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Morning: Job 40–42 Job 40–42 (Listen) 40 And the LORD said to Job: 2 “Shall a faultfinder contend with the Almighty? He who argues with God, let him answer it.” Job Promises Silence 3 Then Job answered the LORD and said: 4 “Behold, I am of small account; what shall I answer you? I lay my hand on my mouth.5 I have spoken once, and I will not answer; twice, but I will proceed no further.” The Lord Challenges Job 6 Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind and said: 7 “Dress for action1 like a man; I will question you, and you make it known to me.8 Will you even put me in the wrong? Will you condemn me that you may be in the right?9 Have you an arm like God, and can you thunder with a voice like his? 10 “Adorn yourself with majesty and dignity; clothe yourself with glory and splendor.11 Pour out the overflowings of your anger, and look on everyone who is proud and abase him.12 Look on everyone who is proud and bring him low and tread down the wicked where they stand.13 Hide them all in the dust together; bind their faces in the world below.214 Then will I also acknowledge to you that your own right hand can save you. 15 “Behold, Behemoth,3 which I made as I made you; he eats grass like an ox.16 Behold, his strength in his loins, and his power in the muscles of his belly.17 He makes his tail stiff like a cedar; the sinews of his thighs are knit together.18 His bones are tubes of bronze, his limbs like bars of iron. 19 “He is the first of the works4 of God; let him who made him bring near his sword!20 For the mountains yield food for him where all the wild beasts play.21 Under the lotus plants he lies, in the shelter of the reeds and in the marsh.22 For his shade the lotus trees cover him; the willows of the brook surround him.23 Behold, if the river is turbulent he is not frightened; he is confident though Jordan rushes against his mouth.24 Can one take him by his eyes,5 or pierce his nose with a snare? 41 6 “Can you draw out Leviathan7 with a fishhook or press down his tongue with a cord?2 Can you put a rope in his nose or pierce his jaw with a hook?3 Will he make many pleas to you? Will he speak to you soft words?4 Will he make a covenant with you to take him for your servant forever?5 Will you play with him as with a bird, or will you put him on a leash for your girls?6 Will traders bargain over him? Will they divide him up among the merchants?7 Can you fill his skin with harpoons or his head with fishing spears?8 Lay your hands on him; remember the battle—you will not do it again!9 8 Behold, the hope of a man is false; he is laid low even at the sight of him.10 No one is so fierce that he dares to stir him up. Who then is he who can stand before me?11 Who has first given to me, that I should repay him? Whatever is under the whole heaven is mine. 12 “I will not keep silence concerning his limbs, or his mighty strength, or his goodly frame.13 Who can strip off his outer garment? Who would come near him with a bridle?14 Who can open the doors of his face? Around his teeth is terror.15 His back is made of9 rows of shields, shut up closely as with a seal.16 One is so near to another that no air can come between them.17 They are joined one to another; they clasp each other and cannot be separated.18 His sneezings flash forth light, and his eyes are like the eyelids of the dawn.19 Out of his mouth go flaming torches; sparks of fire leap forth.20 Out of his nostrils comes forth smoke, as from a boiling pot and burning rushes.21 His breath kindles coals, and a flame comes forth from his mouth.22 In his neck abides strength, and terror dances before him.23 The folds of his flesh stick together, firmly cast on him and immovable.24 His heart is hard as a stone, hard as the lower millstone.25 When he raises himself up, the mighty10 are afraid; at the crashing they are beside themselves.26 Though the sword reaches him, it does not avail, nor the spear, the dart, or the javelin.27 He counts iron as straw, and bronze as rotten wood.28 The arrow cannot make him flee; for him, sling stones are turned to stubble.29 Clubs are counted as stubble; he laughs at the rattle of javelins.30 His underparts are like sharp potsherds; he spreads himself like a threshing sledge on the mire.31 He makes the deep boil like a pot; he makes the sea like a pot of ointment.32 Behind him he leaves a shining wake; one would think the deep to be white-haired.33 On earth there is not his like, a creature without fear.34 He sees everything that is high; he is king over all the sons of pride.” Job's Confession and Repentance 42 Then Job answered the LORD and said: 2 “I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.3 ‘Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?' Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.4 ‘Hear, and I will speak; I will question you, and you make it known to me.'5 I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you;6 therefore I despise myself, and repent11 in dust and ashes.” The Lord Rebukes Job's Friends 7 After the LORD had spoken these words to Job, the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite: “My anger burns against you and against your two friends, for you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has. 8 Now therefore take seven bulls and seven rams and go to my servant Job and offer up a burnt offering for yourselves. And my servant Job shall pray for you, for I will accept his prayer not to deal with you according to your folly. For you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has.” 9 So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite went and did what the LORD had told them, and the LORD accepted Job's prayer. The Lord Restores Job's Fortunes 10 And the LORD restored the fortunes of Job, when he had prayed for his friends. And the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before. 11 Then came to him all his brothers and sisters and all who had known him before, and ate bread with him in his house. And they showed him sympathy and comforted him for all the evil12 that the LORD had brought upon him. And each of them gave him a piece of money13 and a ring of gold. 12 And the LORD blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning. And he had 14,000 sheep, 6,000 camels, 1,000 yoke of oxen, and 1,000 female donkeys. 13 He had also seven sons and three daughters. 14 And he called the name of the first daughter Jemimah, and the name of the second Keziah, and the name of the third Keren-happuch. 15 And in all the land there were no women so beautiful as Job's daughters. And their father gave them an inheritance among their brothers. 16 And after this Job lived 140 years, and saw his sons, and his sons' sons, four generations. 17 And Job died, an old man, and full of days. Footnotes [1] 40:7 Hebrew Gird up your loins [2] 40:13 Hebrew in the hidden place [3] 40:15 A large animal, exact identity unknown [4] 40:19 Hebrew ways [5] 40:24 Or in his sight [6] 41:1 Ch 40:25 in Hebrew [7] 41:1 A large sea animal, exact identity unknown [8] 41:9 Ch 41:1 in Hebrew [9] 41:15 Or His pride is in his [10] 41:25 Or gods [11] 42:6 Or and am comforted [12] 42:11 Or disaster [13] 42:11 Hebrew a qesitah; a unit of money of unknown value (ESV) Evening: Acts 15:22–41 Acts 15:22–41 (Listen) The Council's Letter to Gentile Believers 22 Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men from among them and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They sent Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, leading men among the brothers, 23 with the following letter: “The brothers, both the apostles and the elders, to the brothers1 who are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, greetings. 24 Since we have heard that some persons have gone out from us and troubled you2 with words, unsettling your minds, although we gave them no instructions, 25 it has seemed good to us, having come to one accord, to choose men and send them to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, 26 men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27 We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who themselves will tell you the same things by word of mouth. 28 For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay on you no greater burden than these requirements: 29 that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell.” 30 So when they were sent off, they went down to Antioch, and having gathered the congregation together, they delivered the letter. 31 And when they had read it, they rejoiced because of its encouragement. 32 And Judas and Silas, who were themselves prophets, encouraged and strengthened the brothers with many words. 33 And after they had spent some time, they were sent off in peace by the brothers to those who had sent them.3 35 But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also. Paul and Barnabas Separate 36 And after some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us return and visit the brothers in every city where we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they are.” 37 Now Barnabas wanted to take with them John called Mark. 38 But Paul thought best not to take with them one who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work. 39 And there arose a sharp disagreement, so that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus, 40 but Paul chose Silas and departed, having been commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. 41 And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches. Footnotes [1] 15:23 Or brothers and sisters; also verses 32, 33, 36 [2] 15:24 Some manuscripts some persons from us have troubled you [3] 15:33 Some manuscripts insert verse 34: But it seemed good to Silas to remain there (ESV)
Morning: Job 26–28 Job 26–28 (Listen) Job Replies: God's Majesty Is Unsearchable 26 Then Job answered and said: 2 “How you have helped him who has no power! How you have saved the arm that has no strength!3 How you have counseled him who has no wisdom, and plentifully declared sound knowledge!4 With whose help have you uttered words, and whose breath has come out from you?5 The dead tremble under the waters and their inhabitants.6 Sheol is naked before God,1 and Abaddon has no covering.7 He stretches out the north over the void and hangs the earth on nothing.8 He binds up the waters in his thick clouds, and the cloud is not split open under them.9 He covers the face of the full moon2 and spreads over it his cloud.10 He has inscribed a circle on the face of the waters at the boundary between light and darkness.11 The pillars of heaven tremble and are astounded at his rebuke.12 By his power he stilled the sea; by his understanding he shattered Rahab.13 By his wind the heavens were made fair; his hand pierced the fleeing serpent.14 Behold, these are but the outskirts of his ways, and how small a whisper do we hear of him! But the thunder of his power who can understand?” Job Continues: I Will Maintain My Integrity 27 And Job again took up his discourse, and said: 2 “As God lives, who has taken away my right, and the Almighty, who has made my soul bitter,3 as long as my breath is in me, and the spirit of God is in my nostrils,4 my lips will not speak falsehood, and my tongue will not utter deceit.5 Far be it from me to say that you are right; till I die I will not put away my integrity from me.6 I hold fast my righteousness and will not let it go; my heart does not reproach me for any of my days. 7 “Let my enemy be as the wicked, and let him who rises up against me be as the unrighteous.8 For what is the hope of the godless when God cuts him off, when God takes away his life?9 Will God hear his cry when distress comes upon him?10 Will he take delight in the Almighty? Will he call upon God at all times?11 I will teach you concerning the hand of God; what is with the Almighty I will not conceal.12 Behold, all of you have seen it yourselves; why then have you become altogether vain? 13 “This is the portion of a wicked man with God, and the heritage that oppressors receive from the Almighty:14 If his children are multiplied, it is for the sword, and his descendants have not enough bread.15 Those who survive him the pestilence buries, and his widows do not weep.16 Though he heap up silver like dust, and pile up clothing like clay,17 he may pile it up, but the righteous will wear it, and the innocent will divide the silver.18 He builds his house like a moth's, like a booth that a watchman makes.19 He goes to bed rich, but will do so no more; he opens his eyes, and his wealth is gone.20 Terrors overtake him like a flood; in the night a whirlwind carries him off.21 The east wind lifts him up and he is gone; it sweeps him out of his place.22 It3 hurls at him without pity; he flees from its4 power in headlong flight.23 It claps its hands at him and hisses at him from its place. Job Continues: Where Is Wisdom? 28 “Surely there is a mine for silver, and a place for gold that they refine.2 Iron is taken out of the earth, and copper is smelted from the ore.3 Man puts an end to darkness and searches out to the farthest limit the ore in gloom and deep darkness.4 He opens shafts in a valley away from where anyone lives; they are forgotten by travelers; they hang in the air, far away from mankind; they swing to and fro.5 As for the earth, out of it comes bread, but underneath it is turned up as by fire.6 Its stones are the place of sapphires,5 and it has dust of gold. 7 “That path no bird of prey knows, and the falcon's eye has not seen it.8 The proud beasts have not trodden it; the lion has not passed over it. 9 “Man puts his hand to the flinty rock and overturns mountains by the roots.10 He cuts out channels in the rocks, and his eye sees every precious thing.11 He dams up the streams so that they do not trickle, and the thing that is hidden he brings out to light. 12 “But where shall wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding?13 Man does not know its worth, and it is not found in the land of the living.14 The deep says, ‘It is not in me,' and the sea says, ‘It is not with me.'15 It cannot be bought for gold, and silver cannot be weighed as its price.16 It cannot be valued in the gold of Ophir, in precious onyx or sapphire.17 Gold and glass cannot equal it, nor can it be exchanged for jewels of fine gold.18 No mention shall be made of coral or of crystal; the price of wisdom is above pearls.19 The topaz of Ethiopia cannot equal it, nor can it be valued in pure gold. 20 “From where, then, does wisdom come? And where is the place of understanding?21 It is hidden from the eyes of all living and concealed from the birds of the air.22 Abaddon and Death say, ‘We have heard a rumor of it with our ears.' 23 “God understands the way to it, and he knows its place.24 For he looks to the ends of the earth and sees everything under the heavens.25 When he gave to the wind its weight and apportioned the waters by measure,26 when he made a decree for the rain and a way for the lightning of the thunder,27 then he saw it and declared it; he established it, and searched it out.28 And he said to man, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.'” Footnotes [1] 26:6 Hebrew him [2] 26:9 Or his throne [3] 27:22 Or He (that is, God); also verse 23 [4] 27:22 Or his; also verse 23 [5] 28:6 Or lapis lazuli; also verse 16 (ESV) Evening: Acts 11 Acts 11 (Listen) Peter Reports to the Church 11 Now the apostles and the brothers1 who were throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. 2 So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcision party2 criticized him, saying, 3 “You went to uncircumcised men and ate with them.” 4 But Peter began and explained it to them in order: 5 “I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision, something like a great sheet descending, being let down from heaven by its four corners, and it came down to me. 6 Looking at it closely, I observed animals and beasts of prey and reptiles and birds of the air. 7 And I heard a voice saying to me, ‘Rise, Peter; kill and eat.' 8 But I said, ‘By no means, Lord; for nothing common or unclean has ever entered my mouth.' 9 But the voice answered a second time from heaven, ‘What God has made clean, do not call common.' 10 This happened three times, and all was drawn up again into heaven. 11 And behold, at that very moment three men arrived at the house in which we were, sent to me from Caesarea. 12 And the Spirit told me to go with them, making no distinction. These six brothers also accompanied me, and we entered the man's house. 13 And he told us how he had seen the angel stand in his house and say, ‘Send to Joppa and bring Simon who is called Peter; 14 he will declare to you a message by which you will be saved, you and all your household.' 15 As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them just as on us at the beginning. 16 And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.' 17 If then God gave the same gift to them as he gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God's way?” 18 When they heard these things they fell silent. And they glorified God, saying, “Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life.” The Church in Antioch 19 Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except Jews. 20 But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who on coming to Antioch spoke to the Hellenists3 also, preaching the Lord Jesus. 21 And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord. 22 The report of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. 23 When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose, 24 for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord. 25 So Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, 26 and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught a great many people. And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians. 27 Now in these days prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28 And one of them named Agabus stood up and foretold by the Spirit that there would be a great famine over all the world (this took place in the days of Claudius). 29 So the disciples determined, every one according to his ability, to send relief to the brothers4 living in Judea. 30 And they did so, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul. Footnotes [1] 11:1 Or brothers and sisters [2] 11:2 Or Jerusalem, those of the circumcision [3] 11:20 Or Greeks (that is, Greek-speaking non-Jews) [4] 11:29 Or brothers and sisters (ESV)
Morning: Job 23–25 Job 23–25 (Listen) Job Replies: Where Is God? 23 Then Job answered and said: 2 “Today also my complaint is bitter;1 my hand is heavy on account of my groaning.3 Oh, that I knew where I might find him, that I might come even to his seat!4 I would lay my case before him and fill my mouth with arguments.5 I would know what he would answer me and understand what he would say to me.6 Would he contend with me in the greatness of his power? No; he would pay attention to me.7 There an upright man could argue with him, and I would be acquitted forever by my judge. 8 “Behold, I go forward, but he is not there, and backward, but I do not perceive him;9 on the left hand when he is working, I do not behold him; he turns to the right hand, but I do not see him.10 But he knows the way that I take; when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold.11 My foot has held fast to his steps; I have kept his way and have not turned aside.12 I have not departed from the commandment of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my portion of food.13 But he is unchangeable,2 and who can turn him back? What he desires, that he does.14 For he will complete what he appoints for me, and many such things are in his mind.15 Therefore I am terrified at his presence; when I consider, I am in dread of him.16 God has made my heart faint; the Almighty has terrified me;17 yet I am not silenced because of the darkness, nor because thick darkness covers my face. 24 “Why are not times of judgment kept by the Almighty, and why do those who know him never see his days?2 Some move landmarks; they seize flocks and pasture them.3 They drive away the donkey of the fatherless; they take the widow's ox for a pledge.4 They thrust the poor off the road; the poor of the earth all hide themselves.5 Behold, like wild donkeys in the desert the poor3 go out to their toil, seeking game; the wasteland yields food for their children.6 They gather their4 fodder in the field, and they glean the vineyard of the wicked man.7 They lie all night naked, without clothing, and have no covering in the cold.8 They are wet with the rain of the mountains and cling to the rock for lack of shelter.9 (There are those who snatch the fatherless child from the breast, and they take a pledge against the poor.)10 They go about naked, without clothing; hungry, they carry the sheaves;11 among the olive rows of the wicked5 they make oil; they tread the winepresses, but suffer thirst.12 From out of the city the dying6 groan, and the soul of the wounded cries for help; yet God charges no one with wrong. 13 “There are those who rebel against the light, who are not acquainted with its ways, and do not stay in its paths.14 The murderer rises before it is light, that he may kill the poor and needy, and in the night he is like a thief.15 The eye of the adulterer also waits for the twilight, saying, ‘No eye will see me'; and he veils his face.16 In the dark they dig through houses; by day they shut themselves up; they do not know the light.17 For deep darkness is morning to all of them; for they are friends with the terrors of deep darkness. 18 “You say, ‘Swift are they on the face of the waters; their portion is cursed in the land; no treader turns toward their vineyards.19 Drought and heat snatch away the snow waters; so does Sheol those who have sinned.20 The womb forgets them; the worm finds them sweet; they are no longer remembered, so wickedness is broken like a tree.' 21 “They wrong the barren, childless woman, and do no good to the widow.22 Yet God7 prolongs the life of the mighty by his power; they rise up when they despair of life.23 He gives them security, and they are supported, and his eyes are upon their ways.24 They are exalted a little while, and then are gone; they are brought low and gathered up like all others; they are cut off like the heads of grain.25 If it is not so, who will prove me a liar and show that there is nothing in what I say?” Bildad Speaks: Man Cannot Be Righteous 25 Then Bildad the Shuhite answered and said: 2 “Dominion and fear are with God;8 he makes peace in his high heaven.3 Is there any number to his armies? Upon whom does his light not arise?4 How then can man be in the right before God? How can he who is born of woman be pure?5 Behold, even the moon is not bright, and the stars are not pure in his eyes;6 how much less man, who is a maggot, and the son of man, who is a worm!” Footnotes [1] 23:2 Or defiant [2] 23:13 Or one [3] 24:5 Hebrew they [4] 24:6 Hebrew his [5] 24:11 Hebrew their olive rows [6] 24:12 Or the men [7] 24:22 Hebrew he [8] 25:2 Hebrew him (ESV) Evening: Acts 10:24–48 Acts 10:24–48 (Listen) 24 And on the following day they entered Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25 When Peter entered, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him. 26 But Peter lifted him up, saying, “Stand up; I too am a man.” 27 And as he talked with him, he went in and found many persons gathered. 28 And he said to them, “You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with or to visit anyone of another nation, but God has shown me that I should not call any person common or unclean. 29 So when I was sent for, I came without objection. I ask then why you sent for me.” 30 And Cornelius said, “Four days ago, about this hour, I was praying in my house at the ninth hour,1 and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing 31 and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your alms have been remembered before God. 32 Send therefore to Joppa and ask for Simon who is called Peter. He is lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea.' 33 So I sent for you at once, and you have been kind enough to come. Now therefore we are all here in the presence of God to hear all that you have been commanded by the Lord.” Gentiles Hear the Good News 34 So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, 35 but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. 36 As for the word that he sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace through Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all), 37 you yourselves know what happened throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism that John proclaimed: 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. 39 And we are witnesses of all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree, 40 but God raised him on the third day and made him to appear, 41 not to all the people but to us who had been chosen by God as witnesses, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42 And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead. 43 To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.” The Holy Spirit Falls on the Gentiles 44 While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. 45 And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles. 46 For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter declared, 47 “Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” 48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to remain for some days. Footnotes [1] 10:30 That is, 3 p.m. (ESV)
Morning: Job 21–22 Job 21–22 (Listen) Job Replies: The Wicked Do Prosper 21 Then Job answered and said: 2 “Keep listening to my words, and let this be your comfort.3 Bear with me, and I will speak, and after I have spoken, mock on.4 As for me, is my complaint against man? Why should I not be impatient?5 Look at me and be appalled, and lay your hand over your mouth.6 When I remember, I am dismayed, and shuddering seizes my flesh.7 Why do the wicked live, reach old age, and grow mighty in power?8 Their offspring are established in their presence, and their descendants before their eyes.9 Their houses are safe from fear, and no rod of God is upon them.10 Their bull breeds without fail; their cow calves and does not miscarry.11 They send out their little boys like a flock, and their children dance.12 They sing to the tambourine and the lyre and rejoice to the sound of the pipe.13 They spend their days in prosperity, and in peace they go down to Sheol.14 They say to God, ‘Depart from us! We do not desire the knowledge of your ways.15 What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? And what profit do we get if we pray to him?'16 Behold, is not their prosperity in their hand? The counsel of the wicked is far from me. 17 “How often is it that the lamp of the wicked is put out? That their calamity comes upon them? That God1 distributes pains in his anger?18 That they are like straw before the wind, and like chaff that the storm carries away?19 You say, ‘God stores up their iniquity for their children.' Let him pay it out to them, that they may know it.20 Let their own eyes see their destruction, and let them drink of the wrath of the Almighty.21 For what do they care for their houses after them, when the number of their months is cut off?22 Will any teach God knowledge, seeing that he judges those who are on high?23 One dies in his full vigor, being wholly at ease and secure,24 his pails2 full of milk and the marrow of his bones moist.25 Another dies in bitterness of soul, never having tasted of prosperity.26 They lie down alike in the dust, and the worms cover them. 27 “Behold, I know your thoughts and your schemes to wrong me.28 For you say, ‘Where is the house of the prince? Where is the tent in which the wicked lived?'29 Have you not asked those who travel the roads, and do you not accept their testimony30 that the evil man is spared in the day of calamity, that he is rescued in the day of wrath?31 Who declares his way to his face, and who repays him for what he has done?32 When he is carried to the grave, watch is kept over his tomb.33 The clods of the valley are sweet to him; all mankind follows after him, and those who go before him are innumerable.34 How then will you comfort me with empty nothings? There is nothing left of your answers but falsehood.” Eliphaz Speaks: Job's Wickedness Is Great 22 Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said: 2 “Can a man be profitable to God? Surely he who is wise is profitable to himself.3 Is it any pleasure to the Almighty if you are in the right, or is it gain to him if you make your ways blameless?4 Is it for your fear of him that he reproves you and enters into judgment with you?5 Is not your evil abundant? There is no end to your iniquities.6 For you have exacted pledges of your brothers for nothing and stripped the naked of their clothing.7 You have given no water to the weary to drink, and you have withheld bread from the hungry.8 The man with power possessed the land, and the favored man lived in it.9 You have sent widows away empty, and the arms of the fatherless were crushed.10 Therefore snares are all around you, and sudden terror overwhelms you,11 or darkness, so that you cannot see, and a flood of water covers you. 12 “Is not God high in the heavens? See the highest stars, how lofty they are!13 But you say, ‘What does God know? Can he judge through the deep darkness?14 Thick clouds veil him, so that he does not see, and he walks on the vault of heaven.'15 Will you keep to the old way that wicked men have trod?16 They were snatched away before their time; their foundation was washed away.317 They said to God, ‘Depart from us,' and ‘What can the Almighty do to us?'418 Yet he filled their houses with good things— but the counsel of the wicked is far from me.19 The righteous see it and are glad; the innocent one mocks at them,20 saying, ‘Surely our adversaries are cut off, and what they left the fire has consumed.' 21 “Agree with God, and be at peace; thereby good will come to you.22 Receive instruction from his mouth, and lay up his words in your heart.23 If you return to the Almighty you will be built up; if you remove injustice far from your tents,24 if you lay gold in the dust, and gold of Ophir among the stones of the torrent-bed,25 then the Almighty will be your gold and your precious silver.26 For then you will delight yourself in the Almighty and lift up your face to God.27 You will make your prayer to him, and he will hear you, and you will pay your vows.28 You will decide on a matter, and it will be established for you, and light will shine on your ways.29 For when they are humbled you say, ‘It is because of pride';5 but he saves the lowly.30 He delivers even the one who is not innocent, who will be delivered through the cleanness of your hands.” Footnotes [1] 21:17 Hebrew he [2] 21:24 The meaning of the Hebrew word is uncertain [3] 22:16 Or their foundation was poured out as a stream (or river) [4] 22:17 Hebrew them [5] 22:29 Or you say, ‘It is exaltation' (ESV) Evening: Acts 10:1–23 Acts 10:1–23 (Listen) Peter and Cornelius 10 At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of what was known as the Italian Cohort, 2 a devout man who feared God with all his household, gave alms generously to the people, and prayed continually to God. 3 About the ninth hour of the day1 he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God come in and say to him, “Cornelius.” 4 And he stared at him in terror and said, “What is it, Lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God. 5 And now send men to Joppa and bring one Simon who is called Peter. 6 He is lodging with one Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea.” 7 When the angel who spoke to him had departed, he called two of his servants and a devout soldier from among those who attended him, 8 and having related everything to them, he sent them to Joppa. Peter's Vision 9 The next day, as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the housetop about the sixth hour2 to pray. 10 And he became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while they were preparing it, he fell into a trance 11 and saw the heavens opened and something like a great sheet descending, being let down by its four corners upon the earth. 12 In it were all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds of the air. 13 And there came a voice to him: “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” 14 But Peter said, “By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.” 15 And the voice came to him again a second time, “What God has made clean, do not call common.” 16 This happened three times, and the thing was taken up at once to heaven. 17 Now while Peter was inwardly perplexed as to what the vision that he had seen might mean, behold, the men who were sent by Cornelius, having made inquiry for Simon's house, stood at the gate 18 and called out to ask whether Simon who was called Peter was lodging there. 19 And while Peter was pondering the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are looking for you. 20 Rise and go down and accompany them without hesitation,3 for I have sent them.” 21 And Peter went down to the men and said, “I am the one you are looking for. What is the reason for your coming?” 22 And they said, “Cornelius, a centurion, an upright and God-fearing man, who is well spoken of by the whole Jewish nation, was directed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house and to hear what you have to say.” 23 So he invited them in to be his guests. The next day he rose and went away with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa accompanied him. Footnotes [1] 10:3 That is, 3 p.m. [2] 10:9 That is, noon [3] 10:20 Or accompany them, making no distinction (ESV)
Morning: Job 19–20 Job 19–20 (Listen) Job Replies: My Redeemer Lives 19 Then Job answered and said: 2 “How long will you torment me and break me in pieces with words?3 These ten times you have cast reproach upon me; are you not ashamed to wrong me?4 And even if it be true that I have erred, my error remains with myself.5 If indeed you magnify yourselves against me and make my disgrace an argument against me,6 know then that God has put me in the wrong and closed his net about me.7 Behold, I cry out, ‘Violence!' but I am not answered; I call for help, but there is no justice.8 He has walled up my way, so that I cannot pass, and he has set darkness upon my paths.9 He has stripped from me my glory and taken the crown from my head.10 He breaks me down on every side, and I am gone, and my hope has he pulled up like a tree.11 He has kindled his wrath against me and counts me as his adversary.12 His troops come on together; they have cast up their siege ramp1 against me and encamp around my tent. 13 “He has put my brothers far from me, and those who knew me are wholly estranged from me.14 My relatives have failed me, my close friends have forgotten me.15 The guests in my house and my maidservants count me as a stranger; I have become a foreigner in their eyes.16 I call to my servant, but he gives me no answer; I must plead with him with my mouth for mercy.17 My breath is strange to my wife, and I am a stench to the children of my own mother.18 Even young children despise me; when I rise they talk against me.19 All my intimate friends abhor me, and those whom I loved have turned against me.20 My bones stick to my skin and to my flesh, and I have escaped by the skin of my teeth.21 Have mercy on me, have mercy on me, O you my friends, for the hand of God has touched me!22 Why do you, like God, pursue me? Why are you not satisfied with my flesh? 23 “Oh that my words were written! Oh that they were inscribed in a book!24 Oh that with an iron pen and lead they were engraved in the rock forever!25 For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth.226 And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in3 my flesh I shall see God,27 whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another. My heart faints within me!28 If you say, ‘How we will pursue him!' and, ‘The root of the matter is found in him,'429 be afraid of the sword, for wrath brings the punishment of the sword, that you may know there is a judgment.” Zophar Speaks: The Wicked Will Suffer 20 Then Zophar the Naamathite answered and said: 2 “Therefore my thoughts answer me, because of my haste within me.3 I hear censure that insults me, and out of my understanding a spirit answers me.4 Do you not know this from of old, since man was placed on earth,5 that the exulting of the wicked is short, and the joy of the godless but for a moment?6 Though his height mount up to the heavens, and his head reach to the clouds,7 he will perish forever like his own dung; those who have seen him will say, ‘Where is he?'8 He will fly away like a dream and not be found; he will be chased away like a vision of the night.9 The eye that saw him will see him no more, nor will his place any more behold him.10 His children will seek the favor of the poor, and his hands will give back his wealth.11 His bones are full of his youthful vigor, but it will lie down with him in the dust. 12 “Though evil is sweet in his mouth, though he hides it under his tongue,13 though he is loath to let it go and holds it in his mouth,14 yet his food is turned in his stomach; it is the venom of cobras within him.15 He swallows down riches and vomits them up again; God casts them out of his belly.16 He will suck the poison of cobras; the tongue of a viper will kill him.17 He will not look upon the rivers, the streams flowing with honey and curds.18 He will give back the fruit of his toil and will not swallow it down; from the profit of his trading he will get no enjoyment.19 For he has crushed and abandoned the poor; he has seized a house that he did not build. 20 “Because he knew no contentment in his belly, he will not let anything in which he delights escape him.21 There was nothing left after he had eaten; therefore his prosperity will not endure.22 In the fullness of his sufficiency he will be in distress; the hand of everyone in misery will come against him.23 To fill his belly to the full, God5 will send his burning anger against him and rain it upon him into his body.24 He will flee from an iron weapon; a bronze arrow will strike him through.25 It is drawn forth and comes out of his body; the glittering point comes out of his gallbladder; terrors come upon him.26 Utter darkness is laid up for his treasures; a fire not fanned will devour him; what is left in his tent will be consumed.27 The heavens will reveal his iniquity, and the earth will rise up against him.28 The possessions of his house will be carried away, dragged off in the day of God's6 wrath.29 This is the wicked man's portion from God, the heritage decreed for him by God.” Footnotes [1] 19:12 Hebrew their way [2] 19:25 Hebrew dust [3] 19:26 Or without [4] 19:28 Many Hebrew manuscripts in me [5] 20:23 Hebrew he [6] 20:28 Hebrew his (ESV) Evening: Acts 9:23–43 Acts 9:23–43 (Listen) Saul Escapes from Damascus 23 When many days had passed, the Jews1 plotted to kill him, 24 but their plot became known to Saul. They were watching the gates day and night in order to kill him, 25 but his disciples took him by night and let him down through an opening in the wall,2 lowering him in a basket. Saul in Jerusalem 26 And when he had come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join the disciples. And they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe that he was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles and declared to them how on the road he had seen the Lord, who spoke to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus. 28 So he went in and out among them at Jerusalem, preaching boldly in the name of the Lord. 29 And he spoke and disputed against the Hellenists.3 But they were seeking to kill him. 30 And when the brothers learned this, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus. 31 So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied. The Healing of Aeneas 32 Now as Peter went here and there among them all, he came down also to the saints who lived at Lydda. 33 There he found a man named Aeneas, bedridden for eight years, who was paralyzed. 34 And Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; rise and make your bed.” And immediately he rose. 35 And all the residents of Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord. Dorcas Restored to Life 36 Now there was in Joppa a disciple named Tabitha, which, translated, means Dorcas.4 She was full of good works and acts of charity. 37 In those days she became ill and died, and when they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room. 38 Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him, urging him, “Please come to us without delay.” 39 So Peter rose and went with them. And when he arrived, they took him to the upper room. All the widows stood beside him weeping and showing tunics5 and other garments that Dorcas made while she was with them. 40 But Peter put them all outside, and knelt down and prayed; and turning to the body he said, “Tabitha, arise.” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up. 41 And he gave her his hand and raised her up. Then, calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive. 42 And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. 43 And he stayed in Joppa for many days with one Simon, a tanner. Footnotes [1] 9:23 The Greek word Ioudaioi refers specifically here to Jewish religious leaders, and others under their influence, who opposed the Christian faith in that time [2] 9:25 Greek through the wall [3] 9:29 That is, Greek-speaking Jews [4] 9:36 The Aramaic name Tabitha and the Greek name Dorcas both mean gazelle [5] 9:39 Greek chiton, a long garment worn under the cloak next to the skin (ESV)
Morning: Job 16–18 Job 16–18 (Listen) Job Replies: Miserable Comforters Are You 16 Then Job answered and said: 2 “I have heard many such things; miserable comforters are you all.3 Shall windy words have an end? Or what provokes you that you answer?4 I also could speak as you do, if you were in my place; I could join words together against you and shake my head at you.5 I could strengthen you with my mouth, and the solace of my lips would assuage your pain. 6 “If I speak, my pain is not assuaged, and if I forbear, how much of it leaves me?7 Surely now God has worn me out; he has1 made desolate all my company.8 And he has shriveled me up, which is a witness against me, and my leanness has risen up against me; it testifies to my face.9 He has torn me in his wrath and hated me; he has gnashed his teeth at me; my adversary sharpens his eyes against me.10 Men have gaped at me with their mouth; they have struck me insolently on the cheek; they mass themselves together against me.11 God gives me up to the ungodly and casts me into the hands of the wicked.12 I was at ease, and he broke me apart; he seized me by the neck and dashed me to pieces; he set me up as his target;13 his archers surround me. He slashes open my kidneys and does not spare; he pours out my gall on the ground.14 He breaks me with breach upon breach; he runs upon me like a warrior.15 I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin and have laid my strength in the dust.16 My face is red with weeping, and on my eyelids is deep darkness,17 although there is no violence in my hands, and my prayer is pure. 18 “O earth, cover not my blood, and let my cry find no resting place.19 Even now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and he who testifies for me is on high.20 My friends scorn me; my eye pours out tears to God,21 that he would argue the case of a man with God, as2 a son of man does with his neighbor.22 For when a few years have come I shall go the way from which I shall not return. Job Continues: Where Then Is My Hope? 17 “My spirit is broken; my days are extinct; the graveyard is ready for me.2 Surely there are mockers about me, and my eye dwells on their provocation. 3 “Lay down a pledge for me with you; who is there who will put up security for me?4 Since you have closed their hearts to understanding, therefore you will not let them triumph.5 He who informs against his friends to get a share of their property— the eyes of his children will fail. 6 “He has made me a byword of the peoples, and I am one before whom men spit.7 My eye has grown dim from vexation, and all my members are like a shadow.8 The upright are appalled at this, and the innocent stirs himself up against the godless.9 Yet the righteous holds to his way, and he who has clean hands grows stronger and stronger.10 But you, come on again, all of you, and I shall not find a wise man among you.11 My days are past; my plans are broken off, the desires of my heart.12 They make night into day: ‘The light,' they say, ‘is near to the darkness.'313 If I hope for Sheol as my house, if I make my bed in darkness,14 if I say to the pit, ‘You are my father,' and to the worm, ‘My mother,' or ‘My sister,'15 where then is my hope? Who will see my hope?16 Will it go down to the bars of Sheol? Shall we descend together into the dust?”4 Bildad Speaks: God Punishes the Wicked 18 Then Bildad the Shuhite answered and said: 2 “How long will you hunt for words? Consider, and then we will speak.3 Why are we counted as cattle? Why are we stupid in your sight?4 You who tear yourself in your anger, shall the earth be forsaken for you, or the rock be removed out of its place? 5 “Indeed, the light of the wicked is put out, and the flame of his fire does not shine.6 The light is dark in his tent, and his lamp above him is put out.7 His strong steps are shortened, and his own schemes throw him down.8 For he is cast into a net by his own feet, and he walks on its mesh.9 A trap seizes him by the heel; a snare lays hold of him.10 A rope is hidden for him in the ground, a trap for him in the path.11 Terrors frighten him on every side, and chase him at his heels.12 His strength is famished, and calamity is ready for his stumbling.13 It consumes the parts of his skin; the firstborn of death consumes his limbs.14 He is torn from the tent in which he trusted and is brought to the king of terrors.15 In his tent dwells that which is none of his; sulfur is scattered over his habitation.16 His roots dry up beneath, and his branches wither above.17 His memory perishes from the earth, and he has no name in the street.18 He is thrust from light into darkness, and driven out of the world.19 He has no posterity or progeny among his people, and no survivor where he used to live.20 They of the west are appalled at his day, and horror seizes them of the east.21 Surely such are the dwellings of the unrighteous, such is the place of him who knows not God.” Footnotes [1] 16:7 Hebrew you have; also verse 8 [2] 16:21 Hebrew and [3] 17:12 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain [4] 17:16 Or Will they go down to the bars of Sheol? Is rest to be found together in the dust? (ESV) Evening: Acts 9:1–22 Acts 9:1–22 (Listen) The Conversion of Saul 9 But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3 Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. 4 And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” 5 And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 6 But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” 7 The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. 8 Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9 And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank. 10 Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” 11 And the Lord said to him, “Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying, 12 and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.” 13 But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem. 14 And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name.” 15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. 16 For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” 17 So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized; 19 and taking food, he was strengthened. Saul Proclaims Jesus in Synagogues For some days he was with the disciples at Damascus. 20 And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.” 21 And all who heard him were amazed and said, “Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem of those who called upon this name? And has he not come here for this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests?” 22 But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ. (ESV)
Morning: Job 10–12 Job 10–12 (Listen) Job Continues: A Plea to God 10 “I loathe my life; I will give free utterance to my complaint; I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.2 I will say to God, Do not condemn me; let me know why you contend against me.3 Does it seem good to you to oppress, to despise the work of your hands and favor the designs of the wicked?4 Have you eyes of flesh? Do you see as man sees?5 Are your days as the days of man, or your years as a man's years,6 that you seek out my iniquity and search for my sin,7 although you know that I am not guilty, and there is none to deliver out of your hand?8 Your hands fashioned and made me, and now you have destroyed me altogether.9 Remember that you have made me like clay; and will you return me to the dust?10 Did you not pour me out like milk and curdle me like cheese?11 You clothed me with skin and flesh, and knit me together with bones and sinews.12 You have granted me life and steadfast love, and your care has preserved my spirit.13 Yet these things you hid in your heart; I know that this was your purpose.14 If I sin, you watch me and do not acquit me of my iniquity.15 If I am guilty, woe to me! If I am in the right, I cannot lift up my head, for I am filled with disgrace and look on my affliction.16 And were my head lifted up,1 you would hunt me like a lion and again work wonders against me.17 You renew your witnesses against me and increase your vexation toward me; you bring fresh troops against me. 18 “Why did you bring me out from the womb? Would that I had died before any eye had seen me19 and were as though I had not been, carried from the womb to the grave.20 Are not my days few? Then cease, and leave me alone, that I may find a little cheer21 before I go—and I shall not return— to the land of darkness and deep shadow,22 the land of gloom like thick darkness, like deep shadow without any order, where light is as thick darkness.” Zophar Speaks: You Deserve Worse 11 Then Zophar the Naamathite answered and said: 2 “Should a multitude of words go unanswered, and a man full of talk be judged right?3 Should your babble silence men, and when you mock, shall no one shame you?4 For you say, ‘My doctrine is pure, and I am clean in God's2 eyes.'5 But oh, that God would speak and open his lips to you,6 and that he would tell you the secrets of wisdom! For he is manifold in understanding.3 Know then that God exacts of you less than your guilt deserves. 7 “Can you find out the deep things of God? Can you find out the limit of the Almighty?8 It is higher than heaven4—what can you do? Deeper than Sheol—what can you know?9 Its measure is longer than the earth and broader than the sea.10 If he passes through and imprisons and summons the court, who can turn him back?11 For he knows worthless men; when he sees iniquity, will he not consider it?12 But a stupid man will get understanding when a wild donkey's colt is born a man! 13 “If you prepare your heart, you will stretch out your hands toward him.14 If iniquity is in your hand, put it far away, and let not injustice dwell in your tents.15 Surely then you will lift up your face without blemish; you will be secure and will not fear.16 You will forget your misery; you will remember it as waters that have passed away.17 And your life will be brighter than the noonday; its darkness will be like the morning.18 And you will feel secure, because there is hope; you will look around and take your rest in security.19 You will lie down, and none will make you afraid; many will court your favor.20 But the eyes of the wicked will fail; all way of escape will be lost to them, and their hope is to breathe their last.” Job Replies: The Lord Has Done This 12 Then Job answered and said: 2 “No doubt you are the people, and wisdom will die with you.3 But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you. Who does not know such things as these?4 I am a laughingstock to my friends; I, who called to God and he answered me, a just and blameless man, am a laughingstock.5 In the thought of one who is at ease there is contempt for misfortune; it is ready for those whose feet slip.6 The tents of robbers are at peace, and those who provoke God are secure, who bring their god in their hand.5 7 “But ask the beasts, and they will teach you; the birds of the heavens, and they will tell you;8 or the bushes of the earth, and they will teach you;6 and the fish of the sea will declare to you.9 Who among all these does not know that the hand of the LORD has done this?10 In his hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind.11 Does not the ear test words as the palate tastes food?12 Wisdom is with the aged, and understanding in length of days. 13 “With God7 are wisdom and might; he has counsel and understanding.14 If he tears down, none can rebuild; if he shuts a man in, none can open.15 If he withholds the waters, they dry up; if he sends them out, they overwhelm the land.16 With him are strength and sound wisdom; the deceived and the deceiver are his.17 He leads counselors away stripped, and judges he makes fools.18 He looses the bonds of kings and binds a waistcloth on their hips.19 He leads priests away stripped and overthrows the mighty.20 He deprives of speech those who are trusted and takes away the discernment of the elders.21 He pours contempt on princes and loosens the belt of the strong.22 He uncovers the deeps out of darkness and brings deep darkness to light.23 He makes nations great, and he destroys them; he enlarges nations, and leads them away.24 He takes away understanding from the chiefs of the people of the earth and makes them wander in a trackless waste.25 They grope in the dark without light, and he makes them stagger like a drunken man. Footnotes [1] 10:16 Hebrew lacks my head [2] 11:4 Hebrew your [3] 11:6 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain [4] 11:8 Hebrew The heights of heaven [5] 12:6 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain [6] 12:8 Or or speak to the earth, and it will teach you [7] 12:13 Hebrew him (ESV) Evening: Acts 8:1–25 Acts 8:1–25 (Listen) Saul Ravages the Church 8 And Saul approved of his execution. And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. 2 Devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him. 3 But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison. Philip Proclaims Christ in Samaria 4 Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word. 5 Philip went down to the city1 of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Christ. 6 And the crowds with one accord paid attention to what was being said by Philip, when they heard him and saw the signs that he did. 7 For unclean spirits, crying out with a loud voice, came out of many who had them, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. 8 So there was much joy in that city. Simon the Magician Believes 9 But there was a man named Simon, who had previously practiced magic in the city and amazed the people of Samaria, saying that he himself was somebody great. 10 They all paid attention to him, from the least to the greatest, saying, “This man is the power of God that is called Great.” 11 And they paid attention to him because for a long time he had amazed them with his magic. 12 But when they believed Philip as he preached good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. 13 Even Simon himself believed, and after being baptized he continued with Philip. And seeing signs and great miracles2 performed, he was amazed. 14 Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John, 15 who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, 16 for he had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit. 18 Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money, 19 saying, “Give me this power also, so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” 20 But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money! 21 You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart is not right before God. 22 Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you. 23 For I see that you are in the gall3 of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity.” 24 And Simon answered, “Pray for me to the Lord, that nothing of what you have said may come upon me.” 25 Now when they had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel to many villages of the Samaritans. Footnotes [1] 8:5 Some manuscripts a city [2] 8:13 Greek works of power [3] 8:23 That is, a bitter fluid secreted by the liver; bile (ESV)
Morning: Job 7–9 Job 7–9 (Listen) Job Continues: My Life Has No Hope 7 “Has not man a hard service on earth, and are not his days like the days of a hired hand?2 Like a slave who longs for the shadow, and like a hired hand who looks for his wages,3 so I am allotted months of emptiness, and nights of misery are apportioned to me.4 When I lie down I say, ‘When shall I arise?' But the night is long, and I am full of tossing till the dawn.5 My flesh is clothed with worms and dirt; my skin hardens, then breaks out afresh.6 My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle and come to their end without hope. 7 “Remember that my life is a breath; my eye will never again see good.8 The eye of him who sees me will behold me no more; while your eyes are on me, I shall be gone.9 As the cloud fades and vanishes, so he who goes down to Sheol does not come up;10 he returns no more to his house, nor does his place know him anymore. 11 “Therefore I will not restrain my mouth; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.12 Am I the sea, or a sea monster, that you set a guard over me?13 When I say, ‘My bed will comfort me, my couch will ease my complaint,'14 then you scare me with dreams and terrify me with visions,15 so that I would choose strangling and death rather than my bones.16 I loathe my life; I would not live forever. Leave me alone, for my days are a breath.17 What is man, that you make so much of him, and that you set your heart on him,18 visit him every morning and test him every moment?19 How long will you not look away from me, nor leave me alone till I swallow my spit?20 If I sin, what do I do to you, you watcher of mankind? Why have you made me your mark? Why have I become a burden to you?21 Why do you not pardon my transgression and take away my iniquity? For now I shall lie in the earth; you will seek me, but I shall not be.” Bildad Speaks: Job Should Repent 8 Then Bildad the Shuhite answered and said: 2 “How long will you say these things, and the words of your mouth be a great wind?3 Does God pervert justice? Or does the Almighty pervert the right?4 If your children have sinned against him, he has delivered them into the hand of their transgression.5 If you will seek God and plead with the Almighty for mercy,6 if you are pure and upright, surely then he will rouse himself for you and restore your rightful habitation.7 And though your beginning was small, your latter days will be very great. 8 “For inquire, please, of bygone ages, and consider what the fathers have searched out.9 For we are but of yesterday and know nothing, for our days on earth are a shadow.10 Will they not teach you and tell you and utter words out of their understanding? 11 “Can papyrus grow where there is no marsh? Can reeds flourish where there is no water?12 While yet in flower and not cut down, they wither before any other plant.13 Such are the paths of all who forget God; the hope of the godless shall perish.14 His confidence is severed, and his trust is a spider's web.115 He leans against his house, but it does not stand; he lays hold of it, but it does not endure.16 He is a lush plant before the sun, and his shoots spread over his garden.17 His roots entwine the stone heap; he looks upon a house of stones.18 If he is destroyed from his place, then it will deny him, saying, ‘I have never seen you.'19 Behold, this is the joy of his way, and out of the soil others will spring. 20 “Behold, God will not reject a blameless man, nor take the hand of evildoers.21 He will yet fill your mouth with laughter, and your lips with shouting.22 Those who hate you will be clothed with shame, and the tent of the wicked will be no more.” Job Replies: There Is No Arbiter 9 Then Job answered and said: 2 “Truly I know that it is so: But how can a man be in the right before God?3 If one wished to contend with him, one could not answer him once in a thousand times.4 He is wise in heart and mighty in strength —who has hardened himself against him, and succeeded?—5 he who removes mountains, and they know it not, when he overturns them in his anger,6 who shakes the earth out of its place, and its pillars tremble;7 who commands the sun, and it does not rise; who seals up the stars;8 who alone stretched out the heavens and trampled the waves of the sea;9 who made the Bear and Orion, the Pleiades and the chambers of the south;10 who does great things beyond searching out, and marvelous things beyond number.11 Behold, he passes by me, and I see him not; he moves on, but I do not perceive him.12 Behold, he snatches away; who can turn him back? Who will say to him, ‘What are you doing?' 13 “God will not turn back his anger; beneath him bowed the helpers of Rahab.14 How then can I answer him, choosing my words with him?15 Though I am in the right, I cannot answer him; I must appeal for mercy to my accuser.216 If I summoned him and he answered me, I would not believe that he was listening to my voice.17 For he crushes me with a tempest and multiplies my wounds without cause;18 he will not let me get my breath, but fills me with bitterness.19 If it is a contest of strength, behold, he is mighty! If it is a matter of justice, who can summon him?320 Though I am in the right, my own mouth would condemn me; though I am blameless, he would prove me perverse.21 I am blameless; I regard not myself; I loathe my life.22 It is all one; therefore I say, ‘He destroys both the blameless and the wicked.'23 When disaster brings sudden death, he mocks at the calamity4 of the innocent.24 The earth is given into the hand of the wicked; he covers the faces of its judges— if it is not he, who then is it? 25 “My days are swifter than a runner; they flee away; they see no good.26 They go by like skiffs of reed, like an eagle swooping on the prey.27 If I say, ‘I will forget my complaint, I will put off my sad face, and be of good cheer,'28 I become afraid of all my suffering, for I know you will not hold me innocent.29 I shall be condemned; why then do I labor in vain?30 If I wash myself with snow and cleanse my hands with lye,31 yet you will plunge me into a pit, and my own clothes will abhor me.32 For he is not a man, as I am, that I might answer him, that we should come to trial together.33 There is no5 arbiter between us, who might lay his hand on us both.34 Let him take his rod away from me, and let not dread of him terrify me.35 Then I would speak without fear of him, for I am not so in myself. Footnotes [1] 8:14 Hebrew house [2] 9:15 Or to my judge [3] 9:19 Or who can grant me a hearing? [4] 9:23 The meaning of the Hebrew word is uncertain [5] 9:33 Or Would that there were an (ESV) Evening: Acts 7:44–60 Acts 7:44–60 (Listen) 44 “Our fathers had the tent of witness in the wilderness, just as he who spoke to Moses directed him to make it, according to the pattern that he had seen. 45 Our fathers in turn brought it in with Joshua when they dispossessed the nations that God drove out before our fathers. So it was until the days of David, 46 who found favor in the sight of God and asked to find a dwelling place for the God of Jacob.1 47 But it was Solomon who built a house for him. 48 Yet the Most High does not dwell in houses made by hands, as the prophet says, 49 “‘Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. What kind of house will you build for me, says the Lord, or what is the place of my rest?50 Did not my hand make all these things?' 51 “You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you. 52 Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who announced beforehand the coming of the Righteous One, whom you have now betrayed and murdered, 53 you who received the law as delivered by angels and did not keep it.” The Stoning of Stephen 54 Now when they heard these things they were enraged, and they ground their teeth at him. 55 But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56 And he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” 57 But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together2 at him. 58 Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59 And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep. Footnotes [1] 7:46 Some manuscripts for the house of Jacob [2] 7:57 Or rushed with one mind (ESV)
Morning: Job 4–6 Job 4–6 (Listen) Eliphaz Speaks: The Innocent Prosper 4 Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said: 2 “If one ventures a word with you, will you be impatient? Yet who can keep from speaking?3 Behold, you have instructed many, and you have strengthened the weak hands.4 Your words have upheld him who was stumbling, and you have made firm the feeble knees.5 But now it has come to you, and you are impatient; it touches you, and you are dismayed.6 Is not your fear of God1 your confidence, and the integrity of your ways your hope? 7 “Remember: who that was innocent ever perished? Or where were the upright cut off?8 As I have seen, those who plow iniquity and sow trouble reap the same.9 By the breath of God they perish, and by the blast of his anger they are consumed.10 The roar of the lion, the voice of the fierce lion, the teeth of the young lions are broken.11 The strong lion perishes for lack of prey, and the cubs of the lioness are scattered. 12 “Now a word was brought to me stealthily; my ear received the whisper of it.13 Amid thoughts from visions of the night, when deep sleep falls on men,14 dread came upon me, and trembling, which made all my bones shake.15 A spirit glided past my face; the hair of my flesh stood up.16 It stood still, but I could not discern its appearance. A form was before my eyes; there was silence, then I heard a voice:17 ‘Can mortal man be in the right before2 God? Can a man be pure before his Maker?18 Even in his servants he puts no trust, and his angels he charges with error;19 how much more those who dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, who are crushed like3 the moth.20 Between morning and evening they are beaten to pieces; they perish forever without anyone regarding it.21 Is not their tent-cord plucked up within them, do they not die, and that without wisdom?' 5 “Call now; is there anyone who will answer you? To which of the holy ones will you turn?2 Surely vexation kills the fool, and jealousy slays the simple.3 I have seen the fool taking root, but suddenly I cursed his dwelling.4 His children are far from safety; they are crushed in the gate, and there is no one to deliver them.5 The hungry eat his harvest, and he takes it even out of thorns,4 and the thirsty pant5 after his6 wealth.6 For affliction does not come from the dust, nor does trouble sprout from the ground,7 but man is born to trouble as the sparks fly upward. 8 “As for me, I would seek God, and to God would I commit my cause,9 who does great things and unsearchable, marvelous things without number:10 he gives rain on the earth and sends waters on the fields;11 he sets on high those who are lowly, and those who mourn are lifted to safety.12 He frustrates the devices of the crafty, so that their hands achieve no success.13 He catches the wise in their own craftiness, and the schemes of the wily are brought to a quick end.14 They meet with darkness in the daytime and grope at noonday as in the night.15 But he saves the needy from the sword of their mouth and from the hand of the mighty.16 So the poor have hope, and injustice shuts her mouth. 17 “Behold, blessed is the one whom God reproves; therefore despise not the discipline of the Almighty.18 For he wounds, but he binds up; he shatters, but his hands heal.19 He will deliver you from six troubles; in seven no evil7 shall touch you.20 In famine he will redeem you from death, and in war from the power of the sword.21 You shall be hidden from the lash of the tongue, and shall not fear destruction when it comes.22 At destruction and famine you shall laugh, and shall not fear the beasts of the earth.23 For you shall be in league with the stones of the field, and the beasts of the field shall be at peace with you.24 You shall know that your tent is at peace, and you shall inspect your fold and miss nothing.25 You shall know also that your offspring shall be many, and your descendants as the grass of the earth.26 You shall come to your grave in ripe old age, like a sheaf gathered up in its season.27 Behold, this we have searched out; it is true. Hear, and know it for your good.”8 Job Replies: My Complaint Is Just 6 Then Job answered and said: 2 “Oh that my vexation were weighed, and all my calamity laid in the balances!3 For then it would be heavier than the sand of the sea; therefore my words have been rash.4 For the arrows of the Almighty are in me; my spirit drinks their poison; the terrors of God are arrayed against me.5 Does the wild donkey bray when he has grass, or the ox low over his fodder?6 Can that which is tasteless be eaten without salt, or is there any taste in the juice of the mallow?97 My appetite refuses to touch them; they are as food that is loathsome to me.10 8 “Oh that I might have my request, and that God would fulfill my hope,9 that it would please God to crush me, that he would let loose his hand and cut me off!10 This would be my comfort; I would even exult11 in pain unsparing, for I have not denied the words of the Holy One.11 What is my strength, that I should wait? And what is my end, that I should be patient?12 Is my strength the strength of stones, or is my flesh bronze?13 Have I any help in me, when resource is driven from me? 14 “He who withholds12 kindness from a friend forsakes the fear of the Almighty.15 My brothers are treacherous as a torrent-bed, as torrential streams that pass away,16 which are dark with ice, and where the snow hides itself.17 When they melt, they disappear; when it is hot, they vanish from their place.18 The caravans turn aside from their course; they go up into the waste and perish.19 The caravans of Tema look, the travelers of Sheba hope.20 They are ashamed because they were confident; they come there and are disappointed.21 For you have now become nothing; you see my calamity and are afraid.22 Have I said, ‘Make me a gift'? Or, ‘From your wealth offer a bribe for me'?23 Or, ‘Deliver me from the adversary's hand'? Or, ‘Redeem me from the hand of the ruthless'? 24 “Teach me, and I will be silent; make me understand how I have gone astray.25 How forceful are upright words! But what does reproof from you reprove?26 Do you think that you can reprove words, when the speech of a despairing man is wind?27 You would even cast lots over the fatherless, and bargain over your friend. 28 “But now, be pleased to look at me, for I will not lie to your face.29 Please turn; let no injustice be done. Turn now; my vindication is at stake.30 Is there any injustice on my tongue? Cannot my palate discern the cause of calamity? Footnotes [1] 4:6 Hebrew lacks of God [2] 4:17 Or more than; twice in this verse [3] 4:19 Or before [4] 5:5 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain [5] 5:5 Aquila, Symmachus, Syriac, Vulgate; Hebrew could be read as and the snare pants [6] 5:5 Hebrew their [7] 5:19 Or disaster [8] 5:27 Hebrew for yourself [9] 6:6 The meaning of the Hebrew word is uncertain [10] 6:7 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain [11] 6:10 The meaning of the Hebrew word is uncertain [12] 6:14 Syriac, Vulgate (compare Targum); the meaning of the Hebrew word is uncertain (ESV) Evening: Acts 7:20–43 Acts 7:20–43 (Listen) 20 At this time Moses was born; and he was beautiful in God's sight. And he was brought up for three months in his father's house, 21 and when he was exposed, Pharaoh's daughter adopted him and brought him up as her own son. 22 And Moses was instructed in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and he was mighty in his words and deeds. 23 “When he was forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brothers, the children of Israel. 24 And seeing one of them being wronged, he defended the oppressed man and avenged him by striking down the Egyptian. 25 He supposed that his brothers would understand that God was giving them salvation by his hand, but they did not understand. 26 And on the following day he appeared to them as they were quarreling and tried to reconcile them, saying, ‘Men, you are brothers. Why do you wrong each other?' 27 But the man who was wronging his neighbor thrust him aside, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge over us? 28 Do you want to kill me as you killed the Egyptian yesterday?' 29 At this retort Moses fled and became an exile in the land of Midian, where he became the father of two sons. 30 “Now when forty years had passed, an angel appeared to him in the wilderness of Mount Sinai, in a flame of fire in a bush. 31 When Moses saw it, he was amazed at the sight, and as he drew near to look, there came the voice of the Lord: 32 ‘I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham and of Isaac and of Jacob.' And Moses trembled and did not dare to look. 33 Then the Lord said to him, ‘Take off the sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy ground. 34 I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt, and have heard their groaning, and I have come down to deliver them. And now come, I will send you to Egypt.' 35 “This Moses, whom they rejected, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge?'—this man God sent as both ruler and redeemer by the hand of the angel who appeared to him in the bush. 36 This man led them out, performing wonders and signs in Egypt and at the Red Sea and in the wilderness for forty years. 37 This is the Moses who said to the Israelites, ‘God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers.' 38 This is the one who was in the congregation in the wilderness with the angel who spoke to him at Mount Sinai, and with our fathers. He received living oracles to give to us. 39 Our fathers refused to obey him, but thrust him aside, and in their hearts they turned to Egypt, 40 saying to Aaron, ‘Make for us gods who will go before us. As for this Moses who led us out from the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.' 41 And they made a calf in those days, and offered a sacrifice to the idol and were rejoicing in the works of their hands. 42 But God turned away and gave them over to worship the host of heaven, as it is written in the book of the prophets: “‘Did you bring to me slain beasts and sacrifices, during the forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel?43 You took up the tent of Moloch and the star of your god Rephan, the images that you made to worship; and I will send you into exile beyond Babylon.' (ESV)
Morning: Job 1–3 Job 1–3 (Listen) Job's Character and Wealth 1 There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job, and that man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil. 2 There were born to him seven sons and three daughters. 3 He possessed 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, and 500 female donkeys, and very many servants, so that this man was the greatest of all the people of the east. 4 His sons used to go and hold a feast in the house of each one on his day, and they would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. 5 And when the days of the feast had run their course, Job would send and consecrate them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, “It may be that my children have sinned, and cursed1 God in their hearts.” Thus Job did continually. Satan Allowed to Test Job 6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan2 also came among them. 7 The LORD said to Satan, “From where have you come?” Satan answered the LORD and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.” 8 And the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?” 9 Then Satan answered the LORD and said, “Does Job fear God for no reason? 10 Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. 11 But stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face.” 12 And the LORD said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand.” So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD. Satan Takes Job's Property and Children 13 Now there was a day when his sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother's house, 14 and there came a messenger to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding beside them, 15 and the Sabeans fell upon them and took them and struck down the servants3 with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” 16 While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, “The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants and consumed them, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” 17 While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, “The Chaldeans formed three groups and made a raid on the camels and took them and struck down the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” 18 While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, “Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother's house, 19 and behold, a great wind came across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young people, and they are dead, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” 20 Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped. 21 And he said, “Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.” 22 In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong. Satan Attacks Job's Health 2 Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them to present himself before the LORD. 2 And the LORD said to Satan, “From where have you come?” Satan answered the LORD and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.” 3 And the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil? He still holds fast his integrity, although you incited me against him to destroy him without reason.” 4 Then Satan answered the LORD and said, “Skin for skin! All that a man has he will give for his life. 5 But stretch out your hand and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse you to your face.” 6 And the LORD said to Satan, “Behold, he is in your hand; only spare his life.” 7 So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD and struck Job with loathsome sores from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head. 8 And he took a piece of broken pottery with which to scrape himself while he sat in the ashes. 9 Then his wife said to him, “Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse God and die.” 10 But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women would speak. Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?”4 In all this Job did not sin with his lips. Job's Three Friends 11 Now when Job's three friends heard of all this evil that had come upon him, they came each from his own place, Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite. They made an appointment together to come to show him sympathy and comfort him. 12 And when they saw him from a distance, they did not recognize him. And they raised their voices and wept, and they tore their robes and sprinkled dust on their heads toward heaven. 13 And they sat with him on the ground seven days and seven nights, and no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his suffering was very great. Job Laments His Birth 3 After this Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth. 2 And Job said: 3 “Let the day perish on which I was born, and the night that said, ‘A man is conceived.'4 Let that day be darkness! May God above not seek it, nor light shine upon it.5 Let gloom and deep darkness claim it. Let clouds dwell upon it; let the blackness of the day terrify it.6 That night—let thick darkness seize it! Let it not rejoice among the days of the year; let it not come into the number of the months.7 Behold, let that night be barren; let no joyful cry enter it.8 Let those curse it who curse the day, who are ready to rouse up Leviathan.9 Let the stars of its dawn be dark; let it hope for light, but have none, nor see the eyelids of the morning,10 because it did not shut the doors of my mother's womb, nor hide trouble from my eyes. 11 “Why did I not die at birth, come out from the womb and expire?12 Why did the knees receive me? Or why the breasts, that I should nurse?13 For then I would have lain down and been quiet; I would have slept; then I would have been at rest,14 with kings and counselors of the earth who rebuilt ruins for themselves,15 or with princes who had gold, who filled their houses with silver.16 Or why was I not as a hidden stillborn child, as infants who never see the light?17 There the wicked cease from troubling, and there the weary are at rest.18 There the prisoners are at ease together; they hear not the voice of the taskmaster.19 The small and the great are there, and the slave is free from his master. 20 “Why is light given to him who is in misery, and life to the bitter in soul,21 who long for death, but it comes not, and dig for it more than for hidden treasures,22 who rejoice exceedingly and are glad when they find the grave?23 Why is light given to a man whose way is hidden, whom God has hedged in?24 For my sighing comes instead of5 my bread, and my groanings are poured out like water.25 For the thing that I fear comes upon me, and what I dread befalls me.26 I am not at ease, nor am I quiet; I have no rest, but trouble comes.” Footnotes [1] 1:5 The Hebrew word bless is used euphemistically for curse in 1:5, 11; 2:5, 9 [2] 1:6 Hebrew the Accuser or the Adversary; so throughout chapters 1–2 [3] 1:15 Hebrew the young men; also verses 16, 17 [4] 2:10 Or disaster; also verse 11 [5] 3:24 Or like; Hebrew before (ESV) Evening: Acts 7:1–19 Acts 7:1–19 (Listen) Stephen's Speech 7 And the high priest said, “Are these things so?” 2 And Stephen said: “Brothers and fathers, hear me. The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran, 3 and said to him, ‘Go out from your land and from your kindred and go into the land that I will show you.' 4 Then he went out from the land of the Chaldeans and lived in Haran. And after his father died, God removed him from there into this land in which you are now living. 5 Yet he gave him no inheritance in it, not even a foot's length, but promised to give it to him as a possession and to his offspring after him, though he had no child. 6 And God spoke to this effect—that his offspring would be sojourners in a land belonging to others, who would enslave them and afflict them four hundred years. 7 ‘But I will judge the nation that they serve,' said God, ‘and after that they shall come out and worship me in this place.' 8 And he gave him the covenant of circumcision. And so Abraham became the father of Isaac, and circumcised him on the eighth day, and Isaac became the father of Jacob, and Jacob of the twelve patriarchs. 9 “And the patriarchs, jealous of Joseph, sold him into Egypt; but God was with him 10 and rescued him out of all his afflictions and gave him favor and wisdom before Pharaoh, king of Egypt, who made him ruler over Egypt and over all his household. 11 Now there came a famine throughout all Egypt and Canaan, and great affliction, and our fathers could find no food. 12 But when Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent out our fathers on their first visit. 13 And on the second visit Joseph made himself known to his brothers, and Joseph's family became known to Pharaoh. 14 And Joseph sent and summoned Jacob his father and all his kindred, seventy-five persons in all. 15 And Jacob went down into Egypt, and he died, he and our fathers, 16 and they were carried back to Shechem and laid in the tomb that Abraham had bought for a sum of silver from the sons of Hamor in Shechem. 17 “But as the time of the promise drew near, which God had granted to Abraham, the people increased and multiplied in Egypt 18 until there arose over Egypt another king who did not know Joseph. 19 He dealt shrewdly with our race and forced our fathers to expose their infants, so that they would not be kept alive. (ESV)
MP3 Download Link: Click Here To Download: What To Do If You're A Teacher Who Lost Your Job Due To The Pandemic : Teacher's Lounge - by Alfred Scriptures Referenced In This Broadcast: Job 42:1-2 NIV Then Job replied to the Lord: [2] “I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted. Jeremiah 29:11 NIV For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Job 40–42 Job 40–42 (Listen) 40 And the LORD said to Job: 2 “Shall a faultfinder contend with the Almighty? He who argues with God, let him answer it.” Job Promises Silence 3 Then Job answered the LORD and said: 4 “Behold, I am of small account; what shall I answer you? I lay my hand on my mouth.5 I have spoken once, and I will not answer; twice, but I will proceed no further.” The Lord Challenges Job 6 Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind and said: 7 “Dress for action1 like a man; I will question you, and you make it known to me.8 Will you even put me in the wrong? Will you condemn me that you may be in the right?9 Have you an arm like God, and can you thunder with a voice like his? 10 “Adorn yourself with majesty and dignity; clothe yourself with glory and splendor.11 Pour out the overflowings of your anger, and look on everyone who is proud and abase him.12 Look on everyone who is proud and bring him low and tread down the wicked where they stand.13 Hide them all in the dust together; bind their faces in the world below.214 Then will I also acknowledge to you that your own right hand can save you. 15 “Behold, Behemoth,3 which I made as I made you; he eats grass like an ox.16 Behold, his strength in his loins, and his power in the muscles of his belly.17 He makes his tail stiff like a cedar; the sinews of his thighs are knit together.18 His bones are tubes of bronze, his limbs like bars of iron. 19 “He is the first of the works4 of God; let him who made him bring near his sword!20 For the mountains yield food for him where all the wild beasts play.21 Under the lotus plants he lies, in the shelter of the reeds and in the marsh.22 For his shade the lotus trees cover him; the willows of the brook surround him.23 Behold, if the river is turbulent he is not frightened; he is confident though Jordan rushes against his mouth.24 Can one take him by his eyes,5 or pierce his nose with a snare? 41 6 “Can you draw out Leviathan7 with a fishhook or press down his tongue with a cord?2 Can you put a rope in his nose or pierce his jaw with a hook?3 Will he make many pleas to you? Will he speak to you soft words?4 Will he make a covenant with you to take him for your servant forever?5 Will you play with him as with a bird, or will you put him on a leash for your girls?6 Will traders bargain over him? Will they divide him up among the merchants?7 Can you fill his skin with harpoons or his head with fishing spears?8 Lay your hands on him; remember the battle—you will not do it again!9 8 Behold, the hope of a man is false; he is laid low even at the sight of him.10 No one is so fierce that he dares to stir him up. Who then is he who can stand before me?11 Who has first given to me, that I should repay him? Whatever is under the whole heaven is mine. 12 “I will not keep silence concerning his limbs, or his mighty strength, or his goodly frame.13 Who can strip off his outer garment? Who would come near him with a bridle?14 Who can open the doors of his face? Around his teeth is terror.15 His back is made of9 rows of shields, shut up closely as with a seal.16 One is so near to another that no air can come between them.17 They are joined one to another; they clasp each other and cannot be separated.18 His sneezings flash forth light, and his eyes are like the eyelids of the dawn.19 Out of his mouth go flaming torches; sparks of fire leap forth.20 Out of his nostrils comes forth smoke, as from a boiling pot and burning rushes.21 His breath kindles coals, and a flame comes forth from his mouth.22 In his neck abides strength, and terror dances before him.23 The folds of his flesh stick together, firmly cast on him and immovable.24 His heart is hard as a stone, hard as the lower millstone.25 When he raises himself up, the mighty10 are afraid; at the crashing they are beside themselves.26 Though the sword reaches him, it does not avail, nor the spear, the dart, or the javelin.27 He counts iron as straw, and bronze as rotten wood.28 The arrow cannot make him flee; for him, sling stones are turned to stubble.29 Clubs are counted as stubble; he laughs at the rattle of javelins.30 His underparts are like sharp potsherds; he spreads himself like a threshing sledge on the mire.31 He makes the deep boil like a pot; he makes the sea like a pot of ointment.32 Behind him he leaves a shining wake; one would think the deep to be white-haired.33 On earth there is not his like, a creature without fear.34 He sees everything that is high; he is king over all the sons of pride.” Job's Confession and Repentance 42 Then Job answered the LORD and said: 2 “I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.3 ‘Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?' Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.4 ‘Hear, and I will speak; I will question you, and you make it known to me.'5 I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you;6 therefore I despise myself, and repent11 in dust and ashes.” The Lord Rebukes Job's Friends 7 After the LORD had spoken these words to Job, the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite: “My anger burns against you and against your two friends, for you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has. 8 Now therefore take seven bulls and seven rams and go to my servant Job and offer up a burnt offering for yourselves. And my servant Job shall pray for you, for I will accept his prayer not to deal with you according to your folly. For you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has.” 9 So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite went and did what the LORD had told them, and the LORD accepted Job's prayer. The Lord Restores Job's Fortunes 10 And the LORD restored the fortunes of Job, when he had prayed for his friends. And the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before. 11 Then came to him all his brothers and sisters and all who had known him before, and ate bread with him in his house. And they showed him sympathy and comforted him for all the evil12 that the LORD had brought upon him. And each of them gave him a piece of money13 and a ring of gold. 12 And the LORD blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning. And he had 14,000 sheep, 6,000 camels, 1,000 yoke of oxen, and 1,000 female donkeys. 13 He had also seven sons and three daughters. 14 And he called the name of the first daughter Jemimah, and the name of the second Keziah, and the name of the third Keren-happuch. 15 And in all the land there were no women so beautiful as Job's daughters. And their father gave them an inheritance among their brothers. 16 And after this Job lived 140 years, and saw his sons, and his sons' sons, four generations. 17 And Job died, an old man, and full of days. Footnotes [1] 40:7 Hebrew Gird up your loins [2] 40:13 Hebrew in the hidden place [3] 40:15 A large animal, exact identity unknown [4] 40:19 Hebrew ways [5] 40:24 Or in his sight [6] 41:1 Ch 40:25 in Hebrew [7] 41:1 A large sea animal, exact identity unknown [8] 41:9 Ch 41:1 in Hebrew [9] 41:15 Or His pride is in his [10] 41:25 Or gods [11] 42:6 Or and am comforted [12] 42:11 Or disaster [13] 42:11 Hebrew a qesitah; a unit of money of unknown value (ESV)
MP3 Download Link:Click Here To Download: What To Do If You're A Teacher Who Lost Your Job Due To The Pandemic : Teacher's Lounge - by AlfredScriptures Referenced In This Broadcast:Job 42:1-2 NIVThen Job replied to the Lord: [2] “I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted.Jeremiah 29:11 NIVFor I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.{Automated Transcript. Contains Typos. Not Yet Edited By A Human}:hello everybody i'm alfred i am listening to teachers loungethe topic of today's broadcast is what to do if you are a teacher who lost your job due to the pandemic you know let's open our bibles to the book of job chapter 42 verse 1 to 2 i'm reading from the niv translation then job replied to the lord i know that you can do all things no purpose of yours can be twerted now let's look at jeremiah chapter 26 9 verse 11. i'm bringing from the niv translation if i know the plans i have for you declares the lord plus to prosper you and not to harm you plus to give you hope and the future praise the lord you see that is god's plan for you you have to understand something very important you know first of all if you're a teacher is that god's plan for you you knowyou can'tbe somebody who is in a position where you know you are in a job or you are um in a profession where you are just there to pay the bills it is not something that you want to do is not something that is connected to um what you believe is your destiny and yet you're a christian that is not the way it is when you're a christian you have to understand that you are here on a mission that is fresh it is not to put food on your table putting food on your table and you know the life of um going to going to school as a kid graduating getting married getting your own kids then putting food on their table and showing they go to school and then you die and then your children continue that cycle and it goes on and goes on and goes on no you are bigger than that you know your life your life is not for that that is that is a purpose that's like that is just a big life you know understand who you are you're a real priesthood you are unique you have the life of god in you you are actually a blood brother of jesus christ by faith you know so um this is amazing this is who you are you know you have to um do what you are here for so are you here to be a teacher if you are here to be a teacher if that is um something that you you you have you you it it has become a reality you know it's true one way or the other you know that that is god's plan for you you see see what germa 29 11 says find all the plans i have for you declares the lord plus to prosper you are not to harm your plans to give you a hope and a future that means that even though other teachers may be in difficulty other teachers may you know be in a situation where they pandemic you know that is democratic way to refer to this so-called pandemic you know it's more pandemic you know even though all our teachers may have been tossed off guard and you know they are struggling and all of that you are different because you are working in god's plan so god's plan in spite of pandemic or pandemic whatever it is still going to prosper you and it is not going to harm you it is going to give you hope and the future that means that you know you have to keep on teaching because you believe that um that is god's plan for it's for you to be a teacher you don't have to be in a school for you to teach that is very important you don't have to be employed by a school these schools may be shut down perhaps here in a part of the world where the schools are locked down you can still teach you can get online start your own calls and of course that then that can actually lead to prosperity perhaps you can even make the causes free and then make money via ads that we still lead to prosperity or even get money via donations that we still need to pro to prosperity you know you explain to people that you know um just just basically what i mean a lot of people do um when they post videos on youtube you know and they ask for donations and you know to encourage them to keep on making videos and all of that you know so um that is totally fine and you that can actually be your way you know but the point is that the tuition does not stop and also the same way apostle paul had on his mission he was a missionary but on the side he was making tents to help him along in the same way you can still teach as you have said that that is god's plan for you and then on the side you are doing all that things you know you can work as a secretary you can work as you know a driver or an uber driver or whatever and then in your spare time you you teach perhaps you two kids you know you volunteer to go to kids house or you make videos and you or courses and you put them online there a lot of um course marketplace online course marketplace where you don't have to put up any money you know it's free you just go on all you have to do is record um your courses and upload this and they send money to you when people buy the calls or people subscribe to whatever um general cost system that is you know you could actually launch your own and start your own thing because if you as a t-shirt is out of a job and it and his ex to to teach and many people can't because of the lockdowns and all of that that means that those other teachers we still have that um desire and they are out of a job so that is a market so you can create a a a website to a platform where all teachers you know who are in that same situation or perhaps teachers who are still teaching who are in parts of the world where there is there aren't lockdowns on schools you know and they can all come together and teach and you know you're making money from being the builder and the entrepreneur that created that platform so you see god's plan to prosper you are not to harm you you know is brought to bear by your sticking to what you believe is god's plan for you you know so um that is something that you have to know i remember the words of job you know in job forty two verse one to two then job replied to the lord i know that you can do all things no people's of yours can be threatened so if it is god's purpose for you to be a teacher it is not going to be taught that it is not going to be defeated all you have to do is work in union with god and you'll be provided for you know you'll have your needs met you know you have to trust in god lean not on your own understanding in all your ways acknowledge him and he will direct you parts that being said in order to go to alfredo's vip if you have not given your life to jesus christ i would like you to click the salvation prayer link in the main menu and do that they paid you commander has a prayer of salvation say that prayer and give your life to christ that's it for today thank you and god bless you
Job 24–28 Job 24–28 (Listen) 24 “Why are not times of judgment kept by the Almighty, and why do those who know him never see his days?2 Some move landmarks; they seize flocks and pasture them.3 They drive away the donkey of the fatherless; they take the widow's ox for a pledge.4 They thrust the poor off the road; the poor of the earth all hide themselves.5 Behold, like wild donkeys in the desert the poor1 go out to their toil, seeking game; the wasteland yields food for their children.6 They gather their2 fodder in the field, and they glean the vineyard of the wicked man.7 They lie all night naked, without clothing, and have no covering in the cold.8 They are wet with the rain of the mountains and cling to the rock for lack of shelter.9 (There are those who snatch the fatherless child from the breast, and they take a pledge against the poor.)10 They go about naked, without clothing; hungry, they carry the sheaves;11 among the olive rows of the wicked3 they make oil; they tread the winepresses, but suffer thirst.12 From out of the city the dying4 groan, and the soul of the wounded cries for help; yet God charges no one with wrong. 13 “There are those who rebel against the light, who are not acquainted with its ways, and do not stay in its paths.14 The murderer rises before it is light, that he may kill the poor and needy, and in the night he is like a thief.15 The eye of the adulterer also waits for the twilight, saying, ‘No eye will see me'; and he veils his face.16 In the dark they dig through houses; by day they shut themselves up; they do not know the light.17 For deep darkness is morning to all of them; for they are friends with the terrors of deep darkness. 18 “You say, ‘Swift are they on the face of the waters; their portion is cursed in the land; no treader turns toward their vineyards.19 Drought and heat snatch away the snow waters; so does Sheol those who have sinned.20 The womb forgets them; the worm finds them sweet; they are no longer remembered, so wickedness is broken like a tree.' 21 “They wrong the barren, childless woman, and do no good to the widow.22 Yet God5 prolongs the life of the mighty by his power; they rise up when they despair of life.23 He gives them security, and they are supported, and his eyes are upon their ways.24 They are exalted a little while, and then are gone; they are brought low and gathered up like all others; they are cut off like the heads of grain.25 If it is not so, who will prove me a liar and show that there is nothing in what I say?” Bildad Speaks: Man Cannot Be Righteous 25 Then Bildad the Shuhite answered and said: 2 “Dominion and fear are with God;6 he makes peace in his high heaven.3 Is there any number to his armies? Upon whom does his light not arise?4 How then can man be in the right before God? How can he who is born of woman be pure?5 Behold, even the moon is not bright, and the stars are not pure in his eyes;6 how much less man, who is a maggot, and the son of man, who is a worm!” Job Replies: God's Majesty Is Unsearchable 26 Then Job answered and said: 2 “How you have helped him who has no power! How you have saved the arm that has no strength!3 How you have counseled him who has no wisdom, and plentifully declared sound knowledge!4 With whose help have you uttered words, and whose breath has come out from you?5 The dead tremble under the waters and their inhabitants.6 Sheol is naked before God,7 and Abaddon has no covering.7 He stretches out the north over the void and hangs the earth on nothing.8 He binds up the waters in his thick clouds, and the cloud is not split open under them.9 He covers the face of the full moon8 and spreads over it his cloud.10 He has inscribed a circle on the face of the waters at the boundary between light and darkness.11 The pillars of heaven tremble and are astounded at his rebuke.12 By his power he stilled the sea; by his understanding he shattered Rahab.13 By his wind the heavens were made fair; his hand pierced the fleeing serpent.14 Behold, these are but the outskirts of his ways, and how small a whisper do we hear of him! But the thunder of his power who can understand?” Job Continues: I Will Maintain My Integrity 27 And Job again took up his discourse, and said: 2 “As God lives, who has taken away my right, and the Almighty, who has made my soul bitter,3 as long as my breath is in me, and the spirit of God is in my nostrils,4 my lips will not speak falsehood, and my tongue will not utter deceit.5 Far be it from me to say that you are right; till I die I will not put away my integrity from me.6 I hold fast my righteousness and will not let it go; my heart does not reproach me for any of my days. 7 “Let my enemy be as the wicked, and let him who rises up against me be as the unrighteous.8 For what is the hope of the godless when God cuts him off, when God takes away his life?9 Will God hear his cry when distress comes upon him?10 Will he take delight in the Almighty? Will he call upon God at all times?11 I will teach you concerning the hand of God; what is with the Almighty I will not conceal.12 Behold, all of you have seen it yourselves; why then have you become altogether vain? 13 “This is the portion of a wicked man with God, and the heritage that oppressors receive from the Almighty:14 If his children are multiplied, it is for the sword, and his descendants have not enough bread.15 Those who survive him the pestilence buries, and his widows do not weep.16 Though he heap up silver like dust, and pile up clothing like clay,17 he may pile it up, but the righteous will wear it, and the innocent will divide the silver.18 He builds his house like a moth's, like a booth that a watchman makes.19 He goes to bed rich, but will do so no more; he opens his eyes, and his wealth is gone.20 Terrors overtake him like a flood; in the night a whirlwind carries him off.21 The east wind lifts him up and he is gone; it sweeps him out of his place.22 It9 hurls at him without pity; he flees from its10 power in headlong flight.23 It claps its hands at him and hisses at him from its place. Job Continues: Where Is Wisdom? 28 “Surely there is a mine for silver, and a place for gold that they refine.2 Iron is taken out of the earth, and copper is smelted from the ore.3 Man puts an end to darkness and searches out to the farthest limit the ore in gloom and deep darkness.4 He opens shafts in a valley away from where anyone lives; they are forgotten by travelers; they hang in the air, far away from mankind; they swing to and fro.5 As for the earth, out of it comes bread, but underneath it is turned up as by fire.6 Its stones are the place of sapphires,11 and it has dust of gold. 7 “That path no bird of prey knows, and the falcon's eye has not seen it.8 The proud beasts have not trodden it; the lion has not passed over it. 9 “Man puts his hand to the flinty rock and overturns mountains by the roots.10 He cuts out channels in the rocks, and his eye sees every precious thing.11 He dams up the streams so that they do not trickle, and the thing that is hidden he brings out to light. 12 “But where shall wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding?13 Man does not know its worth, and it is not found in the land of the living.14 The deep says, ‘It is not in me,' and the sea says, ‘It is not with me.'15 It cannot be bought for gold, and silver cannot be weighed as its price.16 It cannot be valued in the gold of Ophir, in precious onyx or sapphire.17 Gold and glass cannot equal it, nor can it be exchanged for jewels of fine gold.18 No mention shall be made of coral or of crystal; the price of wisdom is above pearls.19 The topaz of Ethiopia cannot equal it, nor can it be valued in pure gold. 20 “From where, then, does wisdom come? And where is the place of understanding?21 It is hidden from the eyes of all living and concealed from the birds of the air.22 Abaddon and Death say, ‘We have heard a rumor of it with our ears.' 23 “God understands the way to it, and he knows its place.24 For he looks to the ends of the earth and sees everything under the heavens.25 When he gave to the wind its weight and apportioned the waters by measure,26 when he made a decree for the rain and a way for the lightning of the thunder,27 then he saw it and declared it; he established it, and searched it out.28 And he said to man, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.'” Footnotes [1] 24:5 Hebrew they [2] 24:6 Hebrew his [3] 24:11 Hebrew their olive rows [4] 24:12 Or the men [5] 24:22 Hebrew he [6] 25:2 Hebrew him [7] 26:6 Hebrew him [8] 26:9 Or his throne [9] 27:22 Or He (that is, God); also verse 23 [10] 27:22 Or his; also verse 23 [11] 28:6 Or lapis lazuli; also verse 16 (ESV)
Job 21–23 Job 21–23 (Listen) Job Replies: The Wicked Do Prosper 21 Then Job answered and said: 2 “Keep listening to my words, and let this be your comfort.3 Bear with me, and I will speak, and after I have spoken, mock on.4 As for me, is my complaint against man? Why should I not be impatient?5 Look at me and be appalled, and lay your hand over your mouth.6 When I remember, I am dismayed, and shuddering seizes my flesh.7 Why do the wicked live, reach old age, and grow mighty in power?8 Their offspring are established in their presence, and their descendants before their eyes.9 Their houses are safe from fear, and no rod of God is upon them.10 Their bull breeds without fail; their cow calves and does not miscarry.11 They send out their little boys like a flock, and their children dance.12 They sing to the tambourine and the lyre and rejoice to the sound of the pipe.13 They spend their days in prosperity, and in peace they go down to Sheol.14 They say to God, ‘Depart from us! We do not desire the knowledge of your ways.15 What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? And what profit do we get if we pray to him?'16 Behold, is not their prosperity in their hand? The counsel of the wicked is far from me. 17 “How often is it that the lamp of the wicked is put out? That their calamity comes upon them? That God1 distributes pains in his anger?18 That they are like straw before the wind, and like chaff that the storm carries away?19 You say, ‘God stores up their iniquity for their children.' Let him pay it out to them, that they may know it.20 Let their own eyes see their destruction, and let them drink of the wrath of the Almighty.21 For what do they care for their houses after them, when the number of their months is cut off?22 Will any teach God knowledge, seeing that he judges those who are on high?23 One dies in his full vigor, being wholly at ease and secure,24 his pails2 full of milk and the marrow of his bones moist.25 Another dies in bitterness of soul, never having tasted of prosperity.26 They lie down alike in the dust, and the worms cover them. 27 “Behold, I know your thoughts and your schemes to wrong me.28 For you say, ‘Where is the house of the prince? Where is the tent in which the wicked lived?'29 Have you not asked those who travel the roads, and do you not accept their testimony30 that the evil man is spared in the day of calamity, that he is rescued in the day of wrath?31 Who declares his way to his face, and who repays him for what he has done?32 When he is carried to the grave, watch is kept over his tomb.33 The clods of the valley are sweet to him; all mankind follows after him, and those who go before him are innumerable.34 How then will you comfort me with empty nothings? There is nothing left of your answers but falsehood.” Eliphaz Speaks: Job's Wickedness Is Great 22 Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said: 2 “Can a man be profitable to God? Surely he who is wise is profitable to himself.3 Is it any pleasure to the Almighty if you are in the right, or is it gain to him if you make your ways blameless?4 Is it for your fear of him that he reproves you and enters into judgment with you?5 Is not your evil abundant? There is no end to your iniquities.6 For you have exacted pledges of your brothers for nothing and stripped the naked of their clothing.7 You have given no water to the weary to drink, and you have withheld bread from the hungry.8 The man with power possessed the land, and the favored man lived in it.9 You have sent widows away empty, and the arms of the fatherless were crushed.10 Therefore snares are all around you, and sudden terror overwhelms you,11 or darkness, so that you cannot see, and a flood of water covers you. 12 “Is not God high in the heavens? See the highest stars, how lofty they are!13 But you say, ‘What does God know? Can he judge through the deep darkness?14 Thick clouds veil him, so that he does not see, and he walks on the vault of heaven.'15 Will you keep to the old way that wicked men have trod?16 They were snatched away before their time; their foundation was washed away.317 They said to God, ‘Depart from us,' and ‘What can the Almighty do to us?'418 Yet he filled their houses with good things— but the counsel of the wicked is far from me.19 The righteous see it and are glad; the innocent one mocks at them,20 saying, ‘Surely our adversaries are cut off, and what they left the fire has consumed.' 21 “Agree with God, and be at peace; thereby good will come to you.22 Receive instruction from his mouth, and lay up his words in your heart.23 If you return to the Almighty you will be built up; if you remove injustice far from your tents,24 if you lay gold in the dust, and gold of Ophir among the stones of the torrent-bed,25 then the Almighty will be your gold and your precious silver.26 For then you will delight yourself in the Almighty and lift up your face to God.27 You will make your prayer to him, and he will hear you, and you will pay your vows.28 You will decide on a matter, and it will be established for you, and light will shine on your ways.29 For when they are humbled you say, ‘It is because of pride';5 but he saves the lowly.30 He delivers even the one who is not innocent, who will be delivered through the cleanness of your hands.” Job Replies: Where Is God? 23 Then Job answered and said: 2 “Today also my complaint is bitter;6 my hand is heavy on account of my groaning.3 Oh, that I knew where I might find him, that I might come even to his seat!4 I would lay my case before him and fill my mouth with arguments.5 I would know what he would answer me and understand what he would say to me.6 Would he contend with me in the greatness of his power? No; he would pay attention to me.7 There an upright man could argue with him, and I would be acquitted forever by my judge. 8 “Behold, I go forward, but he is not there, and backward, but I do not perceive him;9 on the left hand when he is working, I do not behold him; he turns to the right hand, but I do not see him.10 But he knows the way that I take; when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold.11 My foot has held fast to his steps; I have kept his way and have not turned aside.12 I have not departed from the commandment of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my portion of food.13 But he is unchangeable,7 and who can turn him back? What he desires, that he does.14 For he will complete what he appoints for me, and many such things are in his mind.15 Therefore I am terrified at his presence; when I consider, I am in dread of him.16 God has made my heart faint; the Almighty has terrified me;17 yet I am not silenced because of the darkness, nor because thick darkness covers my face. Footnotes [1] 21:17 Hebrew he [2] 21:24 The meaning of the Hebrew word is uncertain [3] 22:16 Or their foundation was poured out as a stream (or river) [4] 22:17 Hebrew them [5] 22:29 Or you say, ‘It is exaltation' [6] 23:2 Or defiant [7] 23:13 Or one (ESV)
Job 17–20 Job 17–20 (Listen) Job Continues: Where Then Is My Hope? 17 “My spirit is broken; my days are extinct; the graveyard is ready for me.2 Surely there are mockers about me, and my eye dwells on their provocation. 3 “Lay down a pledge for me with you; who is there who will put up security for me?4 Since you have closed their hearts to understanding, therefore you will not let them triumph.5 He who informs against his friends to get a share of their property— the eyes of his children will fail. 6 “He has made me a byword of the peoples, and I am one before whom men spit.7 My eye has grown dim from vexation, and all my members are like a shadow.8 The upright are appalled at this, and the innocent stirs himself up against the godless.9 Yet the righteous holds to his way, and he who has clean hands grows stronger and stronger.10 But you, come on again, all of you, and I shall not find a wise man among you.11 My days are past; my plans are broken off, the desires of my heart.12 They make night into day: ‘The light,' they say, ‘is near to the darkness.'113 If I hope for Sheol as my house, if I make my bed in darkness,14 if I say to the pit, ‘You are my father,' and to the worm, ‘My mother,' or ‘My sister,'15 where then is my hope? Who will see my hope?16 Will it go down to the bars of Sheol? Shall we descend together into the dust?”2 Bildad Speaks: God Punishes the Wicked 18 Then Bildad the Shuhite answered and said: 2 “How long will you hunt for words? Consider, and then we will speak.3 Why are we counted as cattle? Why are we stupid in your sight?4 You who tear yourself in your anger, shall the earth be forsaken for you, or the rock be removed out of its place? 5 “Indeed, the light of the wicked is put out, and the flame of his fire does not shine.6 The light is dark in his tent, and his lamp above him is put out.7 His strong steps are shortened, and his own schemes throw him down.8 For he is cast into a net by his own feet, and he walks on its mesh.9 A trap seizes him by the heel; a snare lays hold of him.10 A rope is hidden for him in the ground, a trap for him in the path.11 Terrors frighten him on every side, and chase him at his heels.12 His strength is famished, and calamity is ready for his stumbling.13 It consumes the parts of his skin; the firstborn of death consumes his limbs.14 He is torn from the tent in which he trusted and is brought to the king of terrors.15 In his tent dwells that which is none of his; sulfur is scattered over his habitation.16 His roots dry up beneath, and his branches wither above.17 His memory perishes from the earth, and he has no name in the street.18 He is thrust from light into darkness, and driven out of the world.19 He has no posterity or progeny among his people, and no survivor where he used to live.20 They of the west are appalled at his day, and horror seizes them of the east.21 Surely such are the dwellings of the unrighteous, such is the place of him who knows not God.” Job Replies: My Redeemer Lives 19 Then Job answered and said: 2 “How long will you torment me and break me in pieces with words?3 These ten times you have cast reproach upon me; are you not ashamed to wrong me?4 And even if it be true that I have erred, my error remains with myself.5 If indeed you magnify yourselves against me and make my disgrace an argument against me,6 know then that God has put me in the wrong and closed his net about me.7 Behold, I cry out, ‘Violence!' but I am not answered; I call for help, but there is no justice.8 He has walled up my way, so that I cannot pass, and he has set darkness upon my paths.9 He has stripped from me my glory and taken the crown from my head.10 He breaks me down on every side, and I am gone, and my hope has he pulled up like a tree.11 He has kindled his wrath against me and counts me as his adversary.12 His troops come on together; they have cast up their siege ramp3 against me and encamp around my tent. 13 “He has put my brothers far from me, and those who knew me are wholly estranged from me.14 My relatives have failed me, my close friends have forgotten me.15 The guests in my house and my maidservants count me as a stranger; I have become a foreigner in their eyes.16 I call to my servant, but he gives me no answer; I must plead with him with my mouth for mercy.17 My breath is strange to my wife, and I am a stench to the children of my own mother.18 Even young children despise me; when I rise they talk against me.19 All my intimate friends abhor me, and those whom I loved have turned against me.20 My bones stick to my skin and to my flesh, and I have escaped by the skin of my teeth.21 Have mercy on me, have mercy on me, O you my friends, for the hand of God has touched me!22 Why do you, like God, pursue me? Why are you not satisfied with my flesh? 23 “Oh that my words were written! Oh that they were inscribed in a book!24 Oh that with an iron pen and lead they were engraved in the rock forever!25 For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth.426 And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in5 my flesh I shall see God,27 whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another. My heart faints within me!28 If you say, ‘How we will pursue him!' and, ‘The root of the matter is found in him,'629 be afraid of the sword, for wrath brings the punishment of the sword, that you may know there is a judgment.” Zophar Speaks: The Wicked Will Suffer 20 Then Zophar the Naamathite answered and said: 2 “Therefore my thoughts answer me, because of my haste within me.3 I hear censure that insults me, and out of my understanding a spirit answers me.4 Do you not know this from of old, since man was placed on earth,5 that the exulting of the wicked is short, and the joy of the godless but for a moment?6 Though his height mount up to the heavens, and his head reach to the clouds,7 he will perish forever like his own dung; those who have seen him will say, ‘Where is he?'8 He will fly away like a dream and not be found; he will be chased away like a vision of the night.9 The eye that saw him will see him no more, nor will his place any more behold him.10 His children will seek the favor of the poor, and his hands will give back his wealth.11 His bones are full of his youthful vigor, but it will lie down with him in the dust. 12 “Though evil is sweet in his mouth, though he hides it under his tongue,13 though he is loath to let it go and holds it in his mouth,14 yet his food is turned in his stomach; it is the venom of cobras within him.15 He swallows down riches and vomits them up again; God casts them out of his belly.16 He will suck the poison of cobras; the tongue of a viper will kill him.17 He will not look upon the rivers, the streams flowing with honey and curds.18 He will give back the fruit of his toil and will not swallow it down; from the profit of his trading he will get no enjoyment.19 For he has crushed and abandoned the poor; he has seized a house that he did not build. 20 “Because he knew no contentment in his belly, he will not let anything in which he delights escape him.21 There was nothing left after he had eaten; therefore his prosperity will not endure.22 In the fullness of his sufficiency he will be in distress; the hand of everyone in misery will come against him.23 To fill his belly to the full, God7 will send his burning anger against him and rain it upon him into his body.24 He will flee from an iron weapon; a bronze arrow will strike him through.25 It is drawn forth and comes out of his body; the glittering point comes out of his gallbladder; terrors come upon him.26 Utter darkness is laid up for his treasures; a fire not fanned will devour him; what is left in his tent will be consumed.27 The heavens will reveal his iniquity, and the earth will rise up against him.28 The possessions of his house will be carried away, dragged off in the day of God's8 wrath.29 This is the wicked man's portion from God, the heritage decreed for him by God.” Footnotes [1] 17:12 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain [2] 17:16 Or Will they go down to the bars of Sheol? Is rest to be found together in the dust? [3] 19:12 Hebrew their way [4] 19:25 Hebrew dust [5] 19:26 Or without [6] 19:28 Many Hebrew manuscripts in me [7] 20:23 Hebrew he [8] 20:28 Hebrew his (ESV)
Job 14–16 Job 14–16 (Listen) Job Continues: Death Comes Soon to All 14 “Man who is born of a woman is few of days and full of trouble.2 He comes out like a flower and withers; he flees like a shadow and continues not.3 And do you open your eyes on such a one and bring me into judgment with you?4 Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? There is not one.5 Since his days are determined, and the number of his months is with you, and you have appointed his limits that he cannot pass,6 look away from him and leave him alone,1 that he may enjoy, like a hired hand, his day. 7 “For there is hope for a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that its shoots will not cease.8 Though its root grow old in the earth, and its stump die in the soil,9 yet at the scent of water it will bud and put out branches like a young plant.10 But a man dies and is laid low; man breathes his last, and where is he?11 As waters fail from a lake and a river wastes away and dries up,12 so a man lies down and rises not again; till the heavens are no more he will not awake or be roused out of his sleep.13 Oh that you would hide me in Sheol, that you would conceal me until your wrath be past, that you would appoint me a set time, and remember me!14 If a man dies, shall he live again? All the days of my service I would wait, till my renewal2 should come.15 You would call, and I would answer you; you would long for the work of your hands.16 For then you would number my steps; you would not keep watch over my sin;17 my transgression would be sealed up in a bag, and you would cover over my iniquity. 18 “But the mountain falls and crumbles away, and the rock is removed from its place;19 the waters wear away the stones; the torrents wash away the soil of the earth; so you destroy the hope of man.20 You prevail forever against him, and he passes; you change his countenance, and send him away.21 His sons come to honor, and he does not know it; they are brought low, and he perceives it not.22 He feels only the pain of his own body, and he mourns only for himself.” Eliphaz Accuses: Job Does Not Fear God 15 Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said: 2 “Should a wise man answer with windy knowledge, and fill his belly with the east wind?3 Should he argue in unprofitable talk, or in words with which he can do no good?4 But you are doing away with the fear of God3 and hindering meditation before God.5 For your iniquity teaches your mouth, and you choose the tongue of the crafty.6 Your own mouth condemns you, and not I; your own lips testify against you. 7 “Are you the first man who was born? Or were you brought forth before the hills?8 Have you listened in the council of God? And do you limit wisdom to yourself?9 What do you know that we do not know? What do you understand that is not clear to us?10 Both the gray-haired and the aged are among us, older than your father.11 Are the comforts of God too small for you, or the word that deals gently with you?12 Why does your heart carry you away, and why do your eyes flash,13 that you turn your spirit against God and bring such words out of your mouth?14 What is man, that he can be pure? Or he who is born of a woman, that he can be righteous?15 Behold, God4 puts no trust in his holy ones, and the heavens are not pure in his sight;16 how much less one who is abominable and corrupt, a man who drinks injustice like water! 17 “I will show you; hear me, and what I have seen I will declare18 (what wise men have told, without hiding it from their fathers,19 to whom alone the land was given, and no stranger passed among them).20 The wicked man writhes in pain all his days, through all the years that are laid up for the ruthless.21 Dreadful sounds are in his ears; in prosperity the destroyer will come upon him.22 He does not believe that he will return out of darkness, and he is marked for the sword.23 He wanders abroad for bread, saying, ‘Where is it?' He knows that a day of darkness is ready at his hand;24 distress and anguish terrify him; they prevail against him, like a king ready for battle.25 Because he has stretched out his hand against God and defies the Almighty,26 running stubbornly against him with a thickly bossed shield;27 because he has covered his face with his fat and gathered fat upon his waist28 and has lived in desolate cities, in houses that none should inhabit, which were ready to become heaps of ruins;29 he will not be rich, and his wealth will not endure, nor will his possessions spread over the earth;530 he will not depart from darkness; the flame will dry up his shoots, and by the breath of his mouth he will depart.31 Let him not trust in emptiness, deceiving himself, for emptiness will be his payment.32 It will be paid in full before his time, and his branch will not be green.33 He will shake off his unripe grape like the vine, and cast off his blossom like the olive tree.34 For the company of the godless is barren, and fire consumes the tents of bribery.35 They conceive trouble and give birth to evil, and their womb prepares deceit.” Job Replies: Miserable Comforters Are You 16 Then Job answered and said: 2 “I have heard many such things; miserable comforters are you all.3 Shall windy words have an end? Or what provokes you that you answer?4 I also could speak as you do, if you were in my place; I could join words together against you and shake my head at you.5 I could strengthen you with my mouth, and the solace of my lips would assuage your pain. 6 “If I speak, my pain is not assuaged, and if I forbear, how much of it leaves me?7 Surely now God has worn me out; he has6 made desolate all my company.8 And he has shriveled me up, which is a witness against me, and my leanness has risen up against me; it testifies to my face.9 He has torn me in his wrath and hated me; he has gnashed his teeth at me; my adversary sharpens his eyes against me.10 Men have gaped at me with their mouth; they have struck me insolently on the cheek; they mass themselves together against me.11 God gives me up to the ungodly and casts me into the hands of the wicked.12 I was at ease, and he broke me apart; he seized me by the neck and dashed me to pieces; he set me up as his target;13 his archers surround me. He slashes open my kidneys and does not spare; he pours out my gall on the ground.14 He breaks me with breach upon breach; he runs upon me like a warrior.15 I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin and have laid my strength in the dust.16 My face is red with weeping, and on my eyelids is deep darkness,17 although there is no violence in my hands, and my prayer is pure. 18 “O earth, cover not my blood, and let my cry find no resting place.19 Even now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and he who testifies for me is on high.20 My friends scorn me; my eye pours out tears to God,21 that he would argue the case of a man with God, as7 a son of man does with his neighbor.22 For when a few years have come I shall go the way from which I shall not return. Footnotes [1] 14:6 Probable reading; Hebrew look away from him, that he may cease [2] 14:14 Or relief [3] 15:4 Hebrew lacks of God [4] 15:15 Hebrew he [5] 15:29 Or nor will his produce bend down to the earth [6] 16:7 Hebrew you have; also verse 8 [7] 16:21 Hebrew and (ESV)
Job 11–13 Job 11–13 (Listen) Zophar Speaks: You Deserve Worse 11 Then Zophar the Naamathite answered and said: 2 “Should a multitude of words go unanswered, and a man full of talk be judged right?3 Should your babble silence men, and when you mock, shall no one shame you?4 For you say, ‘My doctrine is pure, and I am clean in God's1 eyes.'5 But oh, that God would speak and open his lips to you,6 and that he would tell you the secrets of wisdom! For he is manifold in understanding.2 Know then that God exacts of you less than your guilt deserves. 7 “Can you find out the deep things of God? Can you find out the limit of the Almighty?8 It is higher than heaven3—what can you do? Deeper than Sheol—what can you know?9 Its measure is longer than the earth and broader than the sea.10 If he passes through and imprisons and summons the court, who can turn him back?11 For he knows worthless men; when he sees iniquity, will he not consider it?12 But a stupid man will get understanding when a wild donkey's colt is born a man! 13 “If you prepare your heart, you will stretch out your hands toward him.14 If iniquity is in your hand, put it far away, and let not injustice dwell in your tents.15 Surely then you will lift up your face without blemish; you will be secure and will not fear.16 You will forget your misery; you will remember it as waters that have passed away.17 And your life will be brighter than the noonday; its darkness will be like the morning.18 And you will feel secure, because there is hope; you will look around and take your rest in security.19 You will lie down, and none will make you afraid; many will court your favor.20 But the eyes of the wicked will fail; all way of escape will be lost to them, and their hope is to breathe their last.” Job Replies: The Lord Has Done This 12 Then Job answered and said: 2 “No doubt you are the people, and wisdom will die with you.3 But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you. Who does not know such things as these?4 I am a laughingstock to my friends; I, who called to God and he answered me, a just and blameless man, am a laughingstock.5 In the thought of one who is at ease there is contempt for misfortune; it is ready for those whose feet slip.6 The tents of robbers are at peace, and those who provoke God are secure, who bring their god in their hand.4 7 “But ask the beasts, and they will teach you; the birds of the heavens, and they will tell you;8 or the bushes of the earth, and they will teach you;5 and the fish of the sea will declare to you.9 Who among all these does not know that the hand of the LORD has done this?10 In his hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind.11 Does not the ear test words as the palate tastes food?12 Wisdom is with the aged, and understanding in length of days. 13 “With God6 are wisdom and might; he has counsel and understanding.14 If he tears down, none can rebuild; if he shuts a man in, none can open.15 If he withholds the waters, they dry up; if he sends them out, they overwhelm the land.16 With him are strength and sound wisdom; the deceived and the deceiver are his.17 He leads counselors away stripped, and judges he makes fools.18 He looses the bonds of kings and binds a waistcloth on their hips.19 He leads priests away stripped and overthrows the mighty.20 He deprives of speech those who are trusted and takes away the discernment of the elders.21 He pours contempt on princes and loosens the belt of the strong.22 He uncovers the deeps out of darkness and brings deep darkness to light.23 He makes nations great, and he destroys them; he enlarges nations, and leads them away.24 He takes away understanding from the chiefs of the people of the earth and makes them wander in a trackless waste.25 They grope in the dark without light, and he makes them stagger like a drunken man. Job Continues: Still I Will Hope in God 13 “Behold, my eye has seen all this, my ear has heard and understood it.2 What you know, I also know; I am not inferior to you.3 But I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to argue my case with God.4 As for you, you whitewash with lies; worthless physicians are you all.5 Oh that you would keep silent, and it would be your wisdom!6 Hear now my argument and listen to the pleadings of my lips.7 Will you speak falsely for God and speak deceitfully for him?8 Will you show partiality toward him? Will you plead the case for God?9 Will it be well with you when he searches you out? Or can you deceive him, as one deceives a man?10 He will surely rebuke you if in secret you show partiality.11 Will not his majesty terrify you, and the dread of him fall upon you?12 Your maxims are proverbs of ashes; your defenses are defenses of clay. 13 “Let me have silence, and I will speak, and let come on me what may.14 Why should I take my flesh in my teeth and put my life in my hand?15 Though he slay me, I will hope in him;7 yet I will argue my ways to his face.16 This will be my salvation, that the godless shall not come before him.17 Keep listening to my words, and let my declaration be in your ears.18 Behold, I have prepared my case; I know that I shall be in the right.19 Who is there who will contend with me? For then I would be silent and die.20 Only grant me two things, then I will not hide myself from your face:21 withdraw your hand far from me, and let not dread of you terrify me.22 Then call, and I will answer; or let me speak, and you reply to me.23 How many are my iniquities and my sins? Make me know my transgression and my sin.24 Why do you hide your face and count me as your enemy?25 Will you frighten a driven leaf and pursue dry chaff?26 For you write bitter things against me and make me inherit the iniquities of my youth.27 You put my feet in the stocks and watch all my paths; you set a limit for8 the soles of my feet.28 Man9 wastes away like a rotten thing, like a garment that is moth-eaten. Footnotes [1] 11:4 Hebrew your [2] 11:6 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain [3] 11:8 Hebrew The heights of heaven [4] 12:6 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain [5] 12:8 Or or speak to the earth, and it will teach you [6] 12:13 Hebrew him [7] 13:15 Or Behold, he will slay me; I have no hope [8] 13:27 Or you marked [9] 13:28 Hebrew He (ESV)
Job 8–10 Job 8–10 (Listen) Bildad Speaks: Job Should Repent 8 Then Bildad the Shuhite answered and said: 2 “How long will you say these things, and the words of your mouth be a great wind?3 Does God pervert justice? Or does the Almighty pervert the right?4 If your children have sinned against him, he has delivered them into the hand of their transgression.5 If you will seek God and plead with the Almighty for mercy,6 if you are pure and upright, surely then he will rouse himself for you and restore your rightful habitation.7 And though your beginning was small, your latter days will be very great. 8 “For inquire, please, of bygone ages, and consider what the fathers have searched out.9 For we are but of yesterday and know nothing, for our days on earth are a shadow.10 Will they not teach you and tell you and utter words out of their understanding? 11 “Can papyrus grow where there is no marsh? Can reeds flourish where there is no water?12 While yet in flower and not cut down, they wither before any other plant.13 Such are the paths of all who forget God; the hope of the godless shall perish.14 His confidence is severed, and his trust is a spider's web.115 He leans against his house, but it does not stand; he lays hold of it, but it does not endure.16 He is a lush plant before the sun, and his shoots spread over his garden.17 His roots entwine the stone heap; he looks upon a house of stones.18 If he is destroyed from his place, then it will deny him, saying, ‘I have never seen you.'19 Behold, this is the joy of his way, and out of the soil others will spring. 20 “Behold, God will not reject a blameless man, nor take the hand of evildoers.21 He will yet fill your mouth with laughter, and your lips with shouting.22 Those who hate you will be clothed with shame, and the tent of the wicked will be no more.” Job Replies: There Is No Arbiter 9 Then Job answered and said: 2 “Truly I know that it is so: But how can a man be in the right before God?3 If one wished to contend with him, one could not answer him once in a thousand times.4 He is wise in heart and mighty in strength —who has hardened himself against him, and succeeded?—5 he who removes mountains, and they know it not, when he overturns them in his anger,6 who shakes the earth out of its place, and its pillars tremble;7 who commands the sun, and it does not rise; who seals up the stars;8 who alone stretched out the heavens and trampled the waves of the sea;9 who made the Bear and Orion, the Pleiades and the chambers of the south;10 who does great things beyond searching out, and marvelous things beyond number.11 Behold, he passes by me, and I see him not; he moves on, but I do not perceive him.12 Behold, he snatches away; who can turn him back? Who will say to him, ‘What are you doing?' 13 “God will not turn back his anger; beneath him bowed the helpers of Rahab.14 How then can I answer him, choosing my words with him?15 Though I am in the right, I cannot answer him; I must appeal for mercy to my accuser.216 If I summoned him and he answered me, I would not believe that he was listening to my voice.17 For he crushes me with a tempest and multiplies my wounds without cause;18 he will not let me get my breath, but fills me with bitterness.19 If it is a contest of strength, behold, he is mighty! If it is a matter of justice, who can summon him?320 Though I am in the right, my own mouth would condemn me; though I am blameless, he would prove me perverse.21 I am blameless; I regard not myself; I loathe my life.22 It is all one; therefore I say, ‘He destroys both the blameless and the wicked.'23 When disaster brings sudden death, he mocks at the calamity4 of the innocent.24 The earth is given into the hand of the wicked; he covers the faces of its judges— if it is not he, who then is it? 25 “My days are swifter than a runner; they flee away; they see no good.26 They go by like skiffs of reed, like an eagle swooping on the prey.27 If I say, ‘I will forget my complaint, I will put off my sad face, and be of good cheer,'28 I become afraid of all my suffering, for I know you will not hold me innocent.29 I shall be condemned; why then do I labor in vain?30 If I wash myself with snow and cleanse my hands with lye,31 yet you will plunge me into a pit, and my own clothes will abhor me.32 For he is not a man, as I am, that I might answer him, that we should come to trial together.33 There is no5 arbiter between us, who might lay his hand on us both.34 Let him take his rod away from me, and let not dread of him terrify me.35 Then I would speak without fear of him, for I am not so in myself. Job Continues: A Plea to God 10 “I loathe my life; I will give free utterance to my complaint; I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.2 I will say to God, Do not condemn me; let me know why you contend against me.3 Does it seem good to you to oppress, to despise the work of your hands and favor the designs of the wicked?4 Have you eyes of flesh? Do you see as man sees?5 Are your days as the days of man, or your years as a man's years,6 that you seek out my iniquity and search for my sin,7 although you know that I am not guilty, and there is none to deliver out of your hand?8 Your hands fashioned and made me, and now you have destroyed me altogether.9 Remember that you have made me like clay; and will you return me to the dust?10 Did you not pour me out like milk and curdle me like cheese?11 You clothed me with skin and flesh, and knit me together with bones and sinews.12 You have granted me life and steadfast love, and your care has preserved my spirit.13 Yet these things you hid in your heart; I know that this was your purpose.14 If I sin, you watch me and do not acquit me of my iniquity.15 If I am guilty, woe to me! If I am in the right, I cannot lift up my head, for I am filled with disgrace and look on my affliction.16 And were my head lifted up,6 you would hunt me like a lion and again work wonders against me.17 You renew your witnesses against me and increase your vexation toward me; you bring fresh troops against me. 18 “Why did you bring me out from the womb? Would that I had died before any eye had seen me19 and were as though I had not been, carried from the womb to the grave.20 Are not my days few? Then cease, and leave me alone, that I may find a little cheer21 before I go—and I shall not return— to the land of darkness and deep shadow,22 the land of gloom like thick darkness, like deep shadow without any order, where light is as thick darkness.” Footnotes [1] 8:14 Hebrew house [2] 9:15 Or to my judge [3] 9:19 Or who can grant me a hearing? [4] 9:23 The meaning of the Hebrew word is uncertain [5] 9:33 Or Would that there were an [6] 10:16 Hebrew lacks my head (ESV)
Job 4–7 Job 4–7 (Listen) Eliphaz Speaks: The Innocent Prosper 4 Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said: 2 “If one ventures a word with you, will you be impatient? Yet who can keep from speaking?3 Behold, you have instructed many, and you have strengthened the weak hands.4 Your words have upheld him who was stumbling, and you have made firm the feeble knees.5 But now it has come to you, and you are impatient; it touches you, and you are dismayed.6 Is not your fear of God1 your confidence, and the integrity of your ways your hope? 7 “Remember: who that was innocent ever perished? Or where were the upright cut off?8 As I have seen, those who plow iniquity and sow trouble reap the same.9 By the breath of God they perish, and by the blast of his anger they are consumed.10 The roar of the lion, the voice of the fierce lion, the teeth of the young lions are broken.11 The strong lion perishes for lack of prey, and the cubs of the lioness are scattered. 12 “Now a word was brought to me stealthily; my ear received the whisper of it.13 Amid thoughts from visions of the night, when deep sleep falls on men,14 dread came upon me, and trembling, which made all my bones shake.15 A spirit glided past my face; the hair of my flesh stood up.16 It stood still, but I could not discern its appearance. A form was before my eyes; there was silence, then I heard a voice:17 ‘Can mortal man be in the right before2 God? Can a man be pure before his Maker?18 Even in his servants he puts no trust, and his angels he charges with error;19 how much more those who dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, who are crushed like3 the moth.20 Between morning and evening they are beaten to pieces; they perish forever without anyone regarding it.21 Is not their tent-cord plucked up within them, do they not die, and that without wisdom?' 5 “Call now; is there anyone who will answer you? To which of the holy ones will you turn?2 Surely vexation kills the fool, and jealousy slays the simple.3 I have seen the fool taking root, but suddenly I cursed his dwelling.4 His children are far from safety; they are crushed in the gate, and there is no one to deliver them.5 The hungry eat his harvest, and he takes it even out of thorns,4 and the thirsty pant5 after his6 wealth.6 For affliction does not come from the dust, nor does trouble sprout from the ground,7 but man is born to trouble as the sparks fly upward. 8 “As for me, I would seek God, and to God would I commit my cause,9 who does great things and unsearchable, marvelous things without number:10 he gives rain on the earth and sends waters on the fields;11 he sets on high those who are lowly, and those who mourn are lifted to safety.12 He frustrates the devices of the crafty, so that their hands achieve no success.13 He catches the wise in their own craftiness, and the schemes of the wily are brought to a quick end.14 They meet with darkness in the daytime and grope at noonday as in the night.15 But he saves the needy from the sword of their mouth and from the hand of the mighty.16 So the poor have hope, and injustice shuts her mouth. 17 “Behold, blessed is the one whom God reproves; therefore despise not the discipline of the Almighty.18 For he wounds, but he binds up; he shatters, but his hands heal.19 He will deliver you from six troubles; in seven no evil7 shall touch you.20 In famine he will redeem you from death, and in war from the power of the sword.21 You shall be hidden from the lash of the tongue, and shall not fear destruction when it comes.22 At destruction and famine you shall laugh, and shall not fear the beasts of the earth.23 For you shall be in league with the stones of the field, and the beasts of the field shall be at peace with you.24 You shall know that your tent is at peace, and you shall inspect your fold and miss nothing.25 You shall know also that your offspring shall be many, and your descendants as the grass of the earth.26 You shall come to your grave in ripe old age, like a sheaf gathered up in its season.27 Behold, this we have searched out; it is true. Hear, and know it for your good.”8 Job Replies: My Complaint Is Just 6 Then Job answered and said: 2 “Oh that my vexation were weighed, and all my calamity laid in the balances!3 For then it would be heavier than the sand of the sea; therefore my words have been rash.4 For the arrows of the Almighty are in me; my spirit drinks their poison; the terrors of God are arrayed against me.5 Does the wild donkey bray when he has grass, or the ox low over his fodder?6 Can that which is tasteless be eaten without salt, or is there any taste in the juice of the mallow?97 My appetite refuses to touch them; they are as food that is loathsome to me.10 8 “Oh that I might have my request, and that God would fulfill my hope,9 that it would please God to crush me, that he would let loose his hand and cut me off!10 This would be my comfort; I would even exult11 in pain unsparing, for I have not denied the words of the Holy One.11 What is my strength, that I should wait? And what is my end, that I should be patient?12 Is my strength the strength of stones, or is my flesh bronze?13 Have I any help in me, when resource is driven from me? 14 “He who withholds12 kindness from a friend forsakes the fear of the Almighty.15 My brothers are treacherous as a torrent-bed, as torrential streams that pass away,16 which are dark with ice, and where the snow hides itself.17 When they melt, they disappear; when it is hot, they vanish from their place.18 The caravans turn aside from their course; they go up into the waste and perish.19 The caravans of Tema look, the travelers of Sheba hope.20 They are ashamed because they were confident; they come there and are disappointed.21 For you have now become nothing; you see my calamity and are afraid.22 Have I said, ‘Make me a gift'? Or, ‘From your wealth offer a bribe for me'?23 Or, ‘Deliver me from the adversary's hand'? Or, ‘Redeem me from the hand of the ruthless'? 24 “Teach me, and I will be silent; make me understand how I have gone astray.25 How forceful are upright words! But what does reproof from you reprove?26 Do you think that you can reprove words, when the speech of a despairing man is wind?27 You would even cast lots over the fatherless, and bargain over your friend. 28 “But now, be pleased to look at me, for I will not lie to your face.29 Please turn; let no injustice be done. Turn now; my vindication is at stake.30 Is there any injustice on my tongue? Cannot my palate discern the cause of calamity? Job Continues: My Life Has No Hope 7 “Has not man a hard service on earth, and are not his days like the days of a hired hand?2 Like a slave who longs for the shadow, and like a hired hand who looks for his wages,3 so I am allotted months of emptiness, and nights of misery are apportioned to me.4 When I lie down I say, ‘When shall I arise?' But the night is long, and I am full of tossing till the dawn.5 My flesh is clothed with worms and dirt; my skin hardens, then breaks out afresh.6 My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle and come to their end without hope. 7 “Remember that my life is a breath; my eye will never again see good.8 The eye of him who sees me will behold me no more; while your eyes are on me, I shall be gone.9 As the cloud fades and vanishes, so he who goes down to Sheol does not come up;10 he returns no more to his house, nor does his place know him anymore. 11 “Therefore I will not restrain my mouth; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.12 Am I the sea, or a sea monster, that you set a guard over me?13 When I say, ‘My bed will comfort me, my couch will ease my complaint,'14 then you scare me with dreams and terrify me with visions,15 so that I would choose strangling and death rather than my bones.16 I loathe my life; I would not live forever. Leave me alone, for my days are a breath.17 What is man, that you make so much of him, and that you set your heart on him,18 visit him every morning and test him every moment?19 How long will you not look away from me, nor leave me alone till I swallow my spit?20 If I sin, what do I do to you, you watcher of mankind? Why have you made me your mark? Why have I become a burden to you?21 Why do you not pardon my transgression and take away my iniquity? For now I shall lie in the earth; you will seek me, but I shall not be.” Footnotes [1] 4:6 Hebrew lacks of God [2] 4:17 Or more than; twice in this verse [3] 4:19 Or before [4] 5:5 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain [5] 5:5 Aquila, Symmachus, Syriac, Vulgate; Hebrew could be read as and the snare pants [6] 5:5 Hebrew their [7] 5:19 Or disaster [8] 5:27 Hebrew for yourself [9] 6:6 The meaning of the Hebrew word is uncertain [10] 6:7 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain [11] 6:10 The meaning of the Hebrew word is uncertain [12] 6:14 Syriac, Vulgate (compare Targum); the meaning of the Hebrew word is uncertain (ESV)
Job 1–3 Job 1–3 (Listen) Job’s Character and Wealth 1 There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job, and that man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil. 2 There were born to him seven sons and three daughters. 3 He possessed 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, and 500 female donkeys, and very many servants, so that this man was the greatest of all the people of the east. 4 His sons used to go and hold a feast in the house of each one on his day, and they would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. 5 And when the days of the feast had run their course, Job would send and consecrate them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, “It may be that my children have sinned, and cursed1 God in their hearts.” Thus Job did continually. Satan Allowed to Test Job 6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan2 also came among them. 7 The LORD said to Satan, “From where have you come?” Satan answered the LORD and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.” 8 And the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?” 9 Then Satan answered the LORD and said, “Does Job fear God for no reason? 10 Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. 11 But stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face.” 12 And the LORD said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand.” So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD. Satan Takes Job’s Property and Children 13 Now there was a day when his sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, 14 and there came a messenger to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding beside them, 15 and the Sabeans fell upon them and took them and struck down the servants3 with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” 16 While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, “The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants and consumed them, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” 17 While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, “The Chaldeans formed three groups and made a raid on the camels and took them and struck down the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” 18 While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, “Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, 19 and behold, a great wind came across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young people, and they are dead, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” 20 Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped. 21 And he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.” 22 In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong. Satan Attacks Job’s Health 2 Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them to present himself before the LORD. 2 And the LORD said to Satan, “From where have you come?” Satan answered the LORD and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.” 3 And the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil? He still holds fast his integrity, although you incited me against him to destroy him without reason.” 4 Then Satan answered the LORD and said, “Skin for skin! All that a man has he will give for his life. 5 But stretch out your hand and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse you to your face.” 6 And the LORD said to Satan, “Behold, he is in your hand; only spare his life.” 7 So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD and struck Job with loathsome sores from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head. 8 And he took a piece of broken pottery with which to scrape himself while he sat in the ashes. 9 Then his wife said to him, “Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse God and die.” 10 But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women would speak. Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?”4 In all this Job did not sin with his lips. Job’s Three Friends 11 Now when Job’s three friends heard of all this evil that had come upon him, they came each from his own place, Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite. They made an appointment together to come to show him sympathy and comfort him. 12 And when they saw him from a distance, they did not recognize him. And they raised their voices and wept, and they tore their robes and sprinkled dust on their heads toward heaven. 13 And they sat with him on the ground seven days and seven nights, and no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his suffering was very great. Job Laments His Birth 3 After this Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth. 2 And Job said: 3 “Let the day perish on which I was born, and the night that said, ‘A man is conceived.’4 Let that day be darkness! May God above not seek it, nor light shine upon it.5 Let gloom and deep darkness claim it. Let clouds dwell upon it; let the blackness of the day terrify it.6 That night—let thick darkness seize it! Let it not rejoice among the days of the year; let it not come into the number of the months.7 Behold, let that night be barren; let no joyful cry enter it.8 Let those curse it who curse the day, who are ready to rouse up Leviathan.9 Let the stars of its dawn be dark; let it hope for light, but have none, nor see the eyelids of the morning,10 because it did not shut the doors of my mother’s womb, nor hide trouble from my eyes. 11 “Why did I not die at birth, come out from the womb and expire?12 Why did the knees receive me? Or why the breasts, that I should nurse?13 For then I would have lain down and been quiet; I would have slept; then I would have been at rest,14 with kings and counselors of the earth who rebuilt ruins for themselves,15 or with princes who had gold, who filled their houses with silver.16 Or why was I not as a hidden stillborn child, as infants who never see the light?17 There the wicked cease from troubling, and there the weary are at rest.18 There the prisoners are at ease together; they hear not the voice of the taskmaster.19 The small and the great are there, and the slave is free from his master. 20 “Why is light given to him who is in misery, and life to the bitter in soul,21 who long for death, but it comes not, and dig for it more than for hidden treasures,22 who rejoice exceedingly and are glad when they find the grave?23 Why is light given to a man whose way is hidden, whom God has hedged in?24 For my sighing comes instead of5 my bread, and my groanings are poured out like water.25 For the thing that I fear comes upon me, and what I dread befalls me.26 I am not at ease, nor am I quiet; I have no rest, but trouble comes.” Footnotes [1] 1:5 The Hebrew word bless is used euphemistically for curse in 1:5, 11; 2:5, 9 [2] 1:6 Hebrew the Accuser or the Adversary; so throughout chapters 1–2 [3] 1:15 Hebrew the young men; also verses 16, 17 [4] 2:10 Or disaster; also verse 11 [5] 3:24 Or like; Hebrew before (ESV)
When we think of someone in the Bible who experienced dark times, Job has to be near the top of the list. Because he was the most righteous man on the earth in his day, the enemy wiped out his family, his livelihood, and even threatened his health. But when we fast-forward to chapter 42 after many chapters of questions and discussions, we find an amazing revelation as a response to his suffering. Listen to verses 1-6 … Then Job replied to the Lord: “I know that you can do anything, and no one can stop you. You asked, ‘Who is this that questions my wisdom with such ignorance?’ It is I—and I was talking about things I knew nothing about, things far too wonderful for me. You said, ‘Listen and I will speak! I have some questions for you, and you must answer them.’ I had only heard about you before, but now I have seen you with my own eyes. I take back everything I said, and I sit in dust and ashes to show my repentance.” (NLT) Throughout our lives, God gives blessings while He allows suffering. He alone decides what we need, when we need it, and as a good Father, what will keep us close to Him day by day. Listen now to this same passage in The Message Bible … Job answered God: “I’m convinced: You can do anything and everything. Nothing and no one can upset your plans. You asked, ‘Who is this muddying the water, ignorantly confusing the issue, second-guessing my purposes?’ I admit it. I was the one. I babbled on about things far beyond me, made small talk about wonders way over my head. You told me, ‘Listen, and let me do the talking. Let me ask the questions. You give the answers.’ I admit I once lived by rumors of you; now I have it all firsthand—from my own eyes and ears! I’m sorry—forgive me. I’ll never do that again, I promise! I’ll never again live on crusts of hearsay, crumbs of rumor.” How do you tend to respond when hard things happen in your life? Maybe here we go again? Why me, Lord? I’ll just put my head down and get through this? Whether blessing or hardship, a great prayer to pray is: God, show me what You are doing. How do you want me to respond to this? What we can learn from Job’s suffering and his response is that God wants us to have a first-hand experience with Him, not live off of rumors or someone else’s experience. That’s what a close relationship is all about. Let’s pray together: “Heavenly Father, I have to admit I want all blessing and no suffering. Yet, I know I tend to grow the most when things get tough. Help me to look for how I can know You first-hand, like a Father to His child. As above, so below.”
Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped. And he said, “Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” — Job 1:20-21 By the end of this first chapter, Job is stricken with events that no man wants to encounter. His possessions, cattle, servants, and ten children are taken from him. And while we don't know exactly what this moment felt like to Job, you've probably experienced devastation on a far less significant level. But notice how Job responds. He stood up, stripped naked, shaved his hair, fell to the ground stripped of everything, and worshipped God. While this was completely natural for a man who was in mourning, his next response is inspiring and awesome. "The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord." What brings a man to assert this? Here are the two factors. Factor one, Job is certain that God is sovereign and Satan is not. Factor two, his circumstances never determined his faith. His possessions, land, cattle, servants, family, and finances were not the object nor the means of his faith — God was. So when these mere things were taken from him, his faith remained intact, unaffected by circumstances. So here are two questions we need to ask ourselves in light of all that is happening in the world and our lives: Do you believe that God is still sovereign? Do you have faith in God or circumstance? Take a moment to reflect on these questions and then consider what you might need to confess for you to be able to make this proclamation: "The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord." ASK THIS: Do you believe that God is still sovereign? Do you have faith in God or circumstance? DO THIS: Confess to God what is hindering your faith in him. (If you feel brave, share this in the comments below) PRAY THIS: God, my faith has been altered by the challenging circumstances of this life. I bring these circumstances to you, knowing that you are still sovereign and that they are in your care. Increase my faith today. Reveal yourself in the circumstances of my day. PLAY THIS: Made A Way.
God informs the three kings that were it not for Job's sake, God would have destroyed them for what they said to Job. Then Job prays for them, and they offer a sacrifice and God blessed Job with double and restored all that he lost.
Job 40–42 Job 40–42 (Listen) 40 And the LORD said to Job: 2 “Shall a faultfinder contend with the Almighty? He who argues with God, let him answer it.” Job Promises Silence 3 Then Job answered the LORD and said: 4 “Behold, I am of small account; what shall I answer you? I lay my hand on my mouth.5 I have spoken once, and I will not answer; twice, but I will proceed no further.” The Lord Challenges Job 6 Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind and said: 7 “Dress for action1 like a man; I will question you, and you make it known to me.8 Will you even put me in the wrong? Will you condemn me that you may be in the right?9 Have you an arm like God, and can you thunder with a voice like his? 10 “Adorn yourself with majesty and dignity; clothe yourself with glory and splendor.11 Pour out the overflowings of your anger, and look on everyone who is proud and abase him.12 Look on everyone who is proud and bring him low and tread down the wicked where they stand.13 Hide them all in the dust together; bind their faces in the world below.214 Then will I also acknowledge to you that your own right hand can save you. 15 “Behold, Behemoth,3 which I made as I made you; he eats grass like an ox.16 Behold, his strength in his loins, and his power in the muscles of his belly.17 He makes his tail stiff like a cedar; the sinews of his thighs are knit together.18 His bones are tubes of bronze, his limbs like bars of iron. 19 “He is the first of the works4 of God; let him who made him bring near his sword!20 For the mountains yield food for him where all the wild beasts play.21 Under the lotus plants he lies, in the shelter of the reeds and in the marsh.22 For his shade the lotus trees cover him; the willows of the brook surround him.23 Behold, if the river is turbulent he is not frightened; he is confident though Jordan rushes against his mouth.24 Can one take him by his eyes,5 or pierce his nose with a snare? 41 6 “Can you draw out Leviathan7 with a fishhook or press down his tongue with a cord?2 Can you put a rope in his nose or pierce his jaw with a hook?3 Will he make many pleas to you? Will he speak to you soft words?4 Will he make a covenant with you to take him for your servant forever?5 Will you play with him as with a bird, or will you put him on a leash for your girls?6 Will traders bargain over him? Will they divide him up among the merchants?7 Can you fill his skin with harpoons or his head with fishing spears?8 Lay your hands on him; remember the battle—you will not do it again!9 8 Behold, the hope of a man is false; he is laid low even at the sight of him.10 No one is so fierce that he dares to stir him up. Who then is he who can stand before me?11 Who has first given to me, that I should repay him? Whatever is under the whole heaven is mine. 12 “I will not keep silence concerning his limbs, or his mighty strength, or his goodly frame.13 Who can strip off his outer garment? Who would come near him with a bridle?14 Who can open the doors of his face? Around his teeth is terror.15 His back is made of9 rows of shields, shut up closely as with a seal.16 One is so near to another that no air can come between them.17 They are joined one to another; they clasp each other and cannot be separated.18 His sneezings flash forth light, and his eyes are like the eyelids of the dawn.19 Out of his mouth go flaming torches; sparks of fire leap forth.20 Out of his nostrils comes forth smoke, as from a boiling pot and burning rushes.21 His breath kindles coals, and a flame comes forth from his mouth.22 In his neck abides strength, and terror dances before him.23 The folds of his flesh stick together, firmly cast on him and immovable.24 His heart is hard as a stone, hard as the lower millstone.25 When he raises himself up, the mighty10 are afraid; at the crashing they are beside themselves.26 Though the sword reaches him, it does not avail, nor the spear, the dart, or the javelin.27 He counts iron as straw, and bronze as rotten wood.28 The arrow cannot make him flee; for him, sling stones are turned to stubble.29 Clubs are counted as stubble; he laughs at the rattle of javelins.30 His underparts are like sharp potsherds; he spreads himself like a threshing sledge on the mire.31 He makes the deep boil like a pot; he makes the sea like a pot of ointment.32 Behind him he leaves a shining wake; one would think the deep to be white-haired.33 On earth there is not his like, a creature without fear.34 He sees everything that is high; he is king over all the sons of pride.” Job’s Confession and Repentance 42 Then Job answered the LORD and said: 2 “I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.3 ‘Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’ Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.4 ‘Hear, and I will speak; I will question you, and you make it known to me.’5 I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you;6 therefore I despise myself, and repent11 in dust and ashes.” The Lord Rebukes Job’s Friends 7 After the LORD had spoken these words to Job, the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite: “My anger burns against you and against your two friends, for you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has. 8 Now therefore take seven bulls and seven rams and go to my servant Job and offer up a burnt offering for yourselves. And my servant Job shall pray for you, for I will accept his prayer not to deal with you according to your folly. For you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has.” 9 So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite went and did what the LORD had told them, and the LORD accepted Job’s prayer. The Lord Restores Job’s Fortunes 10 And the LORD restored the fortunes of Job, when he had prayed for his friends. And the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before. 11 Then came to him all his brothers and sisters and all who had known him before, and ate bread with him in his house. And they showed him sympathy and comforted him for all the evil12 that the LORD had brought upon him. And each of them gave him a piece of money13 and a ring of gold. 12 And the LORD blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning. And he had 14,000 sheep, 6,000 camels, 1,000 yoke of oxen, and 1,000 female donkeys. 13 He had also seven sons and three daughters. 14 And he called the name of the first daughter Jemimah, and the name of the second Keziah, and the name of the third Keren-happuch. 15 And in all the land there were no women so beautiful as Job’s daughters. And their father gave them an inheritance among their brothers. 16 And after this Job lived 140 years, and saw his sons, and his sons’ sons, four generations. 17 And Job died, an old man, and full of days. Footnotes [1] 40:7 Hebrew Gird up your loins [2] 40:13 Hebrew in the hidden place [3] 40:15 A large animal, exact identity unknown [4] 40:19 Hebrew ways [5] 40:24 Or in his sight [6] 41:1 Ch 40:25 in Hebrew [7] 41:1 A large sea animal, exact identity unknown [8] 41:9 Ch 41:1 in Hebrew [9] 41:15 Or His pride is in his [10] 41:25 Or gods [11] 42:6 Or and am comforted [12] 42:11 Or disaster [13] 42:11 Hebrew a qesitah; a unit of money of unknown value (ESV)
Job 24–28 Job 24–28 (Listen) 24 “Why are not times of judgment kept by the Almighty, and why do those who know him never see his days?2 Some move landmarks; they seize flocks and pasture them.3 They drive away the donkey of the fatherless; they take the widow’s ox for a pledge.4 They thrust the poor off the road; the poor of the earth all hide themselves.5 Behold, like wild donkeys in the desert the poor1 go out to their toil, seeking game; the wasteland yields food for their children.6 They gather their2 fodder in the field, and they glean the vineyard of the wicked man.7 They lie all night naked, without clothing, and have no covering in the cold.8 They are wet with the rain of the mountains and cling to the rock for lack of shelter.9 (There are those who snatch the fatherless child from the breast, and they take a pledge against the poor.)10 They go about naked, without clothing; hungry, they carry the sheaves;11 among the olive rows of the wicked3 they make oil; they tread the winepresses, but suffer thirst.12 From out of the city the dying4 groan, and the soul of the wounded cries for help; yet God charges no one with wrong. 13 “There are those who rebel against the light, who are not acquainted with its ways, and do not stay in its paths.14 The murderer rises before it is light, that he may kill the poor and needy, and in the night he is like a thief.15 The eye of the adulterer also waits for the twilight, saying, ‘No eye will see me’; and he veils his face.16 In the dark they dig through houses; by day they shut themselves up; they do not know the light.17 For deep darkness is morning to all of them; for they are friends with the terrors of deep darkness. 18 “You say, ‘Swift are they on the face of the waters; their portion is cursed in the land; no treader turns toward their vineyards.19 Drought and heat snatch away the snow waters; so does Sheol those who have sinned.20 The womb forgets them; the worm finds them sweet; they are no longer remembered, so wickedness is broken like a tree.’ 21 “They wrong the barren, childless woman, and do no good to the widow.22 Yet God5 prolongs the life of the mighty by his power; they rise up when they despair of life.23 He gives them security, and they are supported, and his eyes are upon their ways.24 They are exalted a little while, and then are gone; they are brought low and gathered up like all others; they are cut off like the heads of grain.25 If it is not so, who will prove me a liar and show that there is nothing in what I say?” Bildad Speaks: Man Cannot Be Righteous 25 Then Bildad the Shuhite answered and said: 2 “Dominion and fear are with God;6 he makes peace in his high heaven.3 Is there any number to his armies? Upon whom does his light not arise?4 How then can man be in the right before God? How can he who is born of woman be pure?5 Behold, even the moon is not bright, and the stars are not pure in his eyes;6 how much less man, who is a maggot, and the son of man, who is a worm!” Job Replies: God’s Majesty Is Unsearchable 26 Then Job answered and said: 2 “How you have helped him who has no power! How you have saved the arm that has no strength!3 How you have counseled him who has no wisdom, and plentifully declared sound knowledge!4 With whose help have you uttered words, and whose breath has come out from you?5 The dead tremble under the waters and their inhabitants.6 Sheol is naked before God,7 and Abaddon has no covering.7 He stretches out the north over the void and hangs the earth on nothing.8 He binds up the waters in his thick clouds, and the cloud is not split open under them.9 He covers the face of the full moon8 and spreads over it his cloud.10 He has inscribed a circle on the face of the waters at the boundary between light and darkness.11 The pillars of heaven tremble and are astounded at his rebuke.12 By his power he stilled the sea; by his understanding he shattered Rahab.13 By his wind the heavens were made fair; his hand pierced the fleeing serpent.14 Behold, these are but the outskirts of his ways, and how small a whisper do we hear of him! But the thunder of his power who can understand?” Job Continues: I Will Maintain My Integrity 27 And Job again took up his discourse, and said: 2 “As God lives, who has taken away my right, and the Almighty, who has made my soul bitter,3 as long as my breath is in me, and the spirit of God is in my nostrils,4 my lips will not speak falsehood, and my tongue will not utter deceit.5 Far be it from me to say that you are right; till I die I will not put away my integrity from me.6 I hold fast my righteousness and will not let it go; my heart does not reproach me for any of my days. 7 “Let my enemy be as the wicked, and let him who rises up against me be as the unrighteous.8 For what is the hope of the godless when God cuts him off, when God takes away his life?9 Will God hear his cry when distress comes upon him?10 Will he take delight in the Almighty? Will he call upon God at all times?11 I will teach you concerning the hand of God; what is with the Almighty I will not conceal.12 Behold, all of you have seen it yourselves; why then have you become altogether vain? 13 “This is the portion of a wicked man with God, and the heritage that oppressors receive from the Almighty:14 If his children are multiplied, it is for the sword, and his descendants have not enough bread.15 Those who survive him the pestilence buries, and his widows do not weep.16 Though he heap up silver like dust, and pile up clothing like clay,17 he may pile it up, but the righteous will wear it, and the innocent will divide the silver.18 He builds his house like a moth’s, like a booth that a watchman makes.19 He goes to bed rich, but will do so no more; he opens his eyes, and his wealth is gone.20 Terrors overtake him like a flood; in the night a whirlwind carries him off.21 The east wind lifts him up and he is gone; it sweeps him out of his place.22 It9 hurls at him without pity; he flees from its10 power in headlong flight.23 It claps its hands at him and hisses at him from its place. Job Continues: Where Is Wisdom? 28 “Surely there is a mine for silver, and a place for gold that they refine.2 Iron is taken out of the earth, and copper is smelted from the ore.3 Man puts an end to darkness and searches out to the farthest limit the ore in gloom and deep darkness.4 He opens shafts in a valley away from where anyone lives; they are forgotten by travelers; they hang in the air, far away from mankind; they swing to and fro.5 As for the earth, out of it comes bread, but underneath it is turned up as by fire.6 Its stones are the place of sapphires,11 and it has dust of gold. 7 “That path no bird of prey knows, and the falcon’s eye has not seen it.8 The proud beasts have not trodden it; the lion has not passed over it. 9 “Man puts his hand to the flinty rock and overturns mountains by the roots.10 He cuts out channels in the rocks, and his eye sees every precious thing.11 He dams up the streams so that they do not trickle, and the thing that is hidden he brings out to light. 12 “But where shall wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding?13 Man does not know its worth, and it is not found in the land of the living.14 The deep says, ‘It is not in me,’ and the sea says, ‘It is not with me.’15 It cannot be bought for gold, and silver cannot be weighed as its price.16 It cannot be valued in the gold of Ophir, in precious onyx or sapphire.17 Gold and glass cannot equal it, nor can it be exchanged for jewels of fine gold.18 No mention shall be made of coral or of crystal; the price of wisdom is above pearls.19 The topaz of Ethiopia cannot equal it, nor can it be valued in pure gold. 20 “From where, then, does wisdom come? And where is the place of understanding?21 It is hidden from the eyes of all living and concealed from the birds of the air.22 Abaddon and Death say, ‘We have heard a rumor of it with our ears.’ 23 “God understands the way to it, and he knows its place.24 For he looks to the ends of the earth and sees everything under the heavens.25 When he gave to the wind its weight and apportioned the waters by measure,26 when he made a decree for the rain and a way for the lightning of the thunder,27 then he saw it and declared it; he established it, and searched it out.28 And he said to man, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.’” Footnotes [1] 24:5 Hebrew they [2] 24:6 Hebrew his [3] 24:11 Hebrew their olive rows [4] 24:12 Or the men [5] 24:22 Hebrew he [6] 25:2 Hebrew him [7] 26:6 Hebrew him [8] 26:9 Or his throne [9] 27:22 Or He (that is, God); also verse 23 [10] 27:22 Or his; also verse 23 [11] 28:6 Or lapis lazuli; also verse 16 (ESV)
Job 21–23 Job 21–23 (Listen) Job Replies: The Wicked Do Prosper 21 Then Job answered and said: 2 “Keep listening to my words, and let this be your comfort.3 Bear with me, and I will speak, and after I have spoken, mock on.4 As for me, is my complaint against man? Why should I not be impatient?5 Look at me and be appalled, and lay your hand over your mouth.6 When I remember, I am dismayed, and shuddering seizes my flesh.7 Why do the wicked live, reach old age, and grow mighty in power?8 Their offspring are established in their presence, and their descendants before their eyes.9 Their houses are safe from fear, and no rod of God is upon them.10 Their bull breeds without fail; their cow calves and does not miscarry.11 They send out their little boys like a flock, and their children dance.12 They sing to the tambourine and the lyre and rejoice to the sound of the pipe.13 They spend their days in prosperity, and in peace they go down to Sheol.14 They say to God, ‘Depart from us! We do not desire the knowledge of your ways.15 What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? And what profit do we get if we pray to him?’16 Behold, is not their prosperity in their hand? The counsel of the wicked is far from me. 17 “How often is it that the lamp of the wicked is put out? That their calamity comes upon them? That God1 distributes pains in his anger?18 That they are like straw before the wind, and like chaff that the storm carries away?19 You say, ‘God stores up their iniquity for their children.’ Let him pay it out to them, that they may know it.20 Let their own eyes see their destruction, and let them drink of the wrath of the Almighty.21 For what do they care for their houses after them, when the number of their months is cut off?22 Will any teach God knowledge, seeing that he judges those who are on high?23 One dies in his full vigor, being wholly at ease and secure,24 his pails2 full of milk and the marrow of his bones moist.25 Another dies in bitterness of soul, never having tasted of prosperity.26 They lie down alike in the dust, and the worms cover them. 27 “Behold, I know your thoughts and your schemes to wrong me.28 For you say, ‘Where is the house of the prince? Where is the tent in which the wicked lived?’29 Have you not asked those who travel the roads, and do you not accept their testimony30 that the evil man is spared in the day of calamity, that he is rescued in the day of wrath?31 Who declares his way to his face, and who repays him for what he has done?32 When he is carried to the grave, watch is kept over his tomb.33 The clods of the valley are sweet to him; all mankind follows after him, and those who go before him are innumerable.34 How then will you comfort me with empty nothings? There is nothing left of your answers but falsehood.” Eliphaz Speaks: Job’s Wickedness Is Great 22 Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said: 2 “Can a man be profitable to God? Surely he who is wise is profitable to himself.3 Is it any pleasure to the Almighty if you are in the right, or is it gain to him if you make your ways blameless?4 Is it for your fear of him that he reproves you and enters into judgment with you?5 Is not your evil abundant? There is no end to your iniquities.6 For you have exacted pledges of your brothers for nothing and stripped the naked of their clothing.7 You have given no water to the weary to drink, and you have withheld bread from the hungry.8 The man with power possessed the land, and the favored man lived in it.9 You have sent widows away empty, and the arms of the fatherless were crushed.10 Therefore snares are all around you, and sudden terror overwhelms you,11 or darkness, so that you cannot see, and a flood of water covers you. 12 “Is not God high in the heavens? See the highest stars, how lofty they are!13 But you say, ‘What does God know? Can he judge through the deep darkness?14 Thick clouds veil him, so that he does not see, and he walks on the vault of heaven.’15 Will you keep to the old way that wicked men have trod?16 They were snatched away before their time; their foundation was washed away.317 They said to God, ‘Depart from us,’ and ‘What can the Almighty do to us?’418 Yet he filled their houses with good things— but the counsel of the wicked is far from me.19 The righteous see it and are glad; the innocent one mocks at them,20 saying, ‘Surely our adversaries are cut off, and what they left the fire has consumed.’ 21 “Agree with God, and be at peace; thereby good will come to you.22 Receive instruction from his mouth, and lay up his words in your heart.23 If you return to the Almighty you will be built up; if you remove injustice far from your tents,24 if you lay gold in the dust, and gold of Ophir among the stones of the torrent-bed,25 then the Almighty will be your gold and your precious silver.26 For then you will delight yourself in the Almighty and lift up your face to God.27 You will make your prayer to him, and he will hear you, and you will pay your vows.28 You will decide on a matter, and it will be established for you, and light will shine on your ways.29 For when they are humbled you say, ‘It is because of pride’;5 but he saves the lowly.30 He delivers even the one who is not innocent, who will be delivered through the cleanness of your hands.” Job Replies: Where Is God? 23 Then Job answered and said: 2 “Today also my complaint is bitter;6 my hand is heavy on account of my groaning.3 Oh, that I knew where I might find him, that I might come even to his seat!4 I would lay my case before him and fill my mouth with arguments.5 I would know what he would answer me and understand what he would say to me.6 Would he contend with me in the greatness of his power? No; he would pay attention to me.7 There an upright man could argue with him, and I would be acquitted forever by my judge. 8 “Behold, I go forward, but he is not there, and backward, but I do not perceive him;9 on the left hand when he is working, I do not behold him; he turns to the right hand, but I do not see him.10 But he knows the way that I take; when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold.11 My foot has held fast to his steps; I have kept his way and have not turned aside.12 I have not departed from the commandment of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my portion of food.13 But he is unchangeable,7 and who can turn him back? What he desires, that he does.14 For he will complete what he appoints for me, and many such things are in his mind.15 Therefore I am terrified at his presence; when I consider, I am in dread of him.16 God has made my heart faint; the Almighty has terrified me;17 yet I am not silenced because of the darkness, nor because thick darkness covers my face. Footnotes [1] 21:17 Hebrew he [2] 21:24 The meaning of the Hebrew word is uncertain [3] 22:16 Or their foundation was poured out as a stream (or river) [4] 22:17 Hebrew them [5] 22:29 Or you say, ‘It is exaltation’ [6] 23:2 Or defiant [7] 23:13 Or one (ESV)
Job 17–20 Job 17–20 (Listen) Job Continues: Where Then Is My Hope? 17 “My spirit is broken; my days are extinct; the graveyard is ready for me.2 Surely there are mockers about me, and my eye dwells on their provocation. 3 “Lay down a pledge for me with you; who is there who will put up security for me?4 Since you have closed their hearts to understanding, therefore you will not let them triumph.5 He who informs against his friends to get a share of their property— the eyes of his children will fail. 6 “He has made me a byword of the peoples, and I am one before whom men spit.7 My eye has grown dim from vexation, and all my members are like a shadow.8 The upright are appalled at this, and the innocent stirs himself up against the godless.9 Yet the righteous holds to his way, and he who has clean hands grows stronger and stronger.10 But you, come on again, all of you, and I shall not find a wise man among you.11 My days are past; my plans are broken off, the desires of my heart.12 They make night into day: ‘The light,’ they say, ‘is near to the darkness.’113 If I hope for Sheol as my house, if I make my bed in darkness,14 if I say to the pit, ‘You are my father,’ and to the worm, ‘My mother,’ or ‘My sister,’15 where then is my hope? Who will see my hope?16 Will it go down to the bars of Sheol? Shall we descend together into the dust?”2 Bildad Speaks: God Punishes the Wicked 18 Then Bildad the Shuhite answered and said: 2 “How long will you hunt for words? Consider, and then we will speak.3 Why are we counted as cattle? Why are we stupid in your sight?4 You who tear yourself in your anger, shall the earth be forsaken for you, or the rock be removed out of its place? 5 “Indeed, the light of the wicked is put out, and the flame of his fire does not shine.6 The light is dark in his tent, and his lamp above him is put out.7 His strong steps are shortened, and his own schemes throw him down.8 For he is cast into a net by his own feet, and he walks on its mesh.9 A trap seizes him by the heel; a snare lays hold of him.10 A rope is hidden for him in the ground, a trap for him in the path.11 Terrors frighten him on every side, and chase him at his heels.12 His strength is famished, and calamity is ready for his stumbling.13 It consumes the parts of his skin; the firstborn of death consumes his limbs.14 He is torn from the tent in which he trusted and is brought to the king of terrors.15 In his tent dwells that which is none of his; sulfur is scattered over his habitation.16 His roots dry up beneath, and his branches wither above.17 His memory perishes from the earth, and he has no name in the street.18 He is thrust from light into darkness, and driven out of the world.19 He has no posterity or progeny among his people, and no survivor where he used to live.20 They of the west are appalled at his day, and horror seizes them of the east.21 Surely such are the dwellings of the unrighteous, such is the place of him who knows not God.” Job Replies: My Redeemer Lives 19 Then Job answered and said: 2 “How long will you torment me and break me in pieces with words?3 These ten times you have cast reproach upon me; are you not ashamed to wrong me?4 And even if it be true that I have erred, my error remains with myself.5 If indeed you magnify yourselves against me and make my disgrace an argument against me,6 know then that God has put me in the wrong and closed his net about me.7 Behold, I cry out, ‘Violence!’ but I am not answered; I call for help, but there is no justice.8 He has walled up my way, so that I cannot pass, and he has set darkness upon my paths.9 He has stripped from me my glory and taken the crown from my head.10 He breaks me down on every side, and I am gone, and my hope has he pulled up like a tree.11 He has kindled his wrath against me and counts me as his adversary.12 His troops come on together; they have cast up their siege ramp3 against me and encamp around my tent. 13 “He has put my brothers far from me, and those who knew me are wholly estranged from me.14 My relatives have failed me, my close friends have forgotten me.15 The guests in my house and my maidservants count me as a stranger; I have become a foreigner in their eyes.16 I call to my servant, but he gives me no answer; I must plead with him with my mouth for mercy.17 My breath is strange to my wife, and I am a stench to the children of my own mother.18 Even young children despise me; when I rise they talk against me.19 All my intimate friends abhor me, and those whom I loved have turned against me.20 My bones stick to my skin and to my flesh, and I have escaped by the skin of my teeth.21 Have mercy on me, have mercy on me, O you my friends, for the hand of God has touched me!22 Why do you, like God, pursue me? Why are you not satisfied with my flesh? 23 “Oh that my words were written! Oh that they were inscribed in a book!24 Oh that with an iron pen and lead they were engraved in the rock forever!25 For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth.426 And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in5 my flesh I shall see God,27 whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another. My heart faints within me!28 If you say, ‘How we will pursue him!’ and, ‘The root of the matter is found in him,’629 be afraid of the sword, for wrath brings the punishment of the sword, that you may know there is a judgment.” Zophar Speaks: The Wicked Will Suffer 20 Then Zophar the Naamathite answered and said: 2 “Therefore my thoughts answer me, because of my haste within me.3 I hear censure that insults me, and out of my understanding a spirit answers me.4 Do you not know this from of old, since man was placed on earth,5 that the exulting of the wicked is short, and the joy of the godless but for a moment?6 Though his height mount up to the heavens, and his head reach to the clouds,7 he will perish forever like his own dung; those who have seen him will say, ‘Where is he?’8 He will fly away like a dream and not be found; he will be chased away like a vision of the night.9 The eye that saw him will see him no more, nor will his place any more behold him.10 His children will seek the favor of the poor, and his hands will give back his wealth.11 His bones are full of his youthful vigor, but it will lie down with him in the dust. 12 “Though evil is sweet in his mouth, though he hides it under his tongue,13 though he is loath to let it go and holds it in his mouth,14 yet his food is turned in his stomach; it is the venom of cobras within him.15 He swallows down riches and vomits them up again; God casts them out of his belly.16 He will suck the poison of cobras; the tongue of a viper will kill him.17 He will not look upon the rivers, the streams flowing with honey and curds.18 He will give back the fruit of his toil and will not swallow it down; from the profit of his trading he will get no enjoyment.19 For he has crushed and abandoned the poor; he has seized a house that he did not build. 20 “Because he knew no contentment in his belly, he will not let anything in which he delights escape him.21 There was nothing left after he had eaten; therefore his prosperity will not endure.22 In the fullness of his sufficiency he will be in distress; the hand of everyone in misery will come against him.23 To fill his belly to the full, God7 will send his burning anger against him and rain it upon him into his body.24 He will flee from an iron weapon; a bronze arrow will strike him through.25 It is drawn forth and comes out of his body; the glittering point comes out of his gallbladder; terrors come upon him.26 Utter darkness is laid up for his treasures; a fire not fanned will devour him; what is left in his tent will be consumed.27 The heavens will reveal his iniquity, and the earth will rise up against him.28 The possessions of his house will be carried away, dragged off in the day of God’s8 wrath.29 This is the wicked man’s portion from God, the heritage decreed for him by God.” Footnotes [1] 17:12 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain [2] 17:16 Or Will they go down to the bars of Sheol? Is rest to be found together in the dust? [3] 19:12 Hebrew their way [4] 19:25 Hebrew dust [5] 19:26 Or without [6] 19:28 Many Hebrew manuscripts in me [7] 20:23 Hebrew he [8] 20:28 Hebrew his (ESV)
Job 14–16 Job 14–16 (Listen) Job Continues: Death Comes Soon to All 14 “Man who is born of a woman is few of days and full of trouble.2 He comes out like a flower and withers; he flees like a shadow and continues not.3 And do you open your eyes on such a one and bring me into judgment with you?4 Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? There is not one.5 Since his days are determined, and the number of his months is with you, and you have appointed his limits that he cannot pass,6 look away from him and leave him alone,1 that he may enjoy, like a hired hand, his day. 7 “For there is hope for a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that its shoots will not cease.8 Though its root grow old in the earth, and its stump die in the soil,9 yet at the scent of water it will bud and put out branches like a young plant.10 But a man dies and is laid low; man breathes his last, and where is he?11 As waters fail from a lake and a river wastes away and dries up,12 so a man lies down and rises not again; till the heavens are no more he will not awake or be roused out of his sleep.13 Oh that you would hide me in Sheol, that you would conceal me until your wrath be past, that you would appoint me a set time, and remember me!14 If a man dies, shall he live again? All the days of my service I would wait, till my renewal2 should come.15 You would call, and I would answer you; you would long for the work of your hands.16 For then you would number my steps; you would not keep watch over my sin;17 my transgression would be sealed up in a bag, and you would cover over my iniquity. 18 “But the mountain falls and crumbles away, and the rock is removed from its place;19 the waters wear away the stones; the torrents wash away the soil of the earth; so you destroy the hope of man.20 You prevail forever against him, and he passes; you change his countenance, and send him away.21 His sons come to honor, and he does not know it; they are brought low, and he perceives it not.22 He feels only the pain of his own body, and he mourns only for himself.” Eliphaz Accuses: Job Does Not Fear God 15 Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said: 2 “Should a wise man answer with windy knowledge, and fill his belly with the east wind?3 Should he argue in unprofitable talk, or in words with which he can do no good?4 But you are doing away with the fear of God3 and hindering meditation before God.5 For your iniquity teaches your mouth, and you choose the tongue of the crafty.6 Your own mouth condemns you, and not I; your own lips testify against you. 7 “Are you the first man who was born? Or were you brought forth before the hills?8 Have you listened in the council of God? And do you limit wisdom to yourself?9 What do you know that we do not know? What do you understand that is not clear to us?10 Both the gray-haired and the aged are among us, older than your father.11 Are the comforts of God too small for you, or the word that deals gently with you?12 Why does your heart carry you away, and why do your eyes flash,13 that you turn your spirit against God and bring such words out of your mouth?14 What is man, that he can be pure? Or he who is born of a woman, that he can be righteous?15 Behold, God4 puts no trust in his holy ones, and the heavens are not pure in his sight;16 how much less one who is abominable and corrupt, a man who drinks injustice like water! 17 “I will show you; hear me, and what I have seen I will declare18 (what wise men have told, without hiding it from their fathers,19 to whom alone the land was given, and no stranger passed among them).20 The wicked man writhes in pain all his days, through all the years that are laid up for the ruthless.21 Dreadful sounds are in his ears; in prosperity the destroyer will come upon him.22 He does not believe that he will return out of darkness, and he is marked for the sword.23 He wanders abroad for bread, saying, ‘Where is it?’ He knows that a day of darkness is ready at his hand;24 distress and anguish terrify him; they prevail against him, like a king ready for battle.25 Because he has stretched out his hand against God and defies the Almighty,26 running stubbornly against him with a thickly bossed shield;27 because he has covered his face with his fat and gathered fat upon his waist28 and has lived in desolate cities, in houses that none should inhabit, which were ready to become heaps of ruins;29 he will not be rich, and his wealth will not endure, nor will his possessions spread over the earth;530 he will not depart from darkness; the flame will dry up his shoots, and by the breath of his mouth he will depart.31 Let him not trust in emptiness, deceiving himself, for emptiness will be his payment.32 It will be paid in full before his time, and his branch will not be green.33 He will shake off his unripe grape like the vine, and cast off his blossom like the olive tree.34 For the company of the godless is barren, and fire consumes the tents of bribery.35 They conceive trouble and give birth to evil, and their womb prepares deceit.” Job Replies: Miserable Comforters Are You 16 Then Job answered and said: 2 “I have heard many such things; miserable comforters are you all.3 Shall windy words have an end? Or what provokes you that you answer?4 I also could speak as you do, if you were in my place; I could join words together against you and shake my head at you.5 I could strengthen you with my mouth, and the solace of my lips would assuage your pain. 6 “If I speak, my pain is not assuaged, and if I forbear, how much of it leaves me?7 Surely now God has worn me out; he has6 made desolate all my company.8 And he has shriveled me up, which is a witness against me, and my leanness has risen up against me; it testifies to my face.9 He has torn me in his wrath and hated me; he has gnashed his teeth at me; my adversary sharpens his eyes against me.10 Men have gaped at me with their mouth; they have struck me insolently on the cheek; they mass themselves together against me.11 God gives me up to the ungodly and casts me into the hands of the wicked.12 I was at ease, and he broke me apart; he seized me by the neck and dashed me to pieces; he set me up as his target;13 his archers surround me. He slashes open my kidneys and does not spare; he pours out my gall on the ground.14 He breaks me with breach upon breach; he runs upon me like a warrior.15 I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin and have laid my strength in the dust.16 My face is red with weeping, and on my eyelids is deep darkness,17 although there is no violence in my hands, and my prayer is pure. 18 “O earth, cover not my blood, and let my cry find no resting place.19 Even now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and he who testifies for me is on high.20 My friends scorn me; my eye pours out tears to God,21 that he would argue the case of a man with God, as7 a son of man does with his neighbor.22 For when a few years have come I shall go the way from which I shall not return. Footnotes [1] 14:6 Probable reading; Hebrew look away from him, that he may cease [2] 14:14 Or relief [3] 15:4 Hebrew lacks of God [4] 15:15 Hebrew he [5] 15:29 Or nor will his produce bend down to the earth [6] 16:7 Hebrew you have; also verse 8 [7] 16:21 Hebrew and (ESV)
Job 11–13 Job 11–13 (Listen) Zophar Speaks: You Deserve Worse 11 Then Zophar the Naamathite answered and said: 2 “Should a multitude of words go unanswered, and a man full of talk be judged right?3 Should your babble silence men, and when you mock, shall no one shame you?4 For you say, ‘My doctrine is pure, and I am clean in God’s1 eyes.’5 But oh, that God would speak and open his lips to you,6 and that he would tell you the secrets of wisdom! For he is manifold in understanding.2 Know then that God exacts of you less than your guilt deserves. 7 “Can you find out the deep things of God? Can you find out the limit of the Almighty?8 It is higher than heaven3—what can you do? Deeper than Sheol—what can you know?9 Its measure is longer than the earth and broader than the sea.10 If he passes through and imprisons and summons the court, who can turn him back?11 For he knows worthless men; when he sees iniquity, will he not consider it?12 But a stupid man will get understanding when a wild donkey’s colt is born a man! 13 “If you prepare your heart, you will stretch out your hands toward him.14 If iniquity is in your hand, put it far away, and let not injustice dwell in your tents.15 Surely then you will lift up your face without blemish; you will be secure and will not fear.16 You will forget your misery; you will remember it as waters that have passed away.17 And your life will be brighter than the noonday; its darkness will be like the morning.18 And you will feel secure, because there is hope; you will look around and take your rest in security.19 You will lie down, and none will make you afraid; many will court your favor.20 But the eyes of the wicked will fail; all way of escape will be lost to them, and their hope is to breathe their last.” Job Replies: The Lord Has Done This 12 Then Job answered and said: 2 “No doubt you are the people, and wisdom will die with you.3 But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you. Who does not know such things as these?4 I am a laughingstock to my friends; I, who called to God and he answered me, a just and blameless man, am a laughingstock.5 In the thought of one who is at ease there is contempt for misfortune; it is ready for those whose feet slip.6 The tents of robbers are at peace, and those who provoke God are secure, who bring their god in their hand.4 7 “But ask the beasts, and they will teach you; the birds of the heavens, and they will tell you;8 or the bushes of the earth, and they will teach you;5 and the fish of the sea will declare to you.9 Who among all these does not know that the hand of the LORD has done this?10 In his hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind.11 Does not the ear test words as the palate tastes food?12 Wisdom is with the aged, and understanding in length of days. 13 “With God6 are wisdom and might; he has counsel and understanding.14 If he tears down, none can rebuild; if he shuts a man in, none can open.15 If he withholds the waters, they dry up; if he sends them out, they overwhelm the land.16 With him are strength and sound wisdom; the deceived and the deceiver are his.17 He leads counselors away stripped, and judges he makes fools.18 He looses the bonds of kings and binds a waistcloth on their hips.19 He leads priests away stripped and overthrows the mighty.20 He deprives of speech those who are trusted and takes away the discernment of the elders.21 He pours contempt on princes and loosens the belt of the strong.22 He uncovers the deeps out of darkness and brings deep darkness to light.23 He makes nations great, and he destroys them; he enlarges nations, and leads them away.24 He takes away understanding from the chiefs of the people of the earth and makes them wander in a trackless waste.25 They grope in the dark without light, and he makes them stagger like a drunken man. Job Continues: Still I Will Hope in God 13 “Behold, my eye has seen all this, my ear has heard and understood it.2 What you know, I also know; I am not inferior to you.3 But I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to argue my case with God.4 As for you, you whitewash with lies; worthless physicians are you all.5 Oh that you would keep silent, and it would be your wisdom!6 Hear now my argument and listen to the pleadings of my lips.7 Will you speak falsely for God and speak deceitfully for him?8 Will you show partiality toward him? Will you plead the case for God?9 Will it be well with you when he searches you out? Or can you deceive him, as one deceives a man?10 He will surely rebuke you if in secret you show partiality.11 Will not his majesty terrify you, and the dread of him fall upon you?12 Your maxims are proverbs of ashes; your defenses are defenses of clay. 13 “Let me have silence, and I will speak, and let come on me what may.14 Why should I take my flesh in my teeth and put my life in my hand?15 Though he slay me, I will hope in him;7 yet I will argue my ways to his face.16 This will be my salvation, that the godless shall not come before him.17 Keep listening to my words, and let my declaration be in your ears.18 Behold, I have prepared my case; I know that I shall be in the right.19 Who is there who will contend with me? For then I would be silent and die.20 Only grant me two things, then I will not hide myself from your face:21 withdraw your hand far from me, and let not dread of you terrify me.22 Then call, and I will answer; or let me speak, and you reply to me.23 How many are my iniquities and my sins? Make me know my transgression and my sin.24 Why do you hide your face and count me as your enemy?25 Will you frighten a driven leaf and pursue dry chaff?26 For you write bitter things against me and make me inherit the iniquities of my youth.27 You put my feet in the stocks and watch all my paths; you set a limit for8 the soles of my feet.28 Man9 wastes away like a rotten thing, like a garment that is moth-eaten. Footnotes [1] 11:4 Hebrew your [2] 11:6 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain [3] 11:8 Hebrew The heights of heaven [4] 12:6 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain [5] 12:8 Or or speak to the earth, and it will teach you [6] 12:13 Hebrew him [7] 13:15 Or Behold, he will slay me; I have no hope [8] 13:27 Or you marked [9] 13:28 Hebrew He (ESV)
Job 8–10 Job 8–10 (Listen) Bildad Speaks: Job Should Repent 8 Then Bildad the Shuhite answered and said: 2 “How long will you say these things, and the words of your mouth be a great wind?3 Does God pervert justice? Or does the Almighty pervert the right?4 If your children have sinned against him, he has delivered them into the hand of their transgression.5 If you will seek God and plead with the Almighty for mercy,6 if you are pure and upright, surely then he will rouse himself for you and restore your rightful habitation.7 And though your beginning was small, your latter days will be very great. 8 “For inquire, please, of bygone ages, and consider what the fathers have searched out.9 For we are but of yesterday and know nothing, for our days on earth are a shadow.10 Will they not teach you and tell you and utter words out of their understanding? 11 “Can papyrus grow where there is no marsh? Can reeds flourish where there is no water?12 While yet in flower and not cut down, they wither before any other plant.13 Such are the paths of all who forget God; the hope of the godless shall perish.14 His confidence is severed, and his trust is a spider’s web.115 He leans against his house, but it does not stand; he lays hold of it, but it does not endure.16 He is a lush plant before the sun, and his shoots spread over his garden.17 His roots entwine the stone heap; he looks upon a house of stones.18 If he is destroyed from his place, then it will deny him, saying, ‘I have never seen you.’19 Behold, this is the joy of his way, and out of the soil others will spring. 20 “Behold, God will not reject a blameless man, nor take the hand of evildoers.21 He will yet fill your mouth with laughter, and your lips with shouting.22 Those who hate you will be clothed with shame, and the tent of the wicked will be no more.” Job Replies: There Is No Arbiter 9 Then Job answered and said: 2 “Truly I know that it is so: But how can a man be in the right before God?3 If one wished to contend with him, one could not answer him once in a thousand times.4 He is wise in heart and mighty in strength —who has hardened himself against him, and succeeded?—5 he who removes mountains, and they know it not, when he overturns them in his anger,6 who shakes the earth out of its place, and its pillars tremble;7 who commands the sun, and it does not rise; who seals up the stars;8 who alone stretched out the heavens and trampled the waves of the sea;9 who made the Bear and Orion, the Pleiades and the chambers of the south;10 who does great things beyond searching out, and marvelous things beyond number.11 Behold, he passes by me, and I see him not; he moves on, but I do not perceive him.12 Behold, he snatches away; who can turn him back? Who will say to him, ‘What are you doing?’ 13 “God will not turn back his anger; beneath him bowed the helpers of Rahab.14 How then can I answer him, choosing my words with him?15 Though I am in the right, I cannot answer him; I must appeal for mercy to my accuser.216 If I summoned him and he answered me, I would not believe that he was listening to my voice.17 For he crushes me with a tempest and multiplies my wounds without cause;18 he will not let me get my breath, but fills me with bitterness.19 If it is a contest of strength, behold, he is mighty! If it is a matter of justice, who can summon him?320 Though I am in the right, my own mouth would condemn me; though I am blameless, he would prove me perverse.21 I am blameless; I regard not myself; I loathe my life.22 It is all one; therefore I say, ‘He destroys both the blameless and the wicked.’23 When disaster brings sudden death, he mocks at the calamity4 of the innocent.24 The earth is given into the hand of the wicked; he covers the faces of its judges— if it is not he, who then is it? 25 “My days are swifter than a runner; they flee away; they see no good.26 They go by like skiffs of reed, like an eagle swooping on the prey.27 If I say, ‘I will forget my complaint, I will put off my sad face, and be of good cheer,’28 I become afraid of all my suffering, for I know you will not hold me innocent.29 I shall be condemned; why then do I labor in vain?30 If I wash myself with snow and cleanse my hands with lye,31 yet you will plunge me into a pit, and my own clothes will abhor me.32 For he is not a man, as I am, that I might answer him, that we should come to trial together.33 There is no5 arbiter between us, who might lay his hand on us both.34 Let him take his rod away from me, and let not dread of him terrify me.35 Then I would speak without fear of him, for I am not so in myself. Job Continues: A Plea to God 10 “I loathe my life; I will give free utterance to my complaint; I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.2 I will say to God, Do not condemn me; let me know why you contend against me.3 Does it seem good to you to oppress, to despise the work of your hands and favor the designs of the wicked?4 Have you eyes of flesh? Do you see as man sees?5 Are your days as the days of man, or your years as a man’s years,6 that you seek out my iniquity and search for my sin,7 although you know that I am not guilty, and there is none to deliver out of your hand?8 Your hands fashioned and made me, and now you have destroyed me altogether.9 Remember that you have made me like clay; and will you return me to the dust?10 Did you not pour me out like milk and curdle me like cheese?11 You clothed me with skin and flesh, and knit me together with bones and sinews.12 You have granted me life and steadfast love, and your care has preserved my spirit.13 Yet these things you hid in your heart; I know that this was your purpose.14 If I sin, you watch me and do not acquit me of my iniquity.15 If I am guilty, woe to me! If I am in the right, I cannot lift up my head, for I am filled with disgrace and look on my affliction.16 And were my head lifted up,6 you would hunt me like a lion and again work wonders against me.17 You renew your witnesses against me and increase your vexation toward me; you bring fresh troops against me. 18 “Why did you bring me out from the womb? Would that I had died before any eye had seen me19 and were as though I had not been, carried from the womb to the grave.20 Are not my days few? Then cease, and leave me alone, that I may find a little cheer21 before I go—and I shall not return— to the land of darkness and deep shadow,22 the land of gloom like thick darkness, like deep shadow without any order, where light is as thick darkness.” Footnotes [1] 8:14 Hebrew house [2] 9:15 Or to my judge [3] 9:19 Or who can grant me a hearing? [4] 9:23 The meaning of the Hebrew word is uncertain [5] 9:33 Or Would that there were an [6] 10:16 Hebrew lacks my head (ESV)
Job 4–7 Job 4–7 (Listen) Eliphaz Speaks: The Innocent Prosper 4 Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said: 2 “If one ventures a word with you, will you be impatient? Yet who can keep from speaking?3 Behold, you have instructed many, and you have strengthened the weak hands.4 Your words have upheld him who was stumbling, and you have made firm the feeble knees.5 But now it has come to you, and you are impatient; it touches you, and you are dismayed.6 Is not your fear of God1 your confidence, and the integrity of your ways your hope? 7 “Remember: who that was innocent ever perished? Or where were the upright cut off?8 As I have seen, those who plow iniquity and sow trouble reap the same.9 By the breath of God they perish, and by the blast of his anger they are consumed.10 The roar of the lion, the voice of the fierce lion, the teeth of the young lions are broken.11 The strong lion perishes for lack of prey, and the cubs of the lioness are scattered. 12 “Now a word was brought to me stealthily; my ear received the whisper of it.13 Amid thoughts from visions of the night, when deep sleep falls on men,14 dread came upon me, and trembling, which made all my bones shake.15 A spirit glided past my face; the hair of my flesh stood up.16 It stood still, but I could not discern its appearance. A form was before my eyes; there was silence, then I heard a voice:17 ‘Can mortal man be in the right before2 God? Can a man be pure before his Maker?18 Even in his servants he puts no trust, and his angels he charges with error;19 how much more those who dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, who are crushed like3 the moth.20 Between morning and evening they are beaten to pieces; they perish forever without anyone regarding it.21 Is not their tent-cord plucked up within them, do they not die, and that without wisdom?’ 5 “Call now; is there anyone who will answer you? To which of the holy ones will you turn?2 Surely vexation kills the fool, and jealousy slays the simple.3 I have seen the fool taking root, but suddenly I cursed his dwelling.4 His children are far from safety; they are crushed in the gate, and there is no one to deliver them.5 The hungry eat his harvest, and he takes it even out of thorns,4 and the thirsty pant5 after his6 wealth.6 For affliction does not come from the dust, nor does trouble sprout from the ground,7 but man is born to trouble as the sparks fly upward. 8 “As for me, I would seek God, and to God would I commit my cause,9 who does great things and unsearchable, marvelous things without number:10 he gives rain on the earth and sends waters on the fields;11 he sets on high those who are lowly, and those who mourn are lifted to safety.12 He frustrates the devices of the crafty, so that their hands achieve no success.13 He catches the wise in their own craftiness, and the schemes of the wily are brought to a quick end.14 They meet with darkness in the daytime and grope at noonday as in the night.15 But he saves the needy from the sword of their mouth and from the hand of the mighty.16 So the poor have hope, and injustice shuts her mouth. 17 “Behold, blessed is the one whom God reproves; therefore despise not the discipline of the Almighty.18 For he wounds, but he binds up; he shatters, but his hands heal.19 He will deliver you from six troubles; in seven no evil7 shall touch you.20 In famine he will redeem you from death, and in war from the power of the sword.21 You shall be hidden from the lash of the tongue, and shall not fear destruction when it comes.22 At destruction and famine you shall laugh, and shall not fear the beasts of the earth.23 For you shall be in league with the stones of the field, and the beasts of the field shall be at peace with you.24 You shall know that your tent is at peace, and you shall inspect your fold and miss nothing.25 You shall know also that your offspring shall be many, and your descendants as the grass of the earth.26 You shall come to your grave in ripe old age, like a sheaf gathered up in its season.27 Behold, this we have searched out; it is true. Hear, and know it for your good.”8 Job Replies: My Complaint Is Just 6 Then Job answered and said: 2 “Oh that my vexation were weighed, and all my calamity laid in the balances!3 For then it would be heavier than the sand of the sea; therefore my words have been rash.4 For the arrows of the Almighty are in me; my spirit drinks their poison; the terrors of God are arrayed against me.5 Does the wild donkey bray when he has grass, or the ox low over his fodder?6 Can that which is tasteless be eaten without salt, or is there any taste in the juice of the mallow?97 My appetite refuses to touch them; they are as food that is loathsome to me.10 8 “Oh that I might have my request, and that God would fulfill my hope,9 that it would please God to crush me, that he would let loose his hand and cut me off!10 This would be my comfort; I would even exult11 in pain unsparing, for I have not denied the words of the Holy One.11 What is my strength, that I should wait? And what is my end, that I should be patient?12 Is my strength the strength of stones, or is my flesh bronze?13 Have I any help in me, when resource is driven from me? 14 “He who withholds12 kindness from a friend forsakes the fear of the Almighty.15 My brothers are treacherous as a torrent-bed, as torrential streams that pass away,16 which are dark with ice, and where the snow hides itself.17 When they melt, they disappear; when it is hot, they vanish from their place.18 The caravans turn aside from their course; they go up into the waste and perish.19 The caravans of Tema look, the travelers of Sheba hope.20 They are ashamed because they were confident; they come there and are disappointed.21 For you have now become nothing; you see my calamity and are afraid.22 Have I said, ‘Make me a gift’? Or, ‘From your wealth offer a bribe for me’?23 Or, ‘Deliver me from the adversary’s hand’? Or, ‘Redeem me from the hand of the ruthless’? 24 “Teach me, and I will be silent; make me understand how I have gone astray.25 How forceful are upright words! But what does reproof from you reprove?26 Do you think that you can reprove words, when the speech of a despairing man is wind?27 You would even cast lots over the fatherless, and bargain over your friend. 28 “But now, be pleased to look at me, for I will not lie to your face.29 Please turn; let no injustice be done. Turn now; my vindication is at stake.30 Is there any injustice on my tongue? Cannot my palate discern the cause of calamity? Job Continues: My Life Has No Hope 7 “Has not man a hard service on earth, and are not his days like the days of a hired hand?2 Like a slave who longs for the shadow, and like a hired hand who looks for his wages,3 so I am allotted months of emptiness, and nights of misery are apportioned to me.4 When I lie down I say, ‘When shall I arise?’ But the night is long, and I am full of tossing till the dawn.5 My flesh is clothed with worms and dirt; my skin hardens, then breaks out afresh.6 My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle and come to their end without hope. 7 “Remember that my life is a breath; my eye will never again see good.8 The eye of him who sees me will behold me no more; while your eyes are on me, I shall be gone.9 As the cloud fades and vanishes, so he who goes down to Sheol does not come up;10 he returns no more to his house, nor does his place know him anymore. 11 “Therefore I will not restrain my mouth; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.12 Am I the sea, or a sea monster, that you set a guard over me?13 When I say, ‘My bed will comfort me, my couch will ease my complaint,’14 then you scare me with dreams and terrify me with visions,15 so that I would choose strangling and death rather than my bones.16 I loathe my life; I would not live forever. Leave me alone, for my days are a breath.17 What is man, that you make so much of him, and that you set your heart on him,18 visit him every morning and test him every moment?19 How long will you not look away from me, nor leave me alone till I swallow my spit?20 If I sin, what do I do to you, you watcher of mankind? Why have you made me your mark? Why have I become a burden to you?21 Why do you not pardon my transgression and take away my iniquity? For now I shall lie in the earth; you will seek me, but I shall not be.” Footnotes [1] 4:6 Hebrew lacks of God [2] 4:17 Or more than; twice in this verse [3] 4:19 Or before [4] 5:5 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain [5] 5:5 Aquila, Symmachus, Syriac, Vulgate; Hebrew could be read as and the snare pants [6] 5:5 Hebrew their [7] 5:19 Or disaster [8] 5:27 Hebrew for yourself [9] 6:6 The meaning of the Hebrew word is uncertain [10] 6:7 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain [11] 6:10 The meaning of the Hebrew word is uncertain [12] 6:14 Syriac, Vulgate (compare Targum); the meaning of the Hebrew word is uncertain (ESV)
Job 1–3 Job 1–3 (Listen) Job’s Character and Wealth 1 There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job, and that man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil. 2 There were born to him seven sons and three daughters. 3 He possessed 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, and 500 female donkeys, and very many servants, so that this man was the greatest of all the people of the east. 4 His sons used to go and hold a feast in the house of each one on his day, and they would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. 5 And when the days of the feast had run their course, Job would send and consecrate them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, “It may be that my children have sinned, and cursed1 God in their hearts.” Thus Job did continually. Satan Allowed to Test Job 6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan2 also came among them. 7 The LORD said to Satan, “From where have you come?” Satan answered the LORD and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.” 8 And the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?” 9 Then Satan answered the LORD and said, “Does Job fear God for no reason? 10 Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. 11 But stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face.” 12 And the LORD said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand.” So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD. Satan Takes Job’s Property and Children 13 Now there was a day when his sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, 14 and there came a messenger to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding beside them, 15 and the Sabeans fell upon them and took them and struck down the servants3 with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” 16 While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, “The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants and consumed them, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” 17 While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, “The Chaldeans formed three groups and made a raid on the camels and took them and struck down the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” 18 While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, “Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, 19 and behold, a great wind came across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young people, and they are dead, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” 20 Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped. 21 And he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.” 22 In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong. Satan Attacks Job’s Health 2 Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them to present himself before the LORD. 2 And the LORD said to Satan, “From where have you come?” Satan answered the LORD and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.” 3 And the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil? He still holds fast his integrity, although you incited me against him to destroy him without reason.” 4 Then Satan answered the LORD and said, “Skin for skin! All that a man has he will give for his life. 5 But stretch out your hand and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse you to your face.” 6 And the LORD said to Satan, “Behold, he is in your hand; only spare his life.” 7 So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD and struck Job with loathsome sores from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head. 8 And he took a piece of broken pottery with which to scrape himself while he sat in the ashes. 9 Then his wife said to him, “Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse God and die.” 10 But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women would speak. Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?”4 In all this Job did not sin with his lips. Job’s Three Friends 11 Now when Job’s three friends heard of all this evil that had come upon him, they came each from his own place, Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite. They made an appointment together to come to show him sympathy and comfort him. 12 And when they saw him from a distance, they did not recognize him. And they raised their voices and wept, and they tore their robes and sprinkled dust on their heads toward heaven. 13 And they sat with him on the ground seven days and seven nights, and no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his suffering was very great. Job Laments His Birth 3 After this Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth. 2 And Job said: 3 “Let the day perish on which I was born, and the night that said, ‘A man is conceived.’4 Let that day be darkness! May God above not seek it, nor light shine upon it.5 Let gloom and deep darkness claim it. Let clouds dwell upon it; let the blackness of the day terrify it.6 That night—let thick darkness seize it! Let it not rejoice among the days of the year; let it not come into the number of the months.7 Behold, let that night be barren; let no joyful cry enter it.8 Let those curse it who curse the day, who are ready to rouse up Leviathan.9 Let the stars of its dawn be dark; let it hope for light, but have none, nor see the eyelids of the morning,10 because it did not shut the doors of my mother’s womb, nor hide trouble from my eyes. 11 “Why did I not die at birth, come out from the womb and expire?12 Why did the knees receive me? Or why the breasts, that I should nurse?13 For then I would have lain down and been quiet; I would have slept; then I would have been at rest,14 with kings and counselors of the earth who rebuilt ruins for themselves,15 or with princes who had gold, who filled their houses with silver.16 Or why was I not as a hidden stillborn child, as infants who never see the light?17 There the wicked cease from troubling, and there the weary are at rest.18 There the prisoners are at ease together; they hear not the voice of the taskmaster.19 The small and the great are there, and the slave is free from his master. 20 “Why is light given to him who is in misery, and life to the bitter in soul,21 who long for death, but it comes not, and dig for it more than for hidden treasures,22 who rejoice exceedingly and are glad when they find the grave?23 Why is light given to a man whose way is hidden, whom God has hedged in?24 For my sighing comes instead of5 my bread, and my groanings are poured out like water.25 For the thing that I fear comes upon me, and what I dread befalls me.26 I am not at ease, nor am I quiet; I have no rest, but trouble comes.” Footnotes [1] 1:5 The Hebrew word bless is used euphemistically for curse in 1:5, 11; 2:5, 9 [2] 1:6 Hebrew the Accuser or the Adversary; so throughout chapters 1–2 [3] 1:15 Hebrew the young men; also verses 16, 17 [4] 2:10 Or disaster; also verse 11 [5] 3:24 Or like; Hebrew before (ESV)
"Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped"
Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped, And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord. In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly. Job 1:20-22, KJVWhen tests and afflictions come before us, how do we genuinely respond? Is there a tendency to murmur, to complain, to react in an ungodly manner? In Day 19, join Apostle ID to gain perspective on how to respond to trials, learn to be like Job who fell to the ground and worshipped. Today, we Believers have all the tools necessary to overcome our trials through Christ who gave to us power and authority that was not available to Job in his time. Join us today, use your weapons of Spiritual Warfare to confront spirits of afflictions that cause pain and elongate the duration of our trials. Get your deliverance and release today in the name of Jesus. In this series of 100 Midnights, we approach God's throne of grace with repentance and with faith to overcome every demonic and non-demonic obstacle. This is a series of warfare teachings and prayers designed to facilitate real and enduring deliverance.For each midnight, I will be sharing one day of Biblical principles and strategies from my new book: 100-DAY PLAN TOWARDS REAL DELIVERANCE. You are strongly encouraged to take the time during this 100-day midnight (EST) series to embark on some days of fasting and prayer. Intermittently, do a 3-day or a 7-day fast as you are led by the Spirit of God.And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force - Matthew 11:12.
With family: Exodus 24; John 3 Exodus 24 (Listen) The Covenant Confirmed 24 Then he said to Moses, “Come up to the LORD, you and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel, and worship from afar. 2 Moses alone shall come near to the LORD, but the others shall not come near, and the people shall not come up with him.” 3 Moses came and told the people all the words of the LORD and all the rules.1 And all the people answered with one voice and said, “All the words that the LORD has spoken we will do.” 4 And Moses wrote down all the words of the LORD. He rose early in the morning and built an altar at the foot of the mountain, and twelve pillars, according to the twelve tribes of Israel. 5 And he sent young men of the people of Israel, who offered burnt offerings and sacrificed peace offerings of oxen to the LORD. 6 And Moses took half of the blood and put it in basins, and half of the blood he threw against the altar. 7 Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it in the hearing of the people. And they said, “All that the LORD has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient.” 8 And Moses took the blood and threw it on the people and said, “Behold the blood of the covenant that the LORD has made with you in accordance with all these words.” 9 Then Moses and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel went up, 10 and they saw the God of Israel. There was under his feet as it were a pavement of sapphire stone, like the very heaven for clearness. 11 And he did not lay his hand on the chief men of the people of Israel; they beheld God, and ate and drank. 12 The LORD said to Moses, “Come up to me on the mountain and wait there, that I may give you the tablets of stone, with the law and the commandment, which I have written for their instruction.” 13 So Moses rose with his assistant Joshua, and Moses went up into the mountain of God. 14 And he said to the elders, “Wait here for us until we return to you. And behold, Aaron and Hur are with you. Whoever has a dispute, let him go to them.” 15 Then Moses went up on the mountain, and the cloud covered the mountain. 16 The glory of the LORD dwelt on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days. And on the seventh day he called to Moses out of the midst of the cloud. 17 Now the appearance of the glory of the LORD was like a devouring fire on the top of the mountain in the sight of the people of Israel. 18 Moses entered the cloud and went up on the mountain. And Moses was on the mountain forty days and forty nights. Footnotes [1] 24:3 Or all the just decrees (ESV) John 3 (Listen) You Must Be Born Again 3 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to Jesus1 by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” 3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again2 he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” 5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.3 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You4 must be born again.’ 8 The wind5 blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” 9 Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” 10 Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things? 11 Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you6 do not receive our testimony. 12 If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13 No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man.7 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.8 For God So Loved the World 16 “For God so loved the world,9 that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. 19 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. 20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. 21 But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.” John the Baptist Exalts Christ 22 After this Jesus and his disciples went into the Judean countryside, and he remained there with them and was baptizing. 23 John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because water was plentiful there, and people were coming and being baptized 24 (for John had not yet been put in prison). 25 Now a discussion arose between some of John’s disciples and a Jew over purification. 26 And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, he who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you bore witness—look, he is baptizing, and all are going to him.” 27 John answered, “A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven. 28 You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him.’ 29 The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete. 30 He must increase, but I must decrease.”10 31 He who comes from above is above all. He who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks in an earthly way. He who comes from heaven is above all. 32 He bears witness to what he has seen and heard, yet no one receives his testimony. 33 Whoever receives his testimony sets his seal to this, that God is true. 34 For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure. 35 The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand. 36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him. Footnotes [1] 3:2 Greek him [2] 3:3 Or from above; the Greek is purposely ambiguous and can mean both again and from above; also verse 7 [3] 3:6 The same Greek word means both wind and spirit [4] 3:7 The Greek for you is plural here [5] 3:8 The same Greek word means both wind and spirit [6] 3:11 The Greek for you is plural here; also four times in verse 12 [7] 3:13 Some manuscripts add who is in heaven [8] 3:15 Some interpreters hold that the quotation ends at verse 15 [9] 3:16 Or For this is how God loved the world [10] 3:30 Some interpreters hold that the quotation continues through verse 36 (ESV) In private: Job 42; 2 Corinthians 12 Job 42 (Listen) Job’s Confession and Repentance 42 Then Job answered the LORD and said: 2 “I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.3 ‘Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’ Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.4 ‘Hear, and I will speak; I will question you, and you make it known to me.’5 I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you;6 therefore I despise myself, and repent1 in dust and ashes.” The Lord Rebukes Job’s Friends 7 After the LORD had spoken these words to Job, the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite: “My anger burns against you and against your two friends, for you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has. 8 Now therefore take seven bulls and seven rams and go to my servant Job and offer up a burnt offering for yourselves. And my servant Job shall pray for you, for I will accept his prayer not to deal with you according to your folly. For you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has.” 9 So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite went and did what the LORD had told them, and the LORD accepted Job’s prayer. The Lord Restores Job’s Fortunes 10 And the LORD restored the fortunes of Job, when he had prayed for his friends. And the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before. 11 Then came to him all his brothers and sisters and all who had known him before, and ate bread with him in his house. And they showed him sympathy and comforted him for all the evil2 that the LORD had brought upon him. And each of them gave him a piece of money3 and a ring of gold. 12 And the LORD blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning. And he had 14,000 sheep, 6,000 camels, 1,000 yoke of oxen, and 1,000 female donkeys. 13 He had also seven sons and three daughters. 14 And he called the name of the first daughter Jemimah, and the name of the second Keziah, and the name of the third Keren-happuch. 15 And in all the land there were no women so beautiful as Job’s daughters. And their father gave them an inheritance among their brothers. 16 And after this Job lived 140 years, and saw his sons, and his sons’ sons, four generations. 17 And Job died, an old man, and full of days. Footnotes [1] 42:6 Or and am comforted [2] 42:11 Or disaster [3] 42:11 Hebrew a qesitah; a unit of money of unknown value (ESV) 2 Corinthians 12 (Listen) Paul’s Visions and His Thorn 12 I must go on boasting. Though there is nothing to be gained by it, I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. 2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows. 3 And I know that this man was caught up into paradise—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows—4 and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter. 5 On behalf of this man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses—6 though if I should wish to boast, I would not be a fool, for I would be speaking the truth; but I refrain from it, so that no one may think more of me than he sees in me or hears from me. 7 So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations,1 a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. Concern for the Corinthian Church 11 I have been a fool! You forced me to it, for I ought to have been commended by you. For I was not at all inferior to these super-apostles, even though I am nothing. 12 The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with utmost patience, with signs and wonders and mighty works. 13 For in what were you less favored than the rest of the churches, except that I myself did not burden you? Forgive me this wrong! 14 Here for the third time I am ready to come to you. And I will not be a burden, for I seek not what is yours but you. For children are not obligated to save up for their parents, but parents for their children. 15 I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls. If I love you more, am I to be loved less? 16 But granting that I myself did not burden you, I was crafty, you say, and got the better of you by deceit. 17 Did I take advantage of you through any of those whom I sent to you? 18 I urged Titus to go, and sent the brother with him. Did Titus take advantage of you? Did we not act in the same spirit? Did we not take the same steps? 19 Have you been thinking all along that we have been defending ourselves to you? It is in the sight of God that we have been speaking in Christ, and all for your upbuilding, beloved. 20 For I fear that perhaps when I come I may find you not as I wish, and that you may find me not as you wish—that perhaps there may be quarreling, jealousy, anger, hostility, slander, gossip, conceit, and disorder. 21 I fear that when I come again my God may humble me before you, and I may have to mourn over many of those who sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, sexual immorality, and sensuality that they have practiced. Footnotes [1] 12:7 Or hears from me, even because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations. So to keep me from becoming conceited (ESV)
With family: Exodus 22; John 1 Exodus 22 (Listen) 22 “If a man steals an ox or a sheep, and kills it or sells it, he shall repay five oxen for an ox, and four sheep for a sheep. 2 1 If a thief is found breaking in and is struck so that he dies, there shall be no bloodguilt for him, 3 but if the sun has risen on him, there shall be bloodguilt for him. He2 shall surely pay. If he has nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft. 4 If the stolen beast is found alive in his possession, whether it is an ox or a donkey or a sheep, he shall pay double. 5 “If a man causes a field or vineyard to be grazed over, or lets his beast loose and it feeds in another man’s field, he shall make restitution from the best in his own field and in his own vineyard. 6 “If fire breaks out and catches in thorns so that the stacked grain or the standing grain or the field is consumed, he who started the fire shall make full restitution. 7 “If a man gives to his neighbor money or goods to keep safe, and it is stolen from the man’s house, then, if the thief is found, he shall pay double. 8 If the thief is not found, the owner of the house shall come near to God to show whether or not he has put his hand to his neighbor’s property. 9 For every breach of trust, whether it is for an ox, for a donkey, for a sheep, for a cloak, or for any kind of lost thing, of which one says, ‘This is it,’ the case of both parties shall come before God. The one whom God condemns shall pay double to his neighbor. 10 “If a man gives to his neighbor a donkey or an ox or a sheep or any beast to keep safe, and it dies or is injured or is driven away, without anyone seeing it, 11 an oath by the LORD shall be between them both to see whether or not he has put his hand to his neighbor’s property. The owner shall accept the oath, and he shall not make restitution. 12 But if it is stolen from him, he shall make restitution to its owner. 13 If it is torn by beasts, let him bring it as evidence. He shall not make restitution for what has been torn. 14 “If a man borrows anything of his neighbor, and it is injured or dies, the owner not being with it, he shall make full restitution. 15 If the owner was with it, he shall not make restitution; if it was hired, it came for its hiring fee.3 Laws About Social Justice 16 “If a man seduces a virgin4 who is not betrothed and lies with her, he shall give the bride-price5 for her and make her his wife. 17 If her father utterly refuses to give her to him, he shall pay money equal to the bride-price for virgins. 18 “You shall not permit a sorceress to live. 19 “Whoever lies with an animal shall be put to death. 20 “Whoever sacrifices to any god, other than the LORD alone, shall be devoted to destruction.6 21 “You shall not wrong a sojourner or oppress him, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt. 22 You shall not mistreat any widow or fatherless child. 23 If you do mistreat them, and they cry out to me, I will surely hear their cry, 24 and my wrath will burn, and I will kill you with the sword, and your wives shall become widows and your children fatherless. 25 “If you lend money to any of my people with you who is poor, you shall not be like a moneylender to him, and you shall not exact interest from him. 26 If ever you take your neighbor’s cloak in pledge, you shall return it to him before the sun goes down, 27 for that is his only covering, and it is his cloak for his body; in what else shall he sleep? And if he cries to me, I will hear, for I am compassionate. 28 “You shall not revile God, nor curse a ruler of your people. 29 “You shall not delay to offer from the fullness of your harvest and from the outflow of your presses. The firstborn of your sons you shall give to me. 30 You shall do the same with your oxen and with your sheep: seven days it shall be with its mother; on the eighth day you shall give it to me. 31 “You shall be consecrated to me. Therefore you shall not eat any flesh that is torn by beasts in the field; you shall throw it to the dogs. Footnotes [1] 22:2 Ch 22:1 in Hebrew [2] 22:3 That is, the thief [3] 22:15 Or it is reckoned in (Hebrew comes into) its hiring fee [4] 22:16 Or a girl of marriageable age; also verse 17 [5] 22:16 Or engagement present; also verse 17 [6] 22:20 That is, set apart (devoted) as an offering to the Lord (for destruction) (ESV) John 1 (Listen) The Word Became Flesh 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life,1 and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. 6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light. 9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own,2 and his own people3 did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. 14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son4 from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’”) 16 For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.5 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God; the only God,6 who is at the Father’s side,7 he has made him known. The Testimony of John the Baptist 19 And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” 20 He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.” 21 And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” 22 So they said to him, “Who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” 23 He said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight8 the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.” 24 (Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.) 25 They asked him, “Then why are you baptizing, if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” 26 John answered them, “I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know, 27 even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.” 28 These things took place in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing. Behold, the Lamb of God 29 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.’ 31 I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel.” 32 And John bore witness: “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. 33 I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son9 of God.” Jesus Calls the First Disciples 35 The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, 36 and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” 37 The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. 38 Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, “What are you seeking?” And they said to him, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are you staying?” 39 He said to them, “Come and you will see.” So they came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour.10 40 One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus11 was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. 41 He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ). 42 He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of John. You shall be called Cephas” (which means Peter12). Jesus Calls Philip and Nathanael 43 The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.” 44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. 45 Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” 46 Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” 47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!” 48 Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” 49 Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” 50 Jesus answered him, “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these.” 51 And he said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you,13 you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.” Footnotes [1] 1:4 Or was not any thing made. That which has been made was life in him [2] 1:11 Greek to his own things; that is, to his own domain, or to his own people [3] 1:11 People is implied in Greek [4] 1:14 Or only One, or unique One [5] 1:16 Or grace in place of grace [6] 1:18 Or the only One, who is God; some manuscripts the only Son [7] 1:18 Greek in the bosom of the Father [8] 1:23 Or crying out, ‘In the wilderness make straight [9] 1:34 Some manuscripts the Chosen One [10] 1:39 That is, about 4 p.m. [11] 1:40 Greek him [12] 1:42 Cephas and Peter are from the word for rock in Aramaic and Greek, respectively [13] 1:51 The Greek for you is plural; twice in this verse (ESV) In private: Job 40; 2 Corinthians 10 Job 40 (Listen) 40 And the LORD said to Job: 2 “Shall a faultfinder contend with the Almighty? He who argues with God, let him answer it.” Job Promises Silence 3 Then Job answered the LORD and said: 4 “Behold, I am of small account; what shall I answer you? I lay my hand on my mouth.5 I have spoken once, and I will not answer; twice, but I will proceed no further.” The Lord Challenges Job 6 Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind and said: 7 “Dress for action1 like a man; I will question you, and you make it known to me.8 Will you even put me in the wrong? Will you condemn me that you may be in the right?9 Have you an arm like God, and can you thunder with a voice like his? 10 “Adorn yourself with majesty and dignity; clothe yourself with glory and splendor.11 Pour out the overflowings of your anger, and look on everyone who is proud and abase him.12 Look on everyone who is proud and bring him low and tread down the wicked where they stand.13 Hide them all in the dust together; bind their faces in the world below.214 Then will I also acknowledge to you that your own right hand can save you. 15 “Behold, Behemoth,3 which I made as I made you; he eats grass like an ox.16 Behold, his strength in his loins, and his power in the muscles of his belly.17 He makes his tail stiff like a cedar; the sinews of his thighs are knit together.18 His bones are tubes of bronze, his limbs like bars of iron. 19 “He is the first of the works4 of God; let him who made him bring near his sword!20 For the mountains yield food for him where all the wild beasts play.21 Under the lotus plants he lies, in the shelter of the reeds and in the marsh.22 For his shade the lotus trees cover him; the willows of the brook surround him.23 Behold, if the river is turbulent he is not frightened; he is confident though Jordan rushes against his mouth.24 Can one take him by his eyes,5 or pierce his nose with a snare? Footnotes [1] 40:7 Hebrew Gird up your loins [2] 40:13 Hebrew in the hidden place [3] 40:15 A large animal, exact identity unknown [4] 40:19 Hebrew ways [5] 40:24 Or in his sight (ESV) 2 Corinthians 10 (Listen) Paul Defends His Ministry 10 I, Paul, myself entreat you, by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—I who am humble when face to face with you, but bold toward you when I am away!—2 I beg of you that when I am present I may not have to show boldness with such confidence as I count on showing against some who suspect us of walking according to the flesh. 3 For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. 5 We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, 6 being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete. 7 Look at what is before your eyes. If anyone is confident that he is Christ’s, let him remind himself that just as he is Christ’s, so also are we. 8 For even if I boast a little too much of our authority, which the Lord gave for building you up and not for destroying you, I will not be ashamed. 9 I do not want to appear to be frightening you with my letters. 10 For they say, “His letters are weighty and strong, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech of no account.” 11 Let such a person understand that what we say by letter when absent, we do when present. 12 Not that we dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who are commending themselves. But when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding. 13 But we will not boast beyond limits, but will boast only with regard to the area of influence God assigned to us, to reach even to you. 14 For we are not overextending ourselves, as though we did not reach you. For we were the first to come all the way to you with the gospel of Christ. 15 We do not boast beyond limit in the labors of others. But our hope is that as your faith increases, our area of influence among you may be greatly enlarged, 16 so that we may preach the gospel in lands beyond you, without boasting of work already done in another’s area of influence. 17 “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” 18 For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends. (ESV)
With family: Exodus 8; Luke 11 Exodus 8 (Listen) The Second Plague: Frogs 8 1 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go in to Pharaoh and say to him, ‘Thus says the LORD, “Let my people go, that they may serve me. 2 But if you refuse to let them go, behold, I will plague all your country with frogs. 3 The Nile shall swarm with frogs that shall come up into your house and into your bedroom and on your bed and into the houses of your servants and your people,2 and into your ovens and your kneading bowls. 4 The frogs shall come up on you and on your people and on all your servants.”’” 5 3 And the LORD said to Moses, “Say to Aaron, ‘Stretch out your hand with your staff over the rivers, over the canals and over the pools, and make frogs come up on the land of Egypt!’” 6 So Aaron stretched out his hand over the waters of Egypt, and the frogs came up and covered the land of Egypt. 7 But the magicians did the same by their secret arts and made frogs come up on the land of Egypt. 8 Then Pharaoh called Moses and Aaron and said, “Plead with the LORD to take away the frogs from me and from my people, and I will let the people go to sacrifice to the LORD.” 9 Moses said to Pharaoh, “Be pleased to command me when I am to plead for you and for your servants and for your people, that the frogs be cut off from you and your houses and be left only in the Nile.” 10 And he said, “Tomorrow.” Moses said, “Be it as you say, so that you may know that there is no one like the LORD our God. 11 The frogs shall go away from you and your houses and your servants and your people. They shall be left only in the Nile.” 12 So Moses and Aaron went out from Pharaoh, and Moses cried to the LORD about the frogs, as he had agreed with Pharaoh.4 13 And the LORD did according to the word of Moses. The frogs died out in the houses, the courtyards, and the fields. 14 And they gathered them together in heaps, and the land stank. 15 But when Pharaoh saw that there was a respite, he hardened his heart and would not listen to them, as the LORD had said. The Third Plague: Gnats 16 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Say to Aaron, ‘Stretch out your staff and strike the dust of the earth, so that it may become gnats in all the land of Egypt.’” 17 And they did so. Aaron stretched out his hand with his staff and struck the dust of the earth, and there were gnats on man and beast. All the dust of the earth became gnats in all the land of Egypt. 18 The magicians tried by their secret arts to produce gnats, but they could not. So there were gnats on man and beast. 19 Then the magicians said to Pharaoh, “This is the finger of God.” But Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he would not listen to them, as the LORD had said. The Fourth Plague: Flies 20 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Rise up early in the morning and present yourself to Pharaoh, as he goes out to the water, and say to him, ‘Thus says the LORD, “Let my people go, that they may serve me. 21 Or else, if you will not let my people go, behold, I will send swarms of flies on you and your servants and your people, and into your houses. And the houses of the Egyptians shall be filled with swarms of flies, and also the ground on which they stand. 22 But on that day I will set apart the land of Goshen, where my people dwell, so that no swarms of flies shall be there, that you may know that I am the LORD in the midst of the earth.5 23 Thus I will put a division6 between my people and your people. Tomorrow this sign shall happen.”’” 24 And the LORD did so. There came great swarms of flies into the house of Pharaoh and into his servants’ houses. Throughout all the land of Egypt the land was ruined by the swarms of flies. 25 Then Pharaoh called Moses and Aaron and said, “Go, sacrifice to your God within the land.” 26 But Moses said, “It would not be right to do so, for the offerings we shall sacrifice to the LORD our God are an abomination to the Egyptians. If we sacrifice offerings abominable to the Egyptians before their eyes, will they not stone us? 27 We must go three days’ journey into the wilderness and sacrifice to the LORD our God as he tells us.” 28 So Pharaoh said, “I will let you go to sacrifice to the LORD your God in the wilderness; only you must not go very far away. Plead for me.” 29 Then Moses said, “Behold, I am going out from you and I will plead with the LORD that the swarms of flies may depart from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people, tomorrow. Only let not Pharaoh cheat again by not letting the people go to sacrifice to the LORD.” 30 So Moses went out from Pharaoh and prayed to the LORD. 31 And the LORD did as Moses asked, and removed the swarms of flies from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people; not one remained. 32 But Pharaoh hardened his heart this time also, and did not let the people go. Footnotes [1] 8:1 Ch 7:26 in Hebrew [2] 8:3 Or among your people [3] 8:5 Ch 8:1 in Hebrew [4] 8:12 Or which he had brought upon Pharaoh [5] 8:22 Or that I the Lord am in the land [6] 8:23 Septuagint, Vulgate; Hebrew set redemption (ESV) Luke 11 (Listen) The Lord’s Prayer 11 Now Jesus1 was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.” 2 And he said to them, “When you pray, say: “Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come.3 Give us each day our daily bread,24 and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation.” 5 And he said to them, “Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves, 6 for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; 7 and he will answer from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I cannot get up and give you anything’? 8 I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his impudence3 he will rise and give him whatever he needs. 9 And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. 11 What father among you, if his son asks for4 a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; 12 or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” Jesus and Beelzebul 14 Now he was casting out a demon that was mute. When the demon had gone out, the mute man spoke, and the people marveled. 15 But some of them said, “He casts out demons by Beelzebul, the prince of demons,” 16 while others, to test him, kept seeking from him a sign from heaven. 17 But he, knowing their thoughts, said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and a divided household falls. 18 And if Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that I cast out demons by Beelzebul. 19 And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. 20 But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. 21 When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are safe; 22 but when one stronger than he attacks him and overcomes him, he takes away his armor in which he trusted and divides his spoil. 23 Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. Return of an Unclean Spirit 24 “When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and finding none it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ 25 And when it comes, it finds the house swept and put in order. 26 Then it goes and brings seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there. And the last state of that person is worse than the first.” True Blessedness 27 As he said these things, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts at which you nursed!” 28 But he said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!” The Sign of Jonah 29 When the crowds were increasing, he began to say, “This generation is an evil generation. It seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah. 30 For as Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so will the Son of Man be to this generation. 31 The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here. 32 The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here. The Light in You 33 “No one after lighting a lamp puts it in a cellar or under a basket, but on a stand, so that those who enter may see the light. 34 Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light, but when it is bad, your body is full of darkness. 35 Therefore be careful lest the light in you be darkness. 36 If then your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, it will be wholly bright, as when a lamp with its rays gives you light.” Woes to the Pharisees and Lawyers 37 While Jesus5 was speaking, a Pharisee asked him to dine with him, so he went in and reclined at table. 38 The Pharisee was astonished to see that he did not first wash before dinner. 39 And the Lord said to him, “Now you Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. 40 You fools! Did not he who made the outside make the inside also? 41 But give as alms those things that are within, and behold, everything is clean for you. 42 “But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and every herb, and neglect justice and the love of God. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. 43 Woe to you Pharisees! For you love the best seat in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces. 44 Woe to you! For you are like unmarked graves, and people walk over them without knowing it.” 45 One of the lawyers answered him, “Teacher, in saying these things you insult us also.” 46 And he said, “Woe to you lawyers also! For you load people with burdens hard to bear, and you yourselves do not touch the burdens with one of your fingers. 47 Woe to you! For you build the tombs of the prophets whom your fathers killed. 48 So you are witnesses and you consent to the deeds of your fathers, for they killed them, and you build their tombs. 49 Therefore also the Wisdom of God said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles, some of whom they will kill and persecute,’ 50 so that the blood of all the prophets, shed from the foundation of the world, may be charged against this generation, 51 from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who perished between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, it will be required of this generation. 52 Woe to you lawyers! For you have taken away the key of knowledge. You did not enter yourselves, and you hindered those who were entering.” 53 As he went away from there, the scribes and the Pharisees began to press him hard and to provoke him to speak about many things, 54 lying in wait for him, to catch him in something he might say. Footnotes [1] 11:1 Greek he [2] 11:3 Or our bread for tomorrow [3] 11:8 Or persistence [4] 11:11 Some manuscripts insert bread, will give him a stone; or if he asks for [5] 11:37 Greek he (ESV) In private: Job 25–26; 1 Corinthians 12 Job 25–26 (Listen) Bildad Speaks: Man Cannot Be Righteous 25 Then Bildad the Shuhite answered and said: 2 “Dominion and fear are with God;1 he makes peace in his high heaven.3 Is there any number to his armies? Upon whom does his light not arise?4 How then can man be in the right before God? How can he who is born of woman be pure?5 Behold, even the moon is not bright, and the stars are not pure in his eyes;6 how much less man, who is a maggot, and the son of man, who is a worm!” Job Replies: God’s Majesty Is Unsearchable 26 Then Job answered and said: 2 “How you have helped him who has no power! How you have saved the arm that has no strength!3 How you have counseled him who has no wisdom, and plentifully declared sound knowledge!4 With whose help have you uttered words, and whose breath has come out from you?5 The dead tremble under the waters and their inhabitants.6 Sheol is naked before God,2 and Abaddon has no covering.7 He stretches out the north over the void and hangs the earth on nothing.8 He binds up the waters in his thick clouds, and the cloud is not split open under them.9 He covers the face of the full moon3 and spreads over it his cloud.10 He has inscribed a circle on the face of the waters at the boundary between light and darkness.11 The pillars of heaven tremble and are astounded at his rebuke.12 By his power he stilled the sea; by his understanding he shattered Rahab.13 By his wind the heavens were made fair; his hand pierced the fleeing serpent.14 Behold, these are but the outskirts of his ways, and how small a whisper do we hear of him! But the thunder of his power who can understand?” Footnotes [1] 25:2 Hebrew him [2] 26:6 Hebrew him [3] 26:9 Or his throne (ESV) 1 Corinthians 12 (Listen) Spiritual Gifts 12 Now concerning1 spiritual gifts,2 brothers,3 I do not want you to be uninformed. 2 You know that when you were pagans you were led astray to mute idols, however you were led. 3 Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus is accursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit. 4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; 5 and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; 6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. 7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 8 For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills. One Body with Many Members 12 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves4 or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit. 14 For the body does not consist of one member but of many. 15 If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? 18 But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. 19 If all were a single member, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts,5 yet one body. 21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” 22 On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, 24 which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, 25 that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. 26 If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. 27 Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. 28 And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? 31 But earnestly desire the higher gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way. Footnotes [1] 12:1 The expression Now concerning introduces a reply to a question in the Corinthians’ letter; see 7:1 [2] 12:1 Or spiritual persons [3] 12:1 Or brothers and sisters [4] 12:13 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface [5] 12:20 Or members; also verse 22 (ESV)
With family: Exodus 6; Luke 9 Exodus 6 (Listen) God Promises Deliverance 6 But the LORD said to Moses, “Now you shall see what I will do to Pharaoh; for with a strong hand he will send them out, and with a strong hand he will drive them out of his land.” 2 God spoke to Moses and said to him, “I am the LORD. 3 I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, as God Almighty,1 but by my name the LORD I did not make myself known to them. 4 I also established my covenant with them to give them the land of Canaan, the land in which they lived as sojourners. 5 Moreover, I have heard the groaning of the people of Israel whom the Egyptians hold as slaves, and I have remembered my covenant. 6 Say therefore to the people of Israel, ‘I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will deliver you from slavery to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great acts of judgment. 7 I will take you to be my people, and I will be your God, and you shall know that I am the LORD your God, who has brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. 8 I will bring you into the land that I swore to give to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. I will give it to you for a possession. I am the LORD.’” 9 Moses spoke thus to the people of Israel, but they did not listen to Moses, because of their broken spirit and harsh slavery. 10 So the LORD said to Moses, 11 “Go in, tell Pharaoh king of Egypt to let the people of Israel go out of his land.” 12 But Moses said to the LORD, “Behold, the people of Israel have not listened to me. How then shall Pharaoh listen to me, for I am of uncircumcised lips?” 13 But the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron and gave them a charge about the people of Israel and about Pharaoh king of Egypt: to bring the people of Israel out of the land of Egypt. The Genealogy of Moses and Aaron 14 These are the heads of their fathers’ houses: the sons of Reuben, the firstborn of Israel: Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi; these are the clans of Reuben. 15 The sons of Simeon: Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jachin, Zohar, and Shaul, the son of a Canaanite woman; these are the clans of Simeon. 16 These are the names of the sons of Levi according to their generations: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari, the years of the life of Levi being 137 years. 17 The sons of Gershon: Libni and Shimei, by their clans. 18 The sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel, the years of the life of Kohath being 133 years. 19 The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. These are the clans of the Levites according to their generations. 20 Amram took as his wife Jochebed his father’s sister, and she bore him Aaron and Moses, the years of the life of Amram being 137 years. 21 The sons of Izhar: Korah, Nepheg, and Zichri. 22 The sons of Uzziel: Mishael, Elzaphan, and Sithri. 23 Aaron took as his wife Elisheba, the daughter of Amminadab and the sister of Nahshon, and she bore him Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. 24 The sons of Korah: Assir, Elkanah, and Abiasaph; these are the clans of the Korahites. 25 Eleazar, Aaron’s son, took as his wife one of the daughters of Putiel, and she bore him Phinehas. These are the heads of the fathers’ houses of the Levites by their clans. 26 These are the Aaron and Moses to whom the LORD said: “Bring out the people of Israel from the land of Egypt by their hosts.” 27 It was they who spoke to Pharaoh king of Egypt about bringing out the people of Israel from Egypt, this Moses and this Aaron. 28 On the day when the LORD spoke to Moses in the land of Egypt, 29 the LORD said to Moses, “I am the LORD; tell Pharaoh king of Egypt all that I say to you.” 30 But Moses said to the LORD, “Behold, I am of uncircumcised lips. How will Pharaoh listen to me?” Footnotes [1] 6:3 Hebrew El Shaddai (ESV) Luke 9 (Listen) Jesus Sends Out the Twelve Apostles 9 And he called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, 2 and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal. 3 And he said to them, “Take nothing for your journey, no staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money; and do not have two tunics.1 4 And whatever house you enter, stay there, and from there depart. 5 And wherever they do not receive you, when you leave that town shake off the dust from your feet as a testimony against them.” 6 And they departed and went through the villages, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere. Herod Is Perplexed by Jesus 7 Now Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was happening, and he was perplexed, because it was said by some that John had been raised from the dead, 8 by some that Elijah had appeared, and by others that one of the prophets of old had risen. 9 Herod said, “John I beheaded, but who is this about whom I hear such things?” And he sought to see him. Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand 10 On their return the apostles told him all that they had done. And he took them and withdrew apart to a town called Bethsaida. 11 When the crowds learned it, they followed him, and he welcomed them and spoke to them of the kingdom of God and cured those who had need of healing. 12 Now the day began to wear away, and the twelve came and said to him, “Send the crowd away to go into the surrounding villages and countryside to find lodging and get provisions, for we are here in a desolate place.” 13 But he said to them, “You give them something to eat.” They said, “We have no more than five loaves and two fish—unless we are to go and buy food for all these people.” 14 For there were about five thousand men. And he said to his disciples, “Have them sit down in groups of about fifty each.” 15 And they did so, and had them all sit down. 16 And taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing over them. Then he broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd. 17 And they all ate and were satisfied. And what was left over was picked up, twelve baskets of broken pieces. Peter Confesses Jesus as the Christ 18 Now it happened that as he was praying alone, the disciples were with him. And he asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?” 19 And they answered, “John the Baptist. But others say, Elijah, and others, that one of the prophets of old has risen.” 20 Then he said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” And Peter answered, “The Christ of God.” Jesus Foretells His Death 21 And he strictly charged and commanded them to tell this to no one, 22 saying, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.” Take Up Your Cross and Follow Jesus 23 And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. 25 For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself? 26 For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. 27 But I tell you truly, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God.” The Transfiguration 28 Now about eight days after these sayings he took with him Peter and John and James and went up on the mountain to pray. 29 And as he was praying, the appearance of his face was altered, and his clothing became dazzling white. 30 And behold, two men were talking with him, Moses and Elijah, 31 who appeared in glory and spoke of his departure,2 which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. 32 Now Peter and those who were with him were heavy with sleep, but when they became fully awake they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him. 33 And as the men were parting from him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah”—not knowing what he said. 34 As he was saying these things, a cloud came and overshadowed them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. 35 And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, my Chosen One;3 listen to him!” 36 And when the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent and told no one in those days anything of what they had seen. Jesus Heals a Boy with an Unclean Spirit 37 On the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, a great crowd met him. 38 And behold, a man from the crowd cried out, “Teacher, I beg you to look at my son, for he is my only child. 39 And behold, a spirit seizes him, and he suddenly cries out. It convulses him so that he foams at the mouth, and shatters him, and will hardly leave him. 40 And I begged your disciples to cast it out, but they could not.” 41 Jesus answered, “O faithless and twisted generation, how long am I to be with you and bear with you? Bring your son here.” 42 While he was coming, the demon threw him to the ground and convulsed him. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit and healed the boy, and gave him back to his father. 43 And all were astonished at the majesty of God. Jesus Again Foretells His Death But while they were all marveling at everything he was doing, Jesus4 said to his disciples, 44 “Let these words sink into your ears: The Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men.” 45 But they did not understand this saying, and it was concealed from them, so that they might not perceive it. And they were afraid to ask him about this saying. Who Is the Greatest? 46 An argument arose among them as to which of them was the greatest. 47 But Jesus, knowing the reasoning of their hearts, took a child and put him by his side 48 and said to them, “Whoever receives this child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me. For he who is least among you all is the one who is great.” Anyone Not Against Us Is For Us 49 John answered, “Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he does not follow with us.” 50 But Jesus said to him, “Do not stop him, for the one who is not against you is for you.” A Samaritan Village Rejects Jesus 51 When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. 52 And he sent messengers ahead of him, who went and entered a village of the Samaritans, to make preparations for him. 53 But the people did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem. 54 And when his disciples James and John saw it, they said, “Lord, do you want us to tell fire to come down from heaven and consume them?”5 55 But he turned and rebuked them.6 56 And they went on to another village. The Cost of Following Jesus 57 As they were going along the road, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” 58 And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” 59 To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” 60 And Jesus7 said to him, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” 61 Yet another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” 62 Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” Footnotes [1] 9:3 Greek chiton, a long garment worn under the cloak next to the skin [2] 9:31 Greek exodus [3] 9:35 Some manuscripts my Beloved [4] 9:43 Greek he [5] 9:54 Some manuscripts add as Elijah did [6] 9:55 Some manuscripts add And he said, “You do not know what manner of spirit you are of; 56for the Son of Man came not to destroy people’s lives but to save them” [7] 9:60 Greek he (ESV) In private: Job 23; 1 Corinthians 10 Job 23 (Listen) Job Replies: Where Is God? 23 Then Job answered and said: 2 “Today also my complaint is bitter;1 my hand is heavy on account of my groaning.3 Oh, that I knew where I might find him, that I might come even to his seat!4 I would lay my case before him and fill my mouth with arguments.5 I would know what he would answer me and understand what he would say to me.6 Would he contend with me in the greatness of his power? No; he would pay attention to me.7 There an upright man could argue with him, and I would be acquitted forever by my judge. 8 “Behold, I go forward, but he is not there, and backward, but I do not perceive him;9 on the left hand when he is working, I do not behold him; he turns to the right hand, but I do not see him.10 But he knows the way that I take; when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold.11 My foot has held fast to his steps; I have kept his way and have not turned aside.12 I have not departed from the commandment of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my portion of food.13 But he is unchangeable,2 and who can turn him back? What he desires, that he does.14 For he will complete what he appoints for me, and many such things are in his mind.15 Therefore I am terrified at his presence; when I consider, I am in dread of him.16 God has made my heart faint; the Almighty has terrified me;17 yet I am not silenced because of the darkness, nor because thick darkness covers my face. Footnotes [1] 23:2 Or defiant [2] 23:13 Or one (ESV) 1 Corinthians 10 (Listen) Warning Against Idolatry 10 For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers,1 that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, 2 and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, 3 and all ate the same spiritual food, 4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ. 5 Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased, for they were overthrown2 in the wilderness. 6 Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did. 7 Do not be idolaters as some of them were; as it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play.” 8 We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day. 9 We must not put Christ3 to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents, 10 nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer. 11 Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come. 12 Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. 13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. 14 Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. 15 I speak as to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say. 16 The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? 17 Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread. 18 Consider the people of Israel:4 are not those who eat the sacrifices participants in the altar? 19 What do I imply then? That food offered to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? 20 No, I imply that what pagans sacrifice they offer to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be participants with demons. 21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons. 22 Shall we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he? Do All to the Glory of God 23 “All things are lawful,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up. 24 Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor. 25 Eat whatever is sold in the meat market without raising any question on the ground of conscience. 26 For “the earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof.” 27 If one of the unbelievers invites you to dinner and you are disposed to go, eat whatever is set before you without raising any question on the ground of conscience. 28 But if someone says to you, “This has been offered in sacrifice,” then do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you, and for the sake of conscience—29 I do not mean your conscience, but his. For why should my liberty be determined by someone else’s conscience? 30 If I partake with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of that for which I give thanks? 31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 32 Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God, 33 just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved. Footnotes [1] 10:1 Or brothers and sisters [2] 10:5 Or were laid low [3] 10:9 Some manuscripts the Lord [4] 10:18 Greek Consider Israel according to the flesh (ESV)
With family: Exodus 4; Luke 7 Exodus 4 (Listen) Moses Given Powerful Signs 4 Then Moses answered, “But behold, they will not believe me or listen to my voice, for they will say, ‘The LORD did not appear to you.’” 2 The LORD said to him, “What is that in your hand?” He said, “A staff.” 3 And he said, “Throw it on the ground.” So he threw it on the ground, and it became a serpent, and Moses ran from it. 4 But the LORD said to Moses, “Put out your hand and catch it by the tail”—so he put out his hand and caught it, and it became a staff in his hand—5 “that they may believe that the LORD, the God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has appeared to you.” 6 Again, the LORD said to him, “Put your hand inside your cloak.”1 And he put his hand inside his cloak, and when he took it out, behold, his hand was leprous2 like snow. 7 Then God said, “Put your hand back inside your cloak.” So he put his hand back inside his cloak, and when he took it out, behold, it was restored like the rest of his flesh. 8 “If they will not believe you,” God said, “or listen to the first sign, they may believe the latter sign. 9 If they will not believe even these two signs or listen to your voice, you shall take some water from the Nile and pour it on the dry ground, and the water that you shall take from the Nile will become blood on the dry ground.” 10 But Moses said to the LORD, “Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue.” 11 Then the LORD said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the LORD? 12 Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak.” 13 But he said, “Oh, my Lord, please send someone else.” 14 Then the anger of the LORD was kindled against Moses and he said, “Is there not Aaron, your brother, the Levite? I know that he can speak well. Behold, he is coming out to meet you, and when he sees you, he will be glad in his heart. 15 You shall speak to him and put the words in his mouth, and I will be with your mouth and with his mouth and will teach you both what to do. 16 He shall speak for you to the people, and he shall be your mouth, and you shall be as God to him. 17 And take in your hand this staff, with which you shall do the signs.” Moses Returns to Egypt 18 Moses went back to Jethro his father-in-law and said to him, “Please let me go back to my brothers in Egypt to see whether they are still alive.” And Jethro said to Moses, “Go in peace.” 19 And the LORD said to Moses in Midian, “Go back to Egypt, for all the men who were seeking your life are dead.” 20 So Moses took his wife and his sons and had them ride on a donkey, and went back to the land of Egypt. And Moses took the staff of God in his hand. 21 And the LORD said to Moses, “When you go back to Egypt, see that you do before Pharaoh all the miracles that I have put in your power. But I will harden his heart, so that he will not let the people go. 22 Then you shall say to Pharaoh, ‘Thus says the LORD, Israel is my firstborn son, 23 and I say to you, “Let my son go that he may serve me.” If you refuse to let him go, behold, I will kill your firstborn son.’” 24 At a lodging place on the way the LORD met him and sought to put him to death. 25 Then Zipporah took a flint and cut off her son’s foreskin and touched Moses’3 feet with it and said, “Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me!” 26 So he let him alone. It was then that she said, “A bridegroom of blood,” because of the circumcision. 27 The LORD said to Aaron, “Go into the wilderness to meet Moses.” So he went and met him at the mountain of God and kissed him. 28 And Moses told Aaron all the words of the LORD with which he had sent him to speak, and all the signs that he had commanded him to do. 29 Then Moses and Aaron went and gathered together all the elders of the people of Israel. 30 Aaron spoke all the words that the LORD had spoken to Moses and did the signs in the sight of the people. 31 And the people believed; and when they heard that the LORD had visited the people of Israel and that he had seen their affliction, they bowed their heads and worshiped. Footnotes [1] 4:6 Hebrew into your bosom; also verse 7 [2] 4:6 Leprosy was a term for several skin diseases; see Leviticus 13 [3] 4:25 Hebrew his (ESV) Luke 7 (Listen) Jesus Heals a Centurion’s Servant 7 After he had finished all his sayings in the hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum. 2 Now a centurion had a servant1 who was sick and at the point of death, who was highly valued by him. 3 When the centurion2 heard about Jesus, he sent to him elders of the Jews, asking him to come and heal his servant. 4 And when they came to Jesus, they pleaded with him earnestly, saying, “He is worthy to have you do this for him, 5 for he loves our nation, and he is the one who built us our synagogue.” 6 And Jesus went with them. When he was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends, saying to him, “Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof. 7 Therefore I did not presume to come to you. But say the word, and let my servant be healed. 8 For I too am a man set under authority, with soldiers under me: and I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” 9 When Jesus heard these things, he marveled at him, and turning to the crowd that followed him, said, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.” 10 And when those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the servant well. Jesus Raises a Widow’s Son 11 Soon afterward3 he went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a great crowd went with him. 12 As he drew near to the gate of the town, behold, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow, and a considerable crowd from the town was with her. 13 And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.” 14 Then he came up and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.” 15 And the dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus4 gave him to his mother. 16 Fear seized them all, and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has arisen among us!” and “God has visited his people!” 17 And this report about him spread through the whole of Judea and all the surrounding country. Messengers from John the Baptist 18 The disciples of John reported all these things to him. And John, 19 calling two of his disciples to him, sent them to the Lord, saying, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” 20 And when the men had come to him, they said, “John the Baptist has sent us to you, saying, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?’” 21 In that hour he healed many people of diseases and plagues and evil spirits, and on many who were blind he bestowed sight. 22 And he answered them, “Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers5 are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them. 23 And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.” 24 When John’s messengers had gone, Jesus6 began to speak to the crowds concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? 25 What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who are dressed in splendid clothing and live in luxury are in kings’ courts. 26 What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 27 This is he of whom it is written, “‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.’ 28 I tell you, among those born of women none is greater than John. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.” 29 (When all the people heard this, and the tax collectors too, they declared God just,7 having been baptized with the baptism of John, 30 but the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected the purpose of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him.) 31 “To what then shall I compare the people of this generation, and what are they like? 32 They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling to one another, “‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not weep.’ 33 For John the Baptist has come eating no bread and drinking no wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon.’ 34 The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ 35 Yet wisdom is justified by all her children.” A Sinful Woman Forgiven 36 One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee’s house and reclined at table. 37 And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, 38 and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment. 39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.” 40 And Jesus answering said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he answered, “Say it, Teacher.” 41 “A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?” 43 Simon answered, “The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt.” And he said to him, “You have judged rightly.” 44 Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. 46 You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. 47 Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” 48 And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” 49 Then those who were at table with him began to say among8 themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?” 50 And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” Footnotes [1] 7:2 Or bondservant; also verses 3, 8, 10 [2] 7:3 Greek he [3] 7:11 Some manuscripts The next day [4] 7:15 Greek he [5] 7:22 Leprosy was a term for several skin diseases; see Leviticus 13 [6] 7:24 Greek he [7] 7:29 Greek they justified God [8] 7:49 Or to (ESV) In private: Job 21; 1 Corinthians 8 Job 21 (Listen) Job Replies: The Wicked Do Prosper 21 Then Job answered and said: 2 “Keep listening to my words, and let this be your comfort.3 Bear with me, and I will speak, and after I have spoken, mock on.4 As for me, is my complaint against man? Why should I not be impatient?5 Look at me and be appalled, and lay your hand over your mouth.6 When I remember, I am dismayed, and shuddering seizes my flesh.7 Why do the wicked live, reach old age, and grow mighty in power?8 Their offspring are established in their presence, and their descendants before their eyes.9 Their houses are safe from fear, and no rod of God is upon them.10 Their bull breeds without fail; their cow calves and does not miscarry.11 They send out their little boys like a flock, and their children dance.12 They sing to the tambourine and the lyre and rejoice to the sound of the pipe.13 They spend their days in prosperity, and in peace they go down to Sheol.14 They say to God, ‘Depart from us! We do not desire the knowledge of your ways.15 What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? And what profit do we get if we pray to him?’16 Behold, is not their prosperity in their hand? The counsel of the wicked is far from me. 17 “How often is it that the lamp of the wicked is put out? That their calamity comes upon them? That God1 distributes pains in his anger?18 That they are like straw before the wind, and like chaff that the storm carries away?19 You say, ‘God stores up their iniquity for their children.’ Let him pay it out to them, that they may know it.20 Let their own eyes see their destruction, and let them drink of the wrath of the Almighty.21 For what do they care for their houses after them, when the number of their months is cut off?22 Will any teach God knowledge, seeing that he judges those who are on high?23 One dies in his full vigor, being wholly at ease and secure,24 his pails2 full of milk and the marrow of his bones moist.25 Another dies in bitterness of soul, never having tasted of prosperity.26 They lie down alike in the dust, and the worms cover them. 27 “Behold, I know your thoughts and your schemes to wrong me.28 For you say, ‘Where is the house of the prince? Where is the tent in which the wicked lived?’29 Have you not asked those who travel the roads, and do you not accept their testimony30 that the evil man is spared in the day of calamity, that he is rescued in the day of wrath?31 Who declares his way to his face, and who repays him for what he has done?32 When he is carried to the grave, watch is kept over his tomb.33 The clods of the valley are sweet to him; all mankind follows after him, and those who go before him are innumerable.34 How then will you comfort me with empty nothings? There is nothing left of your answers but falsehood.” Footnotes [1] 21:17 Hebrew he [2] 21:24 The meaning of the Hebrew word is uncertain (ESV) 1 Corinthians 8 (Listen) Food Offered to Idols 8 Now concerning1 food offered to idols: we know that “all of us possess knowledge.” This “knowledge” puffs up, but love builds up. 2 If anyone imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know. 3 But if anyone loves God, he is known by God.2 4 Therefore, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that “an idol has no real existence,” and that “there is no God but one.” 5 For although there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth—as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”—6 yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist. 7 However, not all possess this knowledge. But some, through former association with idols, eat food as really offered to an idol, and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. 8 Food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do. 9 But take care that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. 10 For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating3 in an idol’s temple, will he not be encouraged,4 if his conscience is weak, to eat food offered to idols? 11 And so by your knowledge this weak person is destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died. 12 Thus, sinning against your brothers5 and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. 13 Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble. Footnotes [1] 8:1 The expression Now concerning introduces a reply to a question in the Corinthians’ letter; see 7:1 [2] 8:3 Greek him [3] 8:10 Greek reclining at table [4] 8:10 Or fortified; Greek built up [5] 8:12 Or brothers and sisters (ESV)
With family: Exodus 2; Luke 5 Exodus 2 (Listen) The Birth of Moses 2 Now a man from the house of Levi went and took as his wife a Levite woman. 2 The woman conceived and bore a son, and when she saw that he was a fine child, she hid him three months. 3 When she could hide him no longer, she took for him a basket made of bulrushes1 and daubed it with bitumen and pitch. She put the child in it and placed it among the reeds by the river bank. 4 And his sister stood at a distance to know what would be done to him. 5 Now the daughter of Pharaoh came down to bathe at the river, while her young women walked beside the river. She saw the basket among the reeds and sent her servant woman, and she took it. 6 When she opened it, she saw the child, and behold, the baby was crying. She took pity on him and said, “This is one of the Hebrews’ children.” 7 Then his sister said to Pharaoh’s daughter, “Shall I go and call you a nurse from the Hebrew women to nurse the child for you?” 8 And Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Go.” So the girl went and called the child’s mother. 9 And Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Take this child away and nurse him for me, and I will give you your wages.” So the woman took the child and nursed him. 10 When the child grew older, she brought him to Pharaoh’s daughter, and he became her son. She named him Moses, “Because,” she said, “I drew him out of the water.”2 Moses Flees to Midian 11 One day, when Moses had grown up, he went out to his people and looked on their burdens, and he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his people.3 12 He looked this way and that, and seeing no one, he struck down the Egyptian and hid him in the sand. 13 When he went out the next day, behold, two Hebrews were struggling together. And he said to the man in the wrong, “Why do you strike your companion?” 14 He answered, “Who made you a prince and a judge over us? Do you mean to kill me as you killed the Egyptian?” Then Moses was afraid, and thought, “Surely the thing is known.” 15 When Pharaoh heard of it, he sought to kill Moses. But Moses fled from Pharaoh and stayed in the land of Midian. And he sat down by a well. 16 Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters, and they came and drew water and filled the troughs to water their father’s flock. 17 The shepherds came and drove them away, but Moses stood up and saved them, and watered their flock. 18 When they came home to their father Reuel, he said, “How is it that you have come home so soon today?” 19 They said, “An Egyptian delivered us out of the hand of the shepherds and even drew water for us and watered the flock.” 20 He said to his daughters, “Then where is he? Why have you left the man? Call him, that he may eat bread.” 21 And Moses was content to dwell with the man, and he gave Moses his daughter Zipporah. 22 She gave birth to a son, and he called his name Gershom, for he said, “I have been a sojourner4 in a foreign land.” God Hears Israel’s Groaning 23 During those many days the king of Egypt died, and the people of Israel groaned because of their slavery and cried out for help. Their cry for rescue from slavery came up to God. 24 And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. 25 God saw the people of Israel—and God knew. Footnotes [1] 2:3 Hebrew papyrus reeds [2] 2:10 Moses sounds like the Hebrew for draw out [3] 2:11 Hebrew brothers [4] 2:22 Gershom sounds like the Hebrew for sojourner (ESV) Luke 5 (Listen) Jesus Calls the First Disciples 5 On one occasion, while the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret, 2 and he saw two boats by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. 3 Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat. 4 And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” 5 And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.” 6 And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking. 7 They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. 8 But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” 9 For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish that they had taken, 10 and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.”1 11 And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him. Jesus Cleanses a Leper 12 While he was in one of the cities, there came a man full of leprosy.2 And when he saw Jesus, he fell on his face and begged him, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.” 13 And Jesus3 stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I will; be clean.” And immediately the leprosy left him. 14 And he charged him to tell no one, but “go and show yourself to the priest, and make an offering for your cleansing, as Moses commanded, for a proof to them.” 15 But now even more the report about him went abroad, and great crowds gathered to hear him and to be healed of their infirmities. 16 But he would withdraw to desolate places and pray. Jesus Heals a Paralytic 17 On one of those days, as he was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there, who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with him to heal.4 18 And behold, some men were bringing on a bed a man who was paralyzed, and they were seeking to bring him in and lay him before Jesus, 19 but finding no way to bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down with his bed through the tiles into the midst before Jesus. 20 And when he saw their faith, he said, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.” 21 And the scribes and the Pharisees began to question, saying, “Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” 22 When Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answered them, “Why do you question in your hearts? 23 Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? 24 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the man who was paralyzed—“I say to you, rise, pick up your bed and go home.” 25 And immediately he rose up before them and picked up what he had been lying on and went home, glorifying God. 26 And amazement seized them all, and they glorified God and were filled with awe, saying, “We have seen extraordinary things today.” Jesus Calls Levi 27 After this he went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting at the tax booth. And he said to him, “Follow me.” 28 And leaving everything, he rose and followed him. 29 And Levi made him a great feast in his house, and there was a large company of tax collectors and others reclining at table with them. 30 And the Pharisees and their scribes grumbled at his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” 31 And Jesus answered them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 32 I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.” A Question About Fasting 33 And they said to him, “The disciples of John fast often and offer prayers, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours eat and drink.” 34 And Jesus said to them, “Can you make wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? 35 The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in those days.” 36 He also told them a parable: “No one tears a piece from a new garment and puts it on an old garment. If he does, he will tear the new, and the piece from the new will not match the old. 37 And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the new wine will burst the skins and it will be spilled, and the skins will be destroyed. 38 But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins. 39 And no one after drinking old wine desires new, for he says, ‘The old is good.’”5 Footnotes [1] 5:10 The Greek word anthropoi refers here to both men and women [2] 5:12 Leprosy was a term for several skin diseases; see Leviticus 13 [3] 5:13 Greek he [4] 5:17 Some manuscripts was present to heal them [5] 5:39 Some manuscripts better (ESV) In private: Job 19; 1 Corinthians 6 Job 19 (Listen) Job Replies: My Redeemer Lives 19 Then Job answered and said: 2 “How long will you torment me and break me in pieces with words?3 These ten times you have cast reproach upon me; are you not ashamed to wrong me?4 And even if it be true that I have erred, my error remains with myself.5 If indeed you magnify yourselves against me and make my disgrace an argument against me,6 know then that God has put me in the wrong and closed his net about me.7 Behold, I cry out, ‘Violence!’ but I am not answered; I call for help, but there is no justice.8 He has walled up my way, so that I cannot pass, and he has set darkness upon my paths.9 He has stripped from me my glory and taken the crown from my head.10 He breaks me down on every side, and I am gone, and my hope has he pulled up like a tree.11 He has kindled his wrath against me and counts me as his adversary.12 His troops come on together; they have cast up their siege ramp1 against me and encamp around my tent. 13 “He has put my brothers far from me, and those who knew me are wholly estranged from me.14 My relatives have failed me, my close friends have forgotten me.15 The guests in my house and my maidservants count me as a stranger; I have become a foreigner in their eyes.16 I call to my servant, but he gives me no answer; I must plead with him with my mouth for mercy.17 My breath is strange to my wife, and I am a stench to the children of my own mother.18 Even young children despise me; when I rise they talk against me.19 All my intimate friends abhor me, and those whom I loved have turned against me.20 My bones stick to my skin and to my flesh, and I have escaped by the skin of my teeth.21 Have mercy on me, have mercy on me, O you my friends, for the hand of God has touched me!22 Why do you, like God, pursue me? Why are you not satisfied with my flesh? 23 “Oh that my words were written! Oh that they were inscribed in a book!24 Oh that with an iron pen and lead they were engraved in the rock forever!25 For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth.226 And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in3 my flesh I shall see God,27 whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another. My heart faints within me!28 If you say, ‘How we will pursue him!’ and, ‘The root of the matter is found in him,’429 be afraid of the sword, for wrath brings the punishment of the sword, that you may know there is a judgment.” Footnotes [1] 19:12 Hebrew their way [2] 19:25 Hebrew dust [3] 19:26 Or without [4] 19:28 Many Hebrew manuscripts in me (ESV) 1 Corinthians 6 (Listen) Lawsuits Against Believers 6 When one of you has a grievance against another, does he dare go to law before the unrighteous instead of the saints? 2 Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is to be judged by you, are you incompetent to try trivial cases? 3 Do you not know that we are to judge angels? How much more, then, matters pertaining to this life! 4 So if you have such cases, why do you lay them before those who have no standing in the church? 5 I say this to your shame. Can it be that there is no one among you wise enough to settle a dispute between the brothers, 6 but brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers? 7 To have lawsuits at all with one another is already a defeat for you. Why not rather suffer wrong? Why not rather be defrauded? 8 But you yourselves wrong and defraud—even your own brothers!1 9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous2 will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality,3 10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. Flee Sexual Immorality 12 “All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be dominated by anything. 13 “Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food”—and God will destroy both one and the other. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. 14 And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by his power. 15 Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never! 16 Or do you not know that he who is joined4 to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For, as it is written, “The two will become one flesh.” 17 But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. 18 Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin5 a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. 19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, 20 for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. Footnotes [1] 6:8 Or brothers and sisters [2] 6:9 Or wrongdoers [3] 6:9 The two Greek terms translated by this phrase refer to the passive and active partners in consensual homosexual acts [4] 6:16 Or who holds fast (compare Genesis 2:24 and Deuteronomy 10:20); also verse 17 [5] 6:18 Or Every sin (ESV)
With family: Genesis 50; Luke 3 Genesis 50 (Listen) 50 Then Joseph fell on his father’s face and wept over him and kissed him. 2 And Joseph commanded his servants the physicians to embalm his father. So the physicians embalmed Israel. 3 Forty days were required for it, for that is how many are required for embalming. And the Egyptians wept for him seventy days. 4 And when the days of weeping for him were past, Joseph spoke to the household of Pharaoh, saying, “If now I have found favor in your eyes, please speak in the ears of Pharaoh, saying, 5 ‘My father made me swear, saying, “I am about to die: in my tomb that I hewed out for myself in the land of Canaan, there shall you bury me.” Now therefore, let me please go up and bury my father. Then I will return.’” 6 And Pharaoh answered, “Go up, and bury your father, as he made you swear.” 7 So Joseph went up to bury his father. With him went up all the servants of Pharaoh, the elders of his household, and all the elders of the land of Egypt, 8 as well as all the household of Joseph, his brothers, and his father’s household. Only their children, their flocks, and their herds were left in the land of Goshen. 9 And there went up with him both chariots and horsemen. It was a very great company. 10 When they came to the threshing floor of Atad, which is beyond the Jordan, they lamented there with a very great and grievous lamentation, and he made a mourning for his father seven days. 11 When the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, saw the mourning on the threshing floor of Atad, they said, “This is a grievous mourning by the Egyptians.” Therefore the place was named Abel-mizraim;1 it is beyond the Jordan. 12 Thus his sons did for him as he had commanded them, 13 for his sons carried him to the land of Canaan and buried him in the cave of the field at Machpelah, to the east of Mamre, which Abraham bought with the field from Ephron the Hittite to possess as a burying place. 14 After he had buried his father, Joseph returned to Egypt with his brothers and all who had gone up with him to bury his father. God’s Good Purposes 15 When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “It may be that Joseph will hate us and pay us back for all the evil that we did to him.” 16 So they sent a message to Joseph, saying, “Your father gave this command before he died: 17 ‘Say to Joseph, “Please forgive the transgression of your brothers and their sin, because they did evil to you.”’ And now, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father.” Joseph wept when they spoke to him. 18 His brothers also came and fell down before him and said, “Behold, we are your servants.” 19 But Joseph said to them, “Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? 20 As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people2 should be kept alive, as they are today. 21 So do not fear; I will provide for you and your little ones.” Thus he comforted them and spoke kindly to them. The Death of Joseph 22 So Joseph remained in Egypt, he and his father’s house. Joseph lived 110 years. 23 And Joseph saw Ephraim’s children of the third generation. The children also of Machir the son of Manasseh were counted as Joseph’s own.3 24 And Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die, but God will visit you and bring you up out of this land to the land that he swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.” 25 Then Joseph made the sons of Israel swear, saying, “God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones from here.” 26 So Joseph died, being 110 years old. They embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt. Footnotes [1] 50:11 Abel-mizraim means mourning (or meadow) of Egypt [2] 50:20 Or a numerous people [3] 50:23 Hebrew were born on Joseph’s knees (ESV) Luke 3 (Listen) John the Baptist Prepares the Way 3 In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, 2 during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness. 3 And he went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 4 As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord,1 make his paths straight.5 Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall become straight, and the rough places shall become level ways,6 and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’” 7 He said therefore to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bear fruits in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. 9 Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” 10 And the crowds asked him, “What then shall we do?” 11 And he answered them, “Whoever has two tunics2 is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise.” 12 Tax collectors also came to be baptized and said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?” 13 And he said to them, “Collect no more than you are authorized to do.” 14 Soldiers also asked him, “And we, what shall we do?” And he said to them, “Do not extort money from anyone by threats or by false accusation, and be content with your wages.” 15 As the people were in expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Christ, 16 John answered them all, saying, “I baptize you with water, but he who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 17 His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.” 18 So with many other exhortations he preached good news to the people. 19 But Herod the tetrarch, who had been reproved by him for Herodias, his brother’s wife, and for all the evil things that Herod had done, 20 added this to them all, that he locked up John in prison. 21 Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heavens were opened, 22 and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form, like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son;3 with you I am well pleased.”4 The Genealogy of Jesus Christ 23 Jesus, when he began his ministry, was about thirty years of age, being the son (as was supposed) of Joseph, the son of Heli, 24 the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melchi, the son of Jannai, the son of Joseph, 25 the son of Mattathias, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Esli, the son of Naggai, 26 the son of Maath, the son of Mattathias, the son of Semein, the son of Josech, the son of Joda, 27 the son of Joanan, the son of Rhesa, the son of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel,5 the son of Neri, 28 the son of Melchi, the son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of Elmadam, the son of Er, 29 the son of Joshua, the son of Eliezer, the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, 30 the son of Simeon, the son of Judah, the son of Joseph, the son of Jonam, the son of Eliakim, 31 the son of Melea, the son of Menna, the son of Mattatha, the son of Nathan, the son of David, 32 the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Sala, the son of Nahshon, 33 the son of Amminadab, the son of Admin, the son of Arni, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah, 34 the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor, 35 the son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Eber, the son of Shelah, 36 the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech, 37 the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalaleel, the son of Cainan, 38 the son of Enos, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God. Footnotes [1] 3:4 Or crying, Prepare in the wilderness the way of the Lord [2] 3:11 Greek chiton, a long garment worn under the cloak next to the skin [3] 3:22 Or my Son, my (or the) Beloved [4] 3:22 Some manuscripts beloved Son; today I have begotten you [5] 3:27 Greek Salathiel (ESV) In private: Job 16–17; 1 Corinthians 4 Job 16–17 (Listen) Job Replies: Miserable Comforters Are You 16 Then Job answered and said: 2 “I have heard many such things; miserable comforters are you all.3 Shall windy words have an end? Or what provokes you that you answer?4 I also could speak as you do, if you were in my place; I could join words together against you and shake my head at you.5 I could strengthen you with my mouth, and the solace of my lips would assuage your pain. 6 “If I speak, my pain is not assuaged, and if I forbear, how much of it leaves me?7 Surely now God has worn me out; he has1 made desolate all my company.8 And he has shriveled me up, which is a witness against me, and my leanness has risen up against me; it testifies to my face.9 He has torn me in his wrath and hated me; he has gnashed his teeth at me; my adversary sharpens his eyes against me.10 Men have gaped at me with their mouth; they have struck me insolently on the cheek; they mass themselves together against me.11 God gives me up to the ungodly and casts me into the hands of the wicked.12 I was at ease, and he broke me apart; he seized me by the neck and dashed me to pieces; he set me up as his target;13 his archers surround me. He slashes open my kidneys and does not spare; he pours out my gall on the ground.14 He breaks me with breach upon breach; he runs upon me like a warrior.15 I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin and have laid my strength in the dust.16 My face is red with weeping, and on my eyelids is deep darkness,17 although there is no violence in my hands, and my prayer is pure. 18 “O earth, cover not my blood, and let my cry find no resting place.19 Even now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and he who testifies for me is on high.20 My friends scorn me; my eye pours out tears to God,21 that he would argue the case of a man with God, as2 a son of man does with his neighbor.22 For when a few years have come I shall go the way from which I shall not return. Job Continues: Where Then Is My Hope? 17 “My spirit is broken; my days are extinct; the graveyard is ready for me.2 Surely there are mockers about me, and my eye dwells on their provocation. 3 “Lay down a pledge for me with you; who is there who will put up security for me?4 Since you have closed their hearts to understanding, therefore you will not let them triumph.5 He who informs against his friends to get a share of their property— the eyes of his children will fail. 6 “He has made me a byword of the peoples, and I am one before whom men spit.7 My eye has grown dim from vexation, and all my members are like a shadow.8 The upright are appalled at this, and the innocent stirs himself up against the godless.9 Yet the righteous holds to his way, and he who has clean hands grows stronger and stronger.10 But you, come on again, all of you, and I shall not find a wise man among you.11 My days are past; my plans are broken off, the desires of my heart.12 They make night into day: ‘The light,’ they say, ‘is near to the darkness.’313 If I hope for Sheol as my house, if I make my bed in darkness,14 if I say to the pit, ‘You are my father,’ and to the worm, ‘My mother,’ or ‘My sister,’15 where then is my hope? Who will see my hope?16 Will it go down to the bars of Sheol? Shall we descend together into the dust?”4 Footnotes [1] 16:7 Hebrew you have; also verse 8 [2] 16:21 Hebrew and [3] 17:12 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain [4] 17:16 Or Will they go down to the bars of Sheol? Is rest to be found together in the dust? (ESV) 1 Corinthians 4 (Listen) The Ministry of Apostles 4 This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2 Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful. 3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. 4 For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me. 5 Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God. 6 I have applied all these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, brothers,1 that you may learn by us not to go beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up in favor of one against another. 7 For who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it? 8 Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich! Without us you have become kings! And would that you did reign, so that we might share the rule with you! 9 For I think that God has exhibited us apostles as last of all, like men sentenced to death, because we have become a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men. 10 We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are held in honor, but we in disrepute. 11 To the present hour we hunger and thirst, we are poorly dressed and buffeted and homeless, 12 and we labor, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; 13 when slandered, we entreat. We have become, and are still, like the scum of the world, the refuse of all things. 14 I do not write these things to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children. 15 For though you have countless2 guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel. 16 I urge you, then, be imitators of me. 17 That is why I sent3 you Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, to remind you of my ways in Christ,4 as I teach them everywhere in every church. 18 Some are arrogant, as though I were not coming to you. 19 But I will come to you soon, if the Lord wills, and I will find out not the talk of these arrogant people but their power. 20 For the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power. 21 What do you wish? Shall I come to you with a rod, or with love in a spirit of gentleness? Footnotes [1] 4:6 Or brothers and sisters [2] 4:15 Greek you have ten thousand [3] 4:17 Or am sending [4] 4:17 Some manuscripts add Jesus (ESV)
With family: Genesis 46; Mark 16 Genesis 46 (Listen) Joseph Brings His Family to Egypt 46 So Israel took his journey with all that he had and came to Beersheba, and offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac. 2 And God spoke to Israel in visions of the night and said, “Jacob, Jacob.” And he said, “Here I am.” 3 Then he said, “I am God, the God of your father. Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for there I will make you into a great nation. 4 I myself will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also bring you up again, and Joseph’s hand shall close your eyes.” 5 Then Jacob set out from Beersheba. The sons of Israel carried Jacob their father, their little ones, and their wives, in the wagons that Pharaoh had sent to carry him. 6 They also took their livestock and their goods, which they had gained in the land of Canaan, and came into Egypt, Jacob and all his offspring with him, 7 his sons, and his sons’ sons with him, his daughters, and his sons’ daughters. All his offspring he brought with him into Egypt. 8 Now these are the names of the descendants of Israel, who came into Egypt, Jacob and his sons. Reuben, Jacob’s firstborn, 9 and the sons of Reuben: Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi. 10 The sons of Simeon: Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jachin, Zohar, and Shaul, the son of a Canaanite woman. 11 The sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. 12 The sons of Judah: Er, Onan, Shelah, Perez, and Zerah (but Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan); and the sons of Perez were Hezron and Hamul. 13 The sons of Issachar: Tola, Puvah, Yob, and Shimron. 14 The sons of Zebulun: Sered, Elon, and Jahleel. 15 These are the sons of Leah, whom she bore to Jacob in Paddan-aram, together with his daughter Dinah; altogether his sons and his daughters numbered thirty-three. 16 The sons of Gad: Ziphion, Haggi, Shuni, Ezbon, Eri, Arodi, and Areli. 17 The sons of Asher: Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi, Beriah, with Serah their sister. And the sons of Beriah: Heber and Malchiel. 18 These are the sons of Zilpah, whom Laban gave to Leah his daughter; and these she bore to Jacob—sixteen persons. 19 The sons of Rachel, Jacob’s wife: Joseph and Benjamin. 20 And to Joseph in the land of Egypt were born Manasseh and Ephraim, whom Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera the priest of On, bore to him. 21 And the sons of Benjamin: Bela, Becher, Ashbel, Gera, Naaman, Ehi, Rosh, Muppim, Huppim, and Ard. 22 These are the sons of Rachel, who were born to Jacob—fourteen persons in all. 23 The son1 of Dan: Hushim. 24 The sons of Naphtali: Jahzeel, Guni, Jezer, and Shillem. 25 These are the sons of Bilhah, whom Laban gave to Rachel his daughter, and these she bore to Jacob—seven persons in all. 26 All the persons belonging to Jacob who came into Egypt, who were his own descendants, not including Jacob’s sons’ wives, were sixty-six persons in all. 27 And the sons of Joseph, who were born to him in Egypt, were two. All the persons of the house of Jacob who came into Egypt were seventy. Jacob and Joseph Reunited 28 He had sent Judah ahead of him to Joseph to show the way before him in Goshen, and they came into the land of Goshen. 29 Then Joseph prepared his chariot and went up to meet Israel his father in Goshen. He presented himself to him and fell on his neck and wept on his neck a good while. 30 Israel said to Joseph, “Now let me die, since I have seen your face and know that you are still alive.” 31 Joseph said to his brothers and to his father’s household, “I will go up and tell Pharaoh and will say to him, ‘My brothers and my father’s household, who were in the land of Canaan, have come to me. 32 And the men are shepherds, for they have been keepers of livestock, and they have brought their flocks and their herds and all that they have.’ 33 When Pharaoh calls you and says, ‘What is your occupation?’ 34 you shall say, ‘Your servants have been keepers of livestock from our youth even until now, both we and our fathers,’ in order that you may dwell in the land of Goshen, for every shepherd is an abomination to the Egyptians.” Footnotes [1] 46:23 Hebrew sons (ESV) Mark 16 (Listen) The Resurrection 16 When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. 2 And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. 3 And they were saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?” 4 And looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled back—it was very large. 5 And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe, and they were alarmed. 6 And he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him. 7 But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.” 8 And they went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had seized them, and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid. [Some of the earliest manuscripts do not include 16:9–20.]1 Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene 9 [[Now when he rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons. 10 She went and told those who had been with him, as they mourned and wept. 11 But when they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they would not believe it. Jesus Appears to Two Disciples 12 After these things he appeared in another form to two of them, as they were walking into the country. 13 And they went back and told the rest, but they did not believe them. The Great Commission 14 Afterward he appeared to the eleven themselves as they were reclining at table, and he rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who saw him after he had risen. 15 And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.” 19 So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. 20 And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by accompanying signs.]] Footnotes [1] 16:9 Some manuscripts end the book with 16:8; others include verses 9–20 immediately after verse 8. At least one manuscript inserts additional material after verse 14; some manuscripts include after verse 8 the following: But they reported briefly to Peter and those with him all that they had been told. And after this, Jesus himself sent out by means of them, from east to west, the sacred and imperishable proclamation of eternal salvation. These manuscripts then continue with verses 9–20 (ESV) In private: Job 12; Romans 16 Job 12 (Listen) Job Replies: The Lord Has Done This 12 Then Job answered and said: 2 “No doubt you are the people, and wisdom will die with you.3 But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you. Who does not know such things as these?4 I am a laughingstock to my friends; I, who called to God and he answered me, a just and blameless man, am a laughingstock.5 In the thought of one who is at ease there is contempt for misfortune; it is ready for those whose feet slip.6 The tents of robbers are at peace, and those who provoke God are secure, who bring their god in their hand.1 7 “But ask the beasts, and they will teach you; the birds of the heavens, and they will tell you;8 or the bushes of the earth, and they will teach you;2 and the fish of the sea will declare to you.9 Who among all these does not know that the hand of the LORD has done this?10 In his hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind.11 Does not the ear test words as the palate tastes food?12 Wisdom is with the aged, and understanding in length of days. 13 “With God3 are wisdom and might; he has counsel and understanding.14 If he tears down, none can rebuild; if he shuts a man in, none can open.15 If he withholds the waters, they dry up; if he sends them out, they overwhelm the land.16 With him are strength and sound wisdom; the deceived and the deceiver are his.17 He leads counselors away stripped, and judges he makes fools.18 He looses the bonds of kings and binds a waistcloth on their hips.19 He leads priests away stripped and overthrows the mighty.20 He deprives of speech those who are trusted and takes away the discernment of the elders.21 He pours contempt on princes and loosens the belt of the strong.22 He uncovers the deeps out of darkness and brings deep darkness to light.23 He makes nations great, and he destroys them; he enlarges nations, and leads them away.24 He takes away understanding from the chiefs of the people of the earth and makes them wander in a trackless waste.25 They grope in the dark without light, and he makes them stagger like a drunken man. Footnotes [1] 12:6 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain [2] 12:8 Or or speak to the earth, and it will teach you [3] 12:13 Hebrew him (ESV) Romans 16 (Listen) Personal Greetings 16 I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant1 of the church at Cenchreae, 2 that you may welcome her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints, and help her in whatever she may need from you, for she has been a patron of many and of myself as well. 3 Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, 4 who risked their necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks but all the churches of the Gentiles give thanks as well. 5 Greet also the church in their house. Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who was the first convert2 to Christ in Asia. 6 Greet Mary, who has worked hard for you. 7 Greet Andronicus and Junia,3 my kinsmen and my fellow prisoners. They are well known to the apostles,4 and they were in Christ before me. 8 Greet Ampliatus, my beloved in the Lord. 9 Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and my beloved Stachys. 10 Greet Apelles, who is approved in Christ. Greet those who belong to the family of Aristobulus. 11 Greet my kinsman Herodion. Greet those in the Lord who belong to the family of Narcissus. 12 Greet those workers in the Lord, Tryphaena and Tryphosa. Greet the beloved Persis, who has worked hard in the Lord. 13 Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord; also his mother, who has been a mother to me as well. 14 Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the brothers5 who are with them. 15 Greet Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them. 16 Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you. Final Instructions and Greetings 17 I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. 18 For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites,6 and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive. 19 For your obedience is known to all, so that I rejoice over you, but I want you to be wise as to what is good and innocent as to what is evil. 20 The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. 21 Timothy, my fellow worker, greets you; so do Lucius and Jason and Sosipater, my kinsmen. 22 I Tertius, who wrote this letter, greet you in the Lord. 23 Gaius, who is host to me and to the whole church, greets you. Erastus, the city treasurer, and our brother Quartus, greet you.7 Doxology 25 Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages 26 but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith—27 to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen. Footnotes [1] 16:1 Or deaconess [2] 16:5 Greek firstfruit [3] 16:7 Or Junias [4] 16:7 Or messengers [5] 16:14 Or brothers and sisters; also verse 17 [6] 16:18 Greek their own belly [7] 16:23 Some manuscripts insert verse 24: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen (ESV)
With family: Genesis 43; Mark 13 Genesis 43 (Listen) Joseph’s Brothers Return to Egypt 43 Now the famine was severe in the land. 2 And when they had eaten the grain that they had brought from Egypt, their father said to them, “Go again, buy us a little food.” 3 But Judah said to him, “The man solemnly warned us, saying, ‘You shall not see my face unless your brother is with you.’ 4 If you will send our brother with us, we will go down and buy you food. 5 But if you will not send him, we will not go down, for the man said to us, ‘You shall not see my face, unless your brother is with you.’” 6 Israel said, “Why did you treat me so badly as to tell the man that you had another brother?” 7 They replied, “The man questioned us carefully about ourselves and our kindred, saying, ‘Is your father still alive? Do you have another brother?’ What we told him was in answer to these questions. Could we in any way know that he would say, ‘Bring your brother down’?” 8 And Judah said to Israel his father, “Send the boy with me, and we will arise and go, that we may live and not die, both we and you and also our little ones. 9 I will be a pledge of his safety. From my hand you shall require him. If I do not bring him back to you and set him before you, then let me bear the blame forever. 10 If we had not delayed, we would now have returned twice.” 11 Then their father Israel said to them, “If it must be so, then do this: take some of the choice fruits of the land in your bags, and carry a present down to the man, a little balm and a little honey, gum, myrrh, pistachio nuts, and almonds. 12 Take double the money with you. Carry back with you the money that was returned in the mouth of your sacks. Perhaps it was an oversight. 13 Take also your brother, and arise, go again to the man. 14 May God Almighty1 grant you mercy before the man, and may he send back your other brother and Benjamin. And as for me, if I am bereaved of my children, I am bereaved.” 15 So the men took this present, and they took double the money with them, and Benjamin. They arose and went down to Egypt and stood before Joseph. 16 When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the steward of his house, “Bring the men into the house, and slaughter an animal and make ready, for the men are to dine with me at noon.” 17 The man did as Joseph told him and brought the men to Joseph’s house. 18 And the men were afraid because they were brought to Joseph’s house, and they said, “It is because of the money, which was replaced in our sacks the first time, that we are brought in, so that he may assault us and fall upon us to make us servants and seize our donkeys.” 19 So they went up to the steward of Joseph’s house and spoke with him at the door of the house, 20 and said, “Oh, my lord, we came down the first time to buy food. 21 And when we came to the lodging place we opened our sacks, and there was each man’s money in the mouth of his sack, our money in full weight. So we have brought it again with us, 22 and we have brought other money down with us to buy food. We do not know who put our money in our sacks.” 23 He replied, “Peace to you, do not be afraid. Your God and the God of your father has put treasure in your sacks for you. I received your money.” Then he brought Simeon out to them. 24 And when the man had brought the men into Joseph’s house and given them water, and they had washed their feet, and when he had given their donkeys fodder, 25 they prepared the present for Joseph’s coming at noon, for they heard that they should eat bread there. 26 When Joseph came home, they brought into the house to him the present that they had with them and bowed down to him to the ground. 27 And he inquired about their welfare and said, “Is your father well, the old man of whom you spoke? Is he still alive?” 28 They said, “Your servant our father is well; he is still alive.” And they bowed their heads and prostrated themselves. 29 And he lifted up his eyes and saw his brother Benjamin, his mother’s son, and said, “Is this your youngest brother, of whom you spoke to me? God be gracious to you, my son!” 30 Then Joseph hurried out, for his compassion grew warm for his brother, and he sought a place to weep. And he entered his chamber and wept there. 31 Then he washed his face and came out. And controlling himself he said, “Serve the food.” 32 They served him by himself, and them by themselves, and the Egyptians who ate with him by themselves, because the Egyptians could not eat with the Hebrews, for that is an abomination to the Egyptians. 33 And they sat before him, the firstborn according to his birthright and the youngest according to his youth. And the men looked at one another in amazement. 34 Portions were taken to them from Joseph’s table, but Benjamin’s portion was five times as much as any of theirs. And they drank and were merry2 with him. Footnotes [1] 43:14 Hebrew El Shaddai [2] 43:34 Hebrew and became intoxicated (ESV) Mark 13 (Listen) Jesus Foretells Destruction of the Temple 13 And as he came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Look, Teacher, what wonderful stones and what wonderful buildings!” 2 And Jesus said to him, “Do you see these great buildings? There will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.” Signs of the End of the Age 3 And as he sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately, 4 “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when all these things are about to be accomplished?” 5 And Jesus began to say to them, “See that no one leads you astray. 6 Many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he!’ and they will lead many astray. 7 And when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. This must take place, but the end is not yet. 8 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. These are but the beginning of the birth pains. 9 “But be on your guard. For they will deliver you over to councils, and you will be beaten in synagogues, and you will stand before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them. 10 And the gospel must first be proclaimed to all nations. 11 And when they bring you to trial and deliver you over, do not be anxious beforehand what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour, for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit. 12 And brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death. 13 And you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. The Abomination of Desolation 14 “But when you see the abomination of desolation standing where he ought not to be (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 15 Let the one who is on the housetop not go down, nor enter his house, to take anything out, 16 and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak. 17 And alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! 18 Pray that it may not happen in winter. 19 For in those days there will be such tribulation as has not been from the beginning of the creation that God created until now, and never will be. 20 And if the Lord had not cut short the days, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect, whom he chose, he shortened the days. 21 And then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘Look, there he is!’ do not believe it. 22 For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform signs and wonders, to lead astray, if possible, the elect. 23 But be on guard; I have told you all things beforehand. The Coming of the Son of Man 24 “But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, 25 and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. 26 And then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. 27 And then he will send out the angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven. The Lesson of the Fig Tree 28 “From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. 29 So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates. 30 Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. 31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. No One Knows That Day or Hour 32 “But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33 Be on guard, keep awake.1 For you do not know when the time will come. 34 It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants2 in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to stay awake. 35 Therefore stay awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows,3 or in the morning—36 lest he come suddenly and find you asleep. 37 And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake.” Footnotes [1] 13:33 Some manuscripts add and pray [2] 13:34 Or bondservants [3] 13:35 That is, the third watch of the night, between midnight and 3 a.m. (ESV) In private: Job 9; Romans 13 Job 9 (Listen) Job Replies: There Is No Arbiter 9 Then Job answered and said: 2 “Truly I know that it is so: But how can a man be in the right before God?3 If one wished to contend with him, one could not answer him once in a thousand times.4 He is wise in heart and mighty in strength —who has hardened himself against him, and succeeded?—5 he who removes mountains, and they know it not, when he overturns them in his anger,6 who shakes the earth out of its place, and its pillars tremble;7 who commands the sun, and it does not rise; who seals up the stars;8 who alone stretched out the heavens and trampled the waves of the sea;9 who made the Bear and Orion, the Pleiades and the chambers of the south;10 who does great things beyond searching out, and marvelous things beyond number.11 Behold, he passes by me, and I see him not; he moves on, but I do not perceive him.12 Behold, he snatches away; who can turn him back? Who will say to him, ‘What are you doing?’ 13 “God will not turn back his anger; beneath him bowed the helpers of Rahab.14 How then can I answer him, choosing my words with him?15 Though I am in the right, I cannot answer him; I must appeal for mercy to my accuser.116 If I summoned him and he answered me, I would not believe that he was listening to my voice.17 For he crushes me with a tempest and multiplies my wounds without cause;18 he will not let me get my breath, but fills me with bitterness.19 If it is a contest of strength, behold, he is mighty! If it is a matter of justice, who can summon him?220 Though I am in the right, my own mouth would condemn me; though I am blameless, he would prove me perverse.21 I am blameless; I regard not myself; I loathe my life.22 It is all one; therefore I say, ‘He destroys both the blameless and the wicked.’23 When disaster brings sudden death, he mocks at the calamity3 of the innocent.24 The earth is given into the hand of the wicked; he covers the faces of its judges— if it is not he, who then is it? 25 “My days are swifter than a runner; they flee away; they see no good.26 They go by like skiffs of reed, like an eagle swooping on the prey.27 If I say, ‘I will forget my complaint, I will put off my sad face, and be of good cheer,’28 I become afraid of all my suffering, for I know you will not hold me innocent.29 I shall be condemned; why then do I labor in vain?30 If I wash myself with snow and cleanse my hands with lye,31 yet you will plunge me into a pit, and my own clothes will abhor me.32 For he is not a man, as I am, that I might answer him, that we should come to trial together.33 There is no4 arbiter between us, who might lay his hand on us both.34 Let him take his rod away from me, and let not dread of him terrify me.35 Then I would speak without fear of him, for I am not so in myself. Footnotes [1] 9:15 Or to my judge [2] 9:19 Or who can grant me a hearing? [3] 9:23 The meaning of the Hebrew word is uncertain [4] 9:33 Or Would that there were an (ESV) Romans 13 (Listen) Submission to the Authorities 13 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, 4 for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience. 6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. 7 Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed. Fulfilling the Law Through Love 8 Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. 9 For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. 11 Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. 12 The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13 Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires. (ESV)
With family: Genesis 40; Mark 10 Genesis 40 (Listen) Joseph Interprets Two Prisoners’ Dreams 40 Some time after this, the cupbearer of the king of Egypt and his baker committed an offense against their lord the king of Egypt. 2 And Pharaoh was angry with his two officers, the chief cupbearer and the chief baker, 3 and he put them in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, in the prison where Joseph was confined. 4 The captain of the guard appointed Joseph to be with them, and he attended them. They continued for some time in custody. 5 And one night they both dreamed—the cupbearer and the baker of the king of Egypt, who were confined in the prison—each his own dream, and each dream with its own interpretation. 6 When Joseph came to them in the morning, he saw that they were troubled. 7 So he asked Pharaoh’s officers who were with him in custody in his master’s house, “Why are your faces downcast today?” 8 They said to him, “We have had dreams, and there is no one to interpret them.” And Joseph said to them, “Do not interpretations belong to God? Please tell them to me.” 9 So the chief cupbearer told his dream to Joseph and said to him, “In my dream there was a vine before me, 10 and on the vine there were three branches. As soon as it budded, its blossoms shot forth, and the clusters ripened into grapes. 11 Pharaoh’s cup was in my hand, and I took the grapes and pressed them into Pharaoh’s cup and placed the cup in Pharaoh’s hand.” 12 Then Joseph said to him, “This is its interpretation: the three branches are three days. 13 In three days Pharaoh will lift up your head and restore you to your office, and you shall place Pharaoh’s cup in his hand as formerly, when you were his cupbearer. 14 Only remember me, when it is well with you, and please do me the kindness to mention me to Pharaoh, and so get me out of this house. 15 For I was indeed stolen out of the land of the Hebrews, and here also I have done nothing that they should put me into the pit.” 16 When the chief baker saw that the interpretation was favorable, he said to Joseph, “I also had a dream: there were three cake baskets on my head, 17 and in the uppermost basket there were all sorts of baked food for Pharaoh, but the birds were eating it out of the basket on my head.” 18 And Joseph answered and said, “This is its interpretation: the three baskets are three days. 19 In three days Pharaoh will lift up your head—from you!—and hang you on a tree. And the birds will eat the flesh from you.” 20 On the third day, which was Pharaoh’s birthday, he made a feast for all his servants and lifted up the head of the chief cupbearer and the head of the chief baker among his servants. 21 He restored the chief cupbearer to his position, and he placed the cup in Pharaoh’s hand. 22 But he hanged the chief baker, as Joseph had interpreted to them. 23 Yet the chief cupbearer did not remember Joseph, but forgot him. (ESV) Mark 10 (Listen) Teaching About Divorce 10 And he left there and went to the region of Judea and beyond the Jordan, and crowds gathered to him again. And again, as was his custom, he taught them. 2 And Pharisees came up and in order to test him asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” 3 He answered them, “What did Moses command you?” 4 They said, “Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of divorce and to send her away.” 5 And Jesus said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart he wrote you this commandment. 6 But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’ 7 ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife,1 8 and the two shall become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two but one flesh. 9 What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.” 10 And in the house the disciples asked him again about this matter. 11 And he said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her, 12 and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.” Let the Children Come to Me 13 And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. 14 But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. 15 Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” 16 And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them. The Rich Young Man 17 And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 18 And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. 19 You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’” 20 And he said to him, “Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth.” 21 And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” 22 Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. 23 And Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” 24 And the disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said to them again, “Children, how difficult it is2 to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” 26 And they were exceedingly astonished, and said to him,3 “Then who can be saved?” 27 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.” 28 Peter began to say to him, “See, we have left everything and followed you.” 29 Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, 30 who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life. 31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.” Jesus Foretells His Death a Third Time 32 And they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them. And they were amazed, and those who followed were afraid. And taking the twelve again, he began to tell them what was to happen to him, 33 saying, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death and deliver him over to the Gentiles. 34 And they will mock him and spit on him, and flog him and kill him. And after three days he will rise.” The Request of James and John 35 And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came up to him and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” 36 And he said to them, “What do you want me to do for you?” 37 And they said to him, “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.” 38 Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?” 39 And they said to him, “We are able.” And Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized, 40 but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.” 41 And when the ten heard it, they began to be indignant at James and John. 42 And Jesus called them to him and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 43 But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant,4 44 and whoever would be first among you must be slave5 of all. 45 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Jesus Heals Blind Bartimaeus 46 And they came to Jericho. And as he was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a great crowd, Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the roadside. 47 And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 48 And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 49 And Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” And they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take heart. Get up; he is calling you.” 50 And throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. 51 And Jesus said to him, “What do you want me to do for you?” And the blind man said to him, “Rabbi, let me recover my sight.” 52 And Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him on the way. Footnotes [1] 10:7 Some manuscripts omit and hold fast to his wife [2] 10:24 Some manuscripts add for those who trust in riches [3] 10:26 Some manuscripts to one another [4] 10:43 Greek diakonos [5] 10:44 Or bondservant, or servant (for the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface) (ESV) In private: Job 6; Romans 10 Job 6 (Listen) Job Replies: My Complaint Is Just 6 Then Job answered and said: 2 “Oh that my vexation were weighed, and all my calamity laid in the balances!3 For then it would be heavier than the sand of the sea; therefore my words have been rash.4 For the arrows of the Almighty are in me; my spirit drinks their poison; the terrors of God are arrayed against me.5 Does the wild donkey bray when he has grass, or the ox low over his fodder?6 Can that which is tasteless be eaten without salt, or is there any taste in the juice of the mallow?17 My appetite refuses to touch them; they are as food that is loathsome to me.2 8 “Oh that I might have my request, and that God would fulfill my hope,9 that it would please God to crush me, that he would let loose his hand and cut me off!10 This would be my comfort; I would even exult3 in pain unsparing, for I have not denied the words of the Holy One.11 What is my strength, that I should wait? And what is my end, that I should be patient?12 Is my strength the strength of stones, or is my flesh bronze?13 Have I any help in me, when resource is driven from me? 14 “He who withholds4 kindness from a friend forsakes the fear of the Almighty.15 My brothers are treacherous as a torrent-bed, as torrential streams that pass away,16 which are dark with ice, and where the snow hides itself.17 When they melt, they disappear; when it is hot, they vanish from their place.18 The caravans turn aside from their course; they go up into the waste and perish.19 The caravans of Tema look, the travelers of Sheba hope.20 They are ashamed because they were confident; they come there and are disappointed.21 For you have now become nothing; you see my calamity and are afraid.22 Have I said, ‘Make me a gift’? Or, ‘From your wealth offer a bribe for me’?23 Or, ‘Deliver me from the adversary’s hand’? Or, ‘Redeem me from the hand of the ruthless’? 24 “Teach me, and I will be silent; make me understand how I have gone astray.25 How forceful are upright words! But what does reproof from you reprove?26 Do you think that you can reprove words, when the speech of a despairing man is wind?27 You would even cast lots over the fatherless, and bargain over your friend. 28 “But now, be pleased to look at me, for I will not lie to your face.29 Please turn; let no injustice be done. Turn now; my vindication is at stake.30 Is there any injustice on my tongue? Cannot my palate discern the cause of calamity? Footnotes [1] 6:6 The meaning of the Hebrew word is uncertain [2] 6:7 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain [3] 6:10 The meaning of the Hebrew word is uncertain [4] 6:14 Syriac, Vulgate (compare Targum); the meaning of the Hebrew word is uncertain (ESV) Romans 10 (Listen) 10 Brothers,1 my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. 2 For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. 3 For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. 4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.2 The Message of Salvation to All 5 For Moses writes about the righteousness that is based on the law, that the person who does the commandments shall live by them. 6 But the righteousness based on faith says, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’” (that is, to bring Christ down) 7 “or ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). 8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); 9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. 11 For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. 13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” 14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard?3 And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” 17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. 18 But I ask, have they not heard? Indeed they have, for “Their voice has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world.” 19 But I ask, did Israel not understand? First Moses says, “I will make you jealous of those who are not a nation; with a foolish nation I will make you angry.” 20 Then Isaiah is so bold as to say, “I have been found by those who did not seek me; I have shown myself to those who did not ask for me.” 21 But of Israel he says, “All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people.” Footnotes [1] 10:1 Or Brothers and sisters [2] 10:4 Or end of the law, that everyone who believes may be justified [3] 10:14 Or him whom they have never heard (ESV)
With family: Genesis 34; Mark 5 Genesis 34 (Listen) The Defiling of Dinah 34 Now Dinah the daughter of Leah, whom she had borne to Jacob, went out to see the women of the land. 2 And when Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite, the prince of the land, saw her, he seized her and lay with her and humiliated her. 3 And his soul was drawn to Dinah the daughter of Jacob. He loved the young woman and spoke tenderly to her. 4 So Shechem spoke to his father Hamor, saying, “Get me this girl for my wife.” 5 Now Jacob heard that he had defiled his daughter Dinah. But his sons were with his livestock in the field, so Jacob held his peace until they came. 6 And Hamor the father of Shechem went out to Jacob to speak with him. 7 The sons of Jacob had come in from the field as soon as they heard of it, and the men were indignant and very angry, because he had done an outrageous thing in Israel by lying with Jacob’s daughter, for such a thing must not be done. 8 But Hamor spoke with them, saying, “The soul of my son Shechem longs for your1 daughter. Please give her to him to be his wife. 9 Make marriages with us. Give your daughters to us, and take our daughters for yourselves. 10 You shall dwell with us, and the land shall be open to you. Dwell and trade in it, and get property in it.” 11 Shechem also said to her father and to her brothers, “Let me find favor in your eyes, and whatever you say to me I will give. 12 Ask me for as great a bride-price2 and gift as you will, and I will give whatever you say to me. Only give me the young woman to be my wife.” 13 The sons of Jacob answered Shechem and his father Hamor deceitfully, because he had defiled their sister Dinah. 14 They said to them, “We cannot do this thing, to give our sister to one who is uncircumcised, for that would be a disgrace to us. 15 Only on this condition will we agree with you—that you will become as we are by every male among you being circumcised. 16 Then we will give our daughters to you, and we will take your daughters to ourselves, and we will dwell with you and become one people. 17 But if you will not listen to us and be circumcised, then we will take our daughter, and we will be gone.” 18 Their words pleased Hamor and Hamor’s son Shechem. 19 And the young man did not delay to do the thing, because he delighted in Jacob’s daughter. Now he was the most honored of all his father’s house. 20 So Hamor and his son Shechem came to the gate of their city and spoke to the men of their city, saying, 21 “These men are at peace with us; let them dwell in the land and trade in it, for behold, the land is large enough for them. Let us take their daughters as wives, and let us give them our daughters. 22 Only on this condition will the men agree to dwell with us to become one people—when every male among us is circumcised as they are circumcised. 23 Will not their livestock, their property and all their beasts be ours? Only let us agree with them, and they will dwell with us.” 24 And all who went out of the gate of his city listened to Hamor and his son Shechem, and every male was circumcised, all who went out of the gate of his city. 25 On the third day, when they were sore, two of the sons of Jacob, Simeon and Levi, Dinah’s brothers, took their swords and came against the city while it felt secure and killed all the males. 26 They killed Hamor and his son Shechem with the sword and took Dinah out of Shechem’s house and went away. 27 The sons of Jacob came upon the slain and plundered the city, because they had defiled their sister. 28 They took their flocks and their herds, their donkeys, and whatever was in the city and in the field. 29 All their wealth, all their little ones and their wives, all that was in the houses, they captured and plundered. 30 Then Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, “You have brought trouble on me by making me stink to the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites and the Perizzites. My numbers are few, and if they gather themselves against me and attack me, I shall be destroyed, both I and my household.” 31 But they said, “Should he treat our sister like a prostitute?” Footnotes [1] 34:8 The Hebrew for your is plural here [2] 34:12 Or engagement present (ESV) Mark 5 (Listen) Jesus Heals a Man with a Demon 5 They came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gerasenes.1 2 And when Jesus2 had stepped out of the boat, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit. 3 He lived among the tombs. And no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain, 4 for he had often been bound with shackles and chains, but he wrenched the chains apart, and he broke the shackles in pieces. No one had the strength to subdue him. 5 Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains he was always crying out and cutting himself with stones. 6 And when he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and fell down before him. 7 And crying out with a loud voice, he said, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me.” 8 For he was saying to him, “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!” 9 And Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” He replied, “My name is Legion, for we are many.” 10 And he begged him earnestly not to send them out of the country. 11 Now a great herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside, 12 and they begged him, saying, “Send us to the pigs; let us enter them.” 13 So he gave them permission. And the unclean spirits came out and entered the pigs; and the herd, numbering about two thousand, rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned in the sea. 14 The herdsmen fled and told it in the city and in the country. And people came to see what it was that had happened. 15 And they came to Jesus and saw the demon-possessed3 man, the one who had had the legion, sitting there, clothed and in his right mind, and they were afraid. 16 And those who had seen it described to them what had happened to the demon-possessed man and to the pigs. 17 And they began to beg Jesus4 to depart from their region. 18 As he was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed with demons begged him that he might be with him. 19 And he did not permit him but said to him, “Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” 20 And he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him, and everyone marveled. Jesus Heals a Woman and Jairus’s Daughter 21 And when Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered about him, and he was beside the sea. 22 Then came one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name, and seeing him, he fell at his feet 23 and implored him earnestly, saying, “My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well and live.” 24 And he went with him. And a great crowd followed him and thronged about him. 25 And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, 26 and who had suffered much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better but rather grew worse. 27 She had heard the reports about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his garment. 28 For she said, “If I touch even his garments, I will be made well.” 29 And immediately the flow of blood dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. 30 And Jesus, perceiving in himself that power had gone out from him, immediately turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my garments?” 31 And his disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing around you, and yet you say, ‘Who touched me?’” 32 And he looked around to see who had done it. 33 But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling and fell down before him and told him the whole truth. 34 And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.” 35 While he was still speaking, there came from the ruler’s house some who said, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?” 36 But overhearing5 what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only believe.” 37 And he allowed no one to follow him except Peter and James and John the brother of James. 38 They came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and Jesus6 saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. 39 And when he had entered, he said to them, “Why are you making a commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but sleeping.” 40 And they laughed at him. But he put them all outside and took the child’s father and mother and those who were with him and went in where the child was. 41 Taking her by the hand he said to her, “Talitha cumi,” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.” 42 And immediately the girl got up and began walking (for she was twelve years of age), and they were immediately overcome with amazement. 43 And he strictly charged them that no one should know this, and told them to give her something to eat. Footnotes [1] 5:1 Some manuscripts Gergesenes; some Gadarenes [2] 5:2 Greek he; also verse 9 [3] 5:15 Greek daimonizomai (demonized); also verses 16, 18; elsewhere rendered oppressed by demons [4] 5:17 Greek him [5] 5:36 Or ignoring; some manuscripts hearing [6] 5:38 Greek he (ESV) In private: Job 1; Romans 5 Job 1 (Listen) Job’s Character and Wealth 1 There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job, and that man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil. 2 There were born to him seven sons and three daughters. 3 He possessed 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, and 500 female donkeys, and very many servants, so that this man was the greatest of all the people of the east. 4 His sons used to go and hold a feast in the house of each one on his day, and they would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. 5 And when the days of the feast had run their course, Job would send and consecrate them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, “It may be that my children have sinned, and cursed1 God in their hearts.” Thus Job did continually. Satan Allowed to Test Job 6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan2 also came among them. 7 The LORD said to Satan, “From where have you come?” Satan answered the LORD and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.” 8 And the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?” 9 Then Satan answered the LORD and said, “Does Job fear God for no reason? 10 Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. 11 But stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face.” 12 And the LORD said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand.” So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD. Satan Takes Job’s Property and Children 13 Now there was a day when his sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, 14 and there came a messenger to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding beside them, 15 and the Sabeans fell upon them and took them and struck down the servants3 with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” 16 While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, “The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants and consumed them, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” 17 While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, “The Chaldeans formed three groups and made a raid on the camels and took them and struck down the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” 18 While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, “Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, 19 and behold, a great wind came across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young people, and they are dead, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” 20 Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped. 21 And he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.” 22 In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong. Footnotes [1] 1:5 The Hebrew word bless is used euphemistically for curse in 1:5, 11; 2:5, 9 [2] 1:6 Hebrew the Accuser or the Adversary; so throughout chapters 1–2 [3] 1:15 Hebrew the young men; also verses 16, 17 (ESV) Romans 5 (Listen) Peace with God Through Faith 5 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we1 have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith2 into this grace in which we stand, and we3 rejoice4 in hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. 6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die—8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. 11 More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. Death in Adam, Life in Christ 12 Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men5 because all sinned—13 for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. 14 Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come. 15 But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man’s trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. 16 And the free gift is not like the result of that one man’s sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification. 17 For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ. 18 Therefore, as one trespass6 led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness7 leads to justification and life for all men. 19 For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous. 20 Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, 21 so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Footnotes [1] 5:1 Some manuscripts let us [2] 5:2 Some manuscripts omit by faith [3] 5:2 Or let us; also verse 3 [4] 5:2 Or boast; also verses 3, 11 [5] 5:12 The Greek word anthropoi refers here to both men and women; also twice in verse 18 [6] 5:18 Or the trespass of one [7] 5:18 Or the act of righteousness of one (ESV)
Job 9:1-2 "Then Job answered and said, I know it is so of a truth: but how should man be just with God?"This sermon from Pastor J.D. Montieth highlights the most foundational and important lessons in life from the oldest book in the Bible, the Book of Job. This sermon, the sixth in the series on the Book of Job, Job and His Three Friends: Job's Response to Bildad, chronicles Job's response to the second of Job's three friends, Bildad the Shuhite: "In Job’s words is the very attribute God praised him for—a very deep and profound fear of the Lord—but at the same time, he makes a great accusation against Him. Job loved, praised, and honored the Lord, but he knew little about himself and the self-righteousness that filled his heart. Job also did not know how any man, including himself, could be found just before God, a topic also that must be directly addressed before we finish this study. To a godly man, there is no question in life more important than this one."Though Job was not aware of how to be just before God, he was aware that hardening himself against the Lord was not the answer, because no one, not even one person, has ever hardened themselves against God and won. To harden one’s heart is to make oneself insensible to sin. It is to close the ears so truth can no longer be heard. The result of this is always calamity and further brokenness. Resisting the Lord only brings tragedy to those foolish enough to oppose God’s will. Pharaoh proved this, but he is just one of many who have suffered the awful consequences of hardening the heart against the Lord. The religious leaders in Christ’s day also hardened themselves against Christ, and as a result, they crucified the very One sent to save them. Bent on rebellion, a man with a hard heart will shut out all other voices, especially God’s, to do what he wants. This teaches us that the base of all hardening of the heart is the stubbornness to do one’s own will."It is true that men need an arbiter, and Jesus Christ is just that for the sinner. In Him, forgiveness is found, but it can never be found in ourselves. The Lord Jesus is man’s Advocate with God, and to stand righteous before God, all men need Him. To understand this is to begin to move towards receiving God’s salvation. For men to stand righteous before the Lord, a mediator is needed to intercede on their behalf. Since Jesus is the Mediator between God and man, if a man wants to stand righteous before God, then Christ must stand with him. In Christ, men can be made righteous, whereas, through themselves, they can never be."This sermon was preached live at Castle Grace in the At the Mouth of Two or Three Witnesses Series. Other sections of Scriptures highlighted in this sermon: Job 9:1-35.Broadcast live from Castle Grace 01/24/2021
French courts refuse to admit woman is alive; Historian points out dogmatic blind spots of scientists in the past without considering dogmatic blind spots of scientists in the present; British education minister punishes private Jewish school for teaching creation over evolution; Evolutionists try to overcome polymerization problems with warm-water pool hypothesis; Fewer pastors think congregations welcome sermons about racial reconciliation . . . and other articles reviewed in this February 1, 2021, broadcast of Answers News. - - - - - - - - - - - Then Job answered and said: “Truly I know that it is so: But how can a man be in the right before God? If one wished to contend with Him, one could not answer Him once in a thousand times. He is wise in heart and mighty in strength —who has hardened himself against Him, and succeeded?— He who removes mountains, and they know it not, when He overturns them in his anger, - - - - - - - - - - - Job 9:1-5 Articles: Lady declared dead three years ago can't convince courts she is alive https://notthebee.com/article/this-poor-lady-was-declared-dead-three-years-ago-and-cannot-get-the-courts-to-overturn-the-decision-despite-being-very-clearly-alive How the Earth-shaking theory of plate tectonics was born https://www.sciencenews.org/article/earth-plate-tectonics-volcanoes-earthquakes-faults Jewish private school hit by government action for teaching creationism in science https://inews.co.uk/news/education/jewish-private-school-government-action-creationism-831496 First life could have evolved on ancient islands https://www.livescience.com/ancient-island-life.html Pastors More Hesitant to Preach on Race https://lifewayresearch.com/2021/01/12/pastors-more-hesitant-to-preach-on-race/ “Antiracism” Comes to the Heartland https://www.discovery.org/a/antiracism-comes-to-the-heartland/ Can science ‘prove' there's an afterlife? Netflix documentary says yes https://www.livescience.com/netflix-surviving-death.html How do scientists figure out how old things are? https://www.livescience.com/scientists-dating-methods.html - - - - - - - - - - - Photo by Buzz Andersen https://unsplash.com/photos/E4944K_4SvI --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/answerstv/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/answerstv/support
In the late 19th century and early 20th century, Rudyard Kipling was England's most popular writer. The news got out that his publishers paid him $1 for each word that he wrote and published. Some Cambridge students heard about this and sent him $2 with a note that said, “Please send us two of your very best words.” Kipling sent a note back with two words, “thank you.”These really are two of the most powerful words. Can you today, in the midst of your present circumstances say, “Thank you, God, for another day?” “Thank you God, for my life.”One of the most interesting stories in the Bible is that of a man named Job. When we first meet him in the Bible, he is a fabulously wealthy and successful man with a large, loving family. He enjoyed the respect of his peers and his family. Most of us would say – Job was a man truly blessed by God.In this story, the Bible tells us that Satan saw Job as a fair weather friend. He challenged God to a contest and Job was going to be the guinea pig. Satan suggested that the only reason Job served and loved God was because of the blessings. He claimed that if God allowed the blessings to be taken away that Job would reveal his true heart and curse God.God allowed Satan to test Job, but told him not to touch the man himself. With the ground rules in place, the test of Job's lifetime began. Four times in one day Job heard bad news.•Oxen and servants were gone•Sheep and servants were gone•Camels and servants were gone•All of this children – seven sons and three daughters – died in a freak accident of nature.Job lost his entire fortune (his business) and his ten children all in one afternoon. We cannot imagine this.But then Job did something totally weird by today's standards. The bible says in Job 1:20 – “At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship.”I don't find the first two things Job did as all that odd. It was the custom in Job's day to show grief like this, and Job was no different.What strikes me as odd is his attitude. He fell to the ground, not in an attitude of anger or bitterness or even hatred, but of worship. Doesn't that seem like an odd response to the loss of everything you had worked a lifetime to accumulate? But that's what he did – he bowed low and worshipped God.Then Job says something that God knew and Satan was eager to find out. In Job 1:21-22, Job says, “Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised." In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.”I don't want you to miss the cry of Job's heart. His confession in the midst of loss proved Satan to be what he has always been: a liar. Job actually loved God! He loved God for who he is and not just for what he gave.Job knew that everything he had was on loan from God. He never adopted an owner's mentality. He knew that the gifts of God, could never take the place of God.Job suffered through his loss – he mourned his family, but he knew he was loved by God and that God was still in control. What a difference it makes when you and I can remain grateful even during the hard times. Gratitude focuses our attention on what we do have, instead of what we don't have. Being thankful makes a major impact on our attitude, or conversation, and our relationships.Today's Challenge: Determine today that no matter what is happing around you that you will be grateful. Express your thanks to God, sing songs of worship, let someone know you are thankful. It will change your entire day.
Psalms and Wisdom: Psalm 150 Psalm 150 (Listen) Let Everything Praise the Lord 150 Praise the LORD! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens!12 Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise him according to his excellent greatness! 3 Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp!4 Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and pipe!5 Praise him with sounding cymbals; praise him with loud clashing cymbals!6 Let everything that has breath praise the LORD! Praise the LORD! Footnotes [1] 150:1 Hebrew expanse (compare Genesis 1:6–8) (ESV) Pentateuch and History: Job 40:6–42:6 Job 40:6–42:6 (Listen) The Lord Challenges Job 6 Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind and said: 7 “Dress for action1 like a man; I will question you, and you make it known to me.8 Will you even put me in the wrong? Will you condemn me that you may be in the right?9 Have you an arm like God, and can you thunder with a voice like his? 10 “Adorn yourself with majesty and dignity; clothe yourself with glory and splendor.11 Pour out the overflowings of your anger, and look on everyone who is proud and abase him.12 Look on everyone who is proud and bring him low and tread down the wicked where they stand.13 Hide them all in the dust together; bind their faces in the world below.214 Then will I also acknowledge to you that your own right hand can save you. 15 “Behold, Behemoth,3 which I made as I made you; he eats grass like an ox.16 Behold, his strength in his loins, and his power in the muscles of his belly.17 He makes his tail stiff like a cedar; the sinews of his thighs are knit together.18 His bones are tubes of bronze, his limbs like bars of iron. 19 “He is the first of the works4 of God; let him who made him bring near his sword!20 For the mountains yield food for him where all the wild beasts play.21 Under the lotus plants he lies, in the shelter of the reeds and in the marsh.22 For his shade the lotus trees cover him; the willows of the brook surround him.23 Behold, if the river is turbulent he is not frightened; he is confident though Jordan rushes against his mouth.24 Can one take him by his eyes,5 or pierce his nose with a snare? 41 6 “Can you draw out Leviathan7 with a fishhook or press down his tongue with a cord?2 Can you put a rope in his nose or pierce his jaw with a hook?3 Will he make many pleas to you? Will he speak to you soft words?4 Will he make a covenant with you to take him for your servant forever?5 Will you play with him as with a bird, or will you put him on a leash for your girls?6 Will traders bargain over him? Will they divide him up among the merchants?7 Can you fill his skin with harpoons or his head with fishing spears?8 Lay your hands on him; remember the battle—you will not do it again!9 8 Behold, the hope of a man is false; he is laid low even at the sight of him.10 No one is so fierce that he dares to stir him up. Who then is he who can stand before me?11 Who has first given to me, that I should repay him? Whatever is under the whole heaven is mine. 12 “I will not keep silence concerning his limbs, or his mighty strength, or his goodly frame.13 Who can strip off his outer garment? Who would come near him with a bridle?14 Who can open the doors of his face? Around his teeth is terror.15 His back is made of9 rows of shields, shut up closely as with a seal.16 One is so near to another that no air can come between them.17 They are joined one to another; they clasp each other and cannot be separated.18 His sneezings flash forth light, and his eyes are like the eyelids of the dawn.19 Out of his mouth go flaming torches; sparks of fire leap forth.20 Out of his nostrils comes forth smoke, as from a boiling pot and burning rushes.21 His breath kindles coals, and a flame comes forth from his mouth.22 In his neck abides strength, and terror dances before him.23 The folds of his flesh stick together, firmly cast on him and immovable.24 His heart is hard as a stone, hard as the lower millstone.25 When he raises himself up, the mighty10 are afraid; at the crashing they are beside themselves.26 Though the sword reaches him, it does not avail, nor the spear, the dart, or the javelin.27 He counts iron as straw, and bronze as rotten wood.28 The arrow cannot make him flee; for him, sling stones are turned to stubble.29 Clubs are counted as stubble; he laughs at the rattle of javelins.30 His underparts are like sharp potsherds; he spreads himself like a threshing sledge on the mire.31 He makes the deep boil like a pot; he makes the sea like a pot of ointment.32 Behind him he leaves a shining wake; one would think the deep to be white-haired.33 On earth there is not his like, a creature without fear.34 He sees everything that is high; he is king over all the sons of pride.” Job’s Confession and Repentance 42 Then Job answered the LORD and said: 2 “I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.3 ‘Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’ Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.4 ‘Hear, and I will speak; I will question you, and you make it known to me.’5 I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you;6 therefore I despise myself, and repent11 in dust and ashes.” Footnotes [1] 40:7 Hebrew Gird up your loins [2] 40:13 Hebrew in the hidden place [3] 40:15 A large animal, exact identity unknown [4] 40:19 Hebrew ways [5] 40:24 Or in his sight [6] 41:1 Ch 40:25 in Hebrew [7] 41:1 A large sea animal, exact identity unknown [8] 41:9 Ch 41:1 in Hebrew [9] 41:15 Or His pride is in his [10] 41:25 Or gods [11] 42:6 Or and am comforted (ESV) Chronicles and Prophets: Isaiah 65 Isaiah 65 (Listen) Judgment and Salvation 65 I was ready to be sought by those who did not ask for me; I was ready to be found by those who did not seek me. I said, “Here I am, here I am,” to a nation that was not called by1 my name.2 I spread out my hands all the day to a rebellious people, who walk in a way that is not good, following their own devices;3 a people who provoke me to my face continually, sacrificing in gardens and making offerings on bricks;4 who sit in tombs, and spend the night in secret places; who eat pig’s flesh, and broth of tainted meat is in their vessels;5 who say, “Keep to yourself, do not come near me, for I am too holy for you.” These are a smoke in my nostrils, a fire that burns all the day.6 Behold, it is written before me: “I will not keep silent, but I will repay; I will indeed repay into their lap7 both your iniquities and your fathers’ iniquities together, says the LORD; because they made offerings on the mountains and insulted me on the hills, I will measure into their lap payment for their former deeds.”2 8 Thus says the LORD: “As the new wine is found in the cluster, and they say, ‘Do not destroy it, for there is a blessing in it,’ so I will do for my servants’ sake, and not destroy them all.9 I will bring forth offspring from Jacob, and from Judah possessors of my mountains; my chosen shall possess it, and my servants shall dwell there.10 Sharon shall become a pasture for flocks, and the Valley of Achor a place for herds to lie down, for my people who have sought me.11 But you who forsake the LORD, who forget my holy mountain, who set a table for Fortune and fill cups of mixed wine for Destiny,12 I will destine you to the sword, and all of you shall bow down to the slaughter, because, when I called, you did not answer; when I spoke, you did not listen, but you did what was evil in my eyes and chose what I did not delight in.” 13 Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: “Behold, my servants shall eat, but you shall be hungry; behold, my servants shall drink, but you shall be thirsty; behold, my servants shall rejoice, but you shall be put to shame;14 behold, my servants shall sing for gladness of heart, but you shall cry out for pain of heart and shall wail for breaking of spirit.15 You shall leave your name to my chosen for a curse, and the Lord GOD will put you to death, but his servants he will call by another name,16 so that he who blesses himself in the land shall bless himself by the God of truth, and he who takes an oath in the land shall swear by the God of truth; because the former troubles are forgotten and are hidden from my eyes. New Heavens and a New Earth 17 “For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind.18 But be glad and rejoice forever in that which I create; for behold, I create Jerusalem to be a joy, and her people to be a gladness.19 I will rejoice in Jerusalem and be glad in my people; no more shall be heard in it the sound of weeping and the cry of distress.20 No more shall there be in it an infant who lives but a few days, or an old man who does not fill out his days, for the young man shall die a hundred years old, and the sinner a hundred years old shall be accursed.21 They shall build houses and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit.22 They shall not build and another inhabit; they shall not plant and another eat; for like the days of a tree shall the days of my people be, and my chosen shall long enjoy3 the work of their hands.23 They shall not labor in vain or bear children for calamity,4 for they shall be the offspring of the blessed of the LORD, and their descendants with them.24 Before they call I will answer; while they are yet speaking I will hear.25 The wolf and the lamb shall graze together; the lion shall eat straw like the ox, and dust shall be the serpent’s food. They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain,” says the LORD.&l