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église AB Lausanne ; KJV Job 32 So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. Then was kindled the wrath of Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the kindred of Ram: against Job was his wrath kindled, because he justified himself rather than God. Also against his three friends was his wrath kindled, because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job. Now Elihu had waited till Job had spoken, because they were elder than he. When Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, then his wrath was kindled. And Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered and said, I am young, and ye are very old; wherefore I was afraid, and durst not shew you mine opinion. I said, Days should speak, and multitude of years should teach wisdom. But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding. Great men are not always wise: neither do the aged understand judgment. Therefore I said, Hearken to me; I also will shew mine opinion. ...
Psalms and Wisdom: Psalm 143 Psalm 143 (Listen) My Soul Thirsts for You A Psalm of David. 143 Hear my prayer, O LORD; give ear to my pleas for mercy! In your faithfulness answer me, in your righteousness!2 Enter not into judgment with your servant, for no one living is righteous before you. 3 For the enemy has pursued my soul; he has crushed my life to the ground; he has made me sit in darkness like those long dead.4 Therefore my spirit faints within me; my heart within me is appalled. 5 I remember the days of old; I meditate on all that you have done; I ponder the work of your hands.6 I stretch out my hands to you; my soul thirsts for you like a parched land. Selah 7 Answer me quickly, O LORD! My spirit fails! Hide not your face from me, lest I be like those who go down to the pit.8 Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in you I trust. Make me know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul. 9 Deliver me from my enemies, O LORD! I have fled to you for refuge.110 Teach me to do your will, for you are my God! Let your good Spirit lead me on level ground! 11 For your name's sake, O LORD, preserve my life! In your righteousness bring my soul out of trouble!12 And in your steadfast love you will cut off my enemies, and you will destroy all the adversaries of my soul, for I am your servant. Footnotes [1] 143:9 One Hebrew manuscript, Septuagint; most Hebrew manuscripts To you I have covered (ESV) Pentateuch and History: Job 32 Job 32 (Listen) Elihu Rebukes Job's Three Friends 32 So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. 2 Then Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, burned with anger. He burned with anger at Job because he justified himself rather than God. 3 He burned with anger also at Job's three friends because they had found no answer, although they had declared Job to be in the wrong. 4 Now Elihu had waited to speak to Job because they were older than he. 5 And when Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, he burned with anger. 6 And Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered and said: “I am young in years, and you are aged; therefore I was timid and afraid to declare my opinion to you.7 I said, ‘Let days speak, and many years teach wisdom.'8 But it is the spirit in man, the breath of the Almighty, that makes him understand.9 It is not the old1 who are wise, nor the aged who understand what is right.10 Therefore I say, ‘Listen to me; let me also declare my opinion.' 11 “Behold, I waited for your words, I listened for your wise sayings, while you searched out what to say.12 I gave you my attention, and, behold, there was none among you who refuted Job or who answered his words.13 Beware lest you say, ‘We have found wisdom; God may vanquish him, not a man.'14 He has not directed his words against me, and I will not answer him with your speeches. 15 “They are dismayed; they answer no more; they have not a word to say.16 And shall I wait, because they do not speak, because they stand there, and answer no more?17 I also will answer with my share; I also will declare my opinion.18 For I am full of words; the spirit within me constrains me.19 Behold, my belly is like wine that has no vent; like new wineskins ready to burst.20 I must speak, that I may find relief; I must open my lips and answer.21 I will not show partiality to any man or use flattery toward any person.22 For I do not know how to flatter, else my Maker would soon take me away. Footnotes [1] 32:9 Hebrew many [in years] (ESV) Chronicles and Prophets: Isaiah 55 Isaiah 55 (Listen) The Compassion of the Lord 55 “Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.2 Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food.3 Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live; and I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David.4 Behold, I made him a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander for the peoples.5 Behold, you shall call a nation that you do not know, and a nation that did not know you shall run to you, because of the LORD your God, and of the Holy One of Israel, for he has glorified you. 6 “Seek the LORD while he may be found; call upon him while he is near;7 let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD.9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. 10 “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,11 so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it. 12 “For you shall go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall break forth into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.13 Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress; instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle; and it shall make a name for the LORD, an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.” (ESV) Gospels and Epistles: Revelation 14 Revelation 14 (Listen) The Lamb and the 144,000 14 Then I looked, and behold, on Mount Zion stood the Lamb, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father's name written on their foreheads. 2 And I heard a voice from heaven like the roar of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder. The voice I heard was like the sound of harpists playing on their harps, 3 and they were singing a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and before the elders. No one could learn that song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth. 4 It is these who have not defiled themselves with women, for they are virgins. It is these who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. These have been redeemed from mankind as firstfruits for God and the Lamb, 5 and in their mouth no lie was found, for they are blameless. The Messages of the Three Angels 6 Then I saw another angel flying directly overhead, with an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who dwell on earth, to every nation and tribe and language and people. 7 And he said with a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come, and worship him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water.” 8 Another angel, a second, followed, saying, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, she who made all nations drink the wine of the passion1 of her sexual immorality.” 9 And another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, 10 he also will drink the wine of God's wrath, poured full strength into the cup of his anger, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. 11 And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name.” 12 Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.2 13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Blessed indeed,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!” The Harvest of the Earth 14 Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and seated on the cloud one like a son of man, with a golden crown on his head, and a sharp sickle in his hand. 15 And another angel came out of the temple, calling with a loud voice to him who sat on the cloud, “Put in your sickle, and reap, for the hour to reap has come, for the harvest of the earth is fully ripe.” 16 So he who sat on the cloud swung his sickle across the earth, and the earth was reaped. 17 Then another angel came out of the temple in heaven, and he too had a sharp sickle. 18 And another angel came out from the altar, the angel who has authority over the fire, and he called with a loud voice to the one who had the sharp sickle, “Put in your sickle and gather the clusters from the vine of the earth, for its grapes are ripe.” 19 So the angel swung his sickle across the earth and gathered the grape harvest of the earth and threw it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. 20 And the winepress was trodden outside the city, and blood flowed from the winepress, as high as a horse's bridle, for 1,600 stadia.3 Footnotes [1] 14:8 Or wrath [2] 14:12 Greek and the faith of Jesus [3] 14:20 About 184 miles; a stadion was about 607 feet or 185 meters (ESV)
Old Testament: Job 31–32 Job 31–32 (Listen) Job's Final Appeal 31 “I have made a covenant with my eyes; how then could I gaze at a virgin?2 What would be my portion from God above and my heritage from the Almighty on high?3 Is not calamity for the unrighteous, and disaster for the workers of iniquity?4 Does not he see my ways and number all my steps? 5 “If I have walked with falsehood and my foot has hastened to deceit;6 (Let me be weighed in a just balance, and let God know my integrity!)7 if my step has turned aside from the way and my heart has gone after my eyes, and if any spot has stuck to my hands,8 then let me sow, and another eat, and let what grows for me1 be rooted out. 9 “If my heart has been enticed toward a woman, and I have lain in wait at my neighbor's door,10 then let my wife grind for another, and let others bow down on her.11 For that would be a heinous crime; that would be an iniquity to be punished by the judges;12 for that would be a fire that consumes as far as Abaddon, and it would burn to the root all my increase. 13 “If I have rejected the cause of my manservant or my maidservant, when they brought a complaint against me,14 what then shall I do when God rises up? When he makes inquiry, what shall I answer him?15 Did not he who made me in the womb make him? And did not one fashion us in the womb? 16 “If I have withheld anything that the poor desired, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail,17 or have eaten my morsel alone, and the fatherless has not eaten of it18 (for from my youth the fatherless2 grew up with me as with a father, and from my mother's womb I guided the widow3),19 if I have seen anyone perish for lack of clothing, or the needy without covering,20 if his body has not blessed me,4 and if he was not warmed with the fleece of my sheep,21 if I have raised my hand against the fatherless, because I saw my help in the gate,22 then let my shoulder blade fall from my shoulder, and let my arm be broken from its socket.23 For I was in terror of calamity from God, and I could not have faced his majesty. 24 “If I have made gold my trust or called fine gold my confidence,25 if I have rejoiced because my wealth was abundant or because my hand had found much,26 if I have looked at the sun5 when it shone, or the moon moving in splendor,27 and my heart has been secretly enticed, and my mouth has kissed my hand,28 this also would be an iniquity to be punished by the judges, for I would have been false to God above. 29 “If I have rejoiced at the ruin of him who hated me, or exulted when evil overtook him30 (I have not let my mouth sin by asking for his life with a curse),31 if the men of my tent have not said, ‘Who is there that has not been filled with his meat?'32 (the sojourner has not lodged in the street; I have opened my doors to the traveler),33 if I have concealed my transgressions as others do6 by hiding my iniquity in my heart,34 because I stood in great fear of the multitude, and the contempt of families terrified me, so that I kept silence, and did not go out of doors—35 Oh, that I had one to hear me! (Here is my signature! Let the Almighty answer me!) Oh, that I had the indictment written by my adversary!36 Surely I would carry it on my shoulder; I would bind it on me as a crown;37 I would give him an account of all my steps; like a prince I would approach him. 38 “If my land has cried out against me and its furrows have wept together,39 if I have eaten its yield without payment and made its owners breathe their last,40 let thorns grow instead of wheat, and foul weeds instead of barley.” The words of Job are ended. Elihu Rebukes Job's Three Friends 32 So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. 2 Then Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, burned with anger. He burned with anger at Job because he justified himself rather than God. 3 He burned with anger also at Job's three friends because they had found no answer, although they had declared Job to be in the wrong. 4 Now Elihu had waited to speak to Job because they were older than he. 5 And when Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, he burned with anger. 6 And Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered and said: “I am young in years, and you are aged; therefore I was timid and afraid to declare my opinion to you.7 I said, ‘Let days speak, and many years teach wisdom.'8 But it is the spirit in man, the breath of the Almighty, that makes him understand.9 It is not the old7 who are wise, nor the aged who understand what is right.10 Therefore I say, ‘Listen to me; let me also declare my opinion.' 11 “Behold, I waited for your words, I listened for your wise sayings, while you searched out what to say.12 I gave you my attention, and, behold, there was none among you who refuted Job or who answered his words.13 Beware lest you say, ‘We have found wisdom; God may vanquish him, not a man.'14 He has not directed his words against me, and I will not answer him with your speeches. 15 “They are dismayed; they answer no more; they have not a word to say.16 And shall I wait, because they do not speak, because they stand there, and answer no more?17 I also will answer with my share; I also will declare my opinion.18 For I am full of words; the spirit within me constrains me.19 Behold, my belly is like wine that has no vent; like new wineskins ready to burst.20 I must speak, that I may find relief; I must open my lips and answer.21 I will not show partiality to any man or use flattery toward any person.22 For I do not know how to flatter, else my Maker would soon take me away. Footnotes [1] 31:8 Or let my descendants [2] 31:18 Hebrew he [3] 31:18 Hebrew her [4] 31:20 Hebrew if his loins have not blessed me [5] 31:26 Hebrew the light [6] 31:33 Or as Adam did [7] 32:9 Hebrew many [in years] (ESV) New Testament: 2 Thessalonians 2:1–12 2 Thessalonians 2:1–12 (Listen) The Man of Lawlessness 2 Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we ask you, brothers,1 2 not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. 3 Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness2 is revealed, the son of destruction,3 4 who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God. 5 Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? 6 And you know what is restraining him now so that he may be revealed in his time. 7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way. 8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming. 9 The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, 10 and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 11 Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, 12 in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. Footnotes [1] 2:1 Or brothers and sisters; also verses 13, 15 [2] 2:3 Some manuscripts sin [3] 2:3 Greek the son of perdition (a Hebrew idiom) (ESV) Psalm: Psalm 57 Psalm 57 (Listen) Let Your Glory Be over All the Earth To the choirmaster: according to Do Not Destroy. A Miktam1 of David, when he fled from Saul, in the cave. 57 Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me, for in you my soul takes refuge; in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge, till the storms of destruction pass by.2 I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfills his purpose for me.3 He will send from heaven and save me; he will put to shame him who tramples on me. Selah God will send out his steadfast love and his faithfulness! 4 My soul is in the midst of lions; I lie down amid fiery beasts— the children of man, whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords. 5 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! Let your glory be over all the earth! 6 They set a net for my steps; my soul was bowed down. They dug a pit in my way, but they have fallen into it themselves. Selah7 My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast! I will sing and make melody!8 Awake, my glory!2 Awake, O harp and lyre! I will awake the dawn!9 I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing praises to you among the nations.10 For your steadfast love is great to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds. 11 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! Let your glory be over all the earth! Footnotes [1] 57:1 Probably a musical or liturgical term [2] 57:8 Or my whole being (ESV) Proverb: Proverbs 22:16 Proverbs 22:16 (Listen) 16 Whoever oppresses the poor to increase his own wealth, or gives to the rich, will only come to poverty. (ESV)
Old Testament: Job 31–32 Job 31–32 (Listen) Job's Final Appeal 31 “I have made a covenant with my eyes; how then could I gaze at a virgin?2 What would be my portion from God above and my heritage from the Almighty on high?3 Is not calamity for the unrighteous, and disaster for the workers of iniquity?4 Does not he see my ways and number all my steps? 5 “If I have walked with falsehood and my foot has hastened to deceit;6 (Let me be weighed in a just balance, and let God know my integrity!)7 if my step has turned aside from the way and my heart has gone after my eyes, and if any spot has stuck to my hands,8 then let me sow, and another eat, and let what grows for me1 be rooted out. 9 “If my heart has been enticed toward a woman, and I have lain in wait at my neighbor's door,10 then let my wife grind for another, and let others bow down on her.11 For that would be a heinous crime; that would be an iniquity to be punished by the judges;12 for that would be a fire that consumes as far as Abaddon, and it would burn to the root all my increase. 13 “If I have rejected the cause of my manservant or my maidservant, when they brought a complaint against me,14 what then shall I do when God rises up? When he makes inquiry, what shall I answer him?15 Did not he who made me in the womb make him? And did not one fashion us in the womb? 16 “If I have withheld anything that the poor desired, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail,17 or have eaten my morsel alone, and the fatherless has not eaten of it18 (for from my youth the fatherless2 grew up with me as with a father, and from my mother's womb I guided the widow3),19 if I have seen anyone perish for lack of clothing, or the needy without covering,20 if his body has not blessed me,4 and if he was not warmed with the fleece of my sheep,21 if I have raised my hand against the fatherless, because I saw my help in the gate,22 then let my shoulder blade fall from my shoulder, and let my arm be broken from its socket.23 For I was in terror of calamity from God, and I could not have faced his majesty. 24 “If I have made gold my trust or called fine gold my confidence,25 if I have rejoiced because my wealth was abundant or because my hand had found much,26 if I have looked at the sun5 when it shone, or the moon moving in splendor,27 and my heart has been secretly enticed, and my mouth has kissed my hand,28 this also would be an iniquity to be punished by the judges, for I would have been false to God above. 29 “If I have rejoiced at the ruin of him who hated me, or exulted when evil overtook him30 (I have not let my mouth sin by asking for his life with a curse),31 if the men of my tent have not said, ‘Who is there that has not been filled with his meat?'32 (the sojourner has not lodged in the street; I have opened my doors to the traveler),33 if I have concealed my transgressions as others do6 by hiding my iniquity in my heart,34 because I stood in great fear of the multitude, and the contempt of families terrified me, so that I kept silence, and did not go out of doors—35 Oh, that I had one to hear me! (Here is my signature! Let the Almighty answer me!) Oh, that I had the indictment written by my adversary!36 Surely I would carry it on my shoulder; I would bind it on me as a crown;37 I would give him an account of all my steps; like a prince I would approach him. 38 “If my land has cried out against me and its furrows have wept together,39 if I have eaten its yield without payment and made its owners breathe their last,40 let thorns grow instead of wheat, and foul weeds instead of barley.” The words of Job are ended. Elihu Rebukes Job's Three Friends 32 So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. 2 Then Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, burned with anger. He burned with anger at Job because he justified himself rather than God. 3 He burned with anger also at Job's three friends because they had found no answer, although they had declared Job to be in the wrong. 4 Now Elihu had waited to speak to Job because they were older than he. 5 And when Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, he burned with anger. 6 And Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered and said: “I am young in years, and you are aged; therefore I was timid and afraid to declare my opinion to you.7 I said, ‘Let days speak, and many years teach wisdom.'8 But it is the spirit in man, the breath of the Almighty, that makes him understand.9 It is not the old7 who are wise, nor the aged who understand what is right.10 Therefore I say, ‘Listen to me; let me also declare my opinion.' 11 “Behold, I waited for your words, I listened for your wise sayings, while you searched out what to say.12 I gave you my attention, and, behold, there was none among you who refuted Job or who answered his words.13 Beware lest you say, ‘We have found wisdom; God may vanquish him, not a man.'14 He has not directed his words against me, and I will not answer him with your speeches. 15 “They are dismayed; they answer no more; they have not a word to say.16 And shall I wait, because they do not speak, because they stand there, and answer no more?17 I also will answer with my share; I also will declare my opinion.18 For I am full of words; the spirit within me constrains me.19 Behold, my belly is like wine that has no vent; like new wineskins ready to burst.20 I must speak, that I may find relief; I must open my lips and answer.21 I will not show partiality to any man or use flattery toward any person.22 For I do not know how to flatter, else my Maker would soon take me away. Footnotes [1] 31:8 Or let my descendants [2] 31:18 Hebrew he [3] 31:18 Hebrew her [4] 31:20 Hebrew if his loins have not blessed me [5] 31:26 Hebrew the light [6] 31:33 Or as Adam did [7] 32:9 Hebrew many [in years] (ESV) Psalm: Psalm 57 Psalm 57 (Listen) Let Your Glory Be over All the Earth To the choirmaster: according to Do Not Destroy. A Miktam1 of David, when he fled from Saul, in the cave. 57 Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me, for in you my soul takes refuge; in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge, till the storms of destruction pass by.2 I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfills his purpose for me.3 He will send from heaven and save me; he will put to shame him who tramples on me. Selah God will send out his steadfast love and his faithfulness! 4 My soul is in the midst of lions; I lie down amid fiery beasts— the children of man, whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords. 5 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! Let your glory be over all the earth! 6 They set a net for my steps; my soul was bowed down. They dug a pit in my way, but they have fallen into it themselves. Selah7 My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast! I will sing and make melody!8 Awake, my glory!2 Awake, O harp and lyre! I will awake the dawn!9 I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing praises to you among the nations.10 For your steadfast love is great to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds. 11 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! Let your glory be over all the earth! Footnotes [1] 57:1 Probably a musical or liturgical term [2] 57:8 Or my whole being (ESV) New Testament: Luke 21 Luke 21 (Listen) The Widow's Offering 21 Jesus1 looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box, 2 and he saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins.2 3 And he said, “Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them. 4 For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.” Jesus Foretells Destruction of the Temple 5 And while some were speaking of the temple, how it was adorned with noble stones and offerings, he said, 6 “As for these things that you see, the days will come when there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.” 7 And they asked him, “Teacher, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when these things are about to take place?” 8 And he said, “See that you are not led astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he!' and, ‘The time is at hand!' Do not go after them. 9 And when you hear of wars and tumults, do not be terrified, for these things must first take place, but the end will not be at once.” Jesus Foretells Wars and Persecution 10 Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. 11 There will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences. And there will be terrors and great signs from heaven. 12 But before all this they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name's sake. 13 This will be your opportunity to bear witness. 14 Settle it therefore in your minds not to meditate beforehand how to answer, 15 for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict. 16 You will be delivered up even by parents and brothers3 and relatives and friends, and some of you they will put to death. 17 You will be hated by all for my name's sake. 18 But not a hair of your head will perish. 19 By your endurance you will gain your lives. Jesus Foretells Destruction of Jerusalem 20 “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has come near. 21 Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, and let those who are inside the city depart, and let not those who are out in the country enter it, 22 for these are days of vengeance, to fulfill all that is written. 23 Alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! For there will be great distress upon the earth and wrath against this people. 24 They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive among all nations, and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. The Coming of the Son of Man 25 “And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, 26 people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27 And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” The Lesson of the Fig Tree 29 And he told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. 30 As soon as they come out in leaf, you see for yourselves and know that the summer is already near. 31 So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. 32 Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all has taken place. 33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. Watch Yourselves 34 “But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap. 35 For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.” 37 And every day he was teaching in the temple, but at night he went out and lodged on the mount called Olivet. 38 And early in the morning all the people came to him in the temple to hear him. Footnotes [1] 21:1 Greek He [2] 21:2 Greek two lepta; a lepton was a Jewish bronze or copper coin worth about 1/128 of a denarius (which was a day's wage for a laborer) [3] 21:16 Or parents and brothers and sisters (ESV)
Morning: Job 31–32 Job 31–32 (Listen) Job's Final Appeal 31 “I have made a covenant with my eyes; how then could I gaze at a virgin?2 What would be my portion from God above and my heritage from the Almighty on high?3 Is not calamity for the unrighteous, and disaster for the workers of iniquity?4 Does not he see my ways and number all my steps? 5 “If I have walked with falsehood and my foot has hastened to deceit;6 (Let me be weighed in a just balance, and let God know my integrity!)7 if my step has turned aside from the way and my heart has gone after my eyes, and if any spot has stuck to my hands,8 then let me sow, and another eat, and let what grows for me1 be rooted out. 9 “If my heart has been enticed toward a woman, and I have lain in wait at my neighbor's door,10 then let my wife grind for another, and let others bow down on her.11 For that would be a heinous crime; that would be an iniquity to be punished by the judges;12 for that would be a fire that consumes as far as Abaddon, and it would burn to the root all my increase. 13 “If I have rejected the cause of my manservant or my maidservant, when they brought a complaint against me,14 what then shall I do when God rises up? When he makes inquiry, what shall I answer him?15 Did not he who made me in the womb make him? And did not one fashion us in the womb? 16 “If I have withheld anything that the poor desired, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail,17 or have eaten my morsel alone, and the fatherless has not eaten of it18 (for from my youth the fatherless2 grew up with me as with a father, and from my mother's womb I guided the widow3),19 if I have seen anyone perish for lack of clothing, or the needy without covering,20 if his body has not blessed me,4 and if he was not warmed with the fleece of my sheep,21 if I have raised my hand against the fatherless, because I saw my help in the gate,22 then let my shoulder blade fall from my shoulder, and let my arm be broken from its socket.23 For I was in terror of calamity from God, and I could not have faced his majesty. 24 “If I have made gold my trust or called fine gold my confidence,25 if I have rejoiced because my wealth was abundant or because my hand had found much,26 if I have looked at the sun5 when it shone, or the moon moving in splendor,27 and my heart has been secretly enticed, and my mouth has kissed my hand,28 this also would be an iniquity to be punished by the judges, for I would have been false to God above. 29 “If I have rejoiced at the ruin of him who hated me, or exulted when evil overtook him30 (I have not let my mouth sin by asking for his life with a curse),31 if the men of my tent have not said, ‘Who is there that has not been filled with his meat?'32 (the sojourner has not lodged in the street; I have opened my doors to the traveler),33 if I have concealed my transgressions as others do6 by hiding my iniquity in my heart,34 because I stood in great fear of the multitude, and the contempt of families terrified me, so that I kept silence, and did not go out of doors—35 Oh, that I had one to hear me! (Here is my signature! Let the Almighty answer me!) Oh, that I had the indictment written by my adversary!36 Surely I would carry it on my shoulder; I would bind it on me as a crown;37 I would give him an account of all my steps; like a prince I would approach him. 38 “If my land has cried out against me and its furrows have wept together,39 if I have eaten its yield without payment and made its owners breathe their last,40 let thorns grow instead of wheat, and foul weeds instead of barley.” The words of Job are ended. Elihu Rebukes Job's Three Friends 32 So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. 2 Then Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, burned with anger. He burned with anger at Job because he justified himself rather than God. 3 He burned with anger also at Job's three friends because they had found no answer, although they had declared Job to be in the wrong. 4 Now Elihu had waited to speak to Job because they were older than he. 5 And when Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, he burned with anger. 6 And Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered and said: “I am young in years, and you are aged; therefore I was timid and afraid to declare my opinion to you.7 I said, ‘Let days speak, and many years teach wisdom.'8 But it is the spirit in man, the breath of the Almighty, that makes him understand.9 It is not the old7 who are wise, nor the aged who understand what is right.10 Therefore I say, ‘Listen to me; let me also declare my opinion.' 11 “Behold, I waited for your words, I listened for your wise sayings, while you searched out what to say.12 I gave you my attention, and, behold, there was none among you who refuted Job or who answered his words.13 Beware lest you say, ‘We have found wisdom; God may vanquish him, not a man.'14 He has not directed his words against me, and I will not answer him with your speeches. 15 “They are dismayed; they answer no more; they have not a word to say.16 And shall I wait, because they do not speak, because they stand there, and answer no more?17 I also will answer with my share; I also will declare my opinion.18 For I am full of words; the spirit within me constrains me.19 Behold, my belly is like wine that has no vent; like new wineskins ready to burst.20 I must speak, that I may find relief; I must open my lips and answer.21 I will not show partiality to any man or use flattery toward any person.22 For I do not know how to flatter, else my Maker would soon take me away. Footnotes [1] 31:8 Or let my descendants [2] 31:18 Hebrew he [3] 31:18 Hebrew her [4] 31:20 Hebrew if his loins have not blessed me [5] 31:26 Hebrew the light [6] 31:33 Or as Adam did [7] 32:9 Hebrew many [in years] (ESV) Evening: Acts 13:1–23 Acts 13:1–23 (Listen) Barnabas and Saul Sent Off 13 Now there were in the church at Antioch prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger,1 Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a lifelong friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3 Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off. Barnabas and Saul on Cyprus 4 So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus. 5 When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. And they had John to assist them. 6 When they had gone through the whole island as far as Paphos, they came upon a certain magician, a Jewish false prophet named Bar-Jesus. 7 He was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, a man of intelligence, who summoned Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God. 8 But Elymas the magician (for that is the meaning of his name) opposed them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith. 9 But Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him 10 and said, “You son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, full of all deceit and villainy, will you not stop making crooked the straight paths of the Lord? 11 And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you will be blind and unable to see the sun for a time.” Immediately mist and darkness fell upon him, and he went about seeking people to lead him by the hand. 12 Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had occurred, for he was astonished at the teaching of the Lord. Paul and Barnabas at Antioch in Pisidia 13 Now Paul and his companions set sail from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia. And John left them and returned to Jerusalem, 14 but they went on from Perga and came to Antioch in Pisidia. And on the Sabbath day they went into the synagogue and sat down. 15 After the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent a message to them, saying, “Brothers, if you have any word of encouragement for the people, say it.” 16 So Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand said: “Men of Israel and you who fear God, listen. 17 The God of this people Israel chose our fathers and made the people great during their stay in the land of Egypt, and with uplifted arm he led them out of it. 18 And for about forty years he put up with2 them in the wilderness. 19 And after destroying seven nations in the land of Canaan, he gave them their land as an inheritance. 20 All this took about 450 years. And after that he gave them judges until Samuel the prophet. 21 Then they asked for a king, and God gave them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years. 22 And when he had removed him, he raised up David to be their king, of whom he testified and said, ‘I have found in David the son of Jesse a man after my heart, who will do all my will.' 23 Of this man's offspring God has brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus, as he promised. Footnotes [1] 13:1 Niger is a Latin word meaning black, or dark [2] 13:18 Some manuscripts he carried (compare Deuteronomy 1:31) (ESV)
Job 32–34 Job 32–34 (Listen) Elihu Rebukes Job's Three Friends 32 So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. 2 Then Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, burned with anger. He burned with anger at Job because he justified himself rather than God. 3 He burned with anger also at Job's three friends because they had found no answer, although they had declared Job to be in the wrong. 4 Now Elihu had waited to speak to Job because they were older than he. 5 And when Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, he burned with anger. 6 And Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered and said: “I am young in years, and you are aged; therefore I was timid and afraid to declare my opinion to you.7 I said, ‘Let days speak, and many years teach wisdom.'8 But it is the spirit in man, the breath of the Almighty, that makes him understand.9 It is not the old1 who are wise, nor the aged who understand what is right.10 Therefore I say, ‘Listen to me; let me also declare my opinion.' 11 “Behold, I waited for your words, I listened for your wise sayings, while you searched out what to say.12 I gave you my attention, and, behold, there was none among you who refuted Job or who answered his words.13 Beware lest you say, ‘We have found wisdom; God may vanquish him, not a man.'14 He has not directed his words against me, and I will not answer him with your speeches. 15 “They are dismayed; they answer no more; they have not a word to say.16 And shall I wait, because they do not speak, because they stand there, and answer no more?17 I also will answer with my share; I also will declare my opinion.18 For I am full of words; the spirit within me constrains me.19 Behold, my belly is like wine that has no vent; like new wineskins ready to burst.20 I must speak, that I may find relief; I must open my lips and answer.21 I will not show partiality to any man or use flattery toward any person.22 For I do not know how to flatter, else my Maker would soon take me away. Elihu Rebukes Job 33 “But now, hear my speech, O Job, and listen to all my words.2 Behold, I open my mouth; the tongue in my mouth speaks.3 My words declare the uprightness of my heart, and what my lips know they speak sincerely.4 The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.5 Answer me, if you can; set your words in order before me; take your stand.6 Behold, I am toward God as you are; I too was pinched off from a piece of clay.7 Behold, no fear of me need terrify you; my pressure will not be heavy upon you. 8 “Surely you have spoken in my ears, and I have heard the sound of your words.9 You say, ‘I am pure, without transgression; I am clean, and there is no iniquity in me.10 Behold, he finds occasions against me, he counts me as his enemy,11 he puts my feet in the stocks and watches all my paths.' 12 “Behold, in this you are not right. I will answer you, for God is greater than man.13 Why do you contend against him, saying, ‘He will answer none of man's2 words'?314 For God speaks in one way, and in two, though man does not perceive it.15 In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on men, while they slumber on their beds,16 then he opens the ears of men and terrifies4 them with warnings,17 that he may turn man aside from his deed and conceal pride from a man;18 he keeps back his soul from the pit, his life from perishing by the sword. 19 “Man is also rebuked with pain on his bed and with continual strife in his bones,20 so that his life loathes bread, and his appetite the choicest food.21 His flesh is so wasted away that it cannot be seen, and his bones that were not seen stick out.22 His soul draws near the pit, and his life to those who bring death.23 If there be for him an angel, a mediator, one of the thousand, to declare to man what is right for him,24 and he is merciful to him, and says, ‘Deliver him from going down into the pit; I have found a ransom;25 let his flesh become fresh with youth; let him return to the days of his youthful vigor';26 then man5 prays to God, and he accepts him; he sees his face with a shout of joy, and he restores to man his righteousness.27 He sings before men and says: ‘I sinned and perverted what was right, and it was not repaid to me.28 He has redeemed my soul from going down into the pit, and my life shall look upon the light.' 29 “Behold, God does all these things, twice, three times, with a man,30 to bring back his soul from the pit, that he may be lighted with the light of life.31 Pay attention, O Job, listen to me; be silent, and I will speak.32 If you have any words, answer me; speak, for I desire to justify you.33 If not, listen to me; be silent, and I will teach you wisdom.” Elihu Asserts God's Justice 34 Then Elihu answered and said: 2 “Hear my words, you wise men, and give ear to me, you who know;3 for the ear tests words as the palate tastes food.4 Let us choose what is right; let us know among ourselves what is good.5 For Job has said, ‘I am in the right, and God has taken away my right;6 in spite of my right I am counted a liar; my wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.'7 What man is like Job, who drinks up scoffing like water,8 who travels in company with evildoers and walks with wicked men?9 For he has said, ‘It profits a man nothing that he should take delight in God.' 10 “Therefore, hear me, you men of understanding: far be it from God that he should do wickedness, and from the Almighty that he should do wrong.11 For according to the work of a man he will repay him, and according to his ways he will make it befall him.12 Of a truth, God will not do wickedly, and the Almighty will not pervert justice.13 Who gave him charge over the earth, and who laid on him6 the whole world?14 If he should set his heart to it and gather to himself his spirit and his breath,15 all flesh would perish together, and man would return to dust. 16 “If you have understanding, hear this; listen to what I say.17 Shall one who hates justice govern? Will you condemn him who is righteous and mighty,18 who says to a king, ‘Worthless one,' and to nobles, ‘Wicked man,'19 who shows no partiality to princes, nor regards the rich more than the poor, for they are all the work of his hands?20 In a moment they die; at midnight the people are shaken and pass away, and the mighty are taken away by no human hand. 21 “For his eyes are on the ways of a man, and he sees all his steps.22 There is no gloom or deep darkness where evildoers may hide themselves.23 For God7 has no need to consider a man further, that he should go before God in judgment.24 He shatters the mighty without investigation and sets others in their place.25 Thus, knowing their works, he overturns them in the night, and they are crushed.26 He strikes them for their wickedness in a place for all to see,27 because they turned aside from following him and had no regard for any of his ways,28 so that they caused the cry of the poor to come to him, and he heard the cry of the afflicted—29 When he is quiet, who can condemn? When he hides his face, who can behold him, whether it be a nation or a man?—30 that a godless man should not reign, that he should not ensnare the people. 31 “For has anyone said to God, ‘I have borne punishment; I will not offend any more;32 teach me what I do not see; if I have done iniquity, I will do it no more'?33 Will he then make repayment to suit you, because you reject it? For you must choose, and not I; therefore declare what you know.834 Men of understanding will say to me, and the wise man who hears me will say:35 ‘Job speaks without knowledge; his words are without insight.'36 Would that Job were tried to the end, because he answers like wicked men.37 For he adds rebellion to his sin; he claps his hands among us and multiplies his words against God.” Footnotes [1] 32:9 Hebrew many [in years] [2] 33:13 Hebrew his [3] 33:13 Or He will not answer for any of his own words [4] 33:16 Or seals [5] 33:26 Hebrew he [6] 34:13 Hebrew lacks on him [7] 34:23 Hebrew he [8] 34:33 The meaning of the Hebrew in verses 29–33 is uncertain (ESV)
Text: Job 32 So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. 2 Then Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, burned with anger. He burned with anger at Job because he justified himself rather than God. 3 He burned with anger also at Job's three friends because they had found no answer, although they had declared Job to be in the wrong. 4 Now Elihu had waited to speak to Job because they were older than he. 5 And when Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, he burned with anger. 6 And Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered and said: “I amyoung in years, and you are aged; therefore I was timid and afraid to declare my opinion to you. 7 I said, ‘Let days speak, and many years teach wisdom.' 8 But it is the spirit in man, the breath of the Almighty, that makes him understand. 9 It is not the old who are wise, nor the aged who understand what is right. 10 Therefore I say, ‘Listen to me; let me also declare my opinion.' -Job 32:1-10 ESV A TIME TO LISTEN AND A TIME TO SPEAK UP Another friend, Elihu, has been silent, listening to their speeches, until here. He was exasperated to hear Job's arrogant claim of innocence and self-righteousness. He was also furious against Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar for their flimsy argument. He was burning inside so that he couldn't just listen anymore but speak. He was ‘full of words'. He felt so pent up so that he said, ‘ For I am full of words; the spirit within me constrains me. 19 Behold, my belly is like wine that has no vent; like new wineskins ready to burst. 20 I must speak, that I may find relief; I must open my lips and answer.'[v.18-20] What does Elihu's actuation teach us? There is a time to listen and a time to speak up. There is wisdom in waiting for the right time. Elihu spoke out of respect not out of outburst.[see v 6-7] As James said, “Let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; 20 for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.”[Jas 1:19,20] This is not easy when our hearts are burning with so much emotion. As Jesus has warned us, “For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.”[Matt 12:34] ------------------------- Visit and FOLLOW Gospel Light Filipino on YouTube, Facebook and Instagram
Job 32–34 Job 32–34 (Listen) Elihu Rebukes Job's Three Friends 32 So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. 2 Then Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, burned with anger. He burned with anger at Job because he justified himself rather than God. 3 He burned with anger also at Job's three friends because they had found no answer, although they had declared Job to be in the wrong. 4 Now Elihu had waited to speak to Job because they were older than he. 5 And when Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, he burned with anger. 6 And Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered and said: “I am young in years, and you are aged; therefore I was timid and afraid to declare my opinion to you.7 I said, ‘Let days speak, and many years teach wisdom.'8 But it is the spirit in man, the breath of the Almighty, that makes him understand.9 It is not the old1 who are wise, nor the aged who understand what is right.10 Therefore I say, ‘Listen to me; let me also declare my opinion.' 11 “Behold, I waited for your words, I listened for your wise sayings, while you searched out what to say.12 I gave you my attention, and, behold, there was none among you who refuted Job or who answered his words.13 Beware lest you say, ‘We have found wisdom; God may vanquish him, not a man.'14 He has not directed his words against me, and I will not answer him with your speeches. 15 “They are dismayed; they answer no more; they have not a word to say.16 And shall I wait, because they do not speak, because they stand there, and answer no more?17 I also will answer with my share; I also will declare my opinion.18 For I am full of words; the spirit within me constrains me.19 Behold, my belly is like wine that has no vent; like new wineskins ready to burst.20 I must speak, that I may find relief; I must open my lips and answer.21 I will not show partiality to any man or use flattery toward any person.22 For I do not know how to flatter, else my Maker would soon take me away. Elihu Rebukes Job 33 “But now, hear my speech, O Job, and listen to all my words.2 Behold, I open my mouth; the tongue in my mouth speaks.3 My words declare the uprightness of my heart, and what my lips know they speak sincerely.4 The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.5 Answer me, if you can; set your words in order before me; take your stand.6 Behold, I am toward God as you are; I too was pinched off from a piece of clay.7 Behold, no fear of me need terrify you; my pressure will not be heavy upon you. 8 “Surely you have spoken in my ears, and I have heard the sound of your words.9 You say, ‘I am pure, without transgression; I am clean, and there is no iniquity in me.10 Behold, he finds occasions against me, he counts me as his enemy,11 he puts my feet in the stocks and watches all my paths.' 12 “Behold, in this you are not right. I will answer you, for God is greater than man.13 Why do you contend against him, saying, ‘He will answer none of man's2 words'?314 For God speaks in one way, and in two, though man does not perceive it.15 In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on men, while they slumber on their beds,16 then he opens the ears of men and terrifies4 them with warnings,17 that he may turn man aside from his deed and conceal pride from a man;18 he keeps back his soul from the pit, his life from perishing by the sword. 19 “Man is also rebuked with pain on his bed and with continual strife in his bones,20 so that his life loathes bread, and his appetite the choicest food.21 His flesh is so wasted away that it cannot be seen, and his bones that were not seen stick out.22 His soul draws near the pit, and his life to those who bring death.23 If there be for him an angel, a mediator, one of the thousand, to declare to man what is right for him,24 and he is merciful to him, and says, ‘Deliver him from going down into the pit; I have found a ransom;25 let his flesh become fresh with youth; let him return to the days of his youthful vigor';26 then man5 prays to God, and he accepts him; he sees his face with a shout of joy, and he restores to man his righteousness.27 He sings before men and says: ‘I sinned and perverted what was right, and it was not repaid to me.28 He has redeemed my soul from going down into the pit, and my life shall look upon the light.' 29 “Behold, God does all these things, twice, three times, with a man,30 to bring back his soul from the pit, that he may be lighted with the light of life.31 Pay attention, O Job, listen to me; be silent, and I will speak.32 If you have any words, answer me; speak, for I desire to justify you.33 If not, listen to me; be silent, and I will teach you wisdom.” Elihu Asserts God's Justice 34 Then Elihu answered and said: 2 “Hear my words, you wise men, and give ear to me, you who know;3 for the ear tests words as the palate tastes food.4 Let us choose what is right; let us know among ourselves what is good.5 For Job has said, ‘I am in the right, and God has taken away my right;6 in spite of my right I am counted a liar; my wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.'7 What man is like Job, who drinks up scoffing like water,8 who travels in company with evildoers and walks with wicked men?9 For he has said, ‘It profits a man nothing that he should take delight in God.' 10 “Therefore, hear me, you men of understanding: far be it from God that he should do wickedness, and from the Almighty that he should do wrong.11 For according to the work of a man he will repay him, and according to his ways he will make it befall him.12 Of a truth, God will not do wickedly, and the Almighty will not pervert justice.13 Who gave him charge over the earth, and who laid on him6 the whole world?14 If he should set his heart to it and gather to himself his spirit and his breath,15 all flesh would perish together, and man would return to dust. 16 “If you have understanding, hear this; listen to what I say.17 Shall one who hates justice govern? Will you condemn him who is righteous and mighty,18 who says to a king, ‘Worthless one,' and to nobles, ‘Wicked man,'19 who shows no partiality to princes, nor regards the rich more than the poor, for they are all the work of his hands?20 In a moment they die; at midnight the people are shaken and pass away, and the mighty are taken away by no human hand. 21 “For his eyes are on the ways of a man, and he sees all his steps.22 There is no gloom or deep darkness where evildoers may hide themselves.23 For God7 has no need to consider a man further, that he should go before God in judgment.24 He shatters the mighty without investigation and sets others in their place.25 Thus, knowing their works, he overturns them in the night, and they are crushed.26 He strikes them for their wickedness in a place for all to see,27 because they turned aside from following him and had no regard for any of his ways,28 so that they caused the cry of the poor to come to him, and he heard the cry of the afflicted—29 When he is quiet, who can condemn? When he hides his face, who can behold him, whether it be a nation or a man?—30 that a godless man should not reign, that he should not ensnare the people. 31 “For has anyone said to God, ‘I have borne punishment; I will not offend any more;32 teach me what I do not see; if I have done iniquity, I will do it no more'?33 Will he then make repayment to suit you, because you reject it? For you must choose, and not I; therefore declare what you know.834 Men of understanding will say to me, and the wise man who hears me will say:35 ‘Job speaks without knowledge; his words are without insight.'36 Would that Job were tried to the end, because he answers like wicked men.37 For he adds rebellion to his sin; he claps his hands among us and multiplies his words against God.” Footnotes [1] 32:9 Hebrew many [in years] [2] 33:13 Hebrew his [3] 33:13 Or He will not answer for any of his own words [4] 33:16 Or seals [5] 33:26 Hebrew he [6] 34:13 Hebrew lacks on him [7] 34:23 Hebrew he [8] 34:33 The meaning of the Hebrew in verses 29–33 is uncertain (ESV)
With family: Exodus 14; Luke 17 Exodus 14 (Listen) Crossing the Red Sea 14 Then the LORD said to Moses, 2 “Tell the people of Israel to turn back and encamp in front of Pi-hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, in front of Baal-zephon; you shall encamp facing it, by the sea. 3 For Pharaoh will say of the people of Israel, ‘They are wandering in the land; the wilderness has shut them in.' 4 And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and he will pursue them, and I will get glory over Pharaoh and all his host, and the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD.” And they did so. 5 When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, the mind of Pharaoh and his servants was changed toward the people, and they said, “What is this we have done, that we have let Israel go from serving us?” 6 So he made ready his chariot and took his army with him, 7 and took six hundred chosen chariots and all the other chariots of Egypt with officers over all of them. 8 And the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued the people of Israel while the people of Israel were going out defiantly. 9 The Egyptians pursued them, all Pharaoh's horses and chariots and his horsemen and his army, and overtook them encamped at the sea, by Pi-hahiroth, in front of Baal-zephon. 10 When Pharaoh drew near, the people of Israel lifted up their eyes, and behold, the Egyptians were marching after them, and they feared greatly. And the people of Israel cried out to the LORD. 11 They said to Moses, “Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? What have you done to us in bringing us out of Egypt? 12 Is not this what we said to you in Egypt: ‘Leave us alone that we may serve the Egyptians'? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.” 13 And Moses said to the people, “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again. 14 The LORD will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.” 15 The LORD said to Moses, “Why do you cry to me? Tell the people of Israel to go forward. 16 Lift up your staff, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, that the people of Israel may go through the sea on dry ground. 17 And I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they shall go in after them, and I will get glory over Pharaoh and all his host, his chariots, and his horsemen. 18 And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I have gotten glory over Pharaoh, his chariots, and his horsemen.” 19 Then the angel of God who was going before the host of Israel moved and went behind them, and the pillar of cloud moved from before them and stood behind them, 20 coming between the host of Egypt and the host of Israel. And there was the cloud and the darkness. And it lit up the night1 without one coming near the other all night. 21 Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the LORD drove the sea back by a strong east wind all night and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided. 22 And the people of Israel went into the midst of the sea on dry ground, the waters being a wall to them on their right hand and on their left. 23 The Egyptians pursued and went in after them into the midst of the sea, all Pharaoh's horses, his chariots, and his horsemen. 24 And in the morning watch the LORD in the pillar of fire and of cloud looked down on the Egyptian forces and threw the Egyptian forces into a panic, 25 clogging2 their chariot wheels so that they drove heavily. And the Egyptians said, “Let us flee from before Israel, for the LORD fights for them against the Egyptians.” 26 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea, that the water may come back upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots, and upon their horsemen.” 27 So Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to its normal course when the morning appeared. And as the Egyptians fled into it, the LORD threw3 the Egyptians into the midst of the sea. 28 The waters returned and covered the chariots and the horsemen; of all the host of Pharaoh that had followed them into the sea, not one of them remained. 29 But the people of Israel walked on dry ground through the sea, the waters being a wall to them on their right hand and on their left. 30 Thus the LORD saved Israel that day from the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore. 31 Israel saw the great power that the LORD used against the Egyptians, so the people feared the LORD, and they believed in the LORD and in his servant Moses. Footnotes [1] 14:20 Septuagint and the night passed [2] 14:25 Or binding (compare Samaritan, Septuagint, Syriac); Hebrew removing [3] 14:27 Hebrew shook off (ESV) Luke 17 (Listen) Temptations to Sin 17 And he said to his disciples, “Temptations to sin1 are sure to come, but woe to the one through whom they come! 2 It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were cast into the sea than that he should cause one of these little ones to sin.2 3 Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him, 4 and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,' you must forgive him.” Increase Our Faith 5 The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” 6 And the Lord said, “If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it would obey you. Unworthy Servants 7 “Will any one of you who has a servant3 plowing or keeping sheep say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come at once and recline at table'? 8 Will he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare supper for me, and dress properly,4 and serve me while I eat and drink, and afterward you will eat and drink'? 9 Does he thank the servant because he did what was commanded? 10 So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, ‘We are unworthy servants;5 we have only done what was our duty.'” Jesus Cleanses Ten Lepers 11 On the way to Jerusalem he was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. 12 And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers,6 who stood at a distance 13 and lifted up their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” 14 When he saw them he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went they were cleansed. 15 Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; 16 and he fell on his face at Jesus' feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. 17 Then Jesus answered, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? 18 Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” 19 And he said to him, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.”7 The Coming of the Kingdom 20 Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them, “The kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed, 21 nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!' or ‘There!' for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.”8 22 And he said to the disciples, “The days are coming when you will desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it. 23 And they will say to you, ‘Look, there!' or ‘Look, here!' Do not go out or follow them. 24 For as the lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of Man be in his day.9 25 But first he must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation. 26 Just as it was in the days of Noah, so will it be in the days of the Son of Man. 27 They were eating and drinking and marrying and being given in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. 28 Likewise, just as it was in the days of Lot—they were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building, 29 but on the day when Lot went out from Sodom, fire and sulfur rained from heaven and destroyed them all—30 so will it be on the day when the Son of Man is revealed. 31 On that day, let the one who is on the housetop, with his goods in the house, not come down to take them away, and likewise let the one who is in the field not turn back. 32 Remember Lot's wife. 33 Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will keep it. 34 I tell you, in that night there will be two in one bed. One will be taken and the other left. 35 There will be two women grinding together. One will be taken and the other left.”10 37 And they said to him, “Where, Lord?” He said to them, “Where the corpse11 is, there the vultures12 will gather.” Footnotes [1] 17:1 Greek Stumbling blocks [2] 17:2 Greek stumble [3] 17:7 Or bondservant; also verse 9 [4] 17:8 Greek gird yourself [5] 17:10 Or bondservants [6] 17:12 Leprosy was a term for several skin diseases; see Leviticus 13 [7] 17:19 Or has saved you [8] 17:21 Or within you, or within your grasp [9] 17:24 Some manuscripts omit in his day [10] 17:35 Some manuscripts add verse 36: Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left [11] 17:37 Greek body [12] 17:37 Or eagles (ESV) In private: Job 32; 2 Corinthians 2 Job 32 (Listen) Elihu Rebukes Job's Three Friends 32 So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. 2 Then Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, burned with anger. He burned with anger at Job because he justified himself rather than God. 3 He burned with anger also at Job's three friends because they had found no answer, although they had declared Job to be in the wrong. 4 Now Elihu had waited to speak to Job because they were older than he. 5 And when Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, he burned with anger. 6 And Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered and said: “I am young in years, and you are aged; therefore I was timid and afraid to declare my opinion to you.7 I said, ‘Let days speak, and many years teach wisdom.'8 But it is the spirit in man, the breath of the Almighty, that makes him understand.9 It is not the old1 who are wise, nor the aged who understand what is right.10 Therefore I say, ‘Listen to me; let me also declare my opinion.' 11 “Behold, I waited for your words, I listened for your wise sayings, while you searched out what to say.12 I gave you my attention, and, behold, there was none among you who refuted Job or who answered his words.13 Beware lest you say, ‘We have found wisdom; God may vanquish him, not a man.'14 He has not directed his words against me, and I will not answer him with your speeches. 15 “They are dismayed; they answer no more; they have not a word to say.16 And shall I wait, because they do not speak, because they stand there, and answer no more?17 I also will answer with my share; I also will declare my opinion.18 For I am full of words; the spirit within me constrains me.19 Behold, my belly is like wine that has no vent; like new wineskins ready to burst.20 I must speak, that I may find relief; I must open my lips and answer.21 I will not show partiality to any man or use flattery toward any person.22 For I do not know how to flatter, else my Maker would soon take me away. Footnotes [1] 32:9 Hebrew many [in years] (ESV) 2 Corinthians 2 (Listen) 2 For I made up my mind not to make another painful visit to you. 2 For if I cause you pain, who is there to make me glad but the one whom I have pained? 3 And I wrote as I did, so that when I came I might not suffer pain from those who should have made me rejoice, for I felt sure of all of you, that my joy would be the joy of you all. 4 For I wrote to you out of much affliction and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to cause you pain but to let you know the abundant love that I have for you. Forgive the Sinner 5 Now if anyone has caused pain, he has caused it not to me, but in some measure—not to put it too severely—to all of you. 6 For such a one, this punishment by the majority is enough, 7 so you should rather turn to forgive and comfort him, or he may be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. 8 So I beg you to reaffirm your love for him. 9 For this is why I wrote, that I might test you and know whether you are obedient in everything. 10 Anyone whom you forgive, I also forgive. Indeed, what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, has been for your sake in the presence of Christ, 11 so that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs. Triumph in Christ 12 When I came to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ, even though a door was opened for me in the Lord, 13 my spirit was not at rest because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I took leave of them and went on to Macedonia. 14 But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. 15 For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, 16 to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things? 17 For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God's word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ. (ESV)
Psalms and Wisdom: Psalm 143 Psalm 143 (Listen) My Soul Thirsts for You A Psalm of David. 143 Hear my prayer, O LORD; give ear to my pleas for mercy! In your faithfulness answer me, in your righteousness!2 Enter not into judgment with your servant, for no one living is righteous before you. 3 For the enemy has pursued my soul; he has crushed my life to the ground; he has made me sit in darkness like those long dead.4 Therefore my spirit faints within me; my heart within me is appalled. 5 I remember the days of old; I meditate on all that you have done; I ponder the work of your hands.6 I stretch out my hands to you; my soul thirsts for you like a parched land. Selah 7 Answer me quickly, O LORD! My spirit fails! Hide not your face from me, lest I be like those who go down to the pit.8 Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in you I trust. Make me know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul. 9 Deliver me from my enemies, O LORD! I have fled to you for refuge.110 Teach me to do your will, for you are my God! Let your good Spirit lead me on level ground! 11 For your name's sake, O LORD, preserve my life! In your righteousness bring my soul out of trouble!12 And in your steadfast love you will cut off my enemies, and you will destroy all the adversaries of my soul, for I am your servant. Footnotes [1] 143:9 One Hebrew manuscript, Septuagint; most Hebrew manuscripts To you I have covered (ESV) Pentateuch and History: Job 32 Job 32 (Listen) Elihu Rebukes Job's Three Friends 32 So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. 2 Then Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, burned with anger. He burned with anger at Job because he justified himself rather than God. 3 He burned with anger also at Job's three friends because they had found no answer, although they had declared Job to be in the wrong. 4 Now Elihu had waited to speak to Job because they were older than he. 5 And when Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, he burned with anger. 6 And Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered and said: “I am young in years, and you are aged; therefore I was timid and afraid to declare my opinion to you.7 I said, ‘Let days speak, and many years teach wisdom.'8 But it is the spirit in man, the breath of the Almighty, that makes him understand.9 It is not the old1 who are wise, nor the aged who understand what is right.10 Therefore I say, ‘Listen to me; let me also declare my opinion.' 11 “Behold, I waited for your words, I listened for your wise sayings, while you searched out what to say.12 I gave you my attention, and, behold, there was none among you who refuted Job or who answered his words.13 Beware lest you say, ‘We have found wisdom; God may vanquish him, not a man.'14 He has not directed his words against me, and I will not answer him with your speeches. 15 “They are dismayed; they answer no more; they have not a word to say.16 And shall I wait, because they do not speak, because they stand there, and answer no more?17 I also will answer with my share; I also will declare my opinion.18 For I am full of words; the spirit within me constrains me.19 Behold, my belly is like wine that has no vent; like new wineskins ready to burst.20 I must speak, that I may find relief; I must open my lips and answer.21 I will not show partiality to any man or use flattery toward any person.22 For I do not know how to flatter, else my Maker would soon take me away. Footnotes [1] 32:9 Hebrew many [in years] (ESV) Chronicles and Prophets: Isaiah 55 Isaiah 55 (Listen) The Compassion of the Lord 55 “Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.2 Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food.3 Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live; and I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David.4 Behold, I made him a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander for the peoples.5 Behold, you shall call a nation that you do not know, and a nation that did not know you shall run to you, because of the LORD your God, and of the Holy One of Israel, for he has glorified you. 6 “Seek the LORD while he may be found; call upon him while he is near;7 let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD.9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. 10 “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,11 so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it. 12 “For you shall go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall break forth into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.13 Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress; instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle; and it shall make a name for the LORD, an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.” (ESV) Gospels and Epistles: Revelation 14 Revelation 14 (Listen) The Lamb and the 144,000 14 Then I looked, and behold, on Mount Zion stood the Lamb, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father's name written on their foreheads. 2 And I heard a voice from heaven like the roar of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder. The voice I heard was like the sound of harpists playing on their harps, 3 and they were singing a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and before the elders. No one could learn that song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth. 4 It is these who have not defiled themselves with women, for they are virgins. It is these who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. These have been redeemed from mankind as firstfruits for God and the Lamb, 5 and in their mouth no lie was found, for they are blameless. The Messages of the Three Angels 6 Then I saw another angel flying directly overhead, with an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who dwell on earth, to every nation and tribe and language and people. 7 And he said with a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come, and worship him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water.” 8 Another angel, a second, followed, saying, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, she who made all nations drink the wine of the passion1 of her sexual immorality.” 9 And another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, 10 he also will drink the wine of God's wrath, poured full strength into the cup of his anger, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. 11 And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name.” 12 Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.2 13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Blessed indeed,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!” The Harvest of the Earth 14 Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and seated on the cloud one like a son of man, with a golden crown on his head, and a sharp sickle in his hand. 15 And another angel came out of the temple, calling with a loud voice to him who sat on the cloud, “Put in your sickle, and reap, for the hour to reap has come, for the harvest of the earth is fully ripe.” 16 So he who sat on the cloud swung his sickle across the earth, and the earth was reaped. 17 Then another angel came out of the temple in heaven, and he too had a sharp sickle. 18 And another angel came out from the altar, the angel who has authority over the fire, and he called with a loud voice to the one who had the sharp sickle, “Put in your sickle and gather the clusters from the vine of the earth, for its grapes are ripe.” 19 So the angel swung his sickle across the earth and gathered the grape harvest of the earth and threw it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. 20 And the winepress was trodden outside the city, and blood flowed from the winepress, as high as a horse's bridle, for 1,600 stadia.3 Footnotes [1] 14:8 Or wrath [2] 14:12 Greek and the faith of Jesus [3] 14:20 About 184 miles; a stadion was about 607 feet or 185 meters (ESV)
1 So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. 2 Then Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, burned with anger. He burned with anger at Job because he justified himself rather than God. 3 He burned with anger also at Job's three friends because they had found no answer, although they had declared Job to be in the wrong. 4 Now Elihu had waited to speak to Job because they were older than he. 5 And when Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, he burned with anger.
Proper 18 First Psalm: Psalm 41; Psalm 52 Psalm 41 (Listen) O Lord, Be Gracious to Me To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. 41 Blessed is the one who considers the poor!1 In the day of trouble the LORD delivers him;2 the LORD protects him and keeps him alive; he is called blessed in the land; you do not give him up to the will of his enemies.3 The LORD sustains him on his sickbed; in his illness you restore him to full health.2 4 As for me, I said, “O LORD, be gracious to me; heal me,3 for I have sinned against you!”5 My enemies say of me in malice, “When will he die, and his name perish?”6 And when one comes to see me, he utters empty words, while his heart gathers iniquity; when he goes out, he tells it abroad.7 All who hate me whisper together about me; they imagine the worst for me.4 8 They say, “A deadly thing is poured out5 on him; he will not rise again from where he lies.”9 Even my close friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me.10 But you, O LORD, be gracious to me, and raise me up, that I may repay them! 11 By this I know that you delight in me: my enemy will not shout in triumph over me.12 But you have upheld me because of my integrity, and set me in your presence forever. 13 Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting! Amen and Amen. Footnotes [1] 41:1 Or weak [2] 41:3 Hebrew you turn all his bed [3] 41:4 Hebrew my soul [4] 41:7 Or they devise evil against me [5] 41:8 Or has fastened (ESV) Psalm 52 (Listen) The Steadfast Love of God Endures To the choirmaster. A Maskil1 of David, when Doeg, the Edomite, came and told Saul, “David has come to the house of Ahimelech.” 52 Why do you boast of evil, O mighty man? The steadfast love of God endures all the day.2 Your tongue plots destruction, like a sharp razor, you worker of deceit.3 You love evil more than good, and lying more than speaking what is right. Selah4 You love all words that devour, O deceitful tongue. 5 But God will break you down forever; he will snatch and tear you from your tent; he will uproot you from the land of the living. Selah6 The righteous shall see and fear, and shall laugh at him, saying,7 “See the man who would not make God his refuge, but trusted in the abundance of his riches and sought refuge in his own destruction!”2 8 But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God. I trust in the steadfast love of God forever and ever.9 I will thank you forever, because you have done it. I will wait for your name, for it is good, in the presence of the godly. Footnotes [1] 52:1 Probably a musical or liturgical term [2] 52:7 Or in his work of destruction (ESV) Second Psalm: Psalm 44 Psalm 44 (Listen) Come to Our Help To the choirmaster. A Maskil1 of the Sons of Korah. 44 O God, we have heard with our ears, our fathers have told us, what deeds you performed in their days, in the days of old:2 you with your own hand drove out the nations, but them you planted; you afflicted the peoples, but them you set free;3 for not by their own sword did they win the land, nor did their own arm save them, but your right hand and your arm, and the light of your face, for you delighted in them. 4 You are my King, O God; ordain salvation for Jacob!5 Through you we push down our foes; through your name we tread down those who rise up against us.6 For not in my bow do I trust, nor can my sword save me.7 But you have saved us from our foes and have put to shame those who hate us.8 In God we have boasted continually, and we will give thanks to your name forever. Selah 9 But you have rejected us and disgraced us and have not gone out with our armies.10 You have made us turn back from the foe, and those who hate us have gotten spoil.11 You have made us like sheep for slaughter and have scattered us among the nations.12 You have sold your people for a trifle, demanding no high price for them.13 You have made us the taunt of our neighbors, the derision and scorn of those around us.14 You have made us a byword among the nations, a laughingstock2 among the peoples.15 All day long my disgrace is before me, and shame has covered my face16 at the sound of the taunter and reviler, at the sight of the enemy and the avenger. 17 All this has come upon us, though we have not forgotten you, and we have not been false to your covenant.18 Our heart has not turned back, nor have our steps departed from your way;19 yet you have broken us in the place of jackals and covered us with the shadow of death.20 If we had forgotten the name of our God or spread out our hands to a foreign god,21 would not God discover this? For he knows the secrets of the heart.22 Yet for your sake we are killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered. 23 Awake! Why are you sleeping, O Lord? Rouse yourself! Do not reject us forever!24 Why do you hide your face? Why do you forget our affliction and oppression?25 For our soul is bowed down to the dust; our belly clings to the ground.26 Rise up; come to our help! Redeem us for the sake of your steadfast love! Footnotes [1] 44:1 Probably a musical or liturgical term [2] 44:14 Hebrew a shaking of the head (ESV) Old Testament: Job 32:1–10; Job 32:19–33:1; Job 33:19–28 Job 32:1–10 (Listen) Elihu Rebukes Job's Three Friends 32 So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. 2 Then Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, burned with anger. He burned with anger at Job because he justified himself rather than God. 3 He burned with anger also at Job's three friends because they had found no answer, although they had declared Job to be in the wrong. 4 Now Elihu had waited to speak to Job because they were older than he. 5 And when Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, he burned with anger. 6 And Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered and said: “I am young in years, and you are aged; therefore I was timid and afraid to declare my opinion to you.7 I said, ‘Let days speak, and many years teach wisdom.'8 But it is the spirit in man, the breath of the Almighty, that makes him understand.9 It is not the old1 who are wise, nor the aged who understand what is right.10 Therefore I say, ‘Listen to me; let me also declare my opinion.' Footnotes [1] 32:9 Hebrew many [in years] (ESV) Job 32:19–33:1 (Listen) 19 Behold, my belly is like wine that has no vent; like new wineskins ready to burst.20 I must speak, that I may find relief; I must open my lips and answer.21 I will not show partiality to any man or use flattery toward any person.22 For I do not know how to flatter, else my Maker would soon take me away. Elihu Rebukes Job 33 “But now, hear my speech, O Job, and listen to all my words. (ESV) Job 33:19–28 (Listen) 19 “Man is also rebuked with pain on his bed and with continual strife in his bones,20 so that his life loathes bread, and his appetite the choicest food.21 His flesh is so wasted away that it cannot be seen, and his bones that were not seen stick out.22 His soul draws near the pit, and his life to those who bring death.23 If there be for him an angel, a mediator, one of the thousand, to declare to man what is right for him,24 and he is merciful to him, and says, ‘Deliver him from going down into the pit; I have found a ransom;25 let his flesh become fresh with youth; let him return to the days of his youthful vigor';26 then man1 prays to God, and he accepts him; he sees his face with a shout of joy, and he restores to man his righteousness.27 He sings before men and says: ‘I sinned and perverted what was right, and it was not repaid to me.28 He has redeemed my soul from going down into the pit, and my life shall look upon the light.' Footnotes [1] 33:26 Hebrew he (ESV) New Testament: Acts 13:44–52 Acts 13:44–52 (Listen) 44 The next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord. 45 But when the Jews1 saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and began to contradict what was spoken by Paul, reviling him. 46 And Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, saying, “It was necessary that the word of God be spoken first to you. Since you thrust it aside and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles. 47 For so the Lord has commanded us, saying, “‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.'” 48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed. 49 And the word of the Lord was spreading throughout the whole region. 50 But the Jews incited the devout women of high standing and the leading men of the city, stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out of their district. 51 But they shook off the dust from their feet against them and went to Iconium. 52 And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit. Footnotes [1] 13:45 Greek Ioudaioi probably refers here to Jewish religious leaders, and others under their influence, in that time; also verse 50 (ESV) Gospel: John 10:19–30 John 10:19–30 (Listen) 19 There was again a division among the Jews because of these words. 20 Many of them said, “He has a demon, and is insane; why listen to him?” 21 Others said, “These are not the words of one who is oppressed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?” I and the Father Are One 22 At that time the Feast of Dedication took place at Jerusalem. It was winter, 23 and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the colonnade of Solomon. 24 So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” 25 Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name bear witness about me, 26 but you do not believe because you are not among my sheep. 27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me,1 is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. 30 I and the Father are one.” Footnotes [1] 10:29 Some manuscripts What my Father has given to me (ESV)
Old Testament: Job 31–32 Job 31–32 (Listen) Job's Final Appeal 31 “I have made a covenant with my eyes; how then could I gaze at a virgin?2 What would be my portion from God above and my heritage from the Almighty on high?3 Is not calamity for the unrighteous, and disaster for the workers of iniquity?4 Does not he see my ways and number all my steps? 5 “If I have walked with falsehood and my foot has hastened to deceit;6 (Let me be weighed in a just balance, and let God know my integrity!)7 if my step has turned aside from the way and my heart has gone after my eyes, and if any spot has stuck to my hands,8 then let me sow, and another eat, and let what grows for me1 be rooted out. 9 “If my heart has been enticed toward a woman, and I have lain in wait at my neighbor's door,10 then let my wife grind for another, and let others bow down on her.11 For that would be a heinous crime; that would be an iniquity to be punished by the judges;12 for that would be a fire that consumes as far as Abaddon, and it would burn to the root all my increase. 13 “If I have rejected the cause of my manservant or my maidservant, when they brought a complaint against me,14 what then shall I do when God rises up? When he makes inquiry, what shall I answer him?15 Did not he who made me in the womb make him? And did not one fashion us in the womb? 16 “If I have withheld anything that the poor desired, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail,17 or have eaten my morsel alone, and the fatherless has not eaten of it18 (for from my youth the fatherless2 grew up with me as with a father, and from my mother's womb I guided the widow3),19 if I have seen anyone perish for lack of clothing, or the needy without covering,20 if his body has not blessed me,4 and if he was not warmed with the fleece of my sheep,21 if I have raised my hand against the fatherless, because I saw my help in the gate,22 then let my shoulder blade fall from my shoulder, and let my arm be broken from its socket.23 For I was in terror of calamity from God, and I could not have faced his majesty. 24 “If I have made gold my trust or called fine gold my confidence,25 if I have rejoiced because my wealth was abundant or because my hand had found much,26 if I have looked at the sun5 when it shone, or the moon moving in splendor,27 and my heart has been secretly enticed, and my mouth has kissed my hand,28 this also would be an iniquity to be punished by the judges, for I would have been false to God above. 29 “If I have rejoiced at the ruin of him who hated me, or exulted when evil overtook him30 (I have not let my mouth sin by asking for his life with a curse),31 if the men of my tent have not said, ‘Who is there that has not been filled with his meat?'32 (the sojourner has not lodged in the street; I have opened my doors to the traveler),33 if I have concealed my transgressions as others do6 by hiding my iniquity in my heart,34 because I stood in great fear of the multitude, and the contempt of families terrified me, so that I kept silence, and did not go out of doors—35 Oh, that I had one to hear me! (Here is my signature! Let the Almighty answer me!) Oh, that I had the indictment written by my adversary!36 Surely I would carry it on my shoulder; I would bind it on me as a crown;37 I would give him an account of all my steps; like a prince I would approach him. 38 “If my land has cried out against me and its furrows have wept together,39 if I have eaten its yield without payment and made its owners breathe their last,40 let thorns grow instead of wheat, and foul weeds instead of barley.” The words of Job are ended. Elihu Rebukes Job's Three Friends 32 So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. 2 Then Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, burned with anger. He burned with anger at Job because he justified himself rather than God. 3 He burned with anger also at Job's three friends because they had found no answer, although they had declared Job to be in the wrong. 4 Now Elihu had waited to speak to Job because they were older than he. 5 And when Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, he burned with anger. 6 And Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered and said: “I am young in years, and you are aged; therefore I was timid and afraid to declare my opinion to you.7 I said, ‘Let days speak, and many years teach wisdom.'8 But it is the spirit in man, the breath of the Almighty, that makes him understand.9 It is not the old7 who are wise, nor the aged who understand what is right.10 Therefore I say, ‘Listen to me; let me also declare my opinion.' 11 “Behold, I waited for your words, I listened for your wise sayings, while you searched out what to say.12 I gave you my attention, and, behold, there was none among you who refuted Job or who answered his words.13 Beware lest you say, ‘We have found wisdom; God may vanquish him, not a man.'14 He has not directed his words against me, and I will not answer him with your speeches. 15 “They are dismayed; they answer no more; they have not a word to say.16 And shall I wait, because they do not speak, because they stand there, and answer no more?17 I also will answer with my share; I also will declare my opinion.18 For I am full of words; the spirit within me constrains me.19 Behold, my belly is like wine that has no vent; like new wineskins ready to burst.20 I must speak, that I may find relief; I must open my lips and answer.21 I will not show partiality to any man or use flattery toward any person.22 For I do not know how to flatter, else my Maker would soon take me away. Footnotes [1] 31:8 Or let my descendants [2] 31:18 Hebrew he [3] 31:18 Hebrew her [4] 31:20 Hebrew if his loins have not blessed me [5] 31:26 Hebrew the light [6] 31:33 Or as Adam did [7] 32:9 Hebrew many [in years] (ESV) New Testament: 2 Thessalonians 2:1–12 2 Thessalonians 2:1–12 (Listen) The Man of Lawlessness 2 Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we ask you, brothers,1 2 not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. 3 Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness2 is revealed, the son of destruction,3 4 who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God. 5 Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? 6 And you know what is restraining him now so that he may be revealed in his time. 7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way. 8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming. 9 The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, 10 and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 11 Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, 12 in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. Footnotes [1] 2:1 Or brothers and sisters; also verses 13, 15 [2] 2:3 Some manuscripts sin [3] 2:3 Greek the son of perdition (a Hebrew idiom) (ESV) Psalm: Psalm 57 Psalm 57 (Listen) Let Your Glory Be over All the Earth To the choirmaster: according to Do Not Destroy. A Miktam1 of David, when he fled from Saul, in the cave. 57 Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me, for in you my soul takes refuge; in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge, till the storms of destruction pass by.2 I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfills his purpose for me.3 He will send from heaven and save me; he will put to shame him who tramples on me. Selah God will send out his steadfast love and his faithfulness! 4 My soul is in the midst of lions; I lie down amid fiery beasts— the children of man, whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords. 5 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! Let your glory be over all the earth! 6 They set a net for my steps; my soul was bowed down. They dug a pit in my way, but they have fallen into it themselves. Selah7 My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast! I will sing and make melody!8 Awake, my glory!2 Awake, O harp and lyre! I will awake the dawn!9 I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing praises to you among the nations.10 For your steadfast love is great to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds. 11 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! Let your glory be over all the earth! Footnotes [1] 57:1 Probably a musical or liturgical term [2] 57:8 Or my whole being (ESV) Proverb: Proverbs 22:16 Proverbs 22:16 (Listen) 16 Whoever oppresses the poor to increase his own wealth, or gives to the rich, will only come to poverty. (ESV)
Old Testament: Job 31–32 Job 31–32 (Listen) Job's Final Appeal 31 “I have made a covenant with my eyes; how then could I gaze at a virgin?2 What would be my portion from God above and my heritage from the Almighty on high?3 Is not calamity for the unrighteous, and disaster for the workers of iniquity?4 Does not he see my ways and number all my steps? 5 “If I have walked with falsehood and my foot has hastened to deceit;6 (Let me be weighed in a just balance, and let God know my integrity!)7 if my step has turned aside from the way and my heart has gone after my eyes, and if any spot has stuck to my hands,8 then let me sow, and another eat, and let what grows for me1 be rooted out. 9 “If my heart has been enticed toward a woman, and I have lain in wait at my neighbor's door,10 then let my wife grind for another, and let others bow down on her.11 For that would be a heinous crime; that would be an iniquity to be punished by the judges;12 for that would be a fire that consumes as far as Abaddon, and it would burn to the root all my increase. 13 “If I have rejected the cause of my manservant or my maidservant, when they brought a complaint against me,14 what then shall I do when God rises up? When he makes inquiry, what shall I answer him?15 Did not he who made me in the womb make him? And did not one fashion us in the womb? 16 “If I have withheld anything that the poor desired, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail,17 or have eaten my morsel alone, and the fatherless has not eaten of it18 (for from my youth the fatherless2 grew up with me as with a father, and from my mother's womb I guided the widow3),19 if I have seen anyone perish for lack of clothing, or the needy without covering,20 if his body has not blessed me,4 and if he was not warmed with the fleece of my sheep,21 if I have raised my hand against the fatherless, because I saw my help in the gate,22 then let my shoulder blade fall from my shoulder, and let my arm be broken from its socket.23 For I was in terror of calamity from God, and I could not have faced his majesty. 24 “If I have made gold my trust or called fine gold my confidence,25 if I have rejoiced because my wealth was abundant or because my hand had found much,26 if I have looked at the sun5 when it shone, or the moon moving in splendor,27 and my heart has been secretly enticed, and my mouth has kissed my hand,28 this also would be an iniquity to be punished by the judges, for I would have been false to God above. 29 “If I have rejoiced at the ruin of him who hated me, or exulted when evil overtook him30 (I have not let my mouth sin by asking for his life with a curse),31 if the men of my tent have not said, ‘Who is there that has not been filled with his meat?'32 (the sojourner has not lodged in the street; I have opened my doors to the traveler),33 if I have concealed my transgressions as others do6 by hiding my iniquity in my heart,34 because I stood in great fear of the multitude, and the contempt of families terrified me, so that I kept silence, and did not go out of doors—35 Oh, that I had one to hear me! (Here is my signature! Let the Almighty answer me!) Oh, that I had the indictment written by my adversary!36 Surely I would carry it on my shoulder; I would bind it on me as a crown;37 I would give him an account of all my steps; like a prince I would approach him. 38 “If my land has cried out against me and its furrows have wept together,39 if I have eaten its yield without payment and made its owners breathe their last,40 let thorns grow instead of wheat, and foul weeds instead of barley.” The words of Job are ended. Elihu Rebukes Job's Three Friends 32 So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. 2 Then Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, burned with anger. He burned with anger at Job because he justified himself rather than God. 3 He burned with anger also at Job's three friends because they had found no answer, although they had declared Job to be in the wrong. 4 Now Elihu had waited to speak to Job because they were older than he. 5 And when Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, he burned with anger. 6 And Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered and said: “I am young in years, and you are aged; therefore I was timid and afraid to declare my opinion to you.7 I said, ‘Let days speak, and many years teach wisdom.'8 But it is the spirit in man, the breath of the Almighty, that makes him understand.9 It is not the old7 who are wise, nor the aged who understand what is right.10 Therefore I say, ‘Listen to me; let me also declare my opinion.' 11 “Behold, I waited for your words, I listened for your wise sayings, while you searched out what to say.12 I gave you my attention, and, behold, there was none among you who refuted Job or who answered his words.13 Beware lest you say, ‘We have found wisdom; God may vanquish him, not a man.'14 He has not directed his words against me, and I will not answer him with your speeches. 15 “They are dismayed; they answer no more; they have not a word to say.16 And shall I wait, because they do not speak, because they stand there, and answer no more?17 I also will answer with my share; I also will declare my opinion.18 For I am full of words; the spirit within me constrains me.19 Behold, my belly is like wine that has no vent; like new wineskins ready to burst.20 I must speak, that I may find relief; I must open my lips and answer.21 I will not show partiality to any man or use flattery toward any person.22 For I do not know how to flatter, else my Maker would soon take me away. Footnotes [1] 31:8 Or let my descendants [2] 31:18 Hebrew he [3] 31:18 Hebrew her [4] 31:20 Hebrew if his loins have not blessed me [5] 31:26 Hebrew the light [6] 31:33 Or as Adam did [7] 32:9 Hebrew many [in years] (ESV) Psalm: Psalm 57 Psalm 57 (Listen) Let Your Glory Be over All the Earth To the choirmaster: according to Do Not Destroy. A Miktam1 of David, when he fled from Saul, in the cave. 57 Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me, for in you my soul takes refuge; in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge, till the storms of destruction pass by.2 I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfills his purpose for me.3 He will send from heaven and save me; he will put to shame him who tramples on me. Selah God will send out his steadfast love and his faithfulness! 4 My soul is in the midst of lions; I lie down amid fiery beasts— the children of man, whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords. 5 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! Let your glory be over all the earth! 6 They set a net for my steps; my soul was bowed down. They dug a pit in my way, but they have fallen into it themselves. Selah7 My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast! I will sing and make melody!8 Awake, my glory!2 Awake, O harp and lyre! I will awake the dawn!9 I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing praises to you among the nations.10 For your steadfast love is great to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds. 11 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! Let your glory be over all the earth! Footnotes [1] 57:1 Probably a musical or liturgical term [2] 57:8 Or my whole being (ESV) New Testament: Luke 21 Luke 21 (Listen) The Widow's Offering 21 Jesus1 looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box, 2 and he saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins.2 3 And he said, “Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them. 4 For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.” Jesus Foretells Destruction of the Temple 5 And while some were speaking of the temple, how it was adorned with noble stones and offerings, he said, 6 “As for these things that you see, the days will come when there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.” 7 And they asked him, “Teacher, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when these things are about to take place?” 8 And he said, “See that you are not led astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he!' and, ‘The time is at hand!' Do not go after them. 9 And when you hear of wars and tumults, do not be terrified, for these things must first take place, but the end will not be at once.” Jesus Foretells Wars and Persecution 10 Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. 11 There will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences. And there will be terrors and great signs from heaven. 12 But before all this they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name's sake. 13 This will be your opportunity to bear witness. 14 Settle it therefore in your minds not to meditate beforehand how to answer, 15 for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict. 16 You will be delivered up even by parents and brothers3 and relatives and friends, and some of you they will put to death. 17 You will be hated by all for my name's sake. 18 But not a hair of your head will perish. 19 By your endurance you will gain your lives. Jesus Foretells Destruction of Jerusalem 20 “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has come near. 21 Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, and let those who are inside the city depart, and let not those who are out in the country enter it, 22 for these are days of vengeance, to fulfill all that is written. 23 Alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! For there will be great distress upon the earth and wrath against this people. 24 They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive among all nations, and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. The Coming of the Son of Man 25 “And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, 26 people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27 And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” The Lesson of the Fig Tree 29 And he told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. 30 As soon as they come out in leaf, you see for yourselves and know that the summer is already near. 31 So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. 32 Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all has taken place. 33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. Watch Yourselves 34 “But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap. 35 For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.” 37 And every day he was teaching in the temple, but at night he went out and lodged on the mount called Olivet. 38 And early in the morning all the people came to him in the temple to hear him. Footnotes [1] 21:1 Greek He [2] 21:2 Greek two lepta; a lepton was a Jewish bronze or copper coin worth about 1/128 of a denarius (which was a day's wage for a laborer) [3] 21:16 Or parents and brothers and sisters (ESV)
Morning: Job 31–32 Job 31–32 (Listen) Job's Final Appeal 31 “I have made a covenant with my eyes; how then could I gaze at a virgin?2 What would be my portion from God above and my heritage from the Almighty on high?3 Is not calamity for the unrighteous, and disaster for the workers of iniquity?4 Does not he see my ways and number all my steps? 5 “If I have walked with falsehood and my foot has hastened to deceit;6 (Let me be weighed in a just balance, and let God know my integrity!)7 if my step has turned aside from the way and my heart has gone after my eyes, and if any spot has stuck to my hands,8 then let me sow, and another eat, and let what grows for me1 be rooted out. 9 “If my heart has been enticed toward a woman, and I have lain in wait at my neighbor's door,10 then let my wife grind for another, and let others bow down on her.11 For that would be a heinous crime; that would be an iniquity to be punished by the judges;12 for that would be a fire that consumes as far as Abaddon, and it would burn to the root all my increase. 13 “If I have rejected the cause of my manservant or my maidservant, when they brought a complaint against me,14 what then shall I do when God rises up? When he makes inquiry, what shall I answer him?15 Did not he who made me in the womb make him? And did not one fashion us in the womb? 16 “If I have withheld anything that the poor desired, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail,17 or have eaten my morsel alone, and the fatherless has not eaten of it18 (for from my youth the fatherless2 grew up with me as with a father, and from my mother's womb I guided the widow3),19 if I have seen anyone perish for lack of clothing, or the needy without covering,20 if his body has not blessed me,4 and if he was not warmed with the fleece of my sheep,21 if I have raised my hand against the fatherless, because I saw my help in the gate,22 then let my shoulder blade fall from my shoulder, and let my arm be broken from its socket.23 For I was in terror of calamity from God, and I could not have faced his majesty. 24 “If I have made gold my trust or called fine gold my confidence,25 if I have rejoiced because my wealth was abundant or because my hand had found much,26 if I have looked at the sun5 when it shone, or the moon moving in splendor,27 and my heart has been secretly enticed, and my mouth has kissed my hand,28 this also would be an iniquity to be punished by the judges, for I would have been false to God above. 29 “If I have rejoiced at the ruin of him who hated me, or exulted when evil overtook him30 (I have not let my mouth sin by asking for his life with a curse),31 if the men of my tent have not said, ‘Who is there that has not been filled with his meat?'32 (the sojourner has not lodged in the street; I have opened my doors to the traveler),33 if I have concealed my transgressions as others do6 by hiding my iniquity in my heart,34 because I stood in great fear of the multitude, and the contempt of families terrified me, so that I kept silence, and did not go out of doors—35 Oh, that I had one to hear me! (Here is my signature! Let the Almighty answer me!) Oh, that I had the indictment written by my adversary!36 Surely I would carry it on my shoulder; I would bind it on me as a crown;37 I would give him an account of all my steps; like a prince I would approach him. 38 “If my land has cried out against me and its furrows have wept together,39 if I have eaten its yield without payment and made its owners breathe their last,40 let thorns grow instead of wheat, and foul weeds instead of barley.” The words of Job are ended. Elihu Rebukes Job's Three Friends 32 So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. 2 Then Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, burned with anger. He burned with anger at Job because he justified himself rather than God. 3 He burned with anger also at Job's three friends because they had found no answer, although they had declared Job to be in the wrong. 4 Now Elihu had waited to speak to Job because they were older than he. 5 And when Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, he burned with anger. 6 And Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered and said: “I am young in years, and you are aged; therefore I was timid and afraid to declare my opinion to you.7 I said, ‘Let days speak, and many years teach wisdom.'8 But it is the spirit in man, the breath of the Almighty, that makes him understand.9 It is not the old7 who are wise, nor the aged who understand what is right.10 Therefore I say, ‘Listen to me; let me also declare my opinion.' 11 “Behold, I waited for your words, I listened for your wise sayings, while you searched out what to say.12 I gave you my attention, and, behold, there was none among you who refuted Job or who answered his words.13 Beware lest you say, ‘We have found wisdom; God may vanquish him, not a man.'14 He has not directed his words against me, and I will not answer him with your speeches. 15 “They are dismayed; they answer no more; they have not a word to say.16 And shall I wait, because they do not speak, because they stand there, and answer no more?17 I also will answer with my share; I also will declare my opinion.18 For I am full of words; the spirit within me constrains me.19 Behold, my belly is like wine that has no vent; like new wineskins ready to burst.20 I must speak, that I may find relief; I must open my lips and answer.21 I will not show partiality to any man or use flattery toward any person.22 For I do not know how to flatter, else my Maker would soon take me away. Footnotes [1] 31:8 Or let my descendants [2] 31:18 Hebrew he [3] 31:18 Hebrew her [4] 31:20 Hebrew if his loins have not blessed me [5] 31:26 Hebrew the light [6] 31:33 Or as Adam did [7] 32:9 Hebrew many [in years] (ESV) Evening: Acts 13:1–23 Acts 13:1–23 (Listen) Barnabas and Saul Sent Off 13 Now there were in the church at Antioch prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger,1 Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a lifelong friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3 Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off. Barnabas and Saul on Cyprus 4 So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus. 5 When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. And they had John to assist them. 6 When they had gone through the whole island as far as Paphos, they came upon a certain magician, a Jewish false prophet named Bar-Jesus. 7 He was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, a man of intelligence, who summoned Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God. 8 But Elymas the magician (for that is the meaning of his name) opposed them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith. 9 But Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him 10 and said, “You son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, full of all deceit and villainy, will you not stop making crooked the straight paths of the Lord? 11 And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you will be blind and unable to see the sun for a time.” Immediately mist and darkness fell upon him, and he went about seeking people to lead him by the hand. 12 Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had occurred, for he was astonished at the teaching of the Lord. Paul and Barnabas at Antioch in Pisidia 13 Now Paul and his companions set sail from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia. And John left them and returned to Jerusalem, 14 but they went on from Perga and came to Antioch in Pisidia. And on the Sabbath day they went into the synagogue and sat down. 15 After the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent a message to them, saying, “Brothers, if you have any word of encouragement for the people, say it.” 16 So Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand said: “Men of Israel and you who fear God, listen. 17 The God of this people Israel chose our fathers and made the people great during their stay in the land of Egypt, and with uplifted arm he led them out of it. 18 And for about forty years he put up with2 them in the wilderness. 19 And after destroying seven nations in the land of Canaan, he gave them their land as an inheritance. 20 All this took about 450 years. And after that he gave them judges until Samuel the prophet. 21 Then they asked for a king, and God gave them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years. 22 And when he had removed him, he raised up David to be their king, of whom he testified and said, ‘I have found in David the son of Jesse a man after my heart, who will do all my will.' 23 Of this man's offspring God has brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus, as he promised. Footnotes [1] 13:1 Niger is a Latin word meaning black, or dark [2] 13:18 Some manuscripts he carried (compare Deuteronomy 1:31) (ESV)
Job 32–34 Job 32–34 (Listen) Elihu Rebukes Job's Three Friends 32 So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. 2 Then Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, burned with anger. He burned with anger at Job because he justified himself rather than God. 3 He burned with anger also at Job's three friends because they had found no answer, although they had declared Job to be in the wrong. 4 Now Elihu had waited to speak to Job because they were older than he. 5 And when Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, he burned with anger. 6 And Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered and said: “I am young in years, and you are aged; therefore I was timid and afraid to declare my opinion to you.7 I said, ‘Let days speak, and many years teach wisdom.'8 But it is the spirit in man, the breath of the Almighty, that makes him understand.9 It is not the old1 who are wise, nor the aged who understand what is right.10 Therefore I say, ‘Listen to me; let me also declare my opinion.' 11 “Behold, I waited for your words, I listened for your wise sayings, while you searched out what to say.12 I gave you my attention, and, behold, there was none among you who refuted Job or who answered his words.13 Beware lest you say, ‘We have found wisdom; God may vanquish him, not a man.'14 He has not directed his words against me, and I will not answer him with your speeches. 15 “They are dismayed; they answer no more; they have not a word to say.16 And shall I wait, because they do not speak, because they stand there, and answer no more?17 I also will answer with my share; I also will declare my opinion.18 For I am full of words; the spirit within me constrains me.19 Behold, my belly is like wine that has no vent; like new wineskins ready to burst.20 I must speak, that I may find relief; I must open my lips and answer.21 I will not show partiality to any man or use flattery toward any person.22 For I do not know how to flatter, else my Maker would soon take me away. Elihu Rebukes Job 33 “But now, hear my speech, O Job, and listen to all my words.2 Behold, I open my mouth; the tongue in my mouth speaks.3 My words declare the uprightness of my heart, and what my lips know they speak sincerely.4 The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.5 Answer me, if you can; set your words in order before me; take your stand.6 Behold, I am toward God as you are; I too was pinched off from a piece of clay.7 Behold, no fear of me need terrify you; my pressure will not be heavy upon you. 8 “Surely you have spoken in my ears, and I have heard the sound of your words.9 You say, ‘I am pure, without transgression; I am clean, and there is no iniquity in me.10 Behold, he finds occasions against me, he counts me as his enemy,11 he puts my feet in the stocks and watches all my paths.' 12 “Behold, in this you are not right. I will answer you, for God is greater than man.13 Why do you contend against him, saying, ‘He will answer none of man's2 words'?314 For God speaks in one way, and in two, though man does not perceive it.15 In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on men, while they slumber on their beds,16 then he opens the ears of men and terrifies4 them with warnings,17 that he may turn man aside from his deed and conceal pride from a man;18 he keeps back his soul from the pit, his life from perishing by the sword. 19 “Man is also rebuked with pain on his bed and with continual strife in his bones,20 so that his life loathes bread, and his appetite the choicest food.21 His flesh is so wasted away that it cannot be seen, and his bones that were not seen stick out.22 His soul draws near the pit, and his life to those who bring death.23 If there be for him an angel, a mediator, one of the thousand, to declare to man what is right for him,24 and he is merciful to him, and says, ‘Deliver him from going down into the pit; I have found a ransom;25 let his flesh become fresh with youth; let him return to the days of his youthful vigor';26 then man5 prays to God, and he accepts him; he sees his face with a shout of joy, and he restores to man his righteousness.27 He sings before men and says: ‘I sinned and perverted what was right, and it was not repaid to me.28 He has redeemed my soul from going down into the pit, and my life shall look upon the light.' 29 “Behold, God does all these things, twice, three times, with a man,30 to bring back his soul from the pit, that he may be lighted with the light of life.31 Pay attention, O Job, listen to me; be silent, and I will speak.32 If you have any words, answer me; speak, for I desire to justify you.33 If not, listen to me; be silent, and I will teach you wisdom.” Elihu Asserts God's Justice 34 Then Elihu answered and said: 2 “Hear my words, you wise men, and give ear to me, you who know;3 for the ear tests words as the palate tastes food.4 Let us choose what is right; let us know among ourselves what is good.5 For Job has said, ‘I am in the right, and God has taken away my right;6 in spite of my right I am counted a liar; my wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.'7 What man is like Job, who drinks up scoffing like water,8 who travels in company with evildoers and walks with wicked men?9 For he has said, ‘It profits a man nothing that he should take delight in God.' 10 “Therefore, hear me, you men of understanding: far be it from God that he should do wickedness, and from the Almighty that he should do wrong.11 For according to the work of a man he will repay him, and according to his ways he will make it befall him.12 Of a truth, God will not do wickedly, and the Almighty will not pervert justice.13 Who gave him charge over the earth, and who laid on him6 the whole world?14 If he should set his heart to it and gather to himself his spirit and his breath,15 all flesh would perish together, and man would return to dust. 16 “If you have understanding, hear this; listen to what I say.17 Shall one who hates justice govern? Will you condemn him who is righteous and mighty,18 who says to a king, ‘Worthless one,' and to nobles, ‘Wicked man,'19 who shows no partiality to princes, nor regards the rich more than the poor, for they are all the work of his hands?20 In a moment they die; at midnight the people are shaken and pass away, and the mighty are taken away by no human hand. 21 “For his eyes are on the ways of a man, and he sees all his steps.22 There is no gloom or deep darkness where evildoers may hide themselves.23 For God7 has no need to consider a man further, that he should go before God in judgment.24 He shatters the mighty without investigation and sets others in their place.25 Thus, knowing their works, he overturns them in the night, and they are crushed.26 He strikes them for their wickedness in a place for all to see,27 because they turned aside from following him and had no regard for any of his ways,28 so that they caused the cry of the poor to come to him, and he heard the cry of the afflicted—29 When he is quiet, who can condemn? When he hides his face, who can behold him, whether it be a nation or a man?—30 that a godless man should not reign, that he should not ensnare the people. 31 “For has anyone said to God, ‘I have borne punishment; I will not offend any more;32 teach me what I do not see; if I have done iniquity, I will do it no more'?33 Will he then make repayment to suit you, because you reject it? For you must choose, and not I; therefore declare what you know.834 Men of understanding will say to me, and the wise man who hears me will say:35 ‘Job speaks without knowledge; his words are without insight.'36 Would that Job were tried to the end, because he answers like wicked men.37 For he adds rebellion to his sin; he claps his hands among us and multiplies his words against God.” Footnotes [1] 32:9 Hebrew many [in years] [2] 33:13 Hebrew his [3] 33:13 Or He will not answer for any of his own words [4] 33:16 Or seals [5] 33:26 Hebrew he [6] 34:13 Hebrew lacks on him [7] 34:23 Hebrew he [8] 34:33 The meaning of the Hebrew in verses 29–33 is uncertain (ESV)
Job 32–34 Job 32–34 (Listen) Elihu Rebukes Job's Three Friends 32 So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. 2 Then Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, burned with anger. He burned with anger at Job because he justified himself rather than God. 3 He burned with anger also at Job's three friends because they had found no answer, although they had declared Job to be in the wrong. 4 Now Elihu had waited to speak to Job because they were older than he. 5 And when Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, he burned with anger. 6 And Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered and said: “I am young in years, and you are aged; therefore I was timid and afraid to declare my opinion to you.7 I said, ‘Let days speak, and many years teach wisdom.'8 But it is the spirit in man, the breath of the Almighty, that makes him understand.9 It is not the old1 who are wise, nor the aged who understand what is right.10 Therefore I say, ‘Listen to me; let me also declare my opinion.' 11 “Behold, I waited for your words, I listened for your wise sayings, while you searched out what to say.12 I gave you my attention, and, behold, there was none among you who refuted Job or who answered his words.13 Beware lest you say, ‘We have found wisdom; God may vanquish him, not a man.'14 He has not directed his words against me, and I will not answer him with your speeches. 15 “They are dismayed; they answer no more; they have not a word to say.16 And shall I wait, because they do not speak, because they stand there, and answer no more?17 I also will answer with my share; I also will declare my opinion.18 For I am full of words; the spirit within me constrains me.19 Behold, my belly is like wine that has no vent; like new wineskins ready to burst.20 I must speak, that I may find relief; I must open my lips and answer.21 I will not show partiality to any man or use flattery toward any person.22 For I do not know how to flatter, else my Maker would soon take me away. Elihu Rebukes Job 33 “But now, hear my speech, O Job, and listen to all my words.2 Behold, I open my mouth; the tongue in my mouth speaks.3 My words declare the uprightness of my heart, and what my lips know they speak sincerely.4 The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.5 Answer me, if you can; set your words in order before me; take your stand.6 Behold, I am toward God as you are; I too was pinched off from a piece of clay.7 Behold, no fear of me need terrify you; my pressure will not be heavy upon you. 8 “Surely you have spoken in my ears, and I have heard the sound of your words.9 You say, ‘I am pure, without transgression; I am clean, and there is no iniquity in me.10 Behold, he finds occasions against me, he counts me as his enemy,11 he puts my feet in the stocks and watches all my paths.' 12 “Behold, in this you are not right. I will answer you, for God is greater than man.13 Why do you contend against him, saying, ‘He will answer none of man's2 words'?314 For God speaks in one way, and in two, though man does not perceive it.15 In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on men, while they slumber on their beds,16 then he opens the ears of men and terrifies4 them with warnings,17 that he may turn man aside from his deed and conceal pride from a man;18 he keeps back his soul from the pit, his life from perishing by the sword. 19 “Man is also rebuked with pain on his bed and with continual strife in his bones,20 so that his life loathes bread, and his appetite the choicest food.21 His flesh is so wasted away that it cannot be seen, and his bones that were not seen stick out.22 His soul draws near the pit, and his life to those who bring death.23 If there be for him an angel, a mediator, one of the thousand, to declare to man what is right for him,24 and he is merciful to him, and says, ‘Deliver him from going down into the pit; I have found a ransom;25 let his flesh become fresh with youth; let him return to the days of his youthful vigor';26 then man5 prays to God, and he accepts him; he sees his face with a shout of joy, and he restores to man his righteousness.27 He sings before men and says: ‘I sinned and perverted what was right, and it was not repaid to me.28 He has redeemed my soul from going down into the pit, and my life shall look upon the light.' 29 “Behold, God does all these things, twice, three times, with a man,30 to bring back his soul from the pit, that he may be lighted with the light of life.31 Pay attention, O Job, listen to me; be silent, and I will speak.32 If you have any words, answer me; speak, for I desire to justify you.33 If not, listen to me; be silent, and I will teach you wisdom.” Elihu Asserts God's Justice 34 Then Elihu answered and said: 2 “Hear my words, you wise men, and give ear to me, you who know;3 for the ear tests words as the palate tastes food.4 Let us choose what is right; let us know among ourselves what is good.5 For Job has said, ‘I am in the right, and God has taken away my right;6 in spite of my right I am counted a liar; my wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.'7 What man is like Job, who drinks up scoffing like water,8 who travels in company with evildoers and walks with wicked men?9 For he has said, ‘It profits a man nothing that he should take delight in God.' 10 “Therefore, hear me, you men of understanding: far be it from God that he should do wickedness, and from the Almighty that he should do wrong.11 For according to the work of a man he will repay him, and according to his ways he will make it befall him.12 Of a truth, God will not do wickedly, and the Almighty will not pervert justice.13 Who gave him charge over the earth, and who laid on him6 the whole world?14 If he should set his heart to it and gather to himself his spirit and his breath,15 all flesh would perish together, and man would return to dust. 16 “If you have understanding, hear this; listen to what I say.17 Shall one who hates justice govern? Will you condemn him who is righteous and mighty,18 who says to a king, ‘Worthless one,' and to nobles, ‘Wicked man,'19 who shows no partiality to princes, nor regards the rich more than the poor, for they are all the work of his hands?20 In a moment they die; at midnight the people are shaken and pass away, and the mighty are taken away by no human hand. 21 “For his eyes are on the ways of a man, and he sees all his steps.22 There is no gloom or deep darkness where evildoers may hide themselves.23 For God7 has no need to consider a man further, that he should go before God in judgment.24 He shatters the mighty without investigation and sets others in their place.25 Thus, knowing their works, he overturns them in the night, and they are crushed.26 He strikes them for their wickedness in a place for all to see,27 because they turned aside from following him and had no regard for any of his ways,28 so that they caused the cry of the poor to come to him, and he heard the cry of the afflicted—29 When he is quiet, who can condemn? When he hides his face, who can behold him, whether it be a nation or a man?—30 that a godless man should not reign, that he should not ensnare the people. 31 “For has anyone said to God, ‘I have borne punishment; I will not offend any more;32 teach me what I do not see; if I have done iniquity, I will do it no more'?33 Will he then make repayment to suit you, because you reject it? For you must choose, and not I; therefore declare what you know.834 Men of understanding will say to me, and the wise man who hears me will say:35 ‘Job speaks without knowledge; his words are without insight.'36 Would that Job were tried to the end, because he answers like wicked men.37 For he adds rebellion to his sin; he claps his hands among us and multiplies his words against God.” Footnotes [1] 32:9 Hebrew many [in years] [2] 33:13 Hebrew his [3] 33:13 Or He will not answer for any of his own words [4] 33:16 Or seals [5] 33:26 Hebrew he [6] 34:13 Hebrew lacks on him [7] 34:23 Hebrew he [8] 34:33 The meaning of the Hebrew in verses 29–33 is uncertain (ESV)
With family: Exodus 14; Luke 17 Exodus 14 (Listen) Crossing the Red Sea 14 Then the LORD said to Moses, 2 “Tell the people of Israel to turn back and encamp in front of Pi-hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, in front of Baal-zephon; you shall encamp facing it, by the sea. 3 For Pharaoh will say of the people of Israel, ‘They are wandering in the land; the wilderness has shut them in.' 4 And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and he will pursue them, and I will get glory over Pharaoh and all his host, and the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD.” And they did so. 5 When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, the mind of Pharaoh and his servants was changed toward the people, and they said, “What is this we have done, that we have let Israel go from serving us?” 6 So he made ready his chariot and took his army with him, 7 and took six hundred chosen chariots and all the other chariots of Egypt with officers over all of them. 8 And the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued the people of Israel while the people of Israel were going out defiantly. 9 The Egyptians pursued them, all Pharaoh's horses and chariots and his horsemen and his army, and overtook them encamped at the sea, by Pi-hahiroth, in front of Baal-zephon. 10 When Pharaoh drew near, the people of Israel lifted up their eyes, and behold, the Egyptians were marching after them, and they feared greatly. And the people of Israel cried out to the LORD. 11 They said to Moses, “Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? What have you done to us in bringing us out of Egypt? 12 Is not this what we said to you in Egypt: ‘Leave us alone that we may serve the Egyptians'? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.” 13 And Moses said to the people, “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again. 14 The LORD will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.” 15 The LORD said to Moses, “Why do you cry to me? Tell the people of Israel to go forward. 16 Lift up your staff, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, that the people of Israel may go through the sea on dry ground. 17 And I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they shall go in after them, and I will get glory over Pharaoh and all his host, his chariots, and his horsemen. 18 And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I have gotten glory over Pharaoh, his chariots, and his horsemen.” 19 Then the angel of God who was going before the host of Israel moved and went behind them, and the pillar of cloud moved from before them and stood behind them, 20 coming between the host of Egypt and the host of Israel. And there was the cloud and the darkness. And it lit up the night1 without one coming near the other all night. 21 Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the LORD drove the sea back by a strong east wind all night and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided. 22 And the people of Israel went into the midst of the sea on dry ground, the waters being a wall to them on their right hand and on their left. 23 The Egyptians pursued and went in after them into the midst of the sea, all Pharaoh's horses, his chariots, and his horsemen. 24 And in the morning watch the LORD in the pillar of fire and of cloud looked down on the Egyptian forces and threw the Egyptian forces into a panic, 25 clogging2 their chariot wheels so that they drove heavily. And the Egyptians said, “Let us flee from before Israel, for the LORD fights for them against the Egyptians.” 26 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea, that the water may come back upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots, and upon their horsemen.” 27 So Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to its normal course when the morning appeared. And as the Egyptians fled into it, the LORD threw3 the Egyptians into the midst of the sea. 28 The waters returned and covered the chariots and the horsemen; of all the host of Pharaoh that had followed them into the sea, not one of them remained. 29 But the people of Israel walked on dry ground through the sea, the waters being a wall to them on their right hand and on their left. 30 Thus the LORD saved Israel that day from the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore. 31 Israel saw the great power that the LORD used against the Egyptians, so the people feared the LORD, and they believed in the LORD and in his servant Moses. Footnotes [1] 14:20 Septuagint and the night passed [2] 14:25 Or binding (compare Samaritan, Septuagint, Syriac); Hebrew removing [3] 14:27 Hebrew shook off (ESV) Luke 17 (Listen) Temptations to Sin 17 And he said to his disciples, “Temptations to sin1 are sure to come, but woe to the one through whom they come! 2 It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were cast into the sea than that he should cause one of these little ones to sin.2 3 Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him, 4 and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,' you must forgive him.” Increase Our Faith 5 The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” 6 And the Lord said, “If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it would obey you. Unworthy Servants 7 “Will any one of you who has a servant3 plowing or keeping sheep say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come at once and recline at table'? 8 Will he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare supper for me, and dress properly,4 and serve me while I eat and drink, and afterward you will eat and drink'? 9 Does he thank the servant because he did what was commanded? 10 So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, ‘We are unworthy servants;5 we have only done what was our duty.'” Jesus Cleanses Ten Lepers 11 On the way to Jerusalem he was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. 12 And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers,6 who stood at a distance 13 and lifted up their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” 14 When he saw them he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went they were cleansed. 15 Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; 16 and he fell on his face at Jesus' feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. 17 Then Jesus answered, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? 18 Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” 19 And he said to him, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.”7 The Coming of the Kingdom 20 Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them, “The kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed, 21 nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!' or ‘There!' for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.”8 22 And he said to the disciples, “The days are coming when you will desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it. 23 And they will say to you, ‘Look, there!' or ‘Look, here!' Do not go out or follow them. 24 For as the lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of Man be in his day.9 25 But first he must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation. 26 Just as it was in the days of Noah, so will it be in the days of the Son of Man. 27 They were eating and drinking and marrying and being given in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. 28 Likewise, just as it was in the days of Lot—they were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building, 29 but on the day when Lot went out from Sodom, fire and sulfur rained from heaven and destroyed them all—30 so will it be on the day when the Son of Man is revealed. 31 On that day, let the one who is on the housetop, with his goods in the house, not come down to take them away, and likewise let the one who is in the field not turn back. 32 Remember Lot's wife. 33 Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will keep it. 34 I tell you, in that night there will be two in one bed. One will be taken and the other left. 35 There will be two women grinding together. One will be taken and the other left.”10 37 And they said to him, “Where, Lord?” He said to them, “Where the corpse11 is, there the vultures12 will gather.” Footnotes [1] 17:1 Greek Stumbling blocks [2] 17:2 Greek stumble [3] 17:7 Or bondservant; also verse 9 [4] 17:8 Greek gird yourself [5] 17:10 Or bondservants [6] 17:12 Leprosy was a term for several skin diseases; see Leviticus 13 [7] 17:19 Or has saved you [8] 17:21 Or within you, or within your grasp [9] 17:24 Some manuscripts omit in his day [10] 17:35 Some manuscripts add verse 36: Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left [11] 17:37 Greek body [12] 17:37 Or eagles (ESV) In private: Job 32; 2 Corinthians 2 Job 32 (Listen) Elihu Rebukes Job's Three Friends 32 So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. 2 Then Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, burned with anger. He burned with anger at Job because he justified himself rather than God. 3 He burned with anger also at Job's three friends because they had found no answer, although they had declared Job to be in the wrong. 4 Now Elihu had waited to speak to Job because they were older than he. 5 And when Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, he burned with anger. 6 And Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered and said: “I am young in years, and you are aged; therefore I was timid and afraid to declare my opinion to you.7 I said, ‘Let days speak, and many years teach wisdom.'8 But it is the spirit in man, the breath of the Almighty, that makes him understand.9 It is not the old1 who are wise, nor the aged who understand what is right.10 Therefore I say, ‘Listen to me; let me also declare my opinion.' 11 “Behold, I waited for your words, I listened for your wise sayings, while you searched out what to say.12 I gave you my attention, and, behold, there was none among you who refuted Job or who answered his words.13 Beware lest you say, ‘We have found wisdom; God may vanquish him, not a man.'14 He has not directed his words against me, and I will not answer him with your speeches. 15 “They are dismayed; they answer no more; they have not a word to say.16 And shall I wait, because they do not speak, because they stand there, and answer no more?17 I also will answer with my share; I also will declare my opinion.18 For I am full of words; the spirit within me constrains me.19 Behold, my belly is like wine that has no vent; like new wineskins ready to burst.20 I must speak, that I may find relief; I must open my lips and answer.21 I will not show partiality to any man or use flattery toward any person.22 For I do not know how to flatter, else my Maker would soon take me away. Footnotes [1] 32:9 Hebrew many [in years] (ESV) 2 Corinthians 2 (Listen) 2 For I made up my mind not to make another painful visit to you. 2 For if I cause you pain, who is there to make me glad but the one whom I have pained? 3 And I wrote as I did, so that when I came I might not suffer pain from those who should have made me rejoice, for I felt sure of all of you, that my joy would be the joy of you all. 4 For I wrote to you out of much affliction and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to cause you pain but to let you know the abundant love that I have for you. Forgive the Sinner 5 Now if anyone has caused pain, he has caused it not to me, but in some measure—not to put it too severely—to all of you. 6 For such a one, this punishment by the majority is enough, 7 so you should rather turn to forgive and comfort him, or he may be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. 8 So I beg you to reaffirm your love for him. 9 For this is why I wrote, that I might test you and know whether you are obedient in everything. 10 Anyone whom you forgive, I also forgive. Indeed, what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, has been for your sake in the presence of Christ, 11 so that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs. Triumph in Christ 12 When I came to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ, even though a door was opened for me in the Lord, 13 my spirit was not at rest because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I took leave of them and went on to Macedonia. 14 But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. 15 For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, 16 to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things? 17 For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God's word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ. (ESV)
Psalms and Wisdom: Psalm 143 Psalm 143 (Listen) My Soul Thirsts for You A Psalm of David. 143 Hear my prayer, O LORD; give ear to my pleas for mercy! In your faithfulness answer me, in your righteousness!2 Enter not into judgment with your servant, for no one living is righteous before you. 3 For the enemy has pursued my soul; he has crushed my life to the ground; he has made me sit in darkness like those long dead.4 Therefore my spirit faints within me; my heart within me is appalled. 5 I remember the days of old; I meditate on all that you have done; I ponder the work of your hands.6 I stretch out my hands to you; my soul thirsts for you like a parched land. Selah 7 Answer me quickly, O LORD! My spirit fails! Hide not your face from me, lest I be like those who go down to the pit.8 Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in you I trust. Make me know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul. 9 Deliver me from my enemies, O LORD! I have fled to you for refuge.110 Teach me to do your will, for you are my God! Let your good Spirit lead me on level ground! 11 For your name's sake, O LORD, preserve my life! In your righteousness bring my soul out of trouble!12 And in your steadfast love you will cut off my enemies, and you will destroy all the adversaries of my soul, for I am your servant. Footnotes [1] 143:9 One Hebrew manuscript, Septuagint; most Hebrew manuscripts To you I have covered (ESV) Pentateuch and History: Job 32 Job 32 (Listen) Elihu Rebukes Job's Three Friends 32 So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. 2 Then Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, burned with anger. He burned with anger at Job because he justified himself rather than God. 3 He burned with anger also at Job's three friends because they had found no answer, although they had declared Job to be in the wrong. 4 Now Elihu had waited to speak to Job because they were older than he. 5 And when Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, he burned with anger. 6 And Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered and said: “I am young in years, and you are aged; therefore I was timid and afraid to declare my opinion to you.7 I said, ‘Let days speak, and many years teach wisdom.'8 But it is the spirit in man, the breath of the Almighty, that makes him understand.9 It is not the old1 who are wise, nor the aged who understand what is right.10 Therefore I say, ‘Listen to me; let me also declare my opinion.' 11 “Behold, I waited for your words, I listened for your wise sayings, while you searched out what to say.12 I gave you my attention, and, behold, there was none among you who refuted Job or who answered his words.13 Beware lest you say, ‘We have found wisdom; God may vanquish him, not a man.'14 He has not directed his words against me, and I will not answer him with your speeches. 15 “They are dismayed; they answer no more; they have not a word to say.16 And shall I wait, because they do not speak, because they stand there, and answer no more?17 I also will answer with my share; I also will declare my opinion.18 For I am full of words; the spirit within me constrains me.19 Behold, my belly is like wine that has no vent; like new wineskins ready to burst.20 I must speak, that I may find relief; I must open my lips and answer.21 I will not show partiality to any man or use flattery toward any person.22 For I do not know how to flatter, else my Maker would soon take me away. Footnotes [1] 32:9 Hebrew many [in years] (ESV) Chronicles and Prophets: Isaiah 55 Isaiah 55 (Listen) The Compassion of the Lord 55 “Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.2 Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food.3 Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live; and I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David.4 Behold, I made him a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander for the peoples.5 Behold, you shall call a nation that you do not know, and a nation that did not know you shall run to you, because of the LORD your God, and of the Holy One of Israel, for he has glorified you. 6 “Seek the LORD while he may be found; call upon him while he is near;7 let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD.9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. 10 “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,11 so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it. 12 “For you shall go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall break forth into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.13 Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress; instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle; and it shall make a name for the LORD, an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.” (ESV) Gospels and Epistles: Revelation 14 Revelation 14 (Listen) The Lamb and the 144,000 14 Then I looked, and behold, on Mount Zion stood the Lamb, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father's name written on their foreheads. 2 And I heard a voice from heaven like the roar of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder. The voice I heard was like the sound of harpists playing on their harps, 3 and they were singing a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and before the elders. No one could learn that song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth. 4 It is these who have not defiled themselves with women, for they are virgins. It is these who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. These have been redeemed from mankind as firstfruits for God and the Lamb, 5 and in their mouth no lie was found, for they are blameless. The Messages of the Three Angels 6 Then I saw another angel flying directly overhead, with an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who dwell on earth, to every nation and tribe and language and people. 7 And he said with a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come, and worship him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water.” 8 Another angel, a second, followed, saying, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, she who made all nations drink the wine of the passion1 of her sexual immorality.” 9 And another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, 10 he also will drink the wine of God's wrath, poured full strength into the cup of his anger, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. 11 And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name.” 12 Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.2 13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Blessed indeed,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!” The Harvest of the Earth 14 Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and seated on the cloud one like a son of man, with a golden crown on his head, and a sharp sickle in his hand. 15 And another angel came out of the temple, calling with a loud voice to him who sat on the cloud, “Put in your sickle, and reap, for the hour to reap has come, for the harvest of the earth is fully ripe.” 16 So he who sat on the cloud swung his sickle across the earth, and the earth was reaped. 17 Then another angel came out of the temple in heaven, and he too had a sharp sickle. 18 And another angel came out from the altar, the angel who has authority over the fire, and he called with a loud voice to the one who had the sharp sickle, “Put in your sickle and gather the clusters from the vine of the earth, for its grapes are ripe.” 19 So the angel swung his sickle across the earth and gathered the grape harvest of the earth and threw it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. 20 And the winepress was trodden outside the city, and blood flowed from the winepress, as high as a horse's bridle, for 1,600 stadia.3 Footnotes [1] 14:8 Or wrath [2] 14:12 Greek and the faith of Jesus [3] 14:20 About 184 miles; a stadion was about 607 feet or 185 meters (ESV)
The Apostle Paul's letters to his younger disciple Timothy have been on my mind a lot in recent months. In this episode, I want to ponder and explore a selection from the first epistle to Timothy. 1 Timothy 4:12-16 reads, "Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you. Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress. Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers." As for many young Christians, this passage has been an encouragement to me since my late teens and early twenties. And it reminds me of Elihu from the book of Job. In Job 32:1-6, we find this gem. "So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. Then Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, burned with anger. He burned with anger at Job because he justified himself rather than God. He burned with anger also at Job's three friends because they had found no answer, although they had declared Job to be in the wrong. Now Elihu had waited to speak to Job because they were older than he. And when Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, he burned with anger. And Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered..." I would encourage you to read the totality of Elihu's remarks in Job. And see if you can find in what follows them when God steps into the narrative to answer Job any rebuke of Elihu for all of what he says or how he comports himself. I could not when I was a young Christian man, married with children in my early twenties a decade-and-a-half ago. That is why Lauren and I named our second son Elihu. Taken together with what Paul tells Timothy, we find that older men are not always wiser for their years. And younger men not only can serve as a good example to all - including older men. They ought to, in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity. This can lead to conflict. And sometimes when older men feel threatened or challenged by younger men - even just by their example - they act out in confusing and irrational ways. But this is all the more why we do well to heed the wisdom of Proverbs 22:1. "A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor is better than silver or gold." --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/garrett-ashley-mullet/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/garrett-ashley-mullet/support
Old Testament: Job 31–32 Job 31–32 (Listen) Job's Final Appeal 31 “I have made a covenant with my eyes; how then could I gaze at a virgin?2 What would be my portion from God above and my heritage from the Almighty on high?3 Is not calamity for the unrighteous, and disaster for the workers of iniquity?4 Does not he see my ways and number all my steps? 5 “If I have walked with falsehood and my foot has hastened to deceit;6 (Let me be weighed in a just balance, and let God know my integrity!)7 if my step has turned aside from the way and my heart has gone after my eyes, and if any spot has stuck to my hands,8 then let me sow, and another eat, and let what grows for me1 be rooted out. 9 “If my heart has been enticed toward a woman, and I have lain in wait at my neighbor's door,10 then let my wife grind for another, and let others bow down on her.11 For that would be a heinous crime; that would be an iniquity to be punished by the judges;12 for that would be a fire that consumes as far as Abaddon, and it would burn to the root all my increase. 13 “If I have rejected the cause of my manservant or my maidservant, when they brought a complaint against me,14 what then shall I do when God rises up? When he makes inquiry, what shall I answer him?15 Did not he who made me in the womb make him? And did not one fashion us in the womb? 16 “If I have withheld anything that the poor desired, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail,17 or have eaten my morsel alone, and the fatherless has not eaten of it18 (for from my youth the fatherless2 grew up with me as with a father, and from my mother's womb I guided the widow3),19 if I have seen anyone perish for lack of clothing, or the needy without covering,20 if his body has not blessed me,4 and if he was not warmed with the fleece of my sheep,21 if I have raised my hand against the fatherless, because I saw my help in the gate,22 then let my shoulder blade fall from my shoulder, and let my arm be broken from its socket.23 For I was in terror of calamity from God, and I could not have faced his majesty. 24 “If I have made gold my trust or called fine gold my confidence,25 if I have rejoiced because my wealth was abundant or because my hand had found much,26 if I have looked at the sun5 when it shone, or the moon moving in splendor,27 and my heart has been secretly enticed, and my mouth has kissed my hand,28 this also would be an iniquity to be punished by the judges, for I would have been false to God above. 29 “If I have rejoiced at the ruin of him who hated me, or exulted when evil overtook him30 (I have not let my mouth sin by asking for his life with a curse),31 if the men of my tent have not said, ‘Who is there that has not been filled with his meat?'32 (the sojourner has not lodged in the street; I have opened my doors to the traveler),33 if I have concealed my transgressions as others do6 by hiding my iniquity in my heart,34 because I stood in great fear of the multitude, and the contempt of families terrified me, so that I kept silence, and did not go out of doors—35 Oh, that I had one to hear me! (Here is my signature! Let the Almighty answer me!) Oh, that I had the indictment written by my adversary!36 Surely I would carry it on my shoulder; I would bind it on me as a crown;37 I would give him an account of all my steps; like a prince I would approach him. 38 “If my land has cried out against me and its furrows have wept together,39 if I have eaten its yield without payment and made its owners breathe their last,40 let thorns grow instead of wheat, and foul weeds instead of barley.” The words of Job are ended. Elihu Rebukes Job's Three Friends 32 So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. 2 Then Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, burned with anger. He burned with anger at Job because he justified himself rather than God. 3 He burned with anger also at Job's three friends because they had found no answer, although they had declared Job to be in the wrong. 4 Now Elihu had waited to speak to Job because they were older than he. 5 And when Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, he burned with anger. 6 And Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered and said: “I am young in years, and you are aged; therefore I was timid and afraid to declare my opinion to you.7 I said, ‘Let days speak, and many years teach wisdom.'8 But it is the spirit in man, the breath of the Almighty, that makes him understand.9 It is not the old7 who are wise, nor the aged who understand what is right.10 Therefore I say, ‘Listen to me; let me also declare my opinion.' 11 “Behold, I waited for your words, I listened for your wise sayings, while you searched out what to say.12 I gave you my attention, and, behold, there was none among you who refuted Job or who answered his words.13 Beware lest you say, ‘We have found wisdom; God may vanquish him, not a man.'14 He has not directed his words against me, and I will not answer him with your speeches. 15 “They are dismayed; they answer no more; they have not a word to say.16 And shall I wait, because they do not speak, because they stand there, and answer no more?17 I also will answer with my share; I also will declare my opinion.18 For I am full of words; the spirit within me constrains me.19 Behold, my belly is like wine that has no vent; like new wineskins ready to burst.20 I must speak, that I may find relief; I must open my lips and answer.21 I will not show partiality to any man or use flattery toward any person.22 For I do not know how to flatter, else my Maker would soon take me away. Footnotes [1] 31:8 Or let my descendants [2] 31:18 Hebrew he [3] 31:18 Hebrew her [4] 31:20 Hebrew if his loins have not blessed me [5] 31:26 Hebrew the light [6] 31:33 Or as Adam did [7] 32:9 Hebrew many [in years] (ESV) New Testament: 2 Thessalonians 2:1–12 2 Thessalonians 2:1–12 (Listen) The Man of Lawlessness 2 Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we ask you, brothers,1 2 not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. 3 Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness2 is revealed, the son of destruction,3 4 who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God. 5 Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? 6 And you know what is restraining him now so that he may be revealed in his time. 7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way. 8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming. 9 The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, 10 and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 11 Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, 12 in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. Footnotes [1] 2:1 Or brothers and sisters; also verses 13, 15 [2] 2:3 Some manuscripts sin [3] 2:3 Greek the son of perdition (a Hebrew idiom) (ESV) Psalm: Psalm 57 Psalm 57 (Listen) Let Your Glory Be over All the Earth To the choirmaster: according to Do Not Destroy. A Miktam1 of David, when he fled from Saul, in the cave. 57 Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me, for in you my soul takes refuge; in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge, till the storms of destruction pass by.2 I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfills his purpose for me.3 He will send from heaven and save me; he will put to shame him who tramples on me. Selah God will send out his steadfast love and his faithfulness! 4 My soul is in the midst of lions; I lie down amid fiery beasts— the children of man, whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords. 5 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! Let your glory be over all the earth! 6 They set a net for my steps; my soul was bowed down. They dug a pit in my way, but they have fallen into it themselves. Selah7 My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast! I will sing and make melody!8 Awake, my glory!2 Awake, O harp and lyre! I will awake the dawn!9 I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing praises to you among the nations.10 For your steadfast love is great to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds. 11 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! Let your glory be over all the earth! Footnotes [1] 57:1 Probably a musical or liturgical term [2] 57:8 Or my whole being (ESV) Proverb: Proverbs 22:16 Proverbs 22:16 (Listen) 16 Whoever oppresses the poor to increase his own wealth, or gives to the rich, will only come to poverty. (ESV)
Old Testament: Job 31–32 Job 31–32 (Listen) Job's Final Appeal 31 “I have made a covenant with my eyes; how then could I gaze at a virgin?2 What would be my portion from God above and my heritage from the Almighty on high?3 Is not calamity for the unrighteous, and disaster for the workers of iniquity?4 Does not he see my ways and number all my steps? 5 “If I have walked with falsehood and my foot has hastened to deceit;6 (Let me be weighed in a just balance, and let God know my integrity!)7 if my step has turned aside from the way and my heart has gone after my eyes, and if any spot has stuck to my hands,8 then let me sow, and another eat, and let what grows for me1 be rooted out. 9 “If my heart has been enticed toward a woman, and I have lain in wait at my neighbor's door,10 then let my wife grind for another, and let others bow down on her.11 For that would be a heinous crime; that would be an iniquity to be punished by the judges;12 for that would be a fire that consumes as far as Abaddon, and it would burn to the root all my increase. 13 “If I have rejected the cause of my manservant or my maidservant, when they brought a complaint against me,14 what then shall I do when God rises up? When he makes inquiry, what shall I answer him?15 Did not he who made me in the womb make him? And did not one fashion us in the womb? 16 “If I have withheld anything that the poor desired, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail,17 or have eaten my morsel alone, and the fatherless has not eaten of it18 (for from my youth the fatherless2 grew up with me as with a father, and from my mother's womb I guided the widow3),19 if I have seen anyone perish for lack of clothing, or the needy without covering,20 if his body has not blessed me,4 and if he was not warmed with the fleece of my sheep,21 if I have raised my hand against the fatherless, because I saw my help in the gate,22 then let my shoulder blade fall from my shoulder, and let my arm be broken from its socket.23 For I was in terror of calamity from God, and I could not have faced his majesty. 24 “If I have made gold my trust or called fine gold my confidence,25 if I have rejoiced because my wealth was abundant or because my hand had found much,26 if I have looked at the sun5 when it shone, or the moon moving in splendor,27 and my heart has been secretly enticed, and my mouth has kissed my hand,28 this also would be an iniquity to be punished by the judges, for I would have been false to God above. 29 “If I have rejoiced at the ruin of him who hated me, or exulted when evil overtook him30 (I have not let my mouth sin by asking for his life with a curse),31 if the men of my tent have not said, ‘Who is there that has not been filled with his meat?'32 (the sojourner has not lodged in the street; I have opened my doors to the traveler),33 if I have concealed my transgressions as others do6 by hiding my iniquity in my heart,34 because I stood in great fear of the multitude, and the contempt of families terrified me, so that I kept silence, and did not go out of doors—35 Oh, that I had one to hear me! (Here is my signature! Let the Almighty answer me!) Oh, that I had the indictment written by my adversary!36 Surely I would carry it on my shoulder; I would bind it on me as a crown;37 I would give him an account of all my steps; like a prince I would approach him. 38 “If my land has cried out against me and its furrows have wept together,39 if I have eaten its yield without payment and made its owners breathe their last,40 let thorns grow instead of wheat, and foul weeds instead of barley.” The words of Job are ended. Elihu Rebukes Job's Three Friends 32 So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. 2 Then Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, burned with anger. He burned with anger at Job because he justified himself rather than God. 3 He burned with anger also at Job's three friends because they had found no answer, although they had declared Job to be in the wrong. 4 Now Elihu had waited to speak to Job because they were older than he. 5 And when Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, he burned with anger. 6 And Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered and said: “I am young in years, and you are aged; therefore I was timid and afraid to declare my opinion to you.7 I said, ‘Let days speak, and many years teach wisdom.'8 But it is the spirit in man, the breath of the Almighty, that makes him understand.9 It is not the old7 who are wise, nor the aged who understand what is right.10 Therefore I say, ‘Listen to me; let me also declare my opinion.' 11 “Behold, I waited for your words, I listened for your wise sayings, while you searched out what to say.12 I gave you my attention, and, behold, there was none among you who refuted Job or who answered his words.13 Beware lest you say, ‘We have found wisdom; God may vanquish him, not a man.'14 He has not directed his words against me, and I will not answer him with your speeches. 15 “They are dismayed; they answer no more; they have not a word to say.16 And shall I wait, because they do not speak, because they stand there, and answer no more?17 I also will answer with my share; I also will declare my opinion.18 For I am full of words; the spirit within me constrains me.19 Behold, my belly is like wine that has no vent; like new wineskins ready to burst.20 I must speak, that I may find relief; I must open my lips and answer.21 I will not show partiality to any man or use flattery toward any person.22 For I do not know how to flatter, else my Maker would soon take me away. Footnotes [1] 31:8 Or let my descendants [2] 31:18 Hebrew he [3] 31:18 Hebrew her [4] 31:20 Hebrew if his loins have not blessed me [5] 31:26 Hebrew the light [6] 31:33 Or as Adam did [7] 32:9 Hebrew many [in years] (ESV) Psalm: Psalm 57 Psalm 57 (Listen) Let Your Glory Be over All the Earth To the choirmaster: according to Do Not Destroy. A Miktam1 of David, when he fled from Saul, in the cave. 57 Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me, for in you my soul takes refuge; in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge, till the storms of destruction pass by.2 I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfills his purpose for me.3 He will send from heaven and save me; he will put to shame him who tramples on me. Selah God will send out his steadfast love and his faithfulness! 4 My soul is in the midst of lions; I lie down amid fiery beasts— the children of man, whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords. 5 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! Let your glory be over all the earth! 6 They set a net for my steps; my soul was bowed down. They dug a pit in my way, but they have fallen into it themselves. Selah7 My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast! I will sing and make melody!8 Awake, my glory!2 Awake, O harp and lyre! I will awake the dawn!9 I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing praises to you among the nations.10 For your steadfast love is great to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds. 11 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! Let your glory be over all the earth! Footnotes [1] 57:1 Probably a musical or liturgical term [2] 57:8 Or my whole being (ESV) New Testament: Luke 21 Luke 21 (Listen) The Widow's Offering 21 Jesus1 looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box, 2 and he saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins.2 3 And he said, “Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them. 4 For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.” Jesus Foretells Destruction of the Temple 5 And while some were speaking of the temple, how it was adorned with noble stones and offerings, he said, 6 “As for these things that you see, the days will come when there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.” 7 And they asked him, “Teacher, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when these things are about to take place?” 8 And he said, “See that you are not led astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he!' and, ‘The time is at hand!' Do not go after them. 9 And when you hear of wars and tumults, do not be terrified, for these things must first take place, but the end will not be at once.” Jesus Foretells Wars and Persecution 10 Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. 11 There will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences. And there will be terrors and great signs from heaven. 12 But before all this they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name's sake. 13 This will be your opportunity to bear witness. 14 Settle it therefore in your minds not to meditate beforehand how to answer, 15 for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict. 16 You will be delivered up even by parents and brothers3 and relatives and friends, and some of you they will put to death. 17 You will be hated by all for my name's sake. 18 But not a hair of your head will perish. 19 By your endurance you will gain your lives. Jesus Foretells Destruction of Jerusalem 20 “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has come near. 21 Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, and let those who are inside the city depart, and let not those who are out in the country enter it, 22 for these are days of vengeance, to fulfill all that is written. 23 Alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! For there will be great distress upon the earth and wrath against this people. 24 They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive among all nations, and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. The Coming of the Son of Man 25 “And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, 26 people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27 And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” The Lesson of the Fig Tree 29 And he told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. 30 As soon as they come out in leaf, you see for yourselves and know that the summer is already near. 31 So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. 32 Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all has taken place. 33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. Watch Yourselves 34 “But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap. 35 For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.” 37 And every day he was teaching in the temple, but at night he went out and lodged on the mount called Olivet. 38 And early in the morning all the people came to him in the temple to hear him. Footnotes [1] 21:1 Greek He [2] 21:2 Greek two lepta; a lepton was a Jewish bronze or copper coin worth about 1/128 of a denarius (which was a day's wage for a laborer) [3] 21:16 Or parents and brothers and sisters (ESV)
Morning: Job 31–32 Job 31–32 (Listen) Job's Final Appeal 31 “I have made a covenant with my eyes; how then could I gaze at a virgin?2 What would be my portion from God above and my heritage from the Almighty on high?3 Is not calamity for the unrighteous, and disaster for the workers of iniquity?4 Does not he see my ways and number all my steps? 5 “If I have walked with falsehood and my foot has hastened to deceit;6 (Let me be weighed in a just balance, and let God know my integrity!)7 if my step has turned aside from the way and my heart has gone after my eyes, and if any spot has stuck to my hands,8 then let me sow, and another eat, and let what grows for me1 be rooted out. 9 “If my heart has been enticed toward a woman, and I have lain in wait at my neighbor's door,10 then let my wife grind for another, and let others bow down on her.11 For that would be a heinous crime; that would be an iniquity to be punished by the judges;12 for that would be a fire that consumes as far as Abaddon, and it would burn to the root all my increase. 13 “If I have rejected the cause of my manservant or my maidservant, when they brought a complaint against me,14 what then shall I do when God rises up? When he makes inquiry, what shall I answer him?15 Did not he who made me in the womb make him? And did not one fashion us in the womb? 16 “If I have withheld anything that the poor desired, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail,17 or have eaten my morsel alone, and the fatherless has not eaten of it18 (for from my youth the fatherless2 grew up with me as with a father, and from my mother's womb I guided the widow3),19 if I have seen anyone perish for lack of clothing, or the needy without covering,20 if his body has not blessed me,4 and if he was not warmed with the fleece of my sheep,21 if I have raised my hand against the fatherless, because I saw my help in the gate,22 then let my shoulder blade fall from my shoulder, and let my arm be broken from its socket.23 For I was in terror of calamity from God, and I could not have faced his majesty. 24 “If I have made gold my trust or called fine gold my confidence,25 if I have rejoiced because my wealth was abundant or because my hand had found much,26 if I have looked at the sun5 when it shone, or the moon moving in splendor,27 and my heart has been secretly enticed, and my mouth has kissed my hand,28 this also would be an iniquity to be punished by the judges, for I would have been false to God above. 29 “If I have rejoiced at the ruin of him who hated me, or exulted when evil overtook him30 (I have not let my mouth sin by asking for his life with a curse),31 if the men of my tent have not said, ‘Who is there that has not been filled with his meat?'32 (the sojourner has not lodged in the street; I have opened my doors to the traveler),33 if I have concealed my transgressions as others do6 by hiding my iniquity in my heart,34 because I stood in great fear of the multitude, and the contempt of families terrified me, so that I kept silence, and did not go out of doors—35 Oh, that I had one to hear me! (Here is my signature! Let the Almighty answer me!) Oh, that I had the indictment written by my adversary!36 Surely I would carry it on my shoulder; I would bind it on me as a crown;37 I would give him an account of all my steps; like a prince I would approach him. 38 “If my land has cried out against me and its furrows have wept together,39 if I have eaten its yield without payment and made its owners breathe their last,40 let thorns grow instead of wheat, and foul weeds instead of barley.” The words of Job are ended. Elihu Rebukes Job's Three Friends 32 So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. 2 Then Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, burned with anger. He burned with anger at Job because he justified himself rather than God. 3 He burned with anger also at Job's three friends because they had found no answer, although they had declared Job to be in the wrong. 4 Now Elihu had waited to speak to Job because they were older than he. 5 And when Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, he burned with anger. 6 And Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered and said: “I am young in years, and you are aged; therefore I was timid and afraid to declare my opinion to you.7 I said, ‘Let days speak, and many years teach wisdom.'8 But it is the spirit in man, the breath of the Almighty, that makes him understand.9 It is not the old7 who are wise, nor the aged who understand what is right.10 Therefore I say, ‘Listen to me; let me also declare my opinion.' 11 “Behold, I waited for your words, I listened for your wise sayings, while you searched out what to say.12 I gave you my attention, and, behold, there was none among you who refuted Job or who answered his words.13 Beware lest you say, ‘We have found wisdom; God may vanquish him, not a man.'14 He has not directed his words against me, and I will not answer him with your speeches. 15 “They are dismayed; they answer no more; they have not a word to say.16 And shall I wait, because they do not speak, because they stand there, and answer no more?17 I also will answer with my share; I also will declare my opinion.18 For I am full of words; the spirit within me constrains me.19 Behold, my belly is like wine that has no vent; like new wineskins ready to burst.20 I must speak, that I may find relief; I must open my lips and answer.21 I will not show partiality to any man or use flattery toward any person.22 For I do not know how to flatter, else my Maker would soon take me away. Footnotes [1] 31:8 Or let my descendants [2] 31:18 Hebrew he [3] 31:18 Hebrew her [4] 31:20 Hebrew if his loins have not blessed me [5] 31:26 Hebrew the light [6] 31:33 Or as Adam did [7] 32:9 Hebrew many [in years] (ESV) Evening: Acts 13:1–23 Acts 13:1–23 (Listen) Barnabas and Saul Sent Off 13 Now there were in the church at Antioch prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger,1 Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a lifelong friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3 Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off. Barnabas and Saul on Cyprus 4 So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus. 5 When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. And they had John to assist them. 6 When they had gone through the whole island as far as Paphos, they came upon a certain magician, a Jewish false prophet named Bar-Jesus. 7 He was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, a man of intelligence, who summoned Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God. 8 But Elymas the magician (for that is the meaning of his name) opposed them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith. 9 But Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him 10 and said, “You son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, full of all deceit and villainy, will you not stop making crooked the straight paths of the Lord? 11 And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you will be blind and unable to see the sun for a time.” Immediately mist and darkness fell upon him, and he went about seeking people to lead him by the hand. 12 Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had occurred, for he was astonished at the teaching of the Lord. Paul and Barnabas at Antioch in Pisidia 13 Now Paul and his companions set sail from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia. And John left them and returned to Jerusalem, 14 but they went on from Perga and came to Antioch in Pisidia. And on the Sabbath day they went into the synagogue and sat down. 15 After the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent a message to them, saying, “Brothers, if you have any word of encouragement for the people, say it.” 16 So Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand said: “Men of Israel and you who fear God, listen. 17 The God of this people Israel chose our fathers and made the people great during their stay in the land of Egypt, and with uplifted arm he led them out of it. 18 And for about forty years he put up with2 them in the wilderness. 19 And after destroying seven nations in the land of Canaan, he gave them their land as an inheritance. 20 All this took about 450 years. And after that he gave them judges until Samuel the prophet. 21 Then they asked for a king, and God gave them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years. 22 And when he had removed him, he raised up David to be their king, of whom he testified and said, ‘I have found in David the son of Jesse a man after my heart, who will do all my will.' 23 Of this man's offspring God has brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus, as he promised. Footnotes [1] 13:1 Niger is a Latin word meaning black, or dark [2] 13:18 Some manuscripts he carried (compare Deuteronomy 1:31) (ESV)
Job 32–34 Job 32–34 (Listen) Elihu Rebukes Job's Three Friends 32 So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. 2 Then Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, burned with anger. He burned with anger at Job because he justified himself rather than God. 3 He burned with anger also at Job's three friends because they had found no answer, although they had declared Job to be in the wrong. 4 Now Elihu had waited to speak to Job because they were older than he. 5 And when Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, he burned with anger. 6 And Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered and said: “I am young in years, and you are aged; therefore I was timid and afraid to declare my opinion to you.7 I said, ‘Let days speak, and many years teach wisdom.'8 But it is the spirit in man, the breath of the Almighty, that makes him understand.9 It is not the old1 who are wise, nor the aged who understand what is right.10 Therefore I say, ‘Listen to me; let me also declare my opinion.' 11 “Behold, I waited for your words, I listened for your wise sayings, while you searched out what to say.12 I gave you my attention, and, behold, there was none among you who refuted Job or who answered his words.13 Beware lest you say, ‘We have found wisdom; God may vanquish him, not a man.'14 He has not directed his words against me, and I will not answer him with your speeches. 15 “They are dismayed; they answer no more; they have not a word to say.16 And shall I wait, because they do not speak, because they stand there, and answer no more?17 I also will answer with my share; I also will declare my opinion.18 For I am full of words; the spirit within me constrains me.19 Behold, my belly is like wine that has no vent; like new wineskins ready to burst.20 I must speak, that I may find relief; I must open my lips and answer.21 I will not show partiality to any man or use flattery toward any person.22 For I do not know how to flatter, else my Maker would soon take me away. Elihu Rebukes Job 33 “But now, hear my speech, O Job, and listen to all my words.2 Behold, I open my mouth; the tongue in my mouth speaks.3 My words declare the uprightness of my heart, and what my lips know they speak sincerely.4 The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.5 Answer me, if you can; set your words in order before me; take your stand.6 Behold, I am toward God as you are; I too was pinched off from a piece of clay.7 Behold, no fear of me need terrify you; my pressure will not be heavy upon you. 8 “Surely you have spoken in my ears, and I have heard the sound of your words.9 You say, ‘I am pure, without transgression; I am clean, and there is no iniquity in me.10 Behold, he finds occasions against me, he counts me as his enemy,11 he puts my feet in the stocks and watches all my paths.' 12 “Behold, in this you are not right. I will answer you, for God is greater than man.13 Why do you contend against him, saying, ‘He will answer none of man's2 words'?314 For God speaks in one way, and in two, though man does not perceive it.15 In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on men, while they slumber on their beds,16 then he opens the ears of men and terrifies4 them with warnings,17 that he may turn man aside from his deed and conceal pride from a man;18 he keeps back his soul from the pit, his life from perishing by the sword. 19 “Man is also rebuked with pain on his bed and with continual strife in his bones,20 so that his life loathes bread, and his appetite the choicest food.21 His flesh is so wasted away that it cannot be seen, and his bones that were not seen stick out.22 His soul draws near the pit, and his life to those who bring death.23 If there be for him an angel, a mediator, one of the thousand, to declare to man what is right for him,24 and he is merciful to him, and says, ‘Deliver him from going down into the pit; I have found a ransom;25 let his flesh become fresh with youth; let him return to the days of his youthful vigor';26 then man5 prays to God, and he accepts him; he sees his face with a shout of joy, and he restores to man his righteousness.27 He sings before men and says: ‘I sinned and perverted what was right, and it was not repaid to me.28 He has redeemed my soul from going down into the pit, and my life shall look upon the light.' 29 “Behold, God does all these things, twice, three times, with a man,30 to bring back his soul from the pit, that he may be lighted with the light of life.31 Pay attention, O Job, listen to me; be silent, and I will speak.32 If you have any words, answer me; speak, for I desire to justify you.33 If not, listen to me; be silent, and I will teach you wisdom.” Elihu Asserts God's Justice 34 Then Elihu answered and said: 2 “Hear my words, you wise men, and give ear to me, you who know;3 for the ear tests words as the palate tastes food.4 Let us choose what is right; let us know among ourselves what is good.5 For Job has said, ‘I am in the right, and God has taken away my right;6 in spite of my right I am counted a liar; my wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.'7 What man is like Job, who drinks up scoffing like water,8 who travels in company with evildoers and walks with wicked men?9 For he has said, ‘It profits a man nothing that he should take delight in God.' 10 “Therefore, hear me, you men of understanding: far be it from God that he should do wickedness, and from the Almighty that he should do wrong.11 For according to the work of a man he will repay him, and according to his ways he will make it befall him.12 Of a truth, God will not do wickedly, and the Almighty will not pervert justice.13 Who gave him charge over the earth, and who laid on him6 the whole world?14 If he should set his heart to it and gather to himself his spirit and his breath,15 all flesh would perish together, and man would return to dust. 16 “If you have understanding, hear this; listen to what I say.17 Shall one who hates justice govern? Will you condemn him who is righteous and mighty,18 who says to a king, ‘Worthless one,' and to nobles, ‘Wicked man,'19 who shows no partiality to princes, nor regards the rich more than the poor, for they are all the work of his hands?20 In a moment they die; at midnight the people are shaken and pass away, and the mighty are taken away by no human hand. 21 “For his eyes are on the ways of a man, and he sees all his steps.22 There is no gloom or deep darkness where evildoers may hide themselves.23 For God7 has no need to consider a man further, that he should go before God in judgment.24 He shatters the mighty without investigation and sets others in their place.25 Thus, knowing their works, he overturns them in the night, and they are crushed.26 He strikes them for their wickedness in a place for all to see,27 because they turned aside from following him and had no regard for any of his ways,28 so that they caused the cry of the poor to come to him, and he heard the cry of the afflicted—29 When he is quiet, who can condemn? When he hides his face, who can behold him, whether it be a nation or a man?—30 that a godless man should not reign, that he should not ensnare the people. 31 “For has anyone said to God, ‘I have borne punishment; I will not offend any more;32 teach me what I do not see; if I have done iniquity, I will do it no more'?33 Will he then make repayment to suit you, because you reject it? For you must choose, and not I; therefore declare what you know.834 Men of understanding will say to me, and the wise man who hears me will say:35 ‘Job speaks without knowledge; his words are without insight.'36 Would that Job were tried to the end, because he answers like wicked men.37 For he adds rebellion to his sin; he claps his hands among us and multiplies his words against God.” Footnotes [1] 32:9 Hebrew many [in years] [2] 33:13 Hebrew his [3] 33:13 Or He will not answer for any of his own words [4] 33:16 Or seals [5] 33:26 Hebrew he [6] 34:13 Hebrew lacks on him [7] 34:23 Hebrew he [8] 34:33 The meaning of the Hebrew in verses 29–33 is uncertain (ESV)
Job 32–34 Job 32–34 (Listen) Elihu Rebukes Job’s Three Friends 32 So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. 2 Then Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, burned with anger. He burned with anger at Job because he justified himself rather than God. 3 He burned with anger also at Job’s three friends because they had found no answer, although they had declared Job to be in the wrong. 4 Now Elihu had waited to speak to Job because they were older than he. 5 And when Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, he burned with anger. 6 And Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered and said: “I am young in years, and you are aged; therefore I was timid and afraid to declare my opinion to you.7 I said, ‘Let days speak, and many years teach wisdom.’8 But it is the spirit in man, the breath of the Almighty, that makes him understand.9 It is not the old1 who are wise, nor the aged who understand what is right.10 Therefore I say, ‘Listen to me; let me also declare my opinion.’ 11 “Behold, I waited for your words, I listened for your wise sayings, while you searched out what to say.12 I gave you my attention, and, behold, there was none among you who refuted Job or who answered his words.13 Beware lest you say, ‘We have found wisdom; God may vanquish him, not a man.’14 He has not directed his words against me, and I will not answer him with your speeches. 15 “They are dismayed; they answer no more; they have not a word to say.16 And shall I wait, because they do not speak, because they stand there, and answer no more?17 I also will answer with my share; I also will declare my opinion.18 For I am full of words; the spirit within me constrains me.19 Behold, my belly is like wine that has no vent; like new wineskins ready to burst.20 I must speak, that I may find relief; I must open my lips and answer.21 I will not show partiality to any man or use flattery toward any person.22 For I do not know how to flatter, else my Maker would soon take me away. Elihu Rebukes Job 33 “But now, hear my speech, O Job, and listen to all my words.2 Behold, I open my mouth; the tongue in my mouth speaks.3 My words declare the uprightness of my heart, and what my lips know they speak sincerely.4 The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.5 Answer me, if you can; set your words in order before me; take your stand.6 Behold, I am toward God as you are; I too was pinched off from a piece of clay.7 Behold, no fear of me need terrify you; my pressure will not be heavy upon you. 8 “Surely you have spoken in my ears, and I have heard the sound of your words.9 You say, ‘I am pure, without transgression; I am clean, and there is no iniquity in me.10 Behold, he finds occasions against me, he counts me as his enemy,11 he puts my feet in the stocks and watches all my paths.’ 12 “Behold, in this you are not right. I will answer you, for God is greater than man.13 Why do you contend against him, saying, ‘He will answer none of man’s2 words’?314 For God speaks in one way, and in two, though man does not perceive it.15 In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on men, while they slumber on their beds,16 then he opens the ears of men and terrifies4 them with warnings,17 that he may turn man aside from his deed and conceal pride from a man;18 he keeps back his soul from the pit, his life from perishing by the sword. 19 “Man is also rebuked with pain on his bed and with continual strife in his bones,20 so that his life loathes bread, and his appetite the choicest food.21 His flesh is so wasted away that it cannot be seen, and his bones that were not seen stick out.22 His soul draws near the pit, and his life to those who bring death.23 If there be for him an angel, a mediator, one of the thousand, to declare to man what is right for him,24 and he is merciful to him, and says, ‘Deliver him from going down into the pit; I have found a ransom;25 let his flesh become fresh with youth; let him return to the days of his youthful vigor’;26 then man5 prays to God, and he accepts him; he sees his face with a shout of joy, and he restores to man his righteousness.27 He sings before men and says: ‘I sinned and perverted what was right, and it was not repaid to me.28 He has redeemed my soul from going down into the pit, and my life shall look upon the light.’ 29 “Behold, God does all these things, twice, three times, with a man,30 to bring back his soul from the pit, that he may be lighted with the light of life.31 Pay attention, O Job, listen to me; be silent, and I will speak.32 If you have any words, answer me; speak, for I desire to justify you.33 If not, listen to me; be silent, and I will teach you wisdom.” Elihu Asserts God’s Justice 34 Then Elihu answered and said: 2 “Hear my words, you wise men, and give ear to me, you who know;3 for the ear tests words as the palate tastes food.4 Let us choose what is right; let us know among ourselves what is good.5 For Job has said, ‘I am in the right, and God has taken away my right;6 in spite of my right I am counted a liar; my wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.’7 What man is like Job, who drinks up scoffing like water,8 who travels in company with evildoers and walks with wicked men?9 For he has said, ‘It profits a man nothing that he should take delight in God.’ 10 “Therefore, hear me, you men of understanding: far be it from God that he should do wickedness, and from the Almighty that he should do wrong.11 For according to the work of a man he will repay him, and according to his ways he will make it befall him.12 Of a truth, God will not do wickedly, and the Almighty will not pervert justice.13 Who gave him charge over the earth, and who laid on him6 the whole world?14 If he should set his heart to it and gather to himself his spirit and his breath,15 all flesh would perish together, and man would return to dust. 16 “If you have understanding, hear this; listen to what I say.17 Shall one who hates justice govern? Will you condemn him who is righteous and mighty,18 who says to a king, ‘Worthless one,’ and to nobles, ‘Wicked man,’19 who shows no partiality to princes, nor regards the rich more than the poor, for they are all the work of his hands?20 In a moment they die; at midnight the people are shaken and pass away, and the mighty are taken away by no human hand. 21 “For his eyes are on the ways of a man, and he sees all his steps.22 There is no gloom or deep darkness where evildoers may hide themselves.23 For God7 has no need to consider a man further, that he should go before God in judgment.24 He shatters the mighty without investigation and sets others in their place.25 Thus, knowing their works, he overturns them in the night, and they are crushed.26 He strikes them for their wickedness in a place for all to see,27 because they turned aside from following him and had no regard for any of his ways,28 so that they caused the cry of the poor to come to him, and he heard the cry of the afflicted—29 When he is quiet, who can condemn? When he hides his face, who can behold him, whether it be a nation or a man?—30 that a godless man should not reign, that he should not ensnare the people. 31 “For has anyone said to God, ‘I have borne punishment; I will not offend any more;32 teach me what I do not see; if I have done iniquity, I will do it no more’?33 Will he then make repayment to suit you, because you reject it? For you must choose, and not I; therefore declare what you know.834 Men of understanding will say to me, and the wise man who hears me will say:35 ‘Job speaks without knowledge; his words are without insight.’36 Would that Job were tried to the end, because he answers like wicked men.37 For he adds rebellion to his sin; he claps his hands among us and multiplies his words against God.” Footnotes [1] 32:9 Hebrew many [in years] [2] 33:13 Hebrew his [3] 33:13 Or He will not answer for any of his own words [4] 33:16 Or seals [5] 33:26 Hebrew he [6] 34:13 Hebrew lacks on him [7] 34:23 Hebrew he [8] 34:33 The meaning of the Hebrew in verses 29–33 is uncertain (ESV)
Sunday January 5thJob 32-37In 1st Timothy 4:12 the Apostle Paul reminds young Timothy that even those who are in their youth can have something valuable to offer. He says: Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe.As the whirlwind conversation/argument between Job and his three old friends finally comes to an end Chapter 32 starts with these words:“Job's three friends now fell silent because Job wouldn't admit to an ounce of guilt.”As we talked about before, Job was a righteous man, but his attitude with his old friends had started to drift into self-righteousness. And this didn't sit well at all with a young man named Elihu who had been standing by watching the whole thing unfold. Here's what we find out as Chapter 32 continues:Then Elihu lost his temper. He blazed out in anger against Job for pitting his righteousness against God's. He was also angry with Job's three friends because they had not proved Job wrong.Elihu had waited while they spoke because they were all older than him. But when he saw that the three other men had exhausted their arguments, he exploded with pent-up anger.This is what Elihu said:“I'm a young man, and you're all old and more experienced.That's why I kept quiet.I kept thinking, ‘The longer you live, the wiser you become.'But I guess I was wrong-- getting old doesn't guarantee good sense.So I've decided to speak! I'm going to tell you exactly what I think.Do you three have anything else to say? Of course you don't! You're total frauds!Now it's my turn and I've got a lot to say!And I'm going to say it straight-- the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.So please, Job, hear me out.What I'm about to say has been carefully thought out. I'm speaking honestly from my heart.And if you think you can prove me wrong, do it.(Despite Elihu's intensity, he does try to show respect for his elders by acknowledging that they surely must know more than him. Then he criticizes them for giving up so quickly in the face of Job's stubbornness. He also shows respect for Job by asking him to PLEASE LISTEN, and he is the only one who calls Job by his name, something that none of the other three did in all of their arguments. Then Elihu continues speaking to Job.)Here's what you said. I heard you say it with my own ears.You said, ‘I'm pure—I've done nothing wrong.But God keeps picking on me.But let me tell you, Job, you're dead wrong! God is far greater than any human.So how dare you try to haul him into courtand then complain that he won't answer you?God always answers, one way or another, even when people don't recognize his presence.In a dream or a vision at night,when men are asleep,God opens their ears with warningsTo turn them back from something bad they're planning.Or, God might get their attention through painor suffering.This is the way God works.(There are several points Elihu makes here that are significant:1. He quotes Job's own words back to him directly rather than trying to put words in Job's mouth like the others did.2. He points out that God isn't necessarily refusing to answer Job's questions; in fact it's more likely that Job simply isn't listening. Because, Elihu says, God often speaks to us while we are asleep.3. Elihu acknowledges that Job's suffering is truly painful, but he reminds Job that God often USES pain and suffering AS a way of communicating to us that we've gotten off track.Now Elihu continues to make his case, like a lawyer.)34 We've all heard Job say, ‘I'm in the right, but God won't give me a fair trial. I've done nothing wrong, and I get punished anyway. It doesn't pay to try to please God!'But it's impossible for God to do anything evilHe makes us pay for exactly what we've done--no more, no less.He punishes the wicked for their wickedness.(This part of Elihu's argument is exactly the same as the other three friends. He is “defending God” against Job's accusation that God has been treating him unfairly. And his advice for Job now will also be the same as theirs.)So why don't you simply confess to God? Say, ‘I sinned, but I'll sin no more. Whatever evil I've done, I'll do it no more.' Job, you need to be called into account for talking to God the way you have.You've compounded your original sin by rebelling against God's discipline.(Remember that Job had not “sinned with his lips” when all of the tragedies originally struck.He refused to curse God for his misfortune. But then Job started to drift into a bit of self-righteousness. Elihu warns Job that, whatever the original sin was that he supposedly committed, this self-righteous attitude is a whole different level of sin. Then Elihu uses a new tactic; proving that an all-powerful God is incapable of making mistakes.)35 You say, ‘I'm perfectly innocent before God.'Well, I'm going to show you that you don't know what you're talking about.When times get bad, people cry out for help.But they never give God a second thought when things go well.People are indifferent to God-- until they're in trouble. God is powerful, but he doesn't bully innocent people.For the wicked, it's a different story--but those who learn from their suffering, God delivers from their suffering.Job, don't you see how God's inviting you to a table of blessings?And here you are obsessed with putting the blame on God!Don't make things worse with more evil-- that's what's behind your suffering as it is!(Elihu seems to feel that maybe Job took God for granted when things were going well, After all, he says, don't we all do that? In the final part of his case, Elihu tries to use the forces of nature to convince Job that God is WAY more powerful than any human being can comprehend.)Look up at the sky. Do you see those clouds towering above you? Do you have any idea how powerful God is?He pulls water up out of the sea, and fills up clouds.Then the skies open up and pour out showers on everyone.Do you have the slightest idea how this happens?Listen to his thunder.Look at his lightning.He tells the snow, ‘Blanket the earth' and it does!No one can escape from God.Job, are you listening? If you're so smart, give us all a lesson in how to address God.Do you think I'm dumb enough to challenge God? It's unthinkable that he'd treat anyone unfairly.So my advice to you is to just bow to him in reverence!If you're really wise, you'll worship him.Keep in mind that in the next few chapters, when God finally speaks, God will chastise Job and will chastise his three older friends, but He doesn't chastise Elihu. In fact God will use some of Elihu's same points in correcting Job and his three friends.Maybe God was just cutting Elihu some slack because he was young, but some scholars believe that Elihu was actually being led by the Holy Spirit in the words that he spoke. And if that's the case, we should pay particular attention to Elihu's words, especially these words from Chapter 33, verses 23-28:“An angel could come, —there are thousands of them!-- to take up your cause,A messenger who would mercifully intervene, canceling the death sentence with the words: ‘I've come up with the ransom!'Before you know it, you're healed, the very picture of health!“Or, you may fall on your knees and pray—to God's delight! You'll see God's smile and celebrate, finding yourself set right with God.You'll sing God's praises to everyone you meet, testifying, ‘I messed up my life-- and let me tell you, it wasn't worth it.But God stepped in and saved me from certain death. I'm alive again! Once more I see the light!'We need to remember that every book of the bible tells the story of salvation. Even the Old Testament books talk about the gospel message of Jesus, the coming savior, if we understand how to interpret them. Jesus said in John 5:39“You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me.”So where is Jesus found in the book of Job?We already saw that Job testified in Job 19:25“As for me, I know that my Redeemer lives,And at the last He will take His stand on the earth.”Job didn't know that his redeemer would be Jesus; he just knew that there WOULD be a redeemer.In the same way, when Elihu tells Job about“A messenger who would mercifully intervene, canceling the death sentence with the words: ‘I've come up with the ransom!'”Elihu doesn't know that Jesus, the messenger who will cancel the sentence of death over our lives, will pay the ransom, the price for our freedom, with his own death on the cross!But Elihu, inspired by the Holy Spirit, shares with Job the wonderful prophetic promise that when our ransom is paid, when we've finally set free from sin by our faith in Jesus, then“finding yourself set right with God.You'll sing God's praises to everyone you meet, testifying, ‘I messed up my life-- and let me tell you, it wasn't worth it.But God stepped in and saved me from certain death. I'm alive again! Once more I see the light!'That wasn't just a promise to Job. It was a promise to ALL of us!Who here can testify today that “I messed up my life and it wasn't worth it”?Who here can proclaim “God stepped in and saved me from death”?Who here can announce “I'm alive again! Once more I see the light!”Even if the trials and challenges you are facing today seem as harsh and insurmountable as Job's; let me assure you that there is a redeemer who has paid your ransom, to bring you back from certain death into eternal life, and to call you out of the darkness into His marvelous light!
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