Job 32:11-33:12

New International Version

¹¹I waited while you spoke,
    I listened to your reasoning;
while you were searching for words,
¹²    I gave you my full attention.
But not one of you has proved Job wrong;
    none of you has answered his arguments.^(A)
¹³Do not say, ‘We have found wisdom;^(B)
    let God, not a man, refute^(C) him.’
¹⁴But Job has not marshaled his words against me,^(D)
    and I will not answer him with your arguments.

¹⁵“They are dismayed and have no more to say;
    words have failed them.^(E)
¹⁶Must I wait, now that they are silent,
    now that they stand there with no reply?
¹⁷I too will have my say;
    I too will tell what I know.^(F)
¹⁸For I am full of words,
    and the spirit^(G) within me compels me;^(H)
¹⁹inside I am like bottled-up wine,
    like new wineskins ready to burst.^(I)
²⁰I must speak and find relief;
    I must open my lips and reply.^(J)
²¹I will show no partiality,^(K)
    nor will I flatter anyone;^(L)
²²for if I were skilled in flattery,
    my Maker^(M) would soon take me away.^(N)

33 “But now, Job, listen^(O) to my words;
    pay attention to everything I say.^(P)
²I am about to open my mouth;
    my words are on the tip of my tongue.
³My words come from an upright heart;^(Q)
    my lips sincerely speak what I know.^(R)
⁴The Spirit^(S) of God has made me;^(T)
    the breath of the Almighty^(U) gives me life.^(V)
⁵Answer me^(W) then, if you can;
    stand up^(X) and argue your case before me.^(Y)
⁶I am the same as you in God’s sight;^(Z)
    I too am a piece of clay.^(AA)
⁷No fear of me should alarm you,
    nor should my hand be heavy on you.^(AB)

⁸“But you have said in my hearing—
    I heard the very words—
⁹‘I am pure,^(AC) I have done no wrong;^(AD)
    I am clean and free from sin.^(AE)
¹⁰Yet God has found fault with me;
    he considers me his enemy.^(AF)
¹¹He fastens my feet in shackles;^(AG)
    he keeps close watch on all my paths.’^(AH)

¹²“But I tell you, in this you are not right,
for God is greater than any mortal.^(AI)

Psalm 101:1-5

New International Version

Psalm 101

Of David. A psalm.

¹I will sing of your love^(A) and justice;
to you, Lord, I will sing praise.
²I will be careful to lead a blameless life^(B)—
when will you come to me?

I will conduct the affairs^(C) of my house
with a blameless heart.
³I will not look with approval
on anything that is vile.^(D)

I hate what faithless people do;^(E)
I will have no part in it.
⁴The perverse of heart^(F) shall be far from me;
I will have nothing to do with what is evil.

⁵Whoever slanders their neighbor^(G) in secret,
I will put to silence;
whoever has haughty eyes^(H) and a proud heart,
I will not tolerate.

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1 Corinthians 4:14-21

New International Version

Paul’s Appeal and Warning

¹⁴I am writing this not to shame you^(A) but to warn you as my dear children.^(B) ¹⁵Even if you had ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father^(C) through the gospel.^(D) ¹⁶Therefore I urge you to imitate me.^(E) ¹⁷For this reason I have sent to you^(F) Timothy,^(G) my son^(H) whom I love, who is faithful in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which agrees with what I teach everywhere in every church.^(I)

¹⁸Some of you have become arrogant,^(J) as if I were not coming to you.^(K) ¹⁹But I will come to you very soon,^(L) if the Lord is willing,^(M) and then I will find out not only how these arrogant people are talking, but what power they have. ²⁰For the kingdom of God is not a matter of^(N) talk but of power.^(O) ²¹What do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a rod of discipline,^(P) or shall I come in love and with a gentle spirit?