Acts 15

New International Version

The Council at Jerusalem

15 Certain people^(A) came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the believers:^(B) “Unless you are circumcised,^(C) according to the custom taught by Moses,^(D) you cannot be saved.” ²This brought Paul and Barnabas into sharp dispute and debate with them. So Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem^(E) to see the apostles and elders^(F) about this question. ³The church sent them on their way, and as they traveled through Phoenicia^(G) and Samaria, they told how the Gentiles had been converted.^(H) This news made all the believers very glad. ⁴When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and elders, to whom they reported everything God had done through them.^(I)

⁵Then some of the believers who belonged to the party^(J) of the Pharisees^(K) stood up and said, “The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to keep the law of Moses.”^(L)

⁶The apostles and elders met to consider this question. ⁷After much discussion, Peter got up and addressed them: “Brothers, you know that some time ago God made a choice among you that the Gentiles might hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe.^(M) ⁸God, who knows the heart,^(N) showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them,^(O) just as he did to us. ⁹He did not discriminate between us and them,^(P) for he purified their hearts by faith.^(Q) ¹⁰Now then, why do you try to test God^(R) by putting on the necks of Gentiles a yoke^(S) that neither we nor our ancestors have been able to bear? ¹¹No! We believe it is through the grace^(T) of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.”

¹²The whole assembly became silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul telling about the signs and wonders^(U) God had done among the Gentiles through them.^(V) ¹³When they finished, James^(W) spoke up. “Brothers,” he said, “listen to me. ¹⁴Simon^[a] has described to us how God first intervened to choose a people for his name from the Gentiles.^(X) ¹⁵The words of the prophets are in agreement with this, as it is written:

¹⁶“‘After this I will return
    and rebuild David’s fallen tent.
Its ruins I will rebuild,
    and I will restore it,
¹⁷that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord,
    even all the Gentiles who bear my name,
says the Lord, who does these things’^[b]^(Y)—
¹⁸    things known from long ago.^[c]^(Z)

¹⁹“It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. ²⁰Instead we should write to them, telling them to abstain from food polluted by idols,^(AA) from sexual immorality,^(AB) from the meat of strangled animals and from blood.^(AC) ²¹For the law of Moses has been preached in every city from the earliest times and is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath.”^(AD)

The Council’s Letter to Gentile Believers

²²Then the apostles and elders,^(AE) with the whole church, decided to choose some of their own men and send them to Antioch^(AF) with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas (called Barsabbas) and Silas,^(AG) men who were leaders among the believers. ²³With them they sent the following letter:

The apostles and elders, your brothers,

To the Gentile believers in Antioch,^(AH) Syria^(AI) and Cilicia:^(AJ)

Greetings.^(AK)

²⁴We have heard that some went out from us without our authorization and disturbed you, troubling your minds by what they said.^(AL) ²⁵So we all agreed to choose some men and send them to you with our dear friends Barnabas and Paul— ²⁶men who have risked their lives^(AM) for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. ²⁷Therefore we are sending Judas and Silas^(AN) to confirm by word of mouth what we are writing. ²⁸It seemed good to the Holy Spirit^(AO) and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements: ²⁹You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality.^(AP) You will do well to avoid these things.

Farewell.

³⁰So the men were sent off and went down to Antioch, where they gathered the church together and delivered the letter. ³¹The people read it and were glad for its encouraging message. ³²Judas and Silas,^(AQ) who themselves were prophets,^(AR) said much to encourage and strengthen the believers. ³³After spending some time there, they were sent off by the believers with the blessing of peace^(AS) to return to those who had sent them. ^[34]^[d] ³⁵But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, where they and many others taught and preached^(AT) the word of the Lord.^(AU)

Disagreement Between Paul and Barnabas

³⁶Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us go back and visit the believers in all the towns^(AV) where we preached the word of the Lord^(AW) and see how they are doing.” ³⁷Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark,^(AX) with them, ³⁸but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them^(AY) in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work. ³⁹They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, ⁴⁰but Paul chose Silas^(AZ) and left, commended by the believers to the grace of the Lord.^(BA) ⁴¹He went through Syria^(BB) and Cilicia,^(BC) strengthening the churches.^(BD)

Footnotes

Acts 15:14 Greek Simeon, a variant of Simon; that is, Peter
Acts 15:17 Amos 9:11,12 (see Septuagint)
Acts 15:18 Some manuscripts things’— / ¹⁸the Lord’s work is known to him from long ago
Acts 15:34 Some manuscripts include here But Silas decided to remain there.

Job 18-20

New International Version

Bildad

18 Then Bildad the Shuhite^(A) replied:

²“When will you end these speeches?^(B)
    Be sensible, and then we can talk.
³Why are we regarded as cattle^(C)
    and considered stupid in your sight?^(D)
⁴You who tear yourself^(E) to pieces in your anger,^(F)
    is the earth to be abandoned for your sake?
    Or must the rocks be moved from their place?^(G)

⁵“The lamp of a wicked man is snuffed out;^(H)
    the flame of his fire stops burning.^(I)
⁶The light in his tent^(J) becomes dark;^(K)
    the lamp beside him goes out.^(L)
⁷The vigor^(M) of his step is weakened;^(N)
    his own schemes^(O) throw him down.^(P)
⁸His feet thrust him into a net;^(Q)
    he wanders into its mesh.
⁹A trap seizes him by the heel;
    a snare^(R) holds him fast.^(S)
¹⁰A noose^(T) is hidden for him on the ground;
    a trap^(U) lies in his path.^(V)
¹¹Terrors^(W) startle him on every side^(X)
    and dog^(Y) his every step.
¹²Calamity^(Z) is hungry^(AA) for him;
    disaster^(AB) is ready for him when he falls.^(AC)
¹³It eats away parts of his skin;^(AD)
    death’s firstborn devours his limbs.^(AE)
¹⁴He is torn from the security of his tent^(AF)
    and marched off to the king^(AG) of terrors.^(AH)
¹⁵Fire resides^[a] in his tent;^(AI)
    burning sulfur^(AJ) is scattered over his dwelling.
¹⁶His roots dry up below^(AK)
    and his branches wither above.^(AL)
¹⁷The memory of him perishes from the earth;^(AM)
    he has no name^(AN) in the land.^(AO)
¹⁸He is driven from light into the realm of darkness^(AP)
    and is banished^(AQ) from the world.^(AR)
¹⁹He has no offspring^(AS) or descendants^(AT) among his people,
    no survivor^(AU) where once he lived.^(AV)
²⁰People of the west are appalled^(AW) at his fate;^(AX)
    those of the east are seized with horror.
²¹Surely such is the dwelling^(AY) of an evil man;^(AZ)
    such is the place^(BA) of one who does not know God.”^(BB)

Job

19 Then Job replied:

²“How long will you torment^(BC) me
    and crush^(BD) me with words?
³Ten times^(BE) now you have reproached^(BF) me;
    shamelessly you attack me.
⁴If it is true that I have gone astray,
    my error^(BG) remains my concern alone.
⁵If indeed you would exalt yourselves above me^(BH)
    and use my humiliation against me,
⁶then know that God has wronged me^(BI)
    and drawn his net^(BJ) around me.^(BK)

⁷“Though I cry, ‘Violence!’ I get no response;^(BL)
    though I call for help,^(BM) there is no justice.^(BN)
⁸He has blocked my way so I cannot pass;^(BO)
    he has shrouded my paths in darkness.^(BP)
⁹He has stripped^(BQ) me of my honor^(BR)
    and removed the crown from my head.^(BS)
¹⁰He tears me down^(BT) on every side till I am gone;
    he uproots my hope^(BU) like a tree.^(BV)
¹¹His anger^(BW) burns against me;
    he counts me among his enemies.^(BX)
¹²His troops advance in force;^(BY)
    they build a siege ramp^(BZ) against me
    and encamp around my tent.^(CA)

¹³“He has alienated my family^(CB) from me;
    my acquaintances are completely estranged from me.^(CC)
¹⁴My relatives have gone away;
    my closest friends^(CD) have forgotten me.
¹⁵My guests^(CE) and my female servants^(CF) count me a foreigner;
    they look on me as on a stranger.
¹⁶I summon my servant, but he does not answer,
    though I beg him with my own mouth.
¹⁷My breath is offensive to my wife;
    I am loathsome^(CG) to my own family.
¹⁸Even the little boys^(CH) scorn me;
    when I appear, they ridicule me.^(CI)
¹⁹All my intimate friends^(CJ) detest me;^(CK)
    those I love have turned against me.^(CL)
²⁰I am nothing but skin and bones;^(CM)
    I have escaped only by the skin of my teeth.^[b]

²¹“Have pity on me, my friends,^(CN) have pity,
for the hand of God has struck^(CO) me.
²²Why do you pursue^(CP) me as God does?^(CQ)
Will you never get enough of my flesh?^(CR)

²³“Oh, that my words were recorded,
    that they were written on a scroll,^(CS)
²⁴that they were inscribed with an iron tool^(CT) on^[c] lead,
    or engraved in rock forever!^(CU)
²⁵I know that my redeemer^[d]^(CV) lives,^(CW)
    and that in the end he will stand on the earth.^[e]
²⁶And after my skin has been destroyed,
    yet^[f] in^[g] my flesh I will see God;^(CX)
²⁷I myself will see him
    with my own eyes^(CY)—I, and not another.
    How my heart yearns^(CZ) within me!

²⁸“If you say, ‘How we will hound^(DA) him,
    since the root of the trouble lies in him,^[h]’
²⁹you should fear the sword yourselves;
    for wrath will bring punishment by the sword,^(DB)
    and then you will know that there is judgment.^[i]”^(DC)

Zophar

20 Then Zophar the Naamathite^(DD) replied:

²“My troubled thoughts prompt me to answer
because I am greatly disturbed.^(DE)
³I hear a rebuke^(DF) that dishonors me,
and my understanding inspires me to reply.

⁴“Surely you know how it has been from of old,^(DG)
    ever since mankind^[j] was placed on the earth,
⁵that the mirth of the wicked^(DH) is brief,
    the joy of the godless^(DI) lasts but a moment.^(DJ)
⁶Though the pride^(DK) of the godless person reaches to the heavens^(DL)
    and his head touches the clouds,^(DM)
⁷he will perish forever,^(DN) like his own dung;
    those who have seen him will say, ‘Where is he?’^(DO)
⁸Like a dream^(DP) he flies away,^(DQ) no more to be found,
    banished^(DR) like a vision of the night.^(DS)
⁹The eye that saw him will not see him again;
    his place will look on him no more.^(DT)
¹⁰His children^(DU) must make amends to the poor;
    his own hands must give back his wealth.^(DV)
¹¹The youthful vigor^(DW) that fills his bones^(DX)
    will lie with him in the dust.^(DY)

¹²“Though evil^(DZ) is sweet in his mouth
    and he hides it under his tongue,^(EA)
¹³though he cannot bear to let it go
    and lets it linger in his mouth,^(EB)
¹⁴yet his food will turn sour in his stomach;^(EC)
    it will become the venom of serpents^(ED) within him.
¹⁵He will spit out the riches^(EE) he swallowed;
    God will make his stomach vomit^(EF) them up.
¹⁶He will suck the poison^(EG) of serpents;
    the fangs of an adder will kill him.^(EH)
¹⁷He will not enjoy the streams,
    the rivers^(EI) flowing with honey^(EJ) and cream.^(EK)
¹⁸What he toiled for he must give back uneaten;^(EL)
    he will not enjoy the profit from his trading.^(EM)
¹⁹For he has oppressed the poor^(EN) and left them destitute;^(EO)
    he has seized houses^(EP) he did not build.

²⁰“Surely he will have no respite from his craving;^(EQ)
    he cannot save himself by his treasure.^(ER)
²¹Nothing is left for him to devour;
    his prosperity will not endure.^(ES)
²²In the midst of his plenty, distress will overtake him;^(ET)
    the full force of misery will come upon him.^(EU)
²³When he has filled his belly,^(EV)
    God will vent his burning anger^(EW) against him
    and rain down his blows on him.^(EX)
²⁴Though he flees^(EY) from an iron weapon,
    a bronze-tipped arrow pierces him.^(EZ)
²⁵He pulls it out of his back,
    the gleaming point out of his liver.
Terrors^(FA) will come over him;^(FB)
²⁶    total darkness^(FC) lies in wait for his treasures.
A fire^(FD) unfanned will consume him^(FE)
    and devour what is left in his tent.^(FF)
²⁷The heavens will expose his guilt;
    the earth will rise up against him.^(FG)
²⁸A flood will carry off his house,^(FH)
    rushing waters^[k] on the day of God’s wrath.^(FI)
²⁹Such is the fate God allots the wicked,
    the heritage appointed for them by God.”^(FJ)

Footnotes

Job 18:15 Or Nothing he had remains
Job 19:20 Or only by my gums
Job 19:24 Or and
Job 19:25 Or vindicator
Job 19:25 Or on my grave
Job 19:26 Or And after I awake, / though this body has been destroyed, / then
Job 19:26 Or destroyed, / apart from
Job 19:28 Many Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint and Vulgate; most Hebrew manuscripts me
Job 19:29 Or sword, / that you may come to know the Almighty
Job 20:4 Or Adam
Job 20:28 Or The possessions in his house will be carried off, / washed away