JOB 33

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Elihu Claims to Speak for God33:1 “However now, Job, please hear my speech,

And listen to all my words.

2 “Behold now, I open my mouth,

My tongue in my mouth speaks.

3 “My words are from the uprightness of my heart,

And my lips speak knowledge sincerely.

4 “The Spirit of God has made me,

And the breath of the Almighty gives me life.

5 “Refute me if you can;

Array yourselves before me, take your stand.

6 “Behold, I belong to God like you;

I too have been formed out of the clay.

7 “Behold, no fear of me should terrify you,

Nor should my pressure weigh heavily on you.

8 “Surely you have spoken in my hearing,

And I have heard the sound of your words:

9 ‘I am pure, without transgression;

I am innocent and there is no guilt in me.

10 ‘Behold, He invents pretexts against me;

He counts me as His enemy.

11 ‘He puts my feet in the stocks;

He watches all my paths.’

12 “Behold, let me tell you, you are not right in this,

For God is greater than man.

13 “Why do you complain against Him

That He does not give an account of all His doings?

14 “Indeed God speaks once,

Or twice, yet no one notices it.

15 “In a dream, a vision of the night,

When sound sleep falls on men,

While they slumber in their beds,

16 Then He opens the ears of men,

And seals their instruction,

17 That He may turn man aside from his conduct,

And keep man from pride;

18 He keeps back his soul from the pit,

And his life from passing over into Sheol.

19 “Man is also chastened with pain on his bed,

And with unceasing complaint in his bones;

20 So that his life loathes bread,

And his soul favorite food.

21 “His flesh wastes away from sight,

And his bones which were not seen stick out.

22 “Then his soul draws near to the pit,

And his life to those who bring death.

23 “If there is an angel as mediator for him,

One out of a thousand,

To remind a man what is right for him,

24 Then let him be gracious to him, and say,

‘Deliver him from going down to the pit,

I have found a ransom’;

25 Let his flesh become fresher than in youth,

Let him return to the days of his youthful vigor;

26 Then he will pray to God, and He will accept him,

That he may see His face with joy,

And He may restore His righteousness to man.

27 “He will sing to men and say,

‘I have sinned and perverted what is right,

And it is not proper for me.

28 ‘He has redeemed my soul from going to the pit,

And my life shall see the light.’

29 “Behold, God does all these oftentimes with men,

30 To bring back his soul from the pit,

That he may be enlightened with the light of life.

31 “Pay attention, O Job, listen to me;

Keep silent, and let me speak.

32 “Then if you have anything to say, answer me;

Speak, for I desire to justify you.

33 “If not, listen to me;

Keep silent, and I will teach you wisdom.”

JOB 34

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Elihu Vindicates God’s Justice  34:1 Then Elihu continued and said,

2 “Hear my words, you wise men,

And listen to me, you who know.

3 “For the ear tests words

As the palate tastes food.

4 “Let us choose for ourselves what is right;

Let us know among ourselves what is good.

5 “For Job has said, ‘I am righteous,

But God has taken away my right;

6 Should I lie concerning my right?

My wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.’

7 “What man is like Job,

Who drinks up derision like water,

8 Who goes in company with the workers of iniquity,

And walks with wicked men?

9 “For he has said, ‘It profits a man nothing

When he is pleased with God.’

10 “Therefore, listen to me, you men of understanding.

Far be it from God to do wickedness,

And from the Almighty to do wrong.

11 “For He pays a man according to his work,

And makes him find it according to his way.

12 “Surely, God will not act wickedly,

And the Almighty will not pervert justice.

13 “Who gave Him authority over the earth?

And who has laid on Him the whole world?

14 “If He should determine to do so,

If He should gather to Himself His spirit and His breath,

15 All flesh would perish together,

And man would return to dust.

16 “But if you have understanding, hear this;

Listen to the sound of my words.

17 “Shall one who hates justice rule?

And will you condemn the righteous mighty One,

18 Who says to a king, ‘Worthless one,’

To nobles, ‘Wicked ones’;

19 Who shows no partiality to princes

Nor regards the rich above the poor,

For they all are the work of His hands?

20 “In a moment they die, and at midnight

People are shaken and pass away,

And the mighty are taken away without a hand.

21 “For His eyes are upon the ways of a man,

And He sees all his steps.

22 “There is no darkness or deep shadow

Where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.

23 “For He does not need to consider a man further,

That he should go before God in judgment.

24 “He breaks in pieces mighty men without inquiry,

And sets others in their place.

25 “Therefore He knows their works,

And He overthrows them in the night,

And they are crushed.

26 “He strikes them like the wicked

In a public place,

27 Because they turned aside from following Him,

And had no regard for any of His ways;

28 So that they caused the cry of the poor to come to Him,

And that He might hear the cry of the afflicted--

29 When He keeps quiet, who then can condemn?

And when He hides His face, who then can behold Him,

That is, in regard to both nation and man?--

30 So that godless men would not rule

Nor be snares of the people.

31 “For has anyone said to God,

‘I have borne chastisement;

I will not offend anymore;

32 Teach me what I do not see;

If I have done iniquity,

I will not do it again’?

33 “Shall He recompense on your terms, because you have rejected it?

For you must choose, and not I;

Therefore declare what you know.

34 “Men of understanding will say to me,

And a wise man who hears me,

35 ‘Job speaks without knowledge,

And his words are without wisdom.

36 ‘Job ought to be tried to the limit,

Because he answers like wicked men.

37 ‘For he adds rebellion to his sin;

He claps his hands among us,

And multiplies his words against God.’”

PROVERBS 21

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On Life and Conduct21:1 The king’s heart is like channels of water in the hand of the LORD;

He turns it wherever He wishes.

2 Every man’s way is right in his own eyes,

But the LORD weighs the hearts.

3 To do righteousness and justice

Is desired by the LORD more than sacrifice.

4 Haughty eyes and a proud heart,

The lamp of the wicked, is sin.

5 The plans of the diligent lead surely to advantage,

But everyone who is hasty comes surely to poverty.

6 The acquisition of treasures by a lying tongue

Is a fleeting vapor, the pursuit of death.

7 The violence of the wicked will drag them away,

Because they refuse to act with justice.

8 The way of a guilty man is crooked,

But as for the pure, his conduct is upright.

9 It is better to live in a corner of a roof

Than in a house shared with a contentious woman.

10 The soul of the wicked desires evil;

His neighbor finds no favor in his eyes.

11 When the scoffer is punished, the naive becomes wise;

But when the wise is instructed, he receives knowledge.

12 The righteous one considers the house of the wicked,

Turning the wicked to ruin.

13 He who shuts his ear to the cry of the poor

Will also cry himself and not be answered.

14 A gift in secret subdues anger,

And a bribe in the bosom, strong wrath.

15 The exercise of justice is joy for the righteous,

But is terror to the workers of iniquity.

16 A man who wanders from the way of understanding

Will rest in the assembly of the dead.

17 He who loves pleasure will become a poor man;

He who loves wine and oil will not become rich.

18 The wicked is a ransom for the righteous,

And the treacherous is in the place of the upright.

19 It is better to live in a desert land

Than with a contentious and vexing woman.

20 There is precious treasure and oil in the dwelling of the wise,

But a foolish man swallows it up.

21 He who pursues righteousness and loyalty

Finds life, righteousness and honor.

22 A wise man scales the city of the mighty

And brings down the stronghold in which they trust.

23 He who guards his mouth and his tongue,

Guards his soul from troubles.

24 “Proud,” “Haughty,” “Scoffer,” are his names,

Who acts with insolent pride.

25 The desire of the sluggard puts him to death,

For his hands refuse to work;

26 All day long he is craving,

While the righteous gives and does not hold back.

27 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination,

How much more when he brings it with evil intent!

28 A false witness will perish,

But the man who listens to the truth will speak forever.

29 A wicked man displays a bold face,

But as for the upright, he makes his way sure.

30 There is no wisdom and no understanding

And no counsel against the LORD.

31 The horse is prepared for the day of battle,

But victory belongs to the LORD.

LUKE 23

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Jesus before Pilate  23:1 Then the whole body of them got up and brought Him before Pilate. 2 And they began to accuse Him, saying, “We found this man misleading our nation and forbidding to pay taxes to Caesar, and saying that He Himself is Christ, a King.” 3 So Pilate asked Him, saying, “Are You the King of the Jews?” And He answered him and said, “It is as you say.” 4 Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no guilt in this man.” 5 But they kept on insisting, saying, “He stirs up the people, teaching all over Judea, starting from Galilee even as far as this place.”
    6 When Pilate heard it, he asked whether the man was a Galilean. 7 And when he learned that He belonged to Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent Him to Herod, who himself also was in Jerusalem at that time.
Jesus before Herod    8 Now Herod was very glad when he saw Jesus; for he had wanted to see Him for a long time, because he had been hearing about Him and was hoping to see some sign performed by Him. 9 And he questioned Him at some length; but He answered him nothing. 10 And the chief priests and the scribes were standing there, accusing Him vehemently. 11 And Herod with his soldiers, after treating Him with contempt and mocking Him, dressed Him in a gorgeous robe and sent Him back to Pilate. 12 Now Herod and Pilate became friends with one another that very day; for before they had been enemies with each other.
Pilate Seeks Jesus’ Release    13 Pilate summoned the chief priests and the rulers and the people, 14 and said to them, “You brought this man to me as one who incites the people to rebellion, and behold, having examined Him before you, I have found no guilt in this man regarding the charges which you make against Him. 15 No, nor has Herod, for he sent Him back to us; and behold, nothing deserving death has been done by Him. 16 Therefore I will punish Him and release Him.” 17 [Now he was obliged to release to them at the feast one prisoner.]
    18 But they cried out all together, saying, “Away with this man, and release for us Barabbas!” 19 (He was one who had been thrown into prison for an insurrection made in the city, and for murder.) 20 Pilate, wanting to release Jesus, addressed them again, 21 but they kept on calling out, saying, “Crucify, crucify Him!” 22 And he said to them the third time, “Why, what evil has this man done? I have found in Him no guilt demanding death; therefore I will punish Him and release Him.” 23 But they were insistent, with loud voices asking that He be crucified. And their voices began to prevail. 24 And Pilate pronounced sentence that their demand be granted. 25 And he released the man they were asking for who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, but he delivered Jesus to their will.
Simon Bears the Cross    26 When they led Him away, they seized a man, Simon of Cyrene, coming in from the country, and placed on him the cross to carry behind Jesus.
    27 And following Him was a large crowd of the people, and of women who were mourning and lamenting Him. 28 But Jesus turning to them said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, stop weeping for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. 29 For behold, the days are coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed.’ 30 Then they will begin TO SAY TO THE MOUNTAINS, ‘FALL ON US,’ AND TO THE HILLS, ‘COVER US.’ 31 For if they do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?”
    32 Two others also, who were criminals, were being led away to be put to death with Him.
The Crucifixion    33 When they came to the place called The Skull, there they crucified Him and the criminals, one on the right and the other on the left. 34 But Jesus was saying, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” And they cast lots, dividing up His garments among themselves. 35 And the people stood by, looking on. And even the rulers were sneering at Him, saying, “He saved others; let Him save Himself if this is the Christ of God, His Chosen One.” 36 The soldiers also mocked Him, coming up to Him, offering Him sour wine, 37 and saying, “If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself!” 38 Now there was also an inscription above Him, “THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.”
    39 One of the criminals who were hanged there was hurling abuse at Him, saying, “Are You not the Christ? Save Yourself and us!” 40 But the other answered, and rebuking him said, “Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41 And we indeed are suffering justly, for we are receiving what we deserve for our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 And he was saying, “Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom!” 43 And He said to him, “Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise.”
    44 It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness fell over the whole land until the ninth hour, 45 because the sun was obscured; and the veil of the temple was torn in two. 46 And Jesus, crying out with a loud voice, said, “Father, INTO YOUR HANDS I COMMIT MY SPIRIT.” Having said this, He breathed His last. 47 Now when the centurion saw what had happened, he began praising God, saying, “Certainly this man was innocent.” 48 And all the crowds who came together for this spectacle, when they observed what had happened, began to return, beating their breasts. 49 And all His acquaintances and the women who accompanied Him from Galilee were standing at a distance, seeing these things.
Jesus Is Buried    50 And a man named Joseph, who was a member of the Council, a good and righteous man 51 (he had not consented to their plan and action), a man from Arimathea, a city of the Jews, who was waiting for the kingdom of God; 52 this man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. 53 And he took it down and wrapped it in a linen cloth, and laid Him in a tomb cut into the rock, where no one had ever lain. 54 It was the preparation day, and the Sabbath was about to begin. 55 Now the women who had come with Him out of Galilee followed, and saw the tomb and how His body was laid. 56 Then they returned and prepared spices and perfumes.
    And on the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment.