²⁰ and all the foreign people there; all the kings of Uz;^(A) all the kings of the Philistines^(B) (those of Ashkelon,^(C) Gaza,^(D) Ekron, and the people left at Ashdod);

¹⁴ even if these three men—Noah,^(A) Daniel^[a](B) and Job^(C)—were in it, they could save only themselves by their righteousness,^(D) declares the Sovereign Lord.

²⁰ as surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, even if Noah, Daniel and Job were in it, they could save neither son nor daughter. They would save only themselves by their righteousness.^(A)

¹¹ As you know, we count as blessed^(A) those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance^(B) and have seen what the Lord finally brought about.^(C) The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.^(D)

Noah and the Flood

⁹ This is the account^(A) of Noah and his family.

Noah was a righteous man, blameless^(B) among the people of his time,^(C) and he walked faithfully with God.^(D)

The Covenant of Circumcision

17 When Abram was ninety-nine years old,^(A) the Lord appeared to him^(B) and said, “I am God Almighty^[a];^(C) walk before me faithfully and be blameless.^(D)

¹² “Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said. “Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God,^(A) because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.^(B)”

²¹ But select capable men^(A) from all the people—men who fear^(B) God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain^(C)—and appoint them as officials^(D) over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens.