Bible Readings for August 31, 2013

Today our passages are Job 37:1–39:30; 2 Corinthians 4:13–5:10; Psalm 44:9-26; and Proverbs 22:13. The readings are the Contemporary English Version.

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Job 37-39:30 (Contemporary English Version)

Job 37

Elihu Continues

I Am Frightened

 ¹I am frightened    and tremble all over,
    ²when I hear the roaring voice
   of God in the thunder,
    ³and when I see his lightning
   flash across the sky.
    ⁴God's majestic voice
   thunders his commands, ^[a] ⁵creating miracles too marvelous
   for us to understand.
    ⁶Snow and heavy rainstorms
    ⁷make us stop and think
   about God's power,
    ⁸and they force animals
   to seek shelter.
    ⁹The windstorms of winter strike,
    ¹⁰and the breath of God
   freezes streams and rivers.
    ¹¹Rain clouds filled with lightning
   appear at God's command,
    ¹²traveling across the sky
    ¹³to release their cargo--
   sometimes as punishment for sin,
   sometimes as kindness.
   

Consider Carefully

 ¹⁴Job, consider carefully    the many wonders of God.
    ¹⁵Can you explain why lightning
   flashes
   at the orders
    ¹⁶of God who knows all things?
   Or how he hangs the clouds
   in empty space?
    ¹⁷You almost melt in the heat
   of fierce desert winds
   when the sky is like brass.
    ¹⁸God can spread out the clouds
   to get relief from the heat,
   but can you?
    ¹⁹Tell us what to say to God!
   Our minds are in the dark,
   and we don't know how
   to argue our case.
    ²⁰Should I risk my life
   by telling God
   that I want to speak?
    ²¹No one can stare at the sun
   after a breeze has blown
   the clouds from the sky.
    ²²Yet the glorious splendor
   of God All-Powerful
   is brighter by far.
    ²³God cannot be seen--
   but his power is great,
   and he is always fair.
    ²⁴And so we humans fear God,
   because he shows no respect
   for those who are proud
   and think they know so much.
   

Job 38

The LORD Speaks

From Out of a Storm

 ¹From out of a storm,    the LORD said to Job:
    ²Why do you talk so much
   when you know so little?
    ³Now get ready to face me!
   Can you answer
   the questions I ask?
    ⁴How did I lay the foundation
   for the earth?
   Were you there?
    ⁵Doubtless you know who decided
   its length and width.
    ⁶What supports the foundation?
   Who placed the cornerstone,
    ⁷while morning stars sang,
   and angels rejoiced?
    ⁸When the ocean was born,
   I set its boundaries
    ⁹and wrapped it in blankets
   of thickest fog.
    ¹⁰Then I built a wall around it,
   locked the gates, ¹¹and said,
   "Your powerful waves stop here!
   They can go no farther."
   

Did You Ever Tell the Sun To Rise?

 ¹²Did you ever tell the sun to rise?    And did it obey?
    ¹³Did it take hold of the earth
   and shake out the wicked
   like dust from a rug?
    ¹⁴Early dawn outlines the hills
   like stitches on clothing
   or sketches on clay.
    ¹⁵But its light is too much
   for those who are evil,
   and their power is broken.
    ¹⁶Job, have you ever walked
   on the ocean floor?
    ¹⁷Have you seen the gate
   to the world of the dead?
    ¹⁸And how large is the earth?
   Tell me, if you know!
    ¹⁹Where is the home of light,
   and where does darkness live?
    ²⁰Can you lead them home?
    ²¹I'm certain you must be able to,
   since you were already born
   when I created everything.
    ²²Have you been to the places
   where I keep snow and hail,
    ²³until I use them to punish
   and conquer nations?
    ²⁴From where does lightning leap,
   or the east wind blow?
    ²⁵Who carves out a path
   for thunderstorms?
   Who sends torrents of rain
    ²⁶on empty deserts
   where no one lives?
    ²⁷Rain that changes barren land
   to meadows green with grass.
    ²⁸Who is the father of the dew
   and of the rain?
    ²⁹Who gives birth to the sleet
   and the frost
    ³⁰that fall in winter,
   when streams and lakes
   freeze solid as a rock?
   

Can You Arrange Stars?

 ³¹Can you arrange stars in groups    such as Orion
   and the Pleiades?
    ³²Do you control the stars
   or set in place the Big Dipper
   and the Little Dipper?
    ³³Do you know the laws
   that govern the heavens,
   and can you make them rule
   the earth?
    ³⁴Can you order the clouds
   to send a downpour,
    ³⁵or will lightning flash
   at your command?
    ³⁶Did you teach birds to know
   that rain or floods
   are on their way? ^[b] ³⁷Can you count the clouds
   or pour out their water
    ³⁸on the dry, lumpy soil?
    ³⁹When lions are hungry,
   do you help them hunt?
    ⁴⁰Do you send an animal
   into their den?
    ⁴¹And when starving young ravens
   cry out to me for food,
   do you satisfy their hunger?
   

Job 39

The LORD Continues

When Do Mountain Goats Give Birth?

 ¹When do mountain goats    and deer give birth?
   Have you been there
   when their young are born?
    ²How long are they pregnant
    ³before they deliver?
    ⁴Soon their young grow strong
   and then leave
   to be on their own.
    ⁵Who set wild donkeys free?
    ⁶I alone help them survive
   in salty desert sand.
    ⁷They stay far from crowded cities
   and refuse to be tamed.
    ⁸Instead, they roam the hills,
   searching for pastureland.
    ⁹Would a wild ox agree
   to live in your barn
   and labor for you?
    ¹⁰Could you force him to plow
   or to drag a heavy log
   to smooth out the soil?
    ¹¹Can you depend on him
   to use his great strength
   and do your heavy work?
    ¹²Can you trust him
   to harvest your grain
   or take it to your barn
   from the threshing place?
   

An Ostrich Proudly Flaps Her Wings

 ¹³An ostrich proudly    flaps her wings,
   but not because
   she loves her young.
    ¹⁴She abandons her eggs
   and lets the dusty ground
   keep them warm.
    ¹⁵And she doesn't seem to worry
   that the feet of an animal
   could crush them all.
    ¹⁶She treats her eggs as though
   they were not her own,
   unconcerned that her work
   might be for nothing.
    ¹⁷I myself made her foolish
   and without common sense.
    ¹⁸But once she starts running, ^[c] she laughs at a rider
   on the fastest horse.
   

Did You Give Horses Their Strength?

 ¹⁹Did you give horses their strength    and the flowing hair
   along their necks?
    ²⁰Did you make them able
   to jump like grasshoppers
   or to frighten people
   with their snorting?
    ²¹Before horses are ridden
   into battle,
   they paw at the ground,
   proud of their strength.
    ²²Laughing at fear, they rush
   toward the fighting,
    ²³while the weapons of their riders
   rattle and flash in the sun.
    ²⁴Unable to stand still,
   they gallop eagerly into battle
   when trumpets blast.
    ²⁵Stirred by the distant smells
   and sounds of war,
   they snort
   in reply to the trumpet.
    ²⁶Did you teach hawks to fly south
   for the winter?
    ²⁷Did you train eagles ^[d] to build ²⁸their nests on rocky cliffs,
    ²⁹where they can look down
   to spot their next meal?
    ³⁰Then their young gather to feast
   wherever the victim lies.
   

Footnotes:

1. Job 37:4 commands: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text of verse 4.
2. Job 38:36 way: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text of verse 36.
3. Job 39:18 starts running: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
4. Job 39:27 eagles: Or "vultures."

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2 Corinthians 4:13-5:10 (Contemporary English Version)

¹³In the Scriptures it says, "I spoke because I had faith." We have that same kind of faith. So we speak ¹⁴because we know that God raised the Lord Jesus to life. And just as God raised Jesus, he will also raise us to life. Then he will bring us into his presence together with you. ¹⁵All of this has been done for you, so that more and more people will know how kind God is and will praise and honor him.
   

Faith in the Lord

 ¹⁶We never give up. Our bodies are gradually dying, but we ourselves are being made stronger each day. ¹⁷These little troubles are getting us ready for an eternal glory that will make all our troubles seem like nothing. ¹⁸Things that are seen don't last forever, but things that are not seen are eternal. That's why we keep our minds on the things that cannot be seen.    

2 Corinthians 5

 ¹Our bodies are like tents that we live in here on earth. But when these tents are destroyed, we know that God will give each of us a place to live. These homes will not be buildings that someone has made, but they are in heaven and will last forever. ²While we are here on earth, we sigh because we want to live in that heavenly home. ³We want to put it on like clothes and not be naked.     ⁴These tents we now live in are like a heavy burden, and we groan. But we don't do this just because we want to leave these bodies that will die. It is because we want to change them for bodies that will never die. ⁵God is the one who makes all of this possible. He has given us his Spirit to make us certain that he will do it. ⁶So always be cheerful!
   As long as we are in these bodies, we are away from the Lord. ⁷But we live by faith, not by what we see. ⁸We should be cheerful, because we would rather leave these bodies and be at home with the Lord. ⁹But whether we are at home with the Lord or away from him, we still try our best to please him. ¹⁰After all, Christ will judge each of us for the good or the bad that we do while living in these bodies.

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Psalm 44:9-26 (Contemporary English Version)

⁹But now you have rejected us;
   you don't lead us into battle,
   and we look foolish.
    ¹⁰You made us retreat,
   and our enemies have taken
   everything we own.
    ¹¹You let us be slaughtered
   like sheep,
   and you scattered us
   among the nations.
    ¹²You sold your people
   for little or nothing,
   and you earned no profit.
    ¹³You made us look foolish
   to our neighbors,
   and people who live nearby
   insult us and sneer.
    ¹⁴Foreigners joke about us
   and shake their heads.
    ¹⁵I am embarrassed every day,
   and I blush with shame.
    ¹⁶But others mock and sneer,
   as they watch my enemies
   take revenge on me.
    ¹⁷All of this has happened to us,
   though we didn't forget you
   or break our agreement.
    ¹⁸We always kept you in mind
   and followed your teaching.
    ¹⁹But you crushed us,
   and you covered us
   with deepest darkness
   where wild animals live.
    ²⁰We did not forget you
   or lift our hands in prayer
   to foreign gods.
    ²¹You would have known it
   because you discover
   every secret thought.
    ²²We face death all day for you.
   We are like sheep on their way
   to be slaughtered.
    ²³Wake up! Do something, Lord!
   Why are you sleeping?
   Don't desert us forever.
    ²⁴Why do you keep looking away?
   Don't forget our sufferings
   and all of our troubles.
    ²⁵We are flat on the ground,
   holding on to the dust.
    ²⁶Do something! Help us!
   Show how kind you are
   and come to our rescue.

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Proverbs 22:13 (Contemporary English Version)

¹³Don't be so lazy that you say,
   "If I go to work,
   a lion will eat me!"

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Verse of the Day

“Bow down and worship the LORD our Creator! The LORD is our God, and we are his people, the sheep he takes care of in his own pasture. Listen to God's voice today!” - Psalm 95:6-7

Today's passage is from the Contemporary English Version.

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Thought for the Day

Franklin D. Roosevelt, the 32nd President of the United States, wrote, “There are many ways of going forward, but only one way of standing still.”

Bible Readings for August 30, 2013

Today our passages are Job 34:1–36:33; 2 Corinthians 4:1-12; Psalm 44:1-8; and Proverbs 22:10-12. The readings are the Contemporary English Version.

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Job 34-36:33 (Contemporary English Version)

Job 34

Elihu Continues

You Men Think You Are Wise

 ¹Elihu said:     ²You men think you are wise,
   but just listen to me!
    ³Think about my words,
   as you would taste food.
    ⁴Then we can decide the case
   and give a just verdict.
    ⁵Job claims he is innocent
   and God is guilty
   of mistreating him.
    ⁶Job also argues that God
   considers him a liar
   and that he is suffering severely
   in spite of his innocence.
    ⁷But to tell the truth,
   Job is shameless!
    ⁸He spends his time with sinners,
    ⁹because he has said,
   "It doesn't pay to please God."
   

If Any of You Are Smart

 ¹⁰If any of you are smart,    you will listen and learn
   that God All-Powerful
   does what is right.
    ¹¹God always treats everyone
   the way they deserve,
    ¹²and he is never unfair.
    ¹³From the very beginning,
   God has been in control
   of all the world.
    ¹⁴If God took back the breath
   that he breathed into us,
    ¹⁵we humans would die
   and return to the soil.
    ¹⁶So be smart and listen!
    ¹⁷The mighty God is the one
   who brings about justice,
   and you are condemning him.
    ¹⁸Indeed, God is the one
   who condemns unfair rulers.
    ¹⁹And God created us all;
   he has no favorites,
   whether rich or poor.
    ²⁰Even powerful rulers die
   in the darkness of night
   when they least expect it,
   just like the rest of us.
   

God Watches Everything We Do

 ²¹God watches everything we do.     ²²No evil person can hide
   in the deepest darkness.
    ²³And so, God doesn't need
   to set a time for judgment.
    ²⁴Without asking for advice,
   God removes mighty leaders
   and puts others in their place.
    ²⁵He knows what they are like,
   and he wipes them out
   in the middle of the night.
    ²⁶And while others look on,
   he punishes them
   because they were evil
    ²⁷and refused to obey him.
    ²⁸The persons they mistreated
   had prayed for help,
   until God answered
   their prayers.
    ²⁹When God does nothing,
   can any person or nation
   find fault with him?
    ³⁰But still, he punishes rulers
   who abuse their people. ^{[a] 31}Job, you should tell God
   that you are guilty
   and promise to do better.
    ³²Then ask him to point out
   what you did wrong,
   so you won't do it again.
    ³³Do you make the rules,
   or does God?
   You have to decide--
   I can't do it for you;
   now make up your mind.
    ³⁴Job, anyone with good sense
   can easily see
    ³⁵that you are speaking nonsense
   and lack good judgment.
    ³⁶So I pray for you to suffer
   as much as possible
   for talking like a sinner.
    ³⁷You have rebelled against God,
   time after time,
   and have even insulted us.
   

Job 35

Elihu Continues

Are You Really Innocent?

 ¹Elihu said:     ²Job, are you really innocent
   in the sight of God? ^{[b] 3}Don't you honestly believe
   it pays to obey him?
    ⁴I will give the answers
   to you and your friends.
    ⁵Look up to the heavens
    ⁶and think!
   Do your sins hurt God?
    ⁷Is any good you may have done
   at all helpful to him?
    ⁸The evil or good you do
   only affects other humans.
    ⁹In times of trouble,
   everyone begs the mighty God
   to have mercy.
    ¹⁰But after their Creator
   helps them through hard times,
   they forget about him,
    ¹¹though he makes us wiser
   than animals or birds.
    ¹²God won't listen to the prayers
   of proud and evil people.
    ¹³If God All-Powerful refuses
   to answer their empty prayers,
    ¹⁴he will surely deny
   your impatient request
   to face him in court.
    ¹⁵Job, you were wrong to say
   God doesn't punish sin.
    ¹⁶Everything you have said
   adds up to nonsense.
   

Job 36

Elihu Continues

Be Patient a While Longer

 ¹Elihu said:     ²Be patient a while longer;
   I have something else to say
   in God's defense.
    ³God always does right--
   and this knowledge
   comes straight from God. ^{[c] 4}You can rest assured
   that what I say is true.
    ⁵Although God is mighty,
   he cares about everyone
   and makes fair decisions.
    ⁶The wicked are cut down,
   and those who are wronged
   receive justice.
    ⁷God watches over good people
   and places them
   in positions
   of power and honor forever.
    ⁸But when people are prisoners
   of suffering and pain,
    ⁹God points out their sin
   and their pride,
    ¹⁰then he warns them
   to turn back to him.
    ¹¹And if they obey,
   they will be successful
   and happy from then on.
    ¹²But if they foolishly refuse,
   they will be rewarded
   with a violent death.
   

Godless People Are Too Angry

 ¹³Godless people are too angry    to ask God for help
   when he punishes them.
    ¹⁴So they die young
   in shameful disgrace.
    ¹⁵Hard times and trouble
   are God's way
   of getting our attention!
    ¹⁶And at this very moment,
   God deeply desires
   to lead you from trouble
   and to spread your table
   with your favorite food.
    ¹⁷Now that the judgment
   for your sins
   has fallen upon you,
    ¹⁸don't let your anger
   and the pain you endured
   make you sneer at God.
    ¹⁹Your reputation and riches
   cannot protect you
   from distress,
    ²⁰nor can you find safety
   in the dark world below. ^{[d] 21}Be on guard! Don't turn to evil
   as a way of escape.
    ²²God's power is unlimited.
   He needs no teachers
    ²³to guide or correct him.
   

Others Have Praised God

 ²⁴Others have praised God    for what he has done,
   so join with them.
    ²⁵From down here on earth,
   everyone has looked up
   and seen
    ²⁶how great God is--
   God is more than we imagine;
   no one can count the years
   he has lived.
    ²⁷God gathers moisture
   into the clouds
    ²⁸and supplies us with rain.
    ²⁹Who can understand
   how God scatters the clouds
   and speaks from his home
   in the thunderstorm?
    ³⁰And when God sends lightning,
   it can be seen
   at the bottom of the sea.
    ³¹By producing such rainstorms,
   God rules the world
   and provides us with food.
    ³²Each flash of lightning
   is one of his arrows
   striking its target,
    ³³and the thunder tells
   of his anger against sin. ^[e]

Footnotes:

1. Job 34:30 people: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text of verses 29,30.
2. Job 35:2 are. . . God: Or "is it right for you to accuse God?"
3. Job 36:3 comes straight from God: The Hebrew text has "comes from a distant place," which refers to the place where God lives; Elihu is claiming that he learned this from God.
4. Job 36:20 below: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text of verses 18-20.
5. Job 36:33 sin: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text of verse 33.

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2 Corinthians 4:1-12 (Contemporary English Version)

2 Corinthians 4

Treasure in Clay Jars

 ¹God has been kind enough to trust us with this work. That's why we never give up. ²We don't do shameful things that must be kept secret. And we don't try to fool anyone or twist God's message around. God is our witness that we speak only the truth, so others will be sure that we can be trusted. ³If there is anything hidden about our message, it is hidden only to someone who is lost.     ⁴The god who rules this world has blinded the minds of unbelievers. They cannot see the light, which is the good news about our glorious Christ, who shows what God is like. ⁵We are not preaching about ourselves. Our message is that Jesus Christ is Lord. He also sent us to be your servants. ⁶The Scriptures say, "God commanded light to shine in the dark." Now God is shining in our hearts to let you know that his glory is seen in Jesus Christ.
    ⁷We are like clay jars in which this treasure is stored. The real power comes from God and not from us. ⁸We often suffer, but we are never crushed. Even when we don't know what to do, we never give up. ⁹In times of trouble, God is with us, and when we are knocked down, we get up again. ^10-11We face death every day because of Jesus. Our bodies show what his death was like, so that his life can also be seen in us. ¹²This means that death is working in us, but life is working in you.

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Psalm 44:1-8 (Contemporary English Version)

Psalm 44

(A special psalm for the people of Korah and for the music leader.)

A Prayer for Help

 ¹Our God, our ancestors told us    what wonders you worked
   and we listened carefully.
    ²You chased off the nations
   by causing them trouble
   with your powerful arm.
   Then you let our ancestors
   take over their land.
    ³Their strength and weapons
   were not
   what won the land
   and gave them victory!
   You loved them and fought
   with your powerful arm
   and your shining glory.
    ⁴You are my God and King,
   and you give victory ^[a] to the people of Jacob.
    ⁵By your great power,
   we knocked our enemies down
   and stomped on them.
    ⁶I don't depend on my arrows
   or my sword to save me.
    ⁷But you saved us
   from our hateful enemies,
   and you put them to shame.
    ⁸We boast about you, our God,
   and we are always grateful.
   

Footnotes:

1. Psalm 44:4 and. . . victory: One ancient translation; Hebrew " please give victory."

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Proverbs 22:10-12 (Contemporary English Version)

¹⁰Arguments and fights
   will come to an end,
   if you chase away those
   who insult others.
    ¹¹The king is the friend of all
   who are sincere
   and speak with kindness.
    ¹²The LORD watches over everyone
   who shows good sense,
   but he frustrates the plans
   of deceitful liars.

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Verse of the Day

“You Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens with everyone else who belongs to the family of God.” - Ephesians 2:19

Today's passage is from the Contemporary English Version.

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Thought for the Day

Jim Rohn, American entrepreneur, author and motivational speaker, wrote, “Either you run the day or the day runs you.”

Bible Readings for August 28, 2013

Today our passages are Job 28:1–30:31; 2 Corinthians 2:12-17; Psalm 42:1-11; and Proverbs 22:7. The readings are the Contemporary English Version.

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Job 28-30:31 (Contemporary English Version)

Job 28

Job Continues

Gold and Silver Are Mined

 ¹Gold and silver are mined,    then purified;
    ²the same is done
   with iron and copper.
    ³Miners carry lanterns
   deep into the darkness
   to search for these metals.
    ⁴They dig tunnels
   in distant, unknown places,
   where they dangle by ropes.
    ⁵Far beneath the grain fields,
   fires are built
   to break loose those rocks
    ⁶that have jewels or gold. ^{[a] 7}Miners go to places unseen
   by the eyes of hawks;
    ⁸they walk on soil unknown
   to the proudest lions.
    ⁹With their own hands
   they remove sharp rocks
   and uproot mountains.
    ¹⁰They dig through the rocks
   in search of jewels
   and precious metals.
    ¹¹They also uncover
   the sources of ^[b] rivers and discover secret places.
   

Where Is Wisdom Found?

 ¹²But where is wisdom found?     ¹³No human knows the way. ^{[c] 14}Nor can it be discovered
   in the deepest sea.
    ¹⁵It is worth much more
   than silver or pure gold
    ¹⁶or precious stones.
    ¹⁷Nothing is its equal--
   not gold or costly glass. ^{[d] 18}Wisdom is worth much more than
   coral, jasper, ^[e] or rubies. ¹⁹All the topaz ^[f] of Ethiopia ^[g] and the finest gold
   cannot compare with it.
    ²⁰Where then is wisdom?
    ²¹It is hidden from human eyes
   and even from birds.
    ²²Death and destruction
   have merely heard rumors
   about where it is found.
    ²³God is the only one who knows
   the way to wisdom,
    ²⁴because he sees everything
   beneath the heavens.
    ²⁵When God divided out
   the wind and the water,
    ²⁶and when he decided the path
   for rain and lightning,
    ²⁷he also determined the truth
   and defined wisdom.
    ²⁸God told us, "Wisdom means
   that you respect me, the Lord,
   and turn from sin."
   

Job 29

Job Continues

I Long for the Past

 ¹Job said:     ²I long for the past,
   when God took care of me,
    ³and the light from his lamp
   showed me the way
   through the dark.
    ⁴I was in the prime of life,
   God All-Powerful
   was my closest friend,
    ⁵and all of my children
   were nearby.
    ⁶My herds gave enough milk
   to bathe my feet,
   and from my olive harvest
   flowed rivers of oil.
    ⁷When I sat down at the meeting
   of the city council,
    ⁸the young leaders stepped aside,
    ⁹while the older ones stood
    ¹⁰and remained silent.
   

Everyone Was Pleased

 ¹¹Everyone was pleased    with what I said and did.
    ¹²When poor people or orphans
   cried out for help,
   I came to their rescue.
    ¹³And I was highly praised
   for my generosity to widows
   and others in poverty.
    ¹⁴Kindness and justice
   were my coat and hat;
    ¹⁵I was good to the blind
   and to the lame.
    ¹⁶I was a father to the needy,
   and I defended them in court,
   even if they were strangers.
    ¹⁷When criminals attacked,
   I broke their teeth
   and set their victims free.
    ¹⁸I felt certain that I would live
   a long and happy life,
   then die in my own bed.
    ¹⁹In those days I was strong
   like a tree with deep roots
   and with plenty of water,
    ²⁰or like an archer's new bow.
    ²¹Everyone listened in silence
   to my welcome advice,
    ²²and when I finished speaking,
   nothing needed to be said.
    ²³My words were eagerly accepted
   like the showers of spring,
    ²⁴and the smile on my face
   renewed everyone's hopes.
    ²⁵My advice was followed
   as though I were a king
   leading my troops,
   or someone comforting
   those in sorrow.
   

Job 30

Job Continues

Young People Now Insult Me

 ¹Young people now insult me,    although their fathers
   would have been a disgrace
   to my sheep dogs.
    ²And those who insult me
   are helpless themselves.
    ³They must claw the desert sand
   in the dark
   for something
   to satisfy their hunger. ^{[h] 4}They gather tasteless shrubs
   for food and firewood,
    ⁵and they are run out of towns,
   as though they were thieves.
    ⁶Their only homes are ditches
   or holes between rocks,
    ⁷where they bray like donkeys
   gathering around shrubs.
    ⁸And like senseless donkeys
   they are chased away.
   

Those Worthless Nobodies

 ⁹Those worthless nobodies    make up jokes and songs
   to disgrace me.
    ¹⁰They are hateful
   and keep their distance,
   even while spitting
   in my direction.
    ¹¹God has destroyed me,
   and so they don't care
   what they do. ^{[i] 12}Their attacks never stop,
   though I am defenseless,
   and my feet are trapped. ^{[j] 13}Without any help,
   they prevent my escape,
   destroying me completely ^{[k] 14}and leaving me crushed.
    ¹⁵Terror has me surrounded;
   my reputation and my riches
   have vanished like a cloud.
   

I Am Sick at Heart

 ¹⁶I am sick at heart!    Pain has taken its toll.
    ¹⁷Night chews on my bones,
   causing endless torment,
    ¹⁸and God has shrunk my skin,
   choking me to death.
    ¹⁹I have been thrown in the dirt
   and now am dirt myself.
    ²⁰I beg God for help,
   but there is no answer;
   and when I stand up,
   he simply stares.
    ²¹God has turned brutal,
    ²²stirring up a windstorm
   to toss me about.
    ²³Soon he will send me home
   to the world of the dead,
   where we all must go.
    ²⁴No one refuses help to others,
   when disaster strikes. ^{[l] 25}I mourned for the poor
   and those who suffered.
    ²⁶But when I beg for relief
   and light,
   all I receive are disaster
   and darkness.
    ²⁷My stomach is tied in knots;
   pain is my daily companion.
    ²⁸Suffering has scorched my skin,
   and in the city council
   I stand and cry out,
    ²⁹making mournful sounds
   like jackals ^[m] and owls. ³⁰My skin is so parched,
   that it peels right off,
   and my bones are burning.
    ³¹My only songs are sorrow
   and sadness.
   

Footnotes:

1. Job 28:6 gold: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text of verses 5,6.
2. Job 28:11 uncover the sources of: Two ancient translations; Hebrew "dam up."
3. Job 28:13 the way: Or "its worth."
4. Job 28:17 costly glass: In the ancient world, objects made of glass were costly.
5. Job 28:18 jasper: A valuable stone, usually green or clear.
6. Job 28:19 topaz: A valuable, yellow stone.
7. Job 28:19 Ethiopia: The Hebrew text has "Cush," which was a region south of Egypt that included parts of the present countries of Ethiopia and Sudan.
8. Job 30:3 hunger: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text of verse 3.
9. Job 30:11 God. . . do: Or "They have destroyed me, and so they don't care what else they do."
10. Job 30:12 trapped: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text of verse 12.
11. Job 30:13 destroying. . . completely: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
12. Job 30:24 strikes: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text of verse 24.
13. Job 30:29 jackals: Desert animals related to wolves, but smaller.

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2 Corinthians 2:12-17 (Contemporary English Version)

¹²When I went to Troas to preach the good news about Christ, I found that the Lord had already prepared the way. ¹³But I was worried when I didn't find my friend Titus there. So I left the other followers and went on to Macedonia.
    ¹⁴I am grateful that God always makes it possible for Christ to lead us to victory. God also helps us spread the knowledge about Christ everywhere, and this knowledge is like the smell of perfume. ^15-16In fact, God thinks of us as a perfume that brings Christ to everyone. For people who are being saved, this perfume has a sweet smell and leads them to a better life. But for people who are lost, it has a bad smell and leads them to a horrible death.
   No one really has what it takes to do this work. ¹⁷A lot of people try to get rich from preaching God's message. But we are God's sincere messengers, and by the power of Christ we speak our message with God as our witness.

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Psalm 42:1-11 (Contemporary English Version)

Psalm 42

BOOK II

(Psalms 42-72)

(A special psalm for the people of Korah and for the music leader.)

Longing for God

 ¹As a deer gets thirsty    for streams of water,
   I truly am thirsty
   for you, my God.
    ²In my heart, I am thirsty
   for you, the living God.
   When will I see your face?
    ³Day and night my tears
   are my only food,
   as everyone keeps asking,
   "Where is your God?"
    ⁴Sorrow floods my heart,
   when I remember
   leading the worshipers
   to your house. ^[a] I can still hear them shout
   their joyful praises.
    ⁵Why am I discouraged?
   Why am I restless?
   I trust you!
   And I will praise you again
   because you help me,
    ⁶and you are my God.
   I am deeply discouraged
   as I think about you
   from where the Jordan begins
   at Mount Hermon
   and from Mount Mizar. ^{[b] 7}Your vicious waves
   have swept over me
   like an angry ocean
   or a roaring waterfall.
    ⁸Every day, you are kind,
   and at night
   you give me a song
   as my prayer to you,
   the living LORD God.
    ⁹You are my mighty rock. ^[c] Why have you forgotten me?
   Why must enemies mistreat me
   and make me sad?
    ¹⁰Even my bones are in pain,
   while all day long
   my enemies sneer and ask,
   "Where is your God?"
    ¹¹Why am I discouraged?
   Why am I restless?
   I trust you!
   And I will praise you again
   because you help me,
   and you are my God.
   

Footnotes:

1. Psalm 42:4 leading. . . house: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
2. Psalm 42:6 Mount Mizar: The location is not known.
3. Psalm 42:9 mighty rock: See the note at 18.2.

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Proverbs 22:7 (Contemporary English Version)

⁷The poor are ruled by the rich,
   and those who borrow
   are slaves of moneylenders.

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Verse of the Day

“Jesus answered, "God wants you to have faith in the one he sent.” - John 6:29

Today's passage is from the Contemporary English Version.

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Thought for the Day

M. C. Escher, Dutch graphic artist, wrote, “We adore chaos because we love to produce order.”