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Job 11-13
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Job 11-13
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Zophar Speaks: Job’s Guilt Deserves Punishment
11 Then Zophar the Naamathite answered:
2 “Should a multitude of words go unanswered,
and should one full of talk be vindicated?(A)
3 Should your babble put others to silence,
and when you mock, shall no one shame you?(B)
4 For you say, ‘My conduct[a] is pure,
and I am clean in God’s[b] sight.’(C)
5 But O that God would speak
and open his lips to you
6 and that he would tell you the secrets of wisdom!
For wisdom is many-sided.[c]
Know then that God exacts of you less than your guilt deserves.(D)
7 “Can you find out the deep things of God?
Can you find out the limit of the Almighty?[d](E)
8 It is higher than heaven[e]—what can you do?
Deeper than Sheol—what can you know?(F)
9 Its measure is longer than the earth
and broader than the sea.
10 If he passes through and imprisons
and assembles for judgment, who can hinder him?(G)
11 For he knows those who are worthless;
when he sees iniquity, will he not consider it?(H)
12 But the stupid will get understanding
when a wild ass is born human.[f]
13 “If you direct your heart rightly,
you will stretch out your hands toward him.(I)
14 If iniquity is in your hand, put it far away,
and do not let wickedness reside in your tents.(J)
15 Surely then you will lift up your face without blemish;
you will be secure and will not fear.(K)
16 You will forget your misery;
you will remember it as waters that have passed away.(L)
17 And your life will be brighter than the noonday;
its darkness will be like the morning.(M)
18 And you will have confidence because there is hope;
you will be protected[g] and take your rest in safety.(N)
19 You will lie down, and no one will make you afraid;
many will entreat your favor.
20 But the eyes of the wicked will fail;
all way of escape will be lost to them,
and their hope is to breathe their last.”(O)
Job Replies: I Am a Laughingstock
12 Then Job answered:
2 “No doubt you are the people,
and wisdom will die with you.
3 But I have understanding as well as you;
I am not inferior to you.
Who does not know such things as these?
4 I am a laughingstock to my friends;
I, who called upon God and he answered me,
a just and blameless man, I am a laughingstock.(P)
5 Those at ease have contempt for misfortune,[h]
but it is ready for those whose feet are unstable.(Q)
6 The tents of robbers are at peace,
and those who provoke God are secure,
who bring their god in their hands.[i](R)
7 “But ask the animals, and they will teach you,
the birds of the air, and they will tell you;
8 ask the plants of the earth,[j] and they will teach you,
and the fish of the sea will declare to you.
9 Who among all these does not know
that the hand of the Lord has done this?(S)
10 In his hand is the life of every living thing
and the breath of every human being.(T)
11 Does not the ear test words
as the palate tastes food?(U)
12 Is wisdom with the aged
and understanding in length of days?(V)
13 “With God[k] are wisdom and strength;
he has counsel and understanding.(W)
14 If he tears down, no one can rebuild;
if he shuts someone in, no one can open up.(X)
15 If he withholds the waters, they dry up;
if he sends them out, they overwhelm the land.(Y)
16 With him are strength and wisdom;
the deceived and the deceiver are his.(Z)
17 He leads counselors away stripped
and makes fools of judges.(AA)
18 He looses the sash of kings
and binds a waistcloth on their loins.(AB)
19 He leads priests away stripped
and overthrows the mighty.
20 He deprives of speech those who are trusted
and takes away the discernment of the elders.(AC)
21 He pours contempt on princes
and looses the belt of the strong.(AD)
22 He uncovers deep things from the darkness
and brings deep darkness to light.(AE)
23 He makes nations great, then destroys them;
he enlarges nations, then leads them away.(AF)
24 He strips understanding from the leaders[l] of the earth
and makes them wander in a pathless waste.(AG)
25 They grope in the dark without light;
he makes them stagger like a drunkard.(AH)
13 “Look, my eye has seen all this;
my ear has heard and understood it.
2 What you know, I also know;
I am not inferior to you.
3 But I would speak to the Almighty,[m]
and I desire to argue my case with God.(AI)
4 As for you, you whitewash with lies;
all of you are worthless physicians.(AJ)
5 If you would only keep silent,
that would be your wisdom!(AK)
6 Hear now my reasoning,
and listen to the pleadings of my lips.
7 Will you speak falsely for God
and speak deceitfully for him?
8 Will you show partiality toward him;
will you plead the case for God?
9 Will it be well with you when he searches you out?
Or can you deceive him as one person deceives another?(AL)
10 He will surely rebuke you
if in secret you show partiality.
11 Will not his majesty terrify you
and the dread of him fall upon you?
12 Your maxims are proverbs of ashes;
your defenses are defenses of clay.(AM)
13 “Let me have silence, and I will speak,
and let come on me what may.
14 I will take my flesh in my teeth
and put my life in my hand.[n](AN)
15 See, he will kill me; I have no hope;[o]
but I will defend my ways to his face.(AO)
16 This will be my salvation,
that the godless shall not come before him.(AP)
17 Listen carefully to my words,
and let my declaration be in your ears.(AQ)
18 I have indeed prepared my case;
I know that I shall be vindicated.
19 Who is there who will contend with me?
For then I would be silent and die.(AR)
Job’s Despondent Prayer
20 “Only grant two things to me;
then I will not hide myself from your face:
21 withdraw your hand far from me,
and do not let dread of you terrify me.(AS)
22 Then call, and I will answer;
or let me speak, and you reply to me.(AT)
23 How many are my iniquities and my sins?
Make me know my transgression and my sin.(AU)
24 Why do you hide your face
and count me as your enemy?(AV)
25 Will you frighten a windblown leaf
and pursue dry chaff?(AW)
26 For you write bitter things against me
and make me reap[p] the iniquities of my youth.(AX)
27 You put my feet in the stocks
and watch all my paths;
you set a bound to the soles of my feet.
28 One wastes away like a rotten thing,
like a garment that is moth-eaten.(AY)
Footnotes
- 11.4 Gk: Heb teaching
- 11.4 Heb your
- 11.6 Meaning of Heb uncertain
- 11.7 Traditional rendering of Heb Shaddai
- 11.8 Heb The heights of heaven
- 11.12 Meaning of Heb uncertain
- 11.18 Or you will look around
- 12.5 Meaning of Heb uncertain
- 12.6 Or whom God brought forth by his hand; meaning of Heb uncertain
- 12.8 Or speak to the earth
- 12.13 Heb him
- 12.24 Heb adds of the people
- 13.3 Traditional rendering of Heb Shaddai
- 13.14 Gk: Heb Why should I take . . . in my hand?
- 13.15 Or Though he kill me, yet I will trust in him
- 13.26 Heb inherit
Job 11-13
New International Version
Job 11-13
New International Version
Zophar
11 Then Zophar the Naamathite(A) replied:
2 “Are all these words to go unanswered?(B)
Is this talker to be vindicated?(C)
3 Will your idle talk(D) reduce others to silence?
Will no one rebuke you when you mock?(E)
4 You say to God, ‘My beliefs are flawless(F)
and I am pure(G) in your sight.’
5 Oh, how I wish that God would speak,(H)
that he would open his lips against you
6 and disclose to you the secrets of wisdom,(I)
for true wisdom has two sides.
Know this: God has even forgotten some of your sin.(J)
7 “Can you fathom(K) the mysteries of God?
Can you probe the limits of the Almighty?
8 They are higher(L) than the heavens(M) above—what can you do?
They are deeper than the depths below(N)—what can you know?(O)
9 Their measure(P) is longer than the earth
and wider than the sea.(Q)
10 “If he comes along and confines you in prison
and convenes a court, who can oppose him?(R)
11 Surely he recognizes deceivers;
and when he sees evil, does he not take note?(S)
12 But the witless can no more become wise
than a wild donkey’s colt(T) can be born human.[a](U)
13 “Yet if you devote your heart(V) to him
and stretch out your hands(W) to him,(X)
14 if you put away(Y) the sin that is in your hand
and allow no evil(Z) to dwell in your tent,(AA)
15 then, free of fault, you will lift up your face;(AB)
you will stand firm(AC) and without fear.(AD)
16 You will surely forget your trouble,(AE)
recalling it only as waters gone by.(AF)
17 Life will be brighter than noonday,(AG)
and darkness will become like morning.(AH)
18 You will be secure, because there is hope;
you will look about you and take your rest(AI) in safety.(AJ)
19 You will lie down, with no one to make you afraid,(AK)
and many will court your favor.(AL)
20 But the eyes of the wicked will fail,(AM)
and escape will elude them;(AN)
their hope will become a dying gasp.”(AO)
Job
12 Then Job replied:
2 “Doubtless you are the only people who matter,
and wisdom will die with you!(AP)
3 But I have a mind as well as you;
I am not inferior to you.
Who does not know all these things?(AQ)
4 “I have become a laughingstock(AR) to my friends,(AS)
though I called on God and he answered(AT)—
a mere laughingstock, though righteous and blameless!(AU)
5 Those who are at ease have contempt(AV) for misfortune
as the fate of those whose feet are slipping.(AW)
6 The tents of marauders are undisturbed,(AX)
and those who provoke God are secure(AY)—
those God has in his hand.[b]
7 “But ask the animals, and they will teach you,(AZ)
or the birds in the sky,(BA) and they will tell you;(BB)
8 or speak to the earth, and it will teach you,
or let the fish in the sea inform you.
9 Which of all these does not know(BC)
that the hand of the Lord has done this?(BD)
10 In his hand is the life(BE) of every creature
and the breath of all mankind.(BF)
11 Does not the ear test words
as the tongue tastes food?(BG)
12 Is not wisdom found among the aged?(BH)
Does not long life bring understanding?(BI)
13 “To God belong wisdom(BJ) and power;(BK)
counsel and understanding are his.(BL)
14 What he tears down(BM) cannot be rebuilt;(BN)
those he imprisons cannot be released.(BO)
15 If he holds back the waters,(BP) there is drought;(BQ)
if he lets them loose, they devastate the land.(BR)
16 To him belong strength and insight;(BS)
both deceived and deceiver are his.(BT)
17 He leads rulers away stripped(BU)
and makes fools of judges.(BV)
18 He takes off the shackles(BW) put on by kings
and ties a loincloth[c] around their waist.(BX)
19 He leads priests away stripped(BY)
and overthrows officials long established.(BZ)
20 He silences the lips of trusted advisers
and takes away the discernment of elders.(CA)
21 He pours contempt on nobles(CB)
and disarms the mighty.(CC)
22 He reveals the deep things of darkness(CD)
and brings utter darkness(CE) into the light.(CF)
23 He makes nations great, and destroys them;(CG)
he enlarges nations,(CH) and disperses them.(CI)
24 He deprives the leaders of the earth of their reason;(CJ)
he makes them wander in a trackless waste.(CK)
25 They grope in darkness with no light;(CL)
he makes them stagger like drunkards.(CM)
13 “My eyes have seen all this,(CN)
my ears have heard and understood it.
2 What you know, I also know;
I am not inferior to you.(CO)
3 But I desire to speak to the Almighty(CP)
and to argue my case with God.(CQ)
4 You, however, smear me with lies;(CR)
you are worthless physicians,(CS) all of you!(CT)
5 If only you would be altogether silent!(CU)
For you, that would be wisdom.(CV)
6 Hear now my argument;
listen to the pleas of my lips.(CW)
7 Will you speak wickedly on God’s behalf?
Will you speak deceitfully for him?(CX)
8 Will you show him partiality?(CY)
Will you argue the case for God?
9 Would it turn out well if he examined you?(CZ)
Could you deceive him as you might deceive a mortal?(DA)
10 He would surely call you to account
if you secretly showed partiality.(DB)
11 Would not his splendor(DC) terrify you?
Would not the dread of him fall on you?(DD)
12 Your maxims are proverbs of ashes;
your defenses are defenses of clay.(DE)
13 “Keep silent(DF) and let me speak;(DG)
then let come to me what may.(DH)
14 Why do I put myself in jeopardy
and take my life in my hands?(DI)
15 Though he slay me, yet will I hope(DJ) in him;(DK)
I will surely[d] defend my ways to his face.(DL)
16 Indeed, this will turn out for my deliverance,(DM)
for no godless(DN) person would dare come before him!(DO)
17 Listen carefully to what I say;(DP)
let my words ring in your ears.
18 Now that I have prepared my case,(DQ)
I know I will be vindicated.(DR)
19 Can anyone bring charges against me?(DS)
If so, I will be silent(DT) and die.(DU)
20 “Only grant me these two things, God,
and then I will not hide from you:
21 Withdraw your hand(DV) far from me,
and stop frightening me with your terrors.(DW)
22 Then summon me and I will answer,(DX)
or let me speak, and you reply to me.(DY)
23 How many wrongs and sins have I committed?(DZ)
Show me my offense and my sin.(EA)
24 Why do you hide your face(EB)
and consider me your enemy?(EC)
25 Will you torment(ED) a windblown leaf?(EE)
Will you chase(EF) after dry chaff?(EG)
26 For you write down bitter things against me
and make me reap the sins of my youth.(EH)
27 You fasten my feet in shackles;(EI)
you keep close watch on all my paths(EJ)
by putting marks on the soles of my feet.
Acts 9:1-21
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Acts 9:1-21
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
The Conversion of Saul
9 Meanwhile Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest(A) 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any who belonged to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3 Now as he was going along and approaching Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him.(B) 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”(C) 5 He asked, “Who are you, Lord?” The reply came, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 6 But get up and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” 7 The men who were traveling with him stood speechless because they heard the voice but saw no one.(D) 8 Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing;[a] so they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9 For three days he was without sight and neither ate nor drank.
10 Now there was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” He answered, “Here I am, Lord.”(E) 11 The Lord said to him, “Get up and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul. At this moment he is praying,(F) 12 and he has seen in a vision[b] a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.” 13 But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints in Jerusalem, 14 and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who invoke your name.”(G) 15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is an instrument whom I have chosen to bring my name before gentiles and kings and before the people of Israel;(H) 16 I myself will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.”(I) 17 So Ananias went and entered the house. He laid his hands on Saul[c] and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on your way here, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”(J) 18 And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and his sight was restored. Then he got up and was baptized, 19 and after taking some food, he regained his strength.
Saul Preaches in Damascus
For several days he was with the disciples in Damascus,(K) 20 and immediately he began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.” 21 All who heard him were amazed and said, “Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem among those who invoked this name? And has he not come here for the purpose of bringing them bound before the chief priests?”(L)
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Acts 9:1-21
New International Version
Acts 9:1-21
New International Version
Saul’s Conversion(A)
9 Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples.(B) He went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus,(C) so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way,(D) whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. 3 As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him.(E) 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice(F) say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”
5 “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked.
“I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. 6 “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”(G)
7 The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound(H) but did not see anyone.(I) 8 Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing.(J) So they led him by the hand into Damascus. 9 For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.
10 In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision,(K) “Ananias!”
“Yes, Lord,” he answered.
11 The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus(L) named Saul, for he is praying. 12 In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on(M) him to restore his sight.”
13 “Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people(N) in Jerusalem.(O) 14 And he has come here with authority from the chief priests(P) to arrest all who call on your name.”(Q)
15 But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument(R) to proclaim my name to the Gentiles(S) and their kings(T) and to the people of Israel. 16 I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”(U)
17 Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on(V) Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”(W) 18 Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized,(X) 19 and after taking some food, he regained his strength.
Saul in Damascus and Jerusalem
Saul spent several days with the disciples(Y) in Damascus.(Z) 20 At once he began to preach in the synagogues(AA) that Jesus is the Son of God.(AB) 21 All those who heard him were astonished and asked, “Isn’t he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name?(AC) And hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?”(AD)
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