Lectionary 12, Year B

¹ Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, ² “Who is this who darkens counsel by words without knowledge? ³ Brace yourself like a man, for I will question you, then you answer me! ⁴ “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Declare, if you have understanding. ⁵ Who determined its measures, if you know? Or who stretched the line on it? ⁶ What were its foundations fastened on? Or who laid its cornerstone, ⁷ when the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy? ⁸ “Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it broke out of the womb, ⁹ when I made clouds its garment, and wrapped it in thick darkness, ¹⁰ marked out for it my bound, set bars and doors, ¹¹ and said, ‘You may come here, but no further. Your proud waves shall be stopped here?’

¹ Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his loving kindness endures forever. ² Let the redeemed by the LORD say so, whom he has redeemed from the hand of the adversary, ³ And gathered out of the lands, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south.

²³ Those who go down to the sea in ships, who do business in great waters; ²⁴ These see the LORD’s deeds, and his wonders in the deep. ²⁵ For he commands, and raises the stormy wind, which lifts up its waves. ²⁶ They mount up to the sky; they go down again to the depths. Their soul melts away because of trouble. ²⁷ They reel back and forth, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits’ end. ²⁸ Then they cry to the LORD in their trouble, and he brings them out of their distress. ²⁹ He makes the storm a calm, so that its waves are still. ³⁰ Then they are glad because it is calm, so he brings them to their desired haven. ³¹ Let them praise the LORD for his loving kindness, for his wonderful deeds for the children of men! ³² Let them exalt him also in the assembly of the people, and praise him in the seat of the elders.

¹ Working together, we entreat also that you do not receive the grace of God in vain, ² for he says, “At an acceptable time I listened to you. In a day of salvation I helped you.” Behold, now is the acceptable time. Behold, now is the day of salvation. ³ We give no occasion of stumbling in anything, that our service may not be blamed, ⁴ but in everything commending ourselves, as servants of God, in great endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in distresses, ⁵ in beatings, in imprisonments, in riots, in labors, in watchings, in fastings; ⁶ in pureness, in knowledge, in perseverance, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in sincere love, ⁷ in the word of truth, in the power of God; by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, ⁸ by glory and dishonor, by evil report and good report; as deceivers, and yet true; ⁹ as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and not killed; ¹⁰ as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things. ¹¹ Our mouth is open to you, Corinthians. Our heart is enlarged. ¹² You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted by your own affections. ¹³ Now in return, I speak as to my children: you also open your hearts.