Bible Readings for December 23, 2014

Today our passages are Zechariah 4:1–5:11; Revelation 14:1-20; Psalm 142:1-7; and Proverbs 30:21-23. The readings are from The Message by Eugene H. Peterson.

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Zechariah 4-5:11 (The Message)

Zechariah 4

Fifth Vision: A Lampstand and Two Olive Trees

 ¹ The Messenger-Angel again called me to attention. It was like being wakened out of deep sleep.  ^2-3He said, "What do you see?" I answered, "I see a lampstand of solid gold with a bowl on top. Seven lamps, each with seven spouts, are set on the bowl. And there are two olive trees, one on either side of the bowl."
 ⁴Then I asked the Messenger-Angel, "What does this mean, sir?"
 ^5-7The Messenger-Angel said, "Can't you tell?"
   "No, sir," I said.
   Then he said, "This is God's Message to Zerubbabel: 'You can't force these things. They only come about through my Spirit,' says God-of-the-Angel-Armies. 'So, big mountain, who do you think you are? Next to Zerubbabel you're nothing but a molehill. He'll proceed to set the Cornerstone in place, accompanied by cheers: Yes! Yes! Do it!'"
 ^8-10After that, the Word of God came to me: "Zerubbabel started rebuilding this Temple and he will complete it. That will be your confirmation that God-of-the-Angel-Armies sent me to you. Does anyone dare despise this day of small beginnings? They'll change their tune when they see Zerubbabel setting the last stone in place!"
   Going back to the vision, the Messenger-Angel said, "The seven lamps are the eyes of God probing the dark corners of the world like searchlights."
 ^11-12And the two olive trees on either side of the lampstand?" I asked. "What's the meaning of them? And while you're at it, the two branches of the olive trees that feed oil to the lamps—what do they mean?"
 ¹³He said, "You haven't figured that out?"
   I said, "No, sir."
 ¹⁴He said, "These are the two who stand beside the Master of the whole earth and supply golden lamp oil worldwide."

Zechariah 5

Sixth Vision: The Flying Book

 ¹ I looked up again and saw—surprise!—a book on the wing! A book flying! ²The Messenger-Angel said to me, "What do you see now?" I said, "I see a book flying, a huge book—thirty feet long and fifteen wide!"  ^3-4He told me, "This book is the verdict going out worldwide against thieves and liars. The first half of the book disposes of everyone who steals; the second half takes care of everyone who lies. I launched it"—Decree of God-of-the-Angel-Armies—"and so it will fly into the house of every thief and every liar. It will land in each house and tear it down, timbers and stones."

Seventh Vision: A Woman in a Basket

 ⁵The Messenger-Angel appeared and said, "Look up. Tell me what you see."  ⁶I said, "What in the world is that?"
   He said, "This is a bushel basket on a journey. It holds the sin of everyone, everywhere."
 ⁷Then the lid made of lead was removed from the basket—and there was a woman sitting in it!
 ⁸He said, "This is Miss Wicked." He pushed her back down into the basket and clamped the lead lid over her.
 ⁹Then I looked up and to my surprise saw two women flying. On outstretched wings they airlifted the bushel basket into the sky.
 ¹⁰I said to the Messenger-Angel, "Where are they taking the bushel basket?"
 ¹¹He said, "East to the land of Shinar. They will build a garage to house it. When it's finished, the basket will be stored there."

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Revelation 14:1-20 (The Message)

Revelation 14

A Perfect Offering

 ^1-2I saw—it took my breath away!—the Lamb standing on Mount Zion, 144,000 standing there with him, his Name and the Name of his Father inscribed on their foreheads. And I heard a voice out of Heaven, the sound like a cataract, like the crash of thunder.  ^2-5And then I heard music, harp music and the harpists singing a new song before the Throne and the Four Animals and the Elders. Only the 144,000 could learn to sing the song. They were bought from earth, lived without compromise, virgin-fresh before God. Wherever the Lamb went, they followed. They were bought from humankind, firstfruits of the harvest for God and the Lamb. Not a false word in their mouths. A perfect offering.

Voices from Heaven

 ^6-7I saw another Angel soaring in Middle-Heaven. He had an Eternal Message to preach to all who were still on earth, every nation and tribe, every tongue and people. He preached in a loud voice, "Fear God and give him glory! His hour of judgment has come! Worship the Maker of Heaven and earth, salt sea and fresh water!"  ⁸A second Angel followed, calling out, "Ruined, ruined, Great Babylon ruined! She made all the nations drunk on the wine of her whoring!"
 ^9-11A third Angel followed, shouting, warning, "If anyone worships the Beast and its image and takes the mark on forehead or hand, that person will drink the wine of God's wrath, prepared unmixed in his chalice of anger, and suffer torment from fire and brimstone in the presence of Holy Angels, in the presence of the Lamb. Smoke from their torment will rise age after age. No respite for those who worship the Beast and its image, who take the mark of its name."
 ¹²Meanwhile, the saints stand passionately patient, keeping God's commands, staying faithful to Jesus.
 ¹³I heard a voice out of Heaven, "Write this: Blessed are those who die in the Master from now on; how blessed to die that way!"
   "Yes," says the Spirit, "and blessed rest from their hard, hard work. None of what they've done is wasted; God blesses them for it all in the end."

Harvest Time

 ^14-16I looked up, I caught my breath!—a white cloud and one like the Son of Man sitting on it. He wore a gold crown and held a sharp sickle. Another Angel came out of the Temple, shouting to the Cloud-Enthroned, "Swing your sickle and reap. It's harvest time. Earth's harvest is ripe for reaping." The Cloud-Enthroned gave a mighty sweep of his sickle, began harvesting earth in a stroke.  ^17-18Then another Angel came out of the Temple in Heaven. He also had a sharp sickle. Yet another Angel, the one in charge of tending the fire, came from the Altar. He thundered to the Angel who held the sharp sickle, "Swing your sharp sickle. Harvest earth's vineyard. The grapes are bursting with ripeness."
 ^19-20The Angel swung his sickle, harvested earth's vintage, and heaved it into the winepress, the giant winepress of God's wrath. The winepress was outside the City. As the vintage was trodden, blood poured from the winepress as high as a horse's bridle, a river of blood for two hundred miles.

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Psalm 142:1-7 (The Message)

Psalm 142

A David Prayer—When He Was in the Cave

 ^1-2 I cry out loudly to God, loudly I plead with God for mercy.
   I spill out all my complaints before him,
      and spell out my troubles in detail:

 ^3-7 "As I sink in despair, my spirit ebbing away,
      you know how I'm feeling,
   Know the danger I'm in,
      the traps hidden in my path.
   Look right, look left—
      there's not a soul who cares what happens!
   I'm up against it, with no exit—
      bereft, left alone.
   I cry out, God, call out:
      'You're my last chance, my only hope for life!'
   Oh listen, please listen;
      I've never been this low.
   Rescue me from those who are hunting me down;
      I'm no match for them.
   Get me out of this dungeon
      so I can thank you in public.
   Your people will form a circle around me
      and you'll bring me showers of blessing!"

 

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Proverbs 30:21-23 (The Message)

Four Intolerables

 ^21-23 Three things are too much for even the earth to bear,
   yes, four things shake its foundations—
      when the janitor becomes the boss,
      when a fool gets rich,
      when a whore is voted "woman of the year,"
      when a "girlfriend" replaces a faithful wife.

 

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Verse of the Day

 

“This very day in King David's hometown a Savior was born for you. He is Christ the Lord. You will know who he is, because you will find him dressed in baby clothes and lying on a bed of hay." Suddenly many other angels came down from heaven and joined in praising God. They said: "Praise God in heaven! Peace on earth to everyone who pleases God.” - Luke 2:11-14

Today's passage is from the Contemporary English Version.

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Thought for the Day

 

American publisher and author, William Feather wrote, “Many of our prayers were not answered, and for this we are now grateful.”

Bible Readings for July 7, 2014

Today our passages are 1 Chronicles 4:5–5:17; Acts 25:1-27; Psalm 5:1-12; and Proverbs 18:19. The readings are from The Message by Eugene H. Peterson. If you missed a day, you can find all the readings at our blog, The Bible in a Year.

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1 Chronicles 4:5-5:17 (The Message)

 ^5-8 Ashhur the father of Tekoa had two wives, Helah and Naarah. Naarah gave birth to Ahuzzam, Hepher, Temeni, and Haahashtari—Naarah's children. Helah's sons were Zereth, Zohar, Ethnan, and Koz, who had Anub, Hazzobebah, and the families of Aharhel son of Harum.

^9-10 Jabez was a better man than his brothers, a man of honor. His mother had named him Jabez (Oh, the pain!), saying, "A painful birth! I bore him in great pain!" Jabez prayed to the God of Israel: "Bless me, O bless me! Give me land, large tracts of land. And provide your personal protection—don't let evil hurt me." God gave him what he asked.

^11-12 Kelub, Shuhah's brother, had Mehir; Mehir had Eshton; Eshton had Beth Rapha, Paseah, and Tehinnah, who founded Ir Nahash (City of Smiths). These were known as the men of Recah.
 ¹³ The sons of Kenaz: Othniel and Seraiah.
    The sons of Othniel: Hathath and Meonothai.
 ¹⁴ Meonothai had Ophrah; Seraiah had Joab, the founder of Ge Harashim (Colony of Artisans).
 ¹⁵ The sons of Caleb son of Jephunneh: Iru, Elah, and Naam.
    The son of Elah: Kenaz.
 ¹⁶ The sons of Jehallelel: Ziph, Ziphah, Tiria, and Asarel.
 ^17-18 The sons of Ezrah: Jether, Mered, Epher, and Jalon. One of Mered's wives, Pharaoh's daughter Bithiah, gave birth to Miriam, Shammai, and Ishbah the father of Eshtemoa. His Judean wife gave birth to Jered father of Gedor, Heber father of Soco, and Jekuthiel father of Zanoah.
 ¹⁹ The sons of Hodiah's wife, Naham's sister: the father of Keilah the Garmite, and Eshtemoa the Maacathite.
 ²⁰ The sons of Shimon: Amnon, Rinnah, Ben-Hanan, and Tilon.
    The sons of Ishi: Zoheth and Ben-Zoheth.
 ^21-23 The sons of Shelah son of Judah: Er the father of Lecah, Laadah the father of Mareshah and the family of linen workers at Beth Ashbea, Jokim, the men of Cozeba, and Joash and Saraph, who ruled in Moab and Jashubi Lehem. (These records are from very old traditions.) They were the potters who lived at Netaim and Gederah, resident potters who worked for the king.

The Family of Simeon

^24-25 The Simeon family tree: Nemuel, Jamin, Jarib, Zerah, and Shaul; Shaul had Shallum, Shallum had Mibsam, and Mibsam had Mishma.  ²⁶ The sons of Mishma: Hammuel had Zaccur and Zaccur had Shimei.
 ^27-33 Shimei had sixteen sons and six daughters, but his brothers were not nearly as prolific and never became a large family like Judah. They lived in Beersheba, Moladah, Hazar Shual, Bilhah, Ezem, Tolad, Bethuel, Hormah, Ziklag, Beth Marcaboth, Hazar Susim, Beth Biri, and Shaaraim. They lived in these towns until David became king. Other settlements in the vicinity were the five towns of Etam, Ain, Rimmon, Token, and Ashan, and all the villages around these towns as far as Baalath. These were their settlements. And they kept good family records.
 ^34-40 Meshobab; Jamlech; Joshah the son of Amaziah; Joel; Jehu the son of Joshibiah, the son of Seraiah, the son of Asiel; Elioenai; Jaakobah; Jeshohaiah; Asaiah; Adiel; Jesimiel; Benaiah; and Ziza the son of Shiphi, the son of Allon, the son of Jedaiah, the son of Shimri, the son of Shemaiah—all these were the leaders in their families. They prospered and increased in numbers so that they had to go as far as Gedor (Gerar) to the east of the valley looking for pasture for their flocks. And they found it—lush pasture, lots of elbow room, peaceful and quiet.
 ^40-43 Some Hamites had lived there in former times. But the men in these family trees came when Hezekiah was king of Judah and attacked the Hamites, tearing down their tents and houses. There was nothing left of them, as you can see today. Then they moved in and took over because of the great pastureland. Five hundred of these Simeonites went on and invaded the hill country of Seir, led by Pelatiah, Neariah, Rephaiah, and Uzziel, the sons of Ishi. They killed all the escaped Amalekites who were still around. And they still live there.

1 Chronicles 5

The Family of Reuben

 ^1-2 The family of Reuben the firstborn of Israel: Though Reuben was Israel's firstborn, after he slept with his father's concubine, a defiling act, his rights as the firstborn were passed on to the sons of Joseph son of Israel. He lost his "firstborn" place in the family tree. And even though Judah became the strongest of his brothers and King David eventually came from that family, the firstborn rights stayed with Joseph.  ³ The sons of Reuben, firstborn of Israel: Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi.
 ^4-6 The descendants of Joel: Shemaiah his son, Gog his son, Shimei his son, Micah his son, Reaiah his son, Baal his son, and Beerah his son, whom Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria took into exile. Beerah was the prince of the Reubenites.
 ^7-10 Beerah's brothers are listed in the family tree by families: first Jeiel, followed by Zechariah: then Bela son of Azaz, the son of Shema, the son of Joel. Joel lived in the area from Aroer to Nebo and Baal Meon. His family occupied the land up to the edge of the desert that goes all the way to the Euphrates River, since their growing herds of livestock spilled out of Gilead. During Saul's reign they fought and defeated the Hagrites; they then took over their tents and lived in them on the eastern frontier of Gilead.

^11-12 The family of Gad were their neighbors in Bashan, as far as Salecah: Joel was the chief, Shapham the second-in-command, and then Janai, the judge in Bashan.
 ^13-15 Their brothers, by families, were Michael, Meshullam, Sheba, Jorai, Jacan, Zia, and Eber—seven in all. These were the sons of Abihail son of Huri, the son of Jaroah, the son of Gilead, the son of Michael, the son of Jeshishai, the son of Jahdo, the son of Buz. Ahi son of Abdiel, the son of Guni, was head of their family.
 ¹⁶ The family of Gad lived in Gilead and Bashan, including the outlying villages and extending as far as the pastures of Sharon.
 ¹⁷ They were all written into the official family tree during the reigns of Jotham king of Judah and Jeroboam king of Israel.

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Acts 25:1-27 (The Message)

Acts 25

An Appeal to Caesar

 ^1-3Three days after Festus arrived in Caesarea to take up his duties as governor, he went up to Jerusalem. The high priests and top leaders renewed their vendetta against Paul. They asked Festus if he wouldn't please do them a favor by sending Paul to Jerusalem to respond to their charges. A lie, of course—they had revived their old plot to set an ambush and kill him along the way.  ^4-5Festus answered that Caesarea was the proper jurisdiction for Paul, and that he himself was going back there in a few days. "You're perfectly welcome," he said, "to go back with me then and accuse him of whatever you think he's done wrong."
 ^6-7About eight or ten days later, Festus returned to Caesarea. The next morning he took his place in the courtroom and had Paul brought in. The minute he walked in, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem were all over him, hurling the most extreme accusations, none of which they could prove.
 ⁸Then Paul took the stand and said simply, "I've done nothing wrong against the Jewish religion, or the Temple, or Caesar. Period."
 ⁹Festus, though, wanted to get on the good side of the Jews and so said, "How would you like to go up to Jerusalem, and let me conduct your trial there?"
 ^10-11Paul answered, "I'm standing at this moment before Caesar's bar of justice, where I have a perfect right to stand. And I'm going to keep standing here. I've done nothing wrong to the Jews, and you know it as well as I do. If I've committed a crime and deserve death, name the day. I can face it. But if there's nothing to their accusations—and you know there isn't—nobody can force me to go along with their nonsense. We've fooled around here long enough. I appeal to Caesar."
 ¹²Festus huddled with his advisors briefly and then gave his verdict: "You've appealed to Caesar; you'll go to Caesar!"
 ^13-17A few days later King Agrippa and his wife, Bernice, visited Caesarea to welcome Festus to his new post. After several days, Festus brought up Paul's case to the king. "I have a man on my hands here, a prisoner left by Felix. When I was in Jerusalem, the high priests and Jewish leaders brought a bunch of accusations against him and wanted me to sentence him to death. I told them that wasn't the way we Romans did things. Just because a man is accused, we don't throw him out to the dogs. We make sure the accused has a chance to face his accusers and defend himself of the charges. So when they came down here I got right on the case. I took my place in the courtroom and put the man on the stand.
 ^18-21"The accusers came at him from all sides, but their accusations turned out to be nothing more than arguments about their religion and a dead man named Jesus, who the prisoner claimed was alive. Since I'm a newcomer here and don't understand everything involved in cases like this, I asked if he'd be willing to go to Jerusalem and be tried there. Paul refused and demanded a hearing before His Majesty in our highest court. So I ordered him returned to custody until I could send him to Caesar in Rome."
 ²²Agrippa said, "I'd like to see this man and hear his story."
   "Good," said Festus. "We'll bring him in first thing in the morning and you'll hear it for yourself."
 ²³The next day everybody who was anybody in Caesarea found his way to the Great Hall, along with the top military brass. Agrippa and Bernice made a flourishing grand entrance and took their places. Festus then ordered Paul brought in.
 ^24-26Festus said, "King Agrippa and distinguished guests, take a good look at this man. A bunch of Jews petitioned me first in Jerusalem, and later here, to do away with him. They have been most vehement in demanding his execution. I looked into it and decided that he had committed no crime. He requested a trial before Caesar and I agreed to send him to Rome. But what am I going to write to my master, Caesar? All the charges made by the Jews were fabrications, and I've uncovered nothing else.
 ^26-27"That's why I've brought him before this company, and especially you, King Agrippa: so we can come up with something in the nature of a charge that will hold water. For it seems to me silly to send a prisoner all that way for a trial and not be able to document what he did wrong."

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Psalm 5:1-12 (The Message)

Psalm 5

A David Psalm

 ^1-3 Listen, God! Please, pay attention! Can you make sense of these ramblings, my groans and cries? King-God, I need your help.
   Every morning
      you'll hear me at it again.
   Every morning
      I lay out the pieces of my life
      on your altar
      and watch for fire to descend.

 ^4-6 You don't socialize with Wicked,
      or invite Evil over as your houseguest.
   Hot-Air-Boaster collapses in front of you;
      you shake your head over Mischief-Maker.
   God destroys Lie-Speaker;
      Blood-Thirsty and Truth-Bender disgust you.

 ^7-8 And here I am, your invited guest—
      it's incredible!
   I enter your house; here I am,
      prostrate in your inner sanctum,
   Waiting for directions
      to get me safely through enemy lines.

 ^9-10 Every word they speak is a land mine;
      their lungs breathe out poison gas.
   Their throats are gaping graves,
      their tongues slick as mudslides.
   Pile on the guilt, God!
      Let their so-called wisdom wreck them.
   Kick them out! They've had their chance.

 ^11-12 But you'll welcome us with open arms
      when we run for cover to you.
   Let the party last all night!
      Stand guard over our celebration.
   You are famous, God, for welcoming God-seekers,
      for decking us out in delight.

 

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Proverbs 18:19 (The Message)

 ¹⁹ Do a favor and win a friend forever;
   nothing can untie that bond.

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Verse of the Day

“Your way is perfect, LORD, and your word is correct. You are a shield for those who run to you for help.” - Psalm 18:30

Today's passage is from the Contemporary English Version.

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Thought for the Day

 

American publisher and author, William Feather wrote, “A man must not deny his manifest abilities, for that is to evade his obligations.”

Bible Readings for August 23, 2013

Today our passages are Job 8:1–11:20; 1 Corinthians 15:1-28; Psalm 38:1-22; and Proverbs 21:28-29. The readings are the Contemporary English Version.

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Job 8-11:20 (Contemporary English Version)

Job 8

Bildad's First Speech

How Long Will You Talk?

 ¹Bildad from Shuah ^[a] said: ²How long will you talk    and keep saying nothing?
    ³Does God All-Powerful
   stand in the way of justice?
    ⁴He made your children pay
   for their sins.
    ⁵So why don't you turn to him
    ⁶and start living right?
   Then he will decide
   to rescue and restore you
   to your place of honor.
    ⁷Your future will be brighter
   by far than your past.
   

Our Ancestors Were Wise

 ⁸Our ancestors were wise,    so learn from them.
    ⁹Our own time has been short,
   like a fading shadow,
   and we know very little.
    ¹⁰But they will instruct you
   with great understanding.
    ¹¹Papyrus reeds grow healthy
   only in a swamp,
    ¹²and if the water dries up,
   they die sooner than grass.
    ¹³Such is the hopeless future
   of all who turn from God
    ¹⁴and trust in something as frail
   as a spider's web--
    ¹⁵they take hold and fall
   because it's so flimsy.
    ¹⁶Sinful people are like plants
   with spreading roots
   and plenty
   of sun and water.
    ¹⁷They wrap their roots tightly
   around rocks. ^{[b] 18}But once they are pulled up,
   they have no more place;
    ¹⁹their life slips away, ^[c] and other plants grow there.
    ²⁰We know God doesn't reject
   an innocent person
   or help a sinner.
    ²¹And so, he will make you happy
   and give you something
   to smile about.
    ²²But your evil enemies
   will be put to shame
   and disappear forever.
   

Job 9

Job's Reply to Bildad

What You Say Is True

 ¹Job said:     ²What you say is true.
   No human is innocent
   in the sight of God.
    ³Not once in a thousand times
   could we win our case
   if we took him to court.
    ⁴God is wise and powerful--
   who could possibly
   oppose him and win?
    ⁵When God becomes angry,
   he can move mountains
   before they even know it.
    ⁶God can shake the earth loose
   from its foundations
    ⁷or command the sun and stars
   to hold back their light.
    ⁸God alone stretched out the sky,
   stepped on the sea, ^{[d] 9}and set the stars in place--
   the Big Dipper and Orion,
   the Pleiades and the stars
   in the southern sky.
    ¹⁰Of all the miracles God works,
   we cannot understand a one.
    ¹¹God walks right past me,
   without making a sound.
    ¹²And if he grabs something,
   who can stop him
   or raise a question?
    ¹³When God showed his anger,
   the servants of the sea monster ^[e] fell at his feet.
    ¹⁴How, then, could I possibly
   argue my case with God?
   

Though I Am Innocent

 ¹⁵Even though I am innocent,    I can only beg for mercy.
    ¹⁶And if God came into court
   when I called him,
   he would not hear my case.
    ¹⁷He would strike me with a storm ^[f] and increase my injuries
   for no reason at all.
    ¹⁸Before I could get my breath,
   my miseries would multiply.
    ¹⁹God is much stronger than I am,
   and who would call me into court
   to give me justice?
    ²⁰Even if I were innocent,
   God would prove me wrong. ^{[g] 21}I am not guilty,
   but I no longer care
   what happens to me.
    ²²What difference does it make?
   God destroys the innocent
   along with the guilty.
    ²³When a good person dies
   a sudden death,
   God sits back and laughs.
    ²⁴And who else but God
   blindfolds the judges,
   then lets the wicked
   take over the earth?
   

My Life Is Speeding By

 ²⁵My life is speeding by,    without a hope of happiness.
    ²⁶Each day passes swifter
   than a sailing ship
   or an eagle swooping down.
    ²⁷Sometimes I try to be cheerful
   and to stop complaining,
    ²⁸but my sufferings frighten me,
   because I know that God
   still considers me guilty.
    ²⁹So what's the use of trying
   to prove my innocence?
    ³⁰Even if I washed myself
   with the strongest soap,
    ³¹God would throw me into a pit
   of stinking slime,
   leaving me
   disgusting to my clothes.
    ³²God isn't a mere human like me.
   I can't put him on trial.
    ³³Who could possibly judge
   between the two of us?
    ³⁴Can someone snatch away
   the stick God carries
   to frighten me?
    ³⁵Then I could speak up
   without fear of him,
   but for now, I cannot speak. ^[h]

Job 10

Job Complains to God

I Am Sick of Life!

 ¹I am sick of life!    And from my deep despair,
   I complain to you, my God.
    ²Don't just condemn me!
   Point out my sin.
    ³Why do you take such delight
   in destroying those you created
   and in smiling on sinners?
    ⁴Do you look at things
   the way we humans do?
    ⁵Is your life as short as ours?
    ⁶Is that why you are so quick
   to find fault with me?
    ⁷You know I am innocent,
   but who can defend me
   against you?
    ⁸Will you now destroy
   someone you created?
    ⁹Remember that you molded me
   like a piece of clay.
   So don't turn me back
   into dust once again.
    ¹⁰As cheese is made from milk,
   you created my body
   from a tiny drop.
    ¹¹Then you tied my bones together
   with muscles
   and covered them
   with flesh and skin.
    ¹²You, the source of my life,
   showered me with kindness
   and watched over me.
   

You Have Not Explained

 ¹³You have not explained    all of your mysteries,
    ¹⁴but you catch and punish me
   each time I sin.
    ¹⁵Guilty or innocent,
   I am condemned and ashamed
   because of my troubles.
    ¹⁶No matter how hard I try,
   you keep hunting me down
   like a powerful lion. ^{[i] 17}You never stop accusing me;
   you become furious and attack
   over and over again.
    ¹⁸Why did you let me be born?
   I would rather have died
   before birth
    ¹⁹and been carried to the grave
   without ever breathing.
    ²⁰I have only a few days left.
   Why don't you leave me alone? ^[j] Let me find some relief,
    ²¹before I travel to the land
    ²²of darkness and despair,
   the place of no return.
   

Job 11

Zophar's First Speech

So Much Foolish Talk

 ¹Zophar from Naamah ^[k] said: ²So much foolish talk    cannot go unanswered.
    ³Your words have silenced others
   and made them ashamed;
   now it is only right for you
   to be put to shame.
    ⁴You claim to be innocent
   and argue that your beliefs
   are acceptable to God.
    ⁵But I wish he would speak
    ⁶and let you know
   that wisdom
   has many different sides.
   You would then discover
   that God has punished you
   less
   than you deserve.
    ⁷Can you understand the mysteries
   surrounding God All-Powerful?
    ⁸They are higher than the heavens
   and deeper than the grave.
   So what can you do
   when you know so little,
    ⁹and these mysteries outreach
   the earth and the ocean?
    ¹⁰If God puts you in prison
   or drags you to court,
   what can you do?
    ¹¹God has the wisdom to know
   when someone is worthless
   and sinful,
    ¹²but it's easier to tame
   a wild donkey
   than to make a fool wise. ^[l]

Surrender Your Heart to God

 ¹³Surrender your heart to God,    turn to him in prayer,
    ¹⁴and give up your sins--
   even those you do in secret.
    ¹⁵Then you won't be ashamed;
   you will be confident
   and fearless.
    ¹⁶Your troubles will go away
   like water beneath a bridge,
    ¹⁷and your darkest night
   will be brighter than noon.
    ¹⁸You will rest safe and secure,
   filled with hope
   and emptied of worry.
    ¹⁹You will sleep without fear
   and be greatly respected.
    ²⁰But those who are evil
   will go blind and lose their way.
   Their only escape is death!
   

Footnotes:

1. Job 8:1 Shuah: See the note at 2.11.
2. Job 8:17 rocks: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text of verse 17.
3. Job 8:19 their. . . away: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
4. Job 9:8 sea: Or "sea monster" (see verse 13 and the note there).
5. Job 9:13 the sea monster: The Hebrew text has "Rahab," which was some kind of sea monster with supernatural powers (see the notes at 3.8 and 26.12).
6. Job 9:17 strike. . . storm: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
7. Job 9:20 God. . . wrong: Or "my own words would prove me wrong."
8. Job 9:35 but. . . speak: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
9. Job 10:16 lion: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text of verse 16.
10. Job 10:20 I have only. . . alone: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
11. Job 11:1 Naamah: See the note at 2.11.
12. Job 11:12 it's. . . wise: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.

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1 Corinthians 15:1-28 (Contemporary English Version)

1 Corinthians 15

Christ Was Raised to Life

 ¹My friends, I want you to remember the message that I preached and that you believed and trusted. ²You will be saved by this message, if you hold firmly to it. But if you don't, your faith was all for nothing.     ³I told you the most important part of the message exactly as it was told to me. That part is:
   Christ died for our sins,
   as the Scriptures say.
    ⁴He was buried,
   and three days later
   he was raised to life,
   as the Scriptures say.
    ⁵Christ appeared to Peter, ^[a] then to the twelve.
    ⁶After this, he appeared
   to more than five hundred
   other followers.
   Most of them are still alive,
   but some have died.
    ⁷He also appeared to James,
   and then to all
   of the apostles.
    ⁸Finally, he appeared to me, even though I am like someone who was born at the wrong time. ^{[b] 9}I am the least important of all the apostles. In fact, I caused so much trouble for God's church that I don't even deserve to be called an apostle. ¹⁰But God was kind! He made me what I am, and his wonderful kindness wasn't wasted. I worked much harder than any of the other apostles, although it was really God's kindness at work and not me. ¹¹But it doesn't matter if I preached or if they preached. All of you believed the message just the same.
   

God's People Will Be Raised to Life

 ¹²If we preach that Christ was raised from death, how can some of you say that the dead will not be raised to life? ¹³If they won't be raised to life, Christ himself wasn't raised to life. ¹⁴And if Christ wasn't raised to life, our message is worthless, and so is your faith. ¹⁵If the dead won't be raised to life, we have told lies about God by saying that he raised Christ to life, when he really did not.     ¹⁶So if the dead won't be raised to life, Christ wasn't raised to life. ¹⁷Unless Christ was raised to life, your faith is useless, and you are still living in your sins. ¹⁸And those people who died after putting their faith in him are completely lost. ¹⁹If our hope in Christ is good only for this life, we are worse off than anyone else.
    ²⁰But Christ has been raised to life! And he makes us certain that others will also be raised to life. ²¹Just as we will die because of Adam, we will be raised to life because of Christ. ²²Adam brought death to all of us, and Christ will bring life to all of us. ²³But we must each wait our turn. Christ was the first to be raised to life, and his people will be raised to life when he returns. ²⁴Then after Christ has destroyed all powers and forces, the end will come, and he will give the kingdom to God the Father.
    ²⁵Christ will rule until he puts all his enemies under his power, ²⁶and the last enemy he destroys will be death. ²⁷When the Scriptures say that he will put everything under his power, they don't include God. It was God who put everything under the power of Christ. ²⁸After everything is under the power of God's Son, he will put himself under the power of God, who put everything under his Son's power. Then God will mean everything to everyone.
   

Footnotes:

1. 1 Corinthians 15:5 Peter: See the note at 1.12.
2. 1 Corinthians 15:8 who was born at the wrong time: The meaning of these words in Greek is not clear.

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Psalm 38:1-22 (Contemporary English Version)

Psalm 38

(A psalm by David to be used when an offering is made.)

A Prayer in Times of Trouble

 ¹When you are angry, LORD,    please don't punish me
   or even correct me.
    ²You shot me with your arrows,
   and you struck me
   with your hand.
    ³My body hurts all over
   because of your anger.
   Even my bones are in pain,
   and my sins ⁴are so heavy
   that I am crushed.
    ⁵Because of my foolishness,
   I am covered with sores
   that stink and spread.
    ⁶My body is twisted and bent,
   and I groan all day long.
    ⁷Fever has my back in flames,
   and I hurt all over.
    ⁸I am worn out and weak,
   moaning and in distress.
    ⁹You, Lord, know every one
   of my deepest desires,
   and my noisy groans
   are no secret to you.
    ¹⁰My heart is beating fast.
   I feel weak all over,
   and my eyes are red.
    ¹¹Because of my sickness,
   no friends or neighbors
   will come near me.
    ¹²All who want me dead
   set traps to catch me,
   and those who want
   to harm and destroy me
   plan and plot all day.
    ¹³I am not able to hear
   or speak a word;
    ¹⁴I am completely deaf
   and can't make a sound.
    ¹⁵I trust you, LORD God,
   and you will do something.
    ¹⁶I said, "Don't let them laugh
   or brag because I slip."
    ¹⁷I am about to collapse
   from constant pain.
    ¹⁸I told you my sins,
   and I am sorry for them.
    ¹⁹Many deadly and powerful
   enemies hate me,
    ²⁰and they repay evil for good
   because I try to do right.
    ²¹You are the LORD God!
   Stay nearby
   and don't desert me.
    ²²You are the one who saves me.
   Please hurry and help.

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Proverbs 21:28-29 (Contemporary English Version)

²⁸If you tell lies in court,
   you are done for;
   only a reliable witness
   can do the job.
    ²⁹Wicked people bluff their way,
   but God's people think
   before they take a step.

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Verse of the Day

“When I felt my feet slipping, you came with your love and kept me steady. And when I was burdened with worries, you comforted me and made me feel secure.” - Psalm 94:18-19

Today's passage is from the Contemporary English Version.

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Thought for the Day

William Feather, American publisher and author, wrote, “Some of us might find happiness if we quit struggling so desperately for it.”