Samekh

Ayin

Satan Attacks Job’s Health

1 ^zAgain 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, ^aa blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil? He still holds fast his ^bintegrity, although you ^cincited me against him to destroy him ^dwithout reason.” 4 Then Satan answered the Lord and said, “Skin for skin! ^eAll that a man has he will give for his life. 5 But ^fstretch out your hand and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse you to your face.” 6 And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, he is in your hand; only spare his life.”

7 ^gSo Satan went out from the presence of the Lord and struck Job with loathsome sores from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head. 8 And he took a piece of broken pottery with which to scrape himself while he ^hsat in the ashes.

9 Then his wife said to him, “Do you still hold fast your integrity? ⁱCurse God and die.” 10 But he said to her, “You speak as one of the ^jfoolish women would speak. Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?”^{1 k}In all this Job did not sin with his lips.

Job’s Three Friends

11 Now when Job’s three friends heard of all this evil that had come upon him, they came each from his own place, ^lEliphaz the Temanite, ^mBildad the Shuhite, and ⁿZophar the Naamathite. They made an appointment together to come to ^oshow him sympathy and comfort him. 12 And when they saw him from a distance, they did not recognize him. And they raised their voices and wept, and ^pthey tore their robes and sprinkled dust on their heads toward heaven. 13 And they sat with him on the ground ^qseven days and seven nights, and no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his suffering was very great.

Stewards of God’s Grace

1 Since therefore ^sChrist suffered in the flesh,^{1 t}arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for ^uwhoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, 2 so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human ^vpassions but for the will of God. 3 For the ^wtime that is past suffices for doing what the ^xGentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry. 4 With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you; 5 but they will ^ygive account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. 6 For this is why the ^zgospel was preached even to those who are dead, that though judged in the flesh the way people are, they might ^alive in the spirit the way God does.

7 The end of all things is ^bat hand; therefore be self-controlled and ^csober-minded ^dfor the sake of your prayers. 8 Above all, ^ekeep loving one another earnestly, since love ^fcovers a multitude of sins. 9 ^gShow hospitality to one another ^hwithout grumbling. 10 ⁱAs each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good ^jstewards of God’s varied grace: 11 whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. ^kTo him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Suffering as a Christian

12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to ^ltest you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But ^mrejoice insofar as you ⁿshare Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. 14 If you are ^oinsulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the ^pSpirit of glory² and of God rests upon you. 15 ^qBut let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. 16 Yet if anyone ^rsuffers as a ^sChristian, let him not be ^tashamed, but let him glorify God in that name. 17 For it is time for judgment ^uto begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for ^vthose who do not obey the gospel of God? 18 And

19 Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will ^xentrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.