Bible Readings for August 26, 2019

Today our passages are Job 20:1–22:30; 2 Corinthians 1:1-11; Psalm 40:11-17; and Proverbs 22:2-4. 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 20-22:30 (Contemporary English Version)

Job 20

Zophar's Second Speech

Your Words Are Disturbing

 ¹Zophar from Naamah ^[a] said: ²Your words are disturbing;

   now I must speak.

    ³You have accused

   and insulted me,

   and reason requires a reply.

    ⁴Since the time of creation,

   everyone has known

    ⁵that sinful people are happy

   for only a while.

    ⁶Though their pride and power

   may reach to the sky,

    ⁷they will disappear like dust,

   and those who knew them

   will wonder what happened.

    ⁸They will be forgotten

   like a dream

    ⁹and vanish from the sight

   of family and friends.

    ¹⁰Their children will have to repay

   what the parents took

   from the poor.

    ¹¹Indeed, the wicked will die

   and go to their graves

   in the prime of life.   

Sinners Love the Taste of Sin

 ¹²Sinners love the taste of sin;

   they relish every bite

    ¹³and swallow it slowly.

    ¹⁴But their food will turn sour

   and poison their stomachs.

    ¹⁵Then God will make them lose

   the wealth they gobbled down.

    ¹⁶They will die from the fangs

   of poisonous snakes

    ¹⁷and never enjoy rivers flowing

   with milk and honey.

    ¹⁸Their hard work will result

   in nothing gained,

    ¹⁹because they cheated the poor

   and took their homes.

    ²⁰Greedy people want everything

   and are never satisfied. ^[b] ²¹But when nothing remains

   for them to grab,

   they will be nothing.

    ²²Once they have everything,

   distress and despair

   will strike them down,

    ²³and God will make them swallow

   his blazing anger. ^[c] ²⁴While running from iron spears,

   they will be killed

   by arrows of bronze,

    ²⁵whose shining tips go straight

   through their bodies.

   They will be trapped by terror,

    ²⁶and what they treasure most

   will be lost in the dark.

   God will send flames

   to destroy them in their tents

   with all their property.

    ²⁷The heavens and the earth

   will testify against them,

    ²⁸and all their possessions

   will be dragged off

   when God becomes angry.

    ²⁹This is what God has decided

   for those who are evil.

   

Job 21

Job's Reply to Zophar

If You Want To Offer Comfort

 ¹Job said:

    ²If you want to offer comfort,

   then listen to me.

    ³And when I have finished,

   you can start your insults

   all over again.

    ⁴My complaint is against God;

   that's why I am impatient.

    ⁵Just looking at me is enough

   to make you sick,

    ⁶and the very thought of myself

   fills me with disgust.

    ⁷Why do evil people live so long

   and gain such power?

    ⁸Why are they allowed to see

   their children grow up? ^[d] ⁹They have no worries at home,

   and God never punishes them.

    ¹⁰Their cattle have lots of calves

   without ever losing one;

    ¹¹their children play and dance

   safely by themselves.

    ¹²These people sing and celebrate

   to the sound of tambourines,

   small harps, and flutes,

    ¹³and they are successful,

   without a worry,

   until the day they die.   

Leave Us Alone!

 ¹⁴Those who are evil say

   to God All-Powerful,

   "Leave us alone! Don't bother us

   with your teachings.

    ¹⁵What do we gain from praying

   and worshiping you?

    ¹⁶We succeeded all on our own."

   And so, I keep away from them

   and their evil schemes.

    ¹⁷How often does God become angry

   and send disaster and darkness

   to punish sinners?

    ¹⁸How often does he strike them

   like a windstorm

   that scatters straw?

    ¹⁹You say, "God will punish

   those sinners' children

   in place of those sinners."

   But I say, "Let him punish

   those sinners themselves

   until they really feel it.

    ²⁰Let God All-Powerful force them

   to drink

   their own destruction

   from the cup of his anger.

    ²¹Because after they are dead,

   they won't care what happens

   to their children."   

Who Can Tell God What To Do?

 ²²Who can tell God what to do?

   He judges powerful rulers.

    ²³Some of us die prosperous,

    ²⁴enjoying good health,

    ²⁵while others die in poverty,

   having known only pain.

    ²⁶But we all end up dead,

   beneath a blanket of worms.

    ²⁷My friends, I know that you

   are plotting against me.

    ²⁸You ask, "Where is the home

   of that important person

   who does so much evil?"

    ²⁹Everyone, near and far, agrees

    ³⁰that those who do wrong

   never suffer disaster,

   when God becomes angry.

    ³¹No one points out their sin

   or punishes them.

    ³²Then at their funerals,

   they are highly praised;

    ³³the earth welcomes them home,

   while crowds mourn.

    ³⁴But empty, meaningless words

   are the comfort you offer me.

   

Job 22

Eliphaz's Third Speech

What Use Are We Humans to God?

 ¹Eliphaz from Teman ^[e] said: ²What use are we humans

   to God,

   even the wisest of us?

    ³If you were completely sinless,

   that would still mean nothing

   to God All-Powerful.

    ⁴Is he correcting you

   for worshiping him?

    ⁵No! It's because

   of your terrible sins.

    ⁶To guarantee payment of a debt,

   you have taken clothes

   from the poor.

    ⁷And you refused bread and water

   to the hungry and thirsty,

    ⁸although you were rich,

   respected, and powerful.

    ⁹You have turned away widows

   and have broken the arms

   of orphans.

    ¹⁰That's why you were suddenly

   trapped by terror,

    ¹¹blinded by darkness,

   and drowned in a flood.   

God Lives in the Heavens

 ¹²God lives in the heavens

   above the highest stars,

   where he sees everything.

    ¹³Do you think the deep darkness

   hides you from God?

    ¹⁴Do thick clouds cover his eyes,

   as he walks around heaven's dome

   high above the earth?

    ¹⁵Give up those ancient ideas

   believed by sinners,

    ¹⁶who were swept away

   without warning.

    ¹⁷They rejected God All-Powerful,

   feeling he was helpless,

    ¹⁸although he had been kind

   to their families.

   The beliefs of these sinners

   are truly disgusting.

    ¹⁹When God's people see

   the godless swept away,

   they celebrate, ²⁰saying,

   "Our enemies are gone,

   and fire has destroyed

   their possessions."   

Surrender to God All-Powerful

 ²¹Surrender to God All-Powerful!

   You will find peace

   and prosperity.

    ²²Listen to his teachings

   and take them to heart.

    ²³If you return to God

   and turn from sin,

   all will go well for you.

    ²⁴So get rid of your finest gold,

   as though it were sand.

    ²⁵Let God All-Powerful

   be your silver and gold,

    ²⁶and you will find happiness

   by worshiping him.

    ²⁷God will answer your prayers,

   and you will keep the promises

   you made to him.

    ²⁸He will do whatever you ask,

   and life will be bright.

    ²⁹When others are disgraced,

   God will clear their names

   in answer to your prayers.

    ³⁰Even those who are guilty

   will be forgiven,

   because you obey God. ^[f]

Footnotes:

1. Job 20:1 Naamah: See the note at 2.11.
2. Job 20:20 are never satisfied: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
3. Job 20:23 anger: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text of verse 23.
4. Job 21:8 up: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text of verse 8.
5. Job 22:1 Teman: See the note at 2.11.
6. Job 22:30 God: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text of verses 29,30.

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2 Corinthians 1:1-11 (Contemporary English Version)

2 Corinthians 1

 ¹From Paul, chosen by God to be an apostle of Jesus Christ, and from Timothy, who is also a follower.

   To God's church in Corinth and to all of God's people in Achaia.

    ²I pray that God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ will be kind to you and will bless you with peace!   

Paul Gives Thanks

 ³Praise God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! The Father is a merciful God, who always gives us comfort. ⁴He comforts us when we are in trouble, so that we can share that same comfort with others in trouble. ⁵We share in the terrible sufferings of Christ, but also in the wonderful comfort he gives. ⁶We suffer in the hope that you will be comforted and saved. And because we are comforted, you will also be comforted, as you patiently endure suffering like ours. ⁷You never disappoint us. You suffered as much as we did, and we know that you will be comforted as we were.

    ⁸My friends, I want you to know what a hard time we had in Asia. Our sufferings were so horrible and so unbearable that death seemed certain. ⁹In fact, we felt sure that we were going to die. But this made us stop trusting in ourselves and start trusting God, who raises the dead to life. ¹⁰God saved us from the threat of death, ^[a] and we are sure that he will do it again and again. ¹¹Please help us by praying for us. Then many people will give thanks for the blessings we receive in answer to all these prayers.

Footnotes:

1. 2 Corinthians 1:10 the threat of death: Some manuscripts have "many threats of death."

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Psalm 40:11-17 (Contemporary English Version)

¹¹You, LORD, never fail

   to have pity on me;

   your love and faithfulness

   always keep me secure.

    ¹²I have more troubles

   than I can count.

   My sins are all around me,

   and I can't find my way.

   My sins outnumber

   the hairs on my head,

   and I feel weak.

    ¹³Please show that you care

   and come to my rescue.

   Hurry and help me!

    ¹⁴Disappoint and confuse

   all who want me dead;

   turn away and disgrace

   all who want to hurt me.

    ¹⁵Embarrass and shame

   all of those who say,

   "Just look at you now!"

    ¹⁶Our LORD, let your worshipers

   rejoice and be glad.

   They love you for saving them,

   so let them always say,

   "The LORD is wonderful!"

    ¹⁷I am poor and needy,

   but, LORD God,

   you care about me,

   and you come to my rescue.

   Please hurry and help.

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Proverbs 22:2-4 (Contemporary English Version)

²The rich and the poor

   are all created

   by the LORD.

    ³When you see trouble coming,

   don't be stupid

   and walk right into it--

   be smart and hide.

    ⁴Respect and serve the LORD!

   Your reward will be wealth,

   a long life, and honor.

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Verse of the Day

“A body is made up of many parts, and each of them has its own use. That's how it is with us. There are many of us, but we each are part of the body of Christ, as well as part of one another.” - Romans 12:4-5

Today's passage is from the Contemporary English Version.

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Thought for the Day

Scottish novelist, historian, and Unionist politician who served as Governor General of Canada, the 15th since Canadian Confederation, John Buchan wrote, “To live for a time close to great minds is the best kind of education.”

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A Joke for Today

"Oh God," sighed the wife one morning, "I'm convinced my mind is almost completely gone!"

Her husband looked up from the newspaper and commented, "I'm not surprised: You've been giving me a piece of it every day for twenty years!"

Bible Readings for August 25, 2019

Today our passages are Job 16:1–19:29; 1 Corinthians 16:1-24; Psalm 40:1-10; and Proverbs 22:1. 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 16-19:29 (Contemporary English Version)

Job 16

Job's Reply to Eliphaz

I Have Often Heard This

 ¹Job said:

    ²I have often heard this,

   and it offers no comfort.

    ³So why don't you keep quiet?

   What's bothering you?

    ⁴If I were in your place,

   it would be easy to criticize

   or to give advice.

    ⁵But I would offer hope

   and comfort instead.

    ⁶If I speak, or if I don't,

   I hurt all the same.

   My torment continues.

    ⁷God has worn me down

   and destroyed my family;

    ⁸my shriveled up skin proves

   that I am his prisoner.

    ⁹God is my hateful enemy,

   glaring at me

   and attacking

   with his sharp teeth.

    ¹⁰Everyone is against me;

   they sneer and slap my face.

    ¹¹And God is the one

   who handed me over

   to this merciless mob.   

Everything Was Going Well

 ¹²Everything was going well,

   until God grabbed my neck

   and shook me to pieces.

   God set me up as the target

    ¹³for his arrows,

   and without showing mercy,

   he slashed my stomach open,

   spilling out my insides.

    ¹⁴God never stops attacking,

    ¹⁵and so, in my sorrow

   I dress in sackcloth ^[a] and sit in the dust.

    ¹⁶My face is red with tears,

   and dark shadows

   circle my eyes,

    ¹⁷though I am not violent,

   and my prayers are sincere.

    ¹⁸If I should die,

   I beg the earth

   not to cover

   my cry for justice.

    ¹⁹Even now, God in heaven

   is both my witness

   and my protector.

    ²⁰My friends have rejected me,

   but God is the one I beg ^[b] ²¹to show that I am right,

   just as a friend should.

    ²²Because in only a few years,

   I will be dead and gone.

   

Job 17

Job Complains to God

My Hopes Have Died

 ¹My hopes have died,

   my time is up,

   and the grave is ready.

    ²All I can see are angry crowds,

   making fun of me.

    ³If you, LORD, don't help,

   who will pay the price

   for my release?

    ⁴My friends won't really listen,

   all because of you,

   and so you must be the one

   to prove them wrong.

    ⁵They have condemned me,

   just to benefit themselves;

   now blind their children.

    ⁶You, God, are the reason

   I am insulted and spit on.

    ⁷I am almost blind with grief;

   my body is a mere shadow.

    ⁸People who are truly good

   would feel so alarmed,

   that they would become angry

   at my worthless friends.

    ⁹They would do the right thing

   and because they did,

   they would grow stronger. ^[c] ¹⁰But none of my friends

   show any sense.

    ¹¹My life is drawing to an end;

   hope has disappeared.

    ¹²But all my friends can do

   is offer empty hopes. ^[d] ¹³I could tell the world below

   to prepare me a bed.

    ¹⁴Then I could greet the grave

   as my father

   and say to the worms,

   "Hello, mother and sisters!"

    ¹⁵But what kind of hope is that?

    ¹⁶Will it keep me company

   in the world of the dead?

   

Job 18

Bildad's Second Speech

How Long Will You Talk?

 ¹Bildad from Shuah ^[e] said: ²How long will you talk?

   Be sensible! Let us speak.

    ³Or do you think that we

   are dumb animals?

    ⁴You cut yourself in anger.

   Will that shake the earth

   or even move the rocks?

    ⁵The lamps of sinful people

   soon are snuffed out,

    ⁶leaving their tents dark.

    ⁷Their powerful legs become weak,

   and they stumble on schemes

   of their own doing.

    ⁸Before they know it,

    ⁹they are trapped

   in a net,

    ¹⁰hidden along the path.

    ¹¹Terror strikes and pursues

   from every side.

    ¹²Starving, they run,

   only to meet disaster,

    ¹³then afterwards to be eaten alive

   by death itself.

    ¹⁴Those sinners are dragged

   from the safety of their tents

   to die a gruesome death.

    ¹⁵Then their tents and possessions

   are burned to ashes,

    ¹⁶and they are left like trees,

   dried up from the roots.

    ¹⁷They are gone and forgotten,

    ¹⁸thrown far from the light

   into a world of darkness,

    ¹⁹without any children

   to carry on their name.

    ²⁰Everyone, from east to west,

   is overwhelmed with horror.

    ²¹Such is the fate of sinners

   and their families

   who don't know God.

   

Job 19

Job's Reply to Bildad

How Long Will You Torture Me?

 ¹Job said:

    ²How long will you torture me

   with your words?

    ³Isn't ten times enough

   for you to accuse me?

   Aren't you ashamed?

    ⁴Even if I have sinned,

   you haven't been harmed.

    ⁵You boast of your goodness,

   claiming I am suffering

   because I am guilty.

    ⁶But God is the one at fault

   for finding fault with me.

    ⁷Though I pray to be rescued

   from this torment,

   no whisper of justice

   answers me.

    ⁸God has me trapped

   with a wall of darkness

    ⁹and stripped of respect.

    ¹⁰God rips me apart,

   uproots my hopes,

    ¹¹and attacks with fierce anger,

   as though I were his enemy.

    ¹²His entire army advances,

   then surrounds my tent.   

I Am Forgotten

 ¹³God has turned relatives

   and friends against me,

    ¹⁴and I am forgotten.

    ¹⁵My guests and my servants

   consider me a stranger,

    ¹⁶and when I call my servants,

   they pay no attention.

    ¹⁷My breath disgusts my wife;

   everyone in my family

   turns away.

    ¹⁸Young children can't stand me,

   and when I come near,

   they make fun.

    ¹⁹My best friends and loved ones

   have turned from me.

    ²⁰I am skin and bones--

   just barely alive.

    ²¹My friends, I beg you for pity!

   God has made me his target.

    ²²Hasn't he already done enough?

   Why do you join the attack?

    ²³I wish that my words

   could be written down

    ²⁴or chiseled into rock.

    ²⁵I know that my Savior ^[f] lives, and at the end

   he will stand on this earth.

    ²⁶My flesh may be destroyed,

   yet from this body

   I will see God. ^[g] ²⁷Yes, I will see him for myself,

   and I long for that moment.

    ²⁸My friends, you think up ways

   to blame and torment me,

   saying

   I brought it on myself.

    ²⁹But watch out for the judgment,

   when God will punish you!

   

Footnotes:

1. Job 16:15 sackcloth: A rough, dark-colored cloth made from goat hair and used to make grain sacks. It was worn in times of trouble or sorrow.
2. Job 16:20 My friends. . . beg: Or "God is my friend, and he is the one I beg."
3. Job 17:9 stronger: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text of verses 8,9.
4. Job 17:12 hopes: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text of verse 12.
5. Job 18:1 Shuah: See the note at 2.11.
6. Job 19:25 Savior: Or "Defender."
7. Job 19:26 God: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text of verses 25,26.

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1 Corinthians 16:1-24 (Contemporary English Version)

1 Corinthians 16

A Collection for God's People

 ¹When you collect money for God's people, I want you to do exactly what I told the churches in Galatia to do. ²That is, each Sunday each of you must put aside part of what you have earned. If you do this, you won't have to take up a collection when I come. ³Choose some followers to take the money to Jerusalem. I will send them on with the money and with letters which show that you approve of them. ⁴If you think I should go along, they can go with me.   

Paul's Travel Plans

 ⁵After I have gone through Macedonia, I hope to see you ⁶and visit with you for a while. I may even stay all winter, so that you can help me on my way to wherever I will be going next. ⁷If the Lord lets me, I would rather come later for a longer visit than to stop off now for only a short visit. ⁸I will stay in Ephesus until Pentecost, ⁹because there is a wonderful opportunity for me to do some work here. But there are also many people who are against me.

    ¹⁰When Timothy arrives, give him a friendly welcome. He is doing the Lord's work, just as I am. ¹¹Don't let anyone mistreat him. I am looking for him to return to me together with the other followers. So when he leaves, send him off with your blessings.

    ¹²I have tried hard to get our friend Apollos to visit you with the other followers. He doesn't want to come just now, but he will come when he can.   

Personal Concerns and Greetings

 ¹³Keep alert. Be firm in your faith. Stay brave and strong. ¹⁴Show love in everything you do.

    ¹⁵You know that Stephanas and his family were the first in Achaia to have faith in the Lord. They have done all they can for God's people. My friends, I ask you ¹⁶to obey leaders like them and to do the same for all others who work hard with you.

    ¹⁷I was glad to see Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus. Having them here was like having you. ¹⁸They made me feel much better, just as they made you feel better. You should appreciate people like them.

    ¹⁹Greetings from the churches in Asia.

   Aquila and Priscilla, together with the church that meets in their house, send greetings in the name of the Lord.

    ²⁰All of the Lord's followers send their greetings.

   Give each other a warm greeting.

    ²¹I am signing this letter myself: PAUL.

    ²²I pray that God will put a curse on everyone who doesn't love the Lord. And may the Lord come soon.

    ²³I pray that the Lord Jesus will be kind to you.

    ²⁴I love everyone who belongs to Christ Jesus.

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Psalm 40:1-10 (Contemporary English Version)

Psalm 40

(A psalm by David for the music leader.)

A Prayer for Help

 ¹I patiently waited, LORD,

   for you to hear my prayer.

   You listened ²and pulled me

   from a lonely pit

   full of mud and mire.

   You let me stand on a rock

   with my feet firm,

    ³and you gave me a new song,

   a song of praise to you.

   Many will see this,

   and they will honor

   and trust

   you, the LORD God.

    ⁴You bless all of those

   who trust you, LORD,

   and refuse to worship idols

   or follow false gods.

    ⁵You, LORD God, have done

   many wonderful things,

   and you have planned

   marvelous things for us.

   No one is like you!

   I would never be able to tell

   all you have done.

    ⁶Sacrifices and offerings

   are not what please you;

   gifts and payment for sin

   are not what you demand.

   But you made me willing

   to listen and obey.

    ⁷And so, I said, "I am here

   to do what is written

   about me in the book,

   where it says,

    ⁸'I enjoy pleasing you.

   Your Law is in my heart.' "

    ⁹When your people worshiped,

   you know I told them,

   "Our LORD always helps!"

    ¹⁰When all your people met,

   I did not keep silent.

   I said, "Our LORD is kind.

   He is faithful and caring,

   and he saves us."

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Proverbs 22:1 (Contemporary English Version)

Proverbs 22

The Value of a Good Reputation

 ¹A good reputation and respect

   are worth much more

   than silver and gold.

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Verse of the Day

“You give peace of mind to all who love your Law. Nothing can make them fall.” - Psalm 119:165

Today's passage is from the Contemporary English Version.

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Thought for the Day

British novelist, Martin Amis worte, “What is the only provocation that could bring about the use of nuclear weapons? Nuclear weapons. What is the priority target for nuclear weapons? Nuclear weapons. What is the only established defense against nuclear weapons? Nuclear weapons. How do we prevent the use of nuclear weapons? By threatening the use of nuclear weapons. And we can't get rid of nuclear weapons, because of nuclear weapons. The intransigence, it seems, is a function of the weapons themselves.”

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A Joke for Today

A climber fell off a cliff, and as he tumbled down, he caught hold of a small branch wedged in the rock.

"HELP! IS THERE ANYBODY UP THERE?" he shouted.

A majestic voice boomed through the gorge:

"I will help you, my son, but first you must have faith in me."

"Yes, yes, I trust you!" cried the man.

"Let go of the branch," boomed the voice.

There was a long pause, and the man shouted up again, "IS THERE ANYONE ELSE UP THERE I COULD TALK TO?"