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."