaster[a] come on them?
Does he apportion destruction in his anger?
18 Are they like straw before the wind,
like chaff(B) a storm sweeps away?
19 God reserves a person’s punishment for his children.(C)
Let God repay the person himself, so that he may know it.
20 Let his own eyes see his demise;
let him drink from the Almighty’s wrath!(D)
21 For what does he care about his family once he is dead,(E)
when the number of his months has run out?(F)
22 Can anyone teach God knowledge,(G)
since he judges the exalted ones?[b]
23 One person dies in excellent health,[c]
completely secure[d] and at ease.
24 His body is[e] well fed,[f]
and his bones are full of marrow.[g]
25 Yet another person dies with a bitter(H) soul,
having never tasted prosperity.
26 But they both lie in the dust,
and worms cover them.(I)
27 I know your thoughts very well,
the schemes by which you would wrong me.
28 For you say, “Where now is the nobleman’s house?”
and “Where are the tents(J) the wicked lived in?”
29 Have you never consulted those who travel the roads?
Don’t you accept their reports?[h]
30 Indeed, the evil person is spared from the day of disaster,
rescued from the day of wrath.
31 Who would denounce his behavior to his face?
Who would repay(K) him for what he has done?
32 He is carried to the grave,
and someone keeps watch over his tomb.
33 The dirt on his grave is[i] sweet to him.
Everyone follows behind him,
and those who go before him are without number.
34 So how can you offer me such futile comfort?
Your answers are deceptive.
Greeting
1 The elder:
To the elect(A) lady and her children, whom I love in the truth—and not only I, but also all who know the truth(B)— 2 because of the truth that remains in us(C) and will be with us forever.
3 Grace, mercy, and peace(D) will be with us from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Son(E) of the Father, in truth and love.(F)
Truth and Deception
4 I was very glad to find some of your children walking in truth,(G) in keeping with a command we have received from the Father. 5 So now I ask you, dear lady—not as if I were writing you a new command, but one we have had from the beginning—that we love one another.(H) 6 This is love:(I) that we walk according to his commands.(J) This is the command as you have heard it from the beginning: that you walk in love.[a]
7 Many deceivers have gone out into the world; they do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh.(K) This is the deceiver and the antichrist.(L) 8 Watch yourselves so that you don’t lose what we[b] have worked for, but that you may receive a full reward.(M) 9 Anyone who does not remain in Christ’s teaching(N) but goes beyond it does not have God.(O) The one who remains(P) in that teaching, this one has both the Father(Q) and the Son.(R) 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive(S) him into your home, and do not greet him; 11 for the one who greets him shares(T) in his evil works.(U)
Farewell
12 Though I have many things to write to you,(V) I don’t want to use paper and ink. Instead, I hope to come to you and talk face to face so that our joy(W) may be complete.
13 The children of your elect sister send you greetings.
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