Acts 19:8-41

New International Version

⁸Paul entered the synagogue^(A) and spoke boldly there for three months, arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God.^(B) ⁹But some of them^(C) became obstinate; they refused to believe and publicly maligned the Way.^(D) So Paul left them. He took the disciples^(E) with him and had discussions daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus. ¹⁰This went on for two years,^(F) so that all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia^(G) heard the word of the Lord.^(H)

¹¹God did extraordinary miracles^(I) through Paul, ¹²so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured^(J) and the evil spirits left them.

¹³Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits^(K) tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, “In the name of the Jesus^(L) whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out.” ¹⁴Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. ¹⁵One day the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know about, but who are you?” ¹⁶Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding.

¹⁷When this became known to the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus,^(M) they were all seized with fear,^(N) and the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor. ¹⁸Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed what they had done. ¹⁹A number who had practiced sorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly. When they calculated the value of the scrolls, the total came to fifty thousand drachmas.^[a] ²⁰In this way the word of the Lord^(O) spread widely and grew in power.^(P)

²¹After all this had happened, Paul decided^[b] to go to Jerusalem,^(Q) passing through Macedonia^(R) and Achaia.^(S) “After I have been there,” he said, “I must visit Rome also.”^(T) ²²He sent two of his helpers,^(U) Timothy^(V) and Erastus,^(W) to Macedonia, while he stayed in the province of Asia^(X) a little longer.

The Riot in Ephesus

²³About that time there arose a great disturbance about the Way.^(Y) ²⁴A silversmith named Demetrius, who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought in a lot of business for the craftsmen there. ²⁵He called them together, along with the workers in related trades, and said: “You know, my friends, that we receive a good income from this business.^(Z) ²⁶And you see and hear how this fellow Paul has convinced and led astray large numbers of people here in Ephesus^(AA) and in practically the whole province of Asia.^(AB) He says that gods made by human hands are no gods at all.^(AC) ²⁷There is danger not only that our trade will lose its good name, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be discredited; and the goddess herself, who is worshiped throughout the province of Asia and the world, will be robbed of her divine majesty.”

²⁸When they heard this, they were furious and began shouting: “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”^(AD) ²⁹Soon the whole city was in an uproar. The people seized Gaius^(AE) and Aristarchus,^(AF) Paul’s traveling companions from Macedonia,^(AG) and all of them rushed into the theater together. ³⁰Paul wanted to appear before the crowd, but the disciples^(AH) would not let him. ³¹Even some of the officials of the province, friends of Paul, sent him a message begging him not to venture into the theater.

³²The assembly was in confusion: Some were shouting one thing, some another.^(AI) Most of the people did not even know why they were there. ³³The Jews in the crowd pushed Alexander to the front, and they shouted instructions to him. He motioned^(AJ) for silence in order to make a defense before the people. ³⁴But when they realized he was a Jew, they all shouted in unison for about two hours: “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”^(AK)

³⁵The city clerk quieted the crowd and said: “Fellow Ephesians,^(AL) doesn’t all the world know that the city of Ephesus is the guardian of the temple of the great Artemis and of her image, which fell from heaven? ³⁶Therefore, since these facts are undeniable, you ought to calm down and not do anything rash. ³⁷You have brought these men here, though they have neither robbed temples^(AM) nor blasphemed our goddess. ³⁸If, then, Demetrius and his fellow craftsmen^(AN) have a grievance against anybody, the courts are open and there are proconsuls.^(AO) They can press charges. ³⁹If there is anything further you want to bring up, it must be settled in a legal assembly. ⁴⁰As it is, we are in danger of being charged with rioting because of what happened today. In that case we would not be able to account for this commotion, since there is no reason for it.” ⁴¹After he had said this, he dismissed the assembly.

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Notas al pie

Acts 19:19 A drachma was a silver coin worth about a day’s wages.
Acts 19:21 Or decided in the Spirit

Job 15-18

New International Version

Eliphaz

15 Then Eliphaz the Temanite^(A) replied:

²“Would a wise person answer with empty notions
    or fill their belly with the hot east wind?^(B)
³Would they argue with useless words,
    with speeches that have no value?^(C)
⁴But you even undermine piety
    and hinder devotion to God.^(D)
⁵Your sin^(E) prompts your mouth;^(F)
    you adopt the tongue of the crafty.^(G)
⁶Your own mouth condemns you, not mine;
    your own lips testify against you.^(H)

⁷“Are you the first man ever born?^(I)
    Were you brought forth before the hills?^(J)
⁸Do you listen in on God’s council?^(K)
    Do you have a monopoly on wisdom?^(L)
⁹What do you know that we do not know?
    What insights do you have that we do not have?^(M)
¹⁰The gray-haired and the aged^(N) are on our side,
    men even older than your father.^(O)
¹¹Are God’s consolations^(P) not enough for you,
    words^(Q) spoken gently to you?^(R)
¹²Why has your heart^(S) carried you away,
    and why do your eyes flash,
¹³so that you vent your rage^(T) against God
    and pour out such words^(U) from your mouth?^(V)

¹⁴“What are mortals, that they could be pure,
    or those born of woman,^(W) that they could be righteous?^(X)
¹⁵If God places no trust in his holy ones,^(Y)
    if even the heavens are not pure in his eyes,^(Z)
¹⁶how much less mortals, who are vile and corrupt,^(AA)
    who drink up evil^(AB) like water!^(AC)

¹⁷“Listen to me and I will explain to you;
    let me tell you what I have seen,^(AD)
¹⁸what the wise have declared,
    hiding nothing received from their ancestors^(AE)
¹⁹(to whom alone the land^(AF) was given
    when no foreigners moved among them):
²⁰All his days the wicked man suffers torment,^(AG)
    the ruthless man through all the years stored up for him.^(AH)
²¹Terrifying sounds fill his ears;^(AI)
    when all seems well, marauders attack him.^(AJ)
²²He despairs of escaping the realm of darkness;^(AK)
    he is marked for the sword.^(AL)
²³He wanders about^(AM) for food like a vulture;^(AN)
    he knows the day of darkness^(AO) is at hand.^(AP)
²⁴Distress and anguish^(AQ) fill him with terror;^(AR)
    troubles overwhelm him, like a king^(AS) poised to attack,
²⁵because he shakes his fist^(AT) at God
    and vaunts himself against the Almighty,^(AU)
²⁶defiantly charging against him
    with a thick, strong shield.^(AV)

²⁷“Though his face is covered with fat
    and his waist bulges with flesh,^(AW)
²⁸he will inhabit ruined towns
    and houses where no one lives,^(AX)
    houses crumbling to rubble.^(AY)
²⁹He will no longer be rich and his wealth will not endure,^(AZ)
    nor will his possessions spread over the land.^(BA)
³⁰He will not escape the darkness;^(BB)
    a flame^(BC) will wither his shoots,^(BD)
    and the breath of God’s mouth^(BE) will carry him away.^(BF)
³¹Let him not deceive^(BG) himself by trusting what is worthless,^(BH)
    for he will get nothing in return.^(BI)
³²Before his time^(BJ) he will wither,^(BK)
    and his branches will not flourish.^(BL)
³³He will be like a vine stripped of its unripe grapes,^(BM)
    like an olive tree shedding its blossoms.^(BN)
³⁴For the company of the godless^(BO) will be barren,
    and fire will consume^(BP) the tents of those who love bribes.^(BQ)
³⁵They conceive trouble^(BR) and give birth to evil;^(BS)
    their womb fashions deceit.”

Job

16 Then Job replied:

²“I have heard many things like these;
    you are miserable comforters,^(BT) all of you!^(BU)
³Will your long-winded speeches never end?^(BV)
    What ails you that you keep on arguing?^(BW)
⁴I also could speak like you,
    if you were in my place;
I could make fine speeches against you
    and shake my head^(BX) at you.
⁵But my mouth would encourage you;
    comfort^(BY) from my lips would bring you relief.^(BZ)

⁶“Yet if I speak, my pain is not relieved;
    and if I refrain, it does not go away.^(CA)
⁷Surely, God, you have worn me out;^(CB)
    you have devastated my entire household.^(CC)
⁸You have shriveled me up—and it has become a witness;
    my gauntness^(CD) rises up and testifies against me.^(CE)
⁹God assails me and tears^(CF) me in his anger^(CG)
    and gnashes his teeth at me;^(CH)
    my opponent fastens on me his piercing eyes.^(CI)
¹⁰People open their mouths^(CJ) to jeer at me;^(CK)
    they strike my cheek^(CL) in scorn
    and unite together against me.^(CM)
¹¹God has turned me over to the ungodly
    and thrown me into the clutches of the wicked.^(CN)
¹²All was well with me, but he shattered me;
    he seized me by the neck and crushed me.^(CO)
He has made me his target;^(CP)
¹³    his archers surround me.^(CQ)
Without pity, he pierces^(CR) my kidneys
    and spills my gall on the ground.
¹⁴Again and again^(CS) he bursts upon me;
    he rushes at me like a warrior.^(CT)

¹⁵“I have sewed sackcloth^(CU) over my skin
    and buried my brow in the dust.^(CV)
¹⁶My face is red with weeping,^(CW)
    dark shadows ring my eyes;^(CX)
¹⁷yet my hands have been free of violence^(CY)
    and my prayer is pure.^(CZ)

¹⁸“Earth, do not cover my blood;^(DA)
    may my cry^(DB) never be laid to rest!^(DC)
¹⁹Even now my witness^(DD) is in heaven;^(DE)
    my advocate is on high.^(DF)
²⁰My intercessor^(DG) is my friend^[a]^(DH)
    as my eyes pour out^(DI) tears^(DJ) to God;
²¹on behalf of a man he pleads^(DK) with God
    as one pleads for a friend.

²²“Only a few years will pass
before I take the path of no return.^(DL)

17 ¹My spirit^(DM) is broken,
    my days are cut short,^(DN)
    the grave awaits me.^(DO)
²Surely mockers^(DP) surround me;^(DQ)
    my eyes must dwell on their hostility.

³“Give me, O God, the pledge you demand.^(DR)
    Who else will put up security^(DS) for me?^(DT)
⁴You have closed their minds to understanding;^(DU)
    therefore you will not let them triumph.
⁵If anyone denounces their friends for reward,^(DV)
    the eyes of their children will fail.^(DW)

⁶“God has made me a byword^(DX) to everyone,^(DY)
    a man in whose face people spit.^(DZ)
⁷My eyes have grown dim with grief;^(EA)
    my whole frame is but a shadow.^(EB)
⁸The upright are appalled at this;
    the innocent are aroused^(EC) against the ungodly.
⁹Nevertheless, the righteous^(ED) will hold to their ways,
    and those with clean hands^(EE) will grow stronger.^(EF)

¹⁰“But come on, all of you, try again!
    I will not find a wise man among you.^(EG)
¹¹My days have passed,^(EH) my plans are shattered.
    Yet the desires of my heart^(EI)
¹²turn night into day;^(EJ)
    in the face of the darkness light is near.^(EK)
¹³If the only home I hope for is the grave,^(EL)
    if I spread out my bed^(EM) in the realm of darkness,^(EN)
¹⁴if I say to corruption,^(EO) ‘You are my father,’
    and to the worm,^(EP) ‘My mother’ or ‘My sister,’
¹⁵where then is my hope—^(EQ)
    who can see any hope for me?^(ER)
¹⁶Will it go down to the gates of death?^(ES)
    Will we descend together into the dust?”^(ET)

Bildad

18 Then Bildad the Shuhite^(EU) replied:

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

⁵“The lamp of a wicked man is snuffed out;^(FB)
    the flame of his fire stops burning.^(FC)
⁶The light in his tent^(FD) becomes dark;^(FE)
    the lamp beside him goes out.^(FF)
⁷The vigor^(FG) of his step is weakened;^(FH)
    his own schemes^(FI) throw him down.^(FJ)
⁸His feet thrust him into a net;^(FK)
    he wanders into its mesh.
⁹A trap seizes him by the heel;
    a snare^(FL) holds him fast.^(FM)
¹⁰A noose^(FN) is hidden for him on the ground;
    a trap^(FO) lies in his path.^(FP)
¹¹Terrors^(FQ) startle him on every side^(FR)
    and dog^(FS) his every step.
¹²Calamity^(FT) is hungry^(FU) for him;
    disaster^(FV) is ready for him when he falls.^(FW)
¹³It eats away parts of his skin;^(FX)
    death’s firstborn devours his limbs.^(FY)
¹⁴He is torn from the security of his tent^(FZ)
    and marched off to the king^(GA) of terrors.^(GB)
¹⁵Fire resides^[b] in his tent;^(GC)
    burning sulfur^(GD) is scattered over his dwelling.
¹⁶His roots dry up below^(GE)
    and his branches wither above.^(GF)
¹⁷The memory of him perishes from the earth;^(GG)
    he has no name^(GH) in the land.^(GI)
¹⁸He is driven from light into the realm of darkness^(GJ)
    and is banished^(GK) from the world.^(GL)
¹⁹He has no offspring^(GM) or descendants^(GN) among his people,
    no survivor^(GO) where once he lived.^(GP)
²⁰People of the west are appalled^(GQ) at his fate;^(GR)
    those of the east are seized with horror.
²¹Surely such is the dwelling^(GS) of an evil man;^(GT)
    such is the place^(GU) of one who does not know God.”^(GV)