28 And when they were escaped, then they knew that the island was called Melita.

² And the barbarous people shewed us no little kindness: for they kindled a fire, and received us every one, because of the present rain, and because of the cold.

³ And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand.

⁴ And when the barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live.

⁵ And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm.

⁶ Howbeit they looked when he should have swollen, or fallen down dead suddenly: but after they had looked a great while, and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds, and said that he was a god.

⁷ In the same quarters were possessions of the chief man of the island, whose name was Publius; who received us, and lodged us three days courteously.

⁸ And it came to pass, that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and of a bloody flux: to whom Paul entered in, and prayed, and laid his hands on him, and healed him.

⁹ So when this was done, others also, which had diseases in the island, came, and were healed:

¹⁰ Who also honoured us with many honours; and when we departed, they laded us with such things as were necessary.

¹¹ And after three months we departed in a ship of Alexandria, which had wintered in the isle, whose sign was Castor and Pollux.

¹² And landing at Syracuse, we tarried there three days.

¹³ And from thence we fetched a compass, and came to Rhegium: and after one day the south wind blew, and we came the next day to Puteoli:

¹⁴ Where we found brethren, and were desired to tarry with them seven days: and so we went toward Rome.

¹⁵ And from thence, when the brethren heard of us, they came to meet us as far as Appii forum, and The three taverns: whom when Paul saw, he thanked God, and took courage.

¹⁶ And when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard: but Paul was suffered to dwell by himself with a soldier that kept him.

¹⁷ And it came to pass, that after three days Paul called the chief of the Jews together: and when they were come together, he said unto them, Men and brethren, though I have committed nothing against the people, or customs of our fathers, yet was I delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans.

¹⁸ Who, when they had examined me, would have let me go, because there was no cause of death in me.

¹⁹ But when the Jews spake against it, I was constrained to appeal unto Caesar; not that I had ought to accuse my nation of.

²⁰ For this cause therefore have I called for you, to see you, and to speak with you: because that for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain.

²¹ And they said unto him, We neither received letters out of Judaea concerning thee, neither any of the brethren that came shewed or spake any harm of thee.

²² But we desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest: for as concerning this sect, we know that every where it is spoken against.

²³ And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening.

²⁴ And some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not.

²⁵ And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers,

²⁶ Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive:

²⁷ For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

²⁸ Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it.

²⁹ And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, and had great reasoning among themselves.

³⁰ And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him,

³¹ Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.

33 Wherefore, Job, I pray thee, hear my speeches, and hearken to all my words.

² Behold, now I have opened my mouth, my tongue hath spoken in my mouth.

³ My words shall be of the uprightness of my heart: and my lips shall utter knowledge clearly.

⁴ The spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life.

⁵ If thou canst answer me, set thy words in order before me, stand up.

⁶ Behold, I am according to thy wish in God's stead: I also am formed out of the clay.

⁷ Behold, my terror shall not make thee afraid, neither shall my hand be heavy upon thee.

⁸ Surely thou hast spoken in mine hearing, and I have heard the voice of thy words, saying,

⁹ I am clean without transgression, I am innocent; neither is there iniquity in me.

¹⁰ Behold, he findeth occasions against me, he counteth me for his enemy,

¹¹ He putteth my feet in the stocks, he marketh all my paths.

¹² Behold, in this thou art not just: I will answer thee, that God is greater than man.

¹³ Why dost thou strive against him? for he giveth not account of any of his matters.

¹⁴ For God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not.

¹⁵ In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed;

¹⁶ Then he openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction,

¹⁷ That he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man.

¹⁸ He keepeth back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword.

¹⁹ He is chastened also with pain upon his bed, and the multitude of his bones with strong pain:

²⁰ So that his life abhorreth bread, and his soul dainty meat.

²¹ His flesh is consumed away, that it cannot be seen; and his bones that were not seen stick out.

²² Yea, his soul draweth near unto the grave, and his life to the destroyers.

²³ If there be a messenger with him, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to shew unto man his uprightness:

²⁴ Then he is gracious unto him, and saith, Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom.

²⁵ His flesh shall be fresher than a child's: he shall return to the days of his youth:

²⁶ He shall pray unto God, and he will be favourable unto him: and he shall see his face with joy: for he will render unto man his righteousness.

²⁷ He looketh upon men, and if any say, I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it profited me not;

²⁸ He will deliver his soul from going into the pit, and his life shall see the light.

²⁹ Lo, all these things worketh God oftentimes with man,

³⁰ To bring back his soul from the pit, to be enlightened with the light of the living.

³¹ Mark well, O Job, hearken unto me: hold thy peace, and I will speak.

³² If thou hast anything to say, answer me: speak, for I desire to justify thee.

³³ If not, hearken unto me: hold thy peace, and I shall teach thee wisdom.

34 Furthermore Elihu answered and said,

² Hear my words, O ye wise men; and give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge.

³ For the ear trieth words, as the mouth tasteth meat.

⁴ Let us choose to us judgment: let us know among ourselves what is good.

⁵ For Job hath said, I am righteous: and God hath taken away my judgment.

⁶ Should I lie against my right? my wound is incurable without transgression.

⁷ What man is like Job, who drinketh up scorning like water?

⁸ Which goeth in company with the workers of iniquity, and walketh with wicked men.

⁹ For he hath said, It profiteth a man nothing that he should delight himself with God.

¹⁰ Therefore hearken unto me ye men of understanding: far be it from God, that he should do wickedness; and from the Almighty, that he should commit iniquity.

¹¹ For the work of a man shall he render unto him, and cause every man to find according to his ways.

¹² Yea, surely God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert judgment.

¹³ Who hath given him a charge over the earth? or who hath disposed the whole world?

¹⁴ If he set his heart upon man, if he gather unto himself his spirit and his breath;

¹⁵ All flesh shall perish together, and man shall turn again unto dust.

¹⁶ If now thou hast understanding, hear this: hearken to the voice of my words.

¹⁷ Shall even he that hateth right govern? and wilt thou condemn him that is most just?

¹⁸ Is it fit to say to a king, Thou art wicked? and to princes, Ye are ungodly?

¹⁹ How much less to him that accepteth not the persons of princes, nor regardeth the rich more than the poor? for they all are the work of his hands.

²⁰ In a moment shall they die, and the people shall be troubled at midnight, and pass away: and the mighty shall be taken away without hand.

²¹ For his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his goings.

²² There is no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.

²³ For he will not lay upon man more than right; that he should enter into judgment with God.

²⁴ He shall break in pieces mighty men without number, and set others in their stead.

²⁵ Therefore he knoweth their works, and he overturneth them in the night, so that they are destroyed.

²⁶ He striketh them as wicked men in the open sight of others;

²⁷ Because they turned back from him, and would not consider any of his ways:

²⁸ So that they cause the cry of the poor to come unto him, and he heareth the cry of the afflicted.

²⁹ When he giveth quietness, who then can make trouble? and when he hideth his face, who then can behold him? whether it be done against a nation, or against a man only:

³⁰ That the hypocrite reign not, lest the people be ensnared.

³¹ Surely it is meet to be said unto God, I have borne chastisement, I will not offend any more:

³² That which I see not teach thou me: if I have done iniquity, I will do no more.

³³ Should it be according to thy mind? he will recompense it, whether thou refuse, or whether thou choose; and not I: therefore speak what thou knowest.

³⁴ Let men of understanding tell me, and let a wise man hearken unto me.

³⁵ Job hath spoken without knowledge, and his words were without wisdom.

³⁶ My desire is that Job may be tried unto the end because of his answers for wicked men.

³⁷ For he addeth rebellion unto his sin, he clappeth his hands among us, and multiplieth his words against God.

35 Elihu spake moreover, and said,

² Thinkest thou this to be right, that thou saidst, My righteousness is more than God's?

³ For thou saidst, What advantage will it be unto thee? and, What profit shall I have, if I be cleansed from my sin?

⁴ I will answer thee, and thy companions with thee.

⁵ Look unto the heavens, and see; and behold the clouds which are higher than thou.

⁶ If thou sinnest, what doest thou against him? or if thy transgressions be multiplied, what doest thou unto him?

⁷ If thou be righteous, what givest thou him? or what receiveth he of thine hand?

⁸ Thy wickedness may hurt a man as thou art; and thy righteousness may profit the son of man.

⁹ By reason of the multitude of oppressions they make the oppressed to cry: they cry out by reason of the arm of the mighty.

¹⁰ But none saith, Where is God my maker, who giveth songs in the night;

¹¹ Who teacheth us more than the beasts of the earth, and maketh us wiser than the fowls of heaven?

¹² There they cry, but none giveth answer, because of the pride of evil men.

¹³ Surely God will not hear vanity, neither will the Almighty regard it.

¹⁴ Although thou sayest thou shalt not see him, yet judgment is before him; therefore trust thou in him.

¹⁵ But now, because it is not so, he hath visited in his anger; yet he knoweth it not in great extremity:

¹⁶ Therefore doth Job open his mouth in vain; he multiplieth words without knowledge.