A Thought from the Word

A brief thought based on Ephesians 2:19 - You Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens with everyone else who belongs to the family of God.

Bible Readings for August 31, 2019

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 from the Contemporary English Version. If you find these readings helpful, please consider sending an offering directly to Cove Presbyterian Church, 3404 Main Street, Weirton, West Virginia or through PayPal by using the link below.

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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

Early feminist American author and intellectual, Elizabeth Stuart Phelps wrote, “Happiness must be cultivated. It is like character. It is not a thing to be safely let alone for a moment, or it will run to weeds.”

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A Joke for Today

Tom had never been on a fishing boat before, and he was now thinking it was the stupidest thing he'd ever done in his life. Who would ever have believed that seasickness could be this awful? With every pitch and roll, Tom wondered how he was going to survive the remaining two hours of the trip.

One of the deckhands came up to him and said, "Don't worry, young fella. Nobody ever died of seasickness."

"You've just taken away my last hope for relief," Tom said.

A Thought from the Word

A brief thought based on Galatians 3:28 - Faith in Christ Jesus is what makes each of you equal with each other, whether you are a Jew or Greek, a slave or a free person, a man or a woman.

Bible Readings for August 30, 2019

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 from the Contemporary English Version. If you find these readings helpful, please consider sending an offering directly to Cove Presbyterian Church, 3404 Main Street, Weirton, West Virginia or through PayPal by using the link below.

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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] ³¹Job, 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] ³Don'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] ⁴You 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] ²¹Be 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
French poet, dramatist, novelist, journalist, and art and literary critic, Théophile Gautier wrote, “If you are worthy of its affection, a cat will be your friend but never your slave.”

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A Joke for Today

A Protestant minister and a Catholic Priest are driving one day and, by a freak accident, have a head-on collision with tremendous force. Both cars are totally demolished, but amazingly, neither of the clerics has a scratch on him.

After they crawl out of their cars, the minister sees the priest's collar and says, "So you're a Catholic Priest. I'm a Protestant minister. Just look at our cars. There is nothing left, yet we are here, unhurt. This must be a sign from God!"

Pointing to the sky, he continues, "God must have meant that we should meet and share our lives in peace and friendship for the rest of our days on earth."

The priest replies, "I agree with you completely. This must surely be a sign from God!"

The minister is looking at his car and exclaims, "And look at this! Here's another miracle! My car is completely demolished, but this bottle of wine did not break. Surely, God wants us to drink this wine and to celebrate our good fortune."

The priest nods in agreement.

The minister hands the bottle to the priest, who drinks half the bottle and hands the bottle back to the minister.

The minister takes the bottle and immediately puts the cap on, then hands it back to the priest.

The priest, baffled, asks, "Aren't you having any, pastor?"

The minister replies, "Nah... I think I'll wait for the police."

Bible Readings for August 29, 2019

Today our passages are Job 31:1–33:33; 2 Corinthians 3:1-18; Psalm 43:1-5; and Proverbs 22:8-9. The readings are from the Contemporary English Version. If you find these readings helpful, please consider sending an offering directly to Cove Presbyterian Church, 3404 Main Street, Weirton, West Virginia or through PayPal by using the link below.

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Job 31-33:33 (Contemporary English Version)

Job 31

Job Continues

I Promised Myself

 ¹I promised myself    never to stare with desire
   at a young woman.
    ²God All-Powerful punishes
   men who do that.
    ³In fact, God sends disaster
   on all who sin,
    ⁴and he keeps a close watch
   on everything I do.
    ⁵I am not dishonest or deceitful,
    ⁶and I beg God to prove
   my innocence.
    ⁷If I have disobeyed him
   or even wanted to,
    ⁸then others can eat my harvest
   and uproot my crops.
    ⁹If I have desired someone's wife
   and chased after her,
    ¹⁰then let some stranger
   steal my wife from me.
    ¹¹If I took someone's wife,
   it would be a horrible crime,
    ¹²sending me to destruction
   and my crops to the flames. ^[a] ¹³When my servants
   complained against me,
   I was fair to them.
    ¹⁴Otherwise, what answer
   would I give to God
   when he judges me?
    ¹⁵After all, God is the one
   who gave life to each of us
   before we were born.     

I Have Never Cheated Anyone

 ¹⁶I have never cheated widows    or others in need,
    ¹⁷and I have always shared
   my food with orphans.
    ¹⁸Since the time I was young,
   I have cared for orphans
   and helped widows. ^[b] ¹⁹I provided clothes for the poor,
    ²⁰and I was praised
   for supplying woolen garments
   to keep them warm.
    ²¹If I have ever raised my arm
   to threaten an orphan
   when the power was mine,
    ²²I hope that arm will fall
   from its socket.
    ²³I could not have been abusive;
   I was terrified at the thought
   that God might punish me.
    ²⁴I have never trusted
   the power of wealth,
    ²⁵or taken pride in owning
   many possessions.
    ²⁶I have never openly or secretly
    ²⁷worshiped the sun or moon.
    ²⁸Such horrible sins
   would have deserved
   punishment from God.
    ²⁹I have never laughed
   when my enemies
   were struck by disaster.
    ³⁰Neither have I sinned
   by asking God
   to send down on them
   the curse of death.
    ³¹No one ever went hungry ^[c] at my house,
    ³²and travelers
   were always welcome.
    ³³Many have attempted to hide
   their sins from others--
   but I refused.
    ³⁴And the fear of public disgrace
   never forced me
   to keep silent
   about what I had done.     

Why Doesn't God Listen?

 ³⁵Why doesn't God All-Powerful    listen and answer?
   If God has something against me,
   let him speak up
   or put it in writing!
    ³⁶Then I would wear his charges
   on my clothes and forehead.
    ³⁷And with my head held high,
   I would tell him everything
   I have ever done.
    ³⁸I have never mistreated
   the land I farmed
   and made it mourn. ^[d] ³⁹Nor have I cheated
   my workers
   and caused them pain. ^[e] ⁴⁰If I had, I would pray
   for weeds instead of wheat
   to grow in my fields.
   After saying these things,
   Job was silent.
    

Job 32

Elihu Is Upset with Job's Friends

 ¹Finally, these three men stopped arguing with Job, because he refused to admit that he was guilty.     ²Elihu from Buz ^[f] was there, and he had become upset with Job for blaming God instead of himself. ³He was also angry with Job's three friends for not being able to prove that Job was wrong. ⁴Elihu was younger than these three, and he let them speak first. ⁵But he became irritated when they could not answer Job, ⁶and he said to them: I am much younger than you,
   so I have shown respect
   by keeping silent.
    ⁷I once believed age
   was the source of wisdom;
    ⁸now I truly realize
   wisdom comes from God.
    ⁹Age is no guarantee of wisdom
   and understanding.
    ¹⁰That's why I ask you
   to listen to me.     

I Eagerly Listened

 ¹¹I eagerly listened    to each of your arguments,
    ¹²but not one of you proved
   Job to be wrong.
    ¹³You shouldn't say,
   "We know what's right!
   Let God punish him."
    ¹⁴Job hasn't spoken against me,
   and so I won't answer him
   with your arguments.
    ¹⁵All of you are shocked;
   you don't know what to say.
    ¹⁶But am I to remain silent,
   just because you
   have stopped speaking?
    ¹⁷No! I will give my opinion,
    ¹⁸because I have so much to say,
   that I can't keep quiet.
    ¹⁹I am like a swollen wineskin,
   and I will burst ^[g] ²⁰if I don't speak.
    ²¹I don't know how to be unfair
   or to flatter anyone--
    ²²if I did, my Creator
   would quickly destroy me!
    

Job 33

Elihu Speaks

Job, Listen to Me!

 ¹Job, listen to me!    Pay close attention.
    ²Everything I will say
    ³is true and sincere,
    ⁴just as surely as the Spirit
   of God All-Powerful ^[h] gave me the breath of life.
    ⁵Now line up your arguments
   and prepare to face me.
    ⁶We each were made from clay,
   and God has no favorites,
    ⁷so don't be afraid of me
   or what I might do.     

I Have Heard You Argue

 ⁸I have heard you argue     ⁹that you are innocent,
   guilty of nothing.
    ¹⁰You claim that God
   has made you his enemy,
    ¹¹that he has bound your feet
   and blocked your path.
    ¹²But, Job, you're wrong--
   God is greater
   than any human.
    ¹³So why do you challenge God
   to answer you? ^[i] ¹⁴God speaks in different ways,
   and we don't always
   recognize his voice.
    ¹⁵Sometimes in the night,
   he uses terrifying dreams
    ¹⁶to give us warnings.
    ¹⁷God does this to make us turn
   from sin and pride
    ¹⁸and to protect us
   from being swept away
   to the world of the dead.
    ¹⁹Sometimes we are punished
   with a serious illness
   and aching joints.
    ²⁰Merely the thought
   of our favorite food
   makes our stomachs sick,
    ²¹and we become so skinny
   that our bones stick out.
    ²²We feel death and the grave
   taking us in their grip.
    ²³One of a thousand angels
   then comes to our rescue
   by saying we are innocent.
    ²⁴The angel shows kindness,
   commanding death to release us,
   because the price was paid.
    ²⁵Our health is restored,
   we feel young again,
    ²⁶and we ask God to accept us.
   Then we joyfully worship God,
   and we are rewarded
   because we are innocent.
    ²⁷When that happens,
   we tell everyone,
   "I sinned and did wrong,
   but God forgave me
    ²⁸and rescued me from death!
   Now I will see the light."
    ²⁹God gives each of us
   chance after chance
    ³⁰to be saved from death
   and brought into the light
   that gives life.
    ³¹So, Job, pay attention
   and don't interrupt,
    ³²though I would gladly listen
   to anything you say
   that proves you are right.
    ³³Otherwise, listen in silence
   to my wisdom.
    

Footnotes:

1. Job 31:12 flames: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text of verse 12.
2. Job 31:18 widows: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text of verse 18.
3. Job 31:31 ever went hungry: Or "was ever sexually abused" (see Genesis 19.1-11; Judges 19.22-30). In ancient Israel, the lives of one's guests were sacred and had to be protected at any cost.
4. Job 31:38 mourn: In biblical times there were strict regulations for proper use of the land, and land that was abused was said to "mourn" and become no longer productive.
5. Job 31:39 pain: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text of verse 39.
6. Job 32:2 Elihu from Buz: The Hebrew text has "Elihu son of Barachel from Buz of the family of Ram." Buz may have been somewhere in the territory of Edom; in Jeremiah 25.23 it is mentioned along with Dedan and Tema (see 6.19).
7. Job 32:19 swollen wineskin. . . burst: While the juice from grapes was becoming wine, it would swell and stretch the skins in which it had been stored; sometimes the swelling would burst the wineskins.
8. Job 33:4 the Spirit of God All-Powerful: Or "God All-Powerful."
9. Job 33:13 answer you: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text of verse 13.

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2 Corinthians 3:1-18 (Contemporary English Version)

2 Corinthians 3

God's New Agreement

 ¹Are we once again bragging about ourselves? Do we need letters to you or from you to tell others about us? Some people do need letters that tell about them. ²But you are our letter, and you are in our ^[a] hearts for everyone to read and understand. ³You are like a letter written by Christ and delivered by us. But you are not written with pen and ink or on tablets made of stone. You are written in our hearts by the Spirit of the living God. ⁴We are sure about all this. Christ makes us sure in the very presence of God. ⁵We don't have the right to claim that we have done anything on our own. God gives us what it takes to do all that we do. ⁶He makes us worthy to be the servants of his new agreement that comes from the Holy Spirit and not from a written Law. After all, the Law brings death, but the Spirit brings life.     ⁷The Law of Moses brought only the promise of death, even though it was carved on stones and given in a wonderful way. Still the Law made Moses' face shine so brightly that the people of Israel could not look at it, even though it was a fading glory. ⁸So won't the agreement that the Spirit brings to us be even more wonderful? ⁹If something that brings the death sentence is glorious, won't something that makes us acceptable to God be even more glorious? ¹⁰In fact, the new agreement is so wonderful that the Law is no longer glorious at all. ¹¹The Law was given with a glory that faded away. But the glory of the new agreement is much greater, because it will never fade away.
    ¹²This wonderful hope makes us feel like speaking freely. ¹³We are not like Moses. His face was shining, but he covered it to keep the people of Israel from seeing the brightness fade away. ¹⁴The people were stubborn, and something still keeps them from seeing the truth when the Law is read. Only Christ can take away the covering that keeps them from seeing.
    ¹⁵When the Law of Moses is read, they have their minds covered over ¹⁶with a covering that is removed only for those who turn to the Lord. ¹⁷The Lord and the Spirit are one and the same, and the Lord's Spirit sets us free. ¹⁸So our faces are not covered. They show the bright glory of the Lord, as the Lord's Spirit makes us more and more like our glorious Lord.
    

Footnotes:

1. 2 Corinthians 3:2 our: Some manuscripts have "your."

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Psalm 43:1-5 (Contemporary English Version)

Psalm 43

A Prayer in Times of Trouble

 ¹Show that I am right, God!    Defend me against everyone
   who doesn't know you;
   rescue me from each
   of those deceitful liars.
    ²I run to you
   for protection.
   Why have you turned me away?
   Why must enemies mistreat me
   and make me sad?
    ³Send your light and your truth
   to guide me.
   Let them lead me to your house
   on your sacred mountain.
    ⁴Then I will worship
   at your altar
   because you
   make me joyful.
   You are my God,
   and I will praise you.
   Yes, I will praise you
   as I play my harp.
    ⁵Why 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. 

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Proverbs 22:8-9 (Contemporary English Version)

⁸Troublemakers get in trouble,
   and their terrible anger
   will get them nowhere.
    ⁹The LORD blesses everyone
   who freely gives food
   to the poor. 

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Verse of the Day

“Faith in Christ Jesus is what makes each of you equal with each other, whether you are a Jew or a Greek, a slave or a free person, a man or a woman.” - Galatians 3:28 

Today's passage is from the Contemporary English Version.

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Thought for the Day

American businesswoman, interior designer, and fashion icon, Iris Apfel wrote, “The world is not black and white; there are lots of shades of grey. There are good things and bad things in every era, and I think it's kind of very blindfolded to say one era was wonderful, as it was wonderful, but there were a lot of bad things as well.”

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A Joke for Today

A family had twin boys whose only resemblance to each other was their looks. If one felt it was too hot, the other thought it was too cold. If one said the TV was too loud, the other claimed the volume needed to be turned up. Opposite in every way, one was an eternal optimist, the other a doom and gloom pessimist.

Just to see what would happen, on the twins' birthday their father loaded the pessimist's room with every imaginable toy and game. The optimist's room he loaded with horse manure.

That night the father passed by the pessimist's room and found him sitting amid his new gifts crying bitterly.

"Why are you crying?" the father asked.

"Because my friends will be jealous, I'll have to read all these instructions before I can do anything with this stuff, I'll constantly need batteries, and my toys will eventually get broken," answered the pessimist twin.

Passing the optimist twin's room, the father found him dancing for joy in the pile of manure. "What are you so happy about?" he asked.

To which his optimist twin replied, "There's got to be a pony in here somewhere!"