23 Paul looked straight at the Sanhedrin(A) and said, “My brothers,(B) I have fulfilled my duty to God in all good conscience(C) to this day.” At this the high priest Ananias(D) ordered those standing near Paul to strike him on the mouth.(E) Then Paul said to him, “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall!(F) You sit there to judge me according to the law, yet you yourself violate the law by commanding that I be struck!”(G)

Those who were standing near Paul said, “How dare you insult God’s high priest!”

Paul replied, “Brothers, I did not realize that he was the high priest; for it is written: ‘Do not speak evil about the ruler of your people.’[a](H)

Then Paul, knowing that some of them were Sadducees(I) and the others Pharisees, called out in the Sanhedrin, “My brothers,(J) I am a Pharisee,(K) descended from Pharisees. I stand on trial because of the hope of the resurrection of the dead.”(L) When he said this, a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. (The Sadducees say that there is no resurrection,(M) and that there are neither angels nor spirits, but the Pharisees believe all these things.)

There was a great uproar, and some of the teachers of the law who were Pharisees(N) stood up and argued vigorously. “We find nothing wrong with this man,”(O) they said. “What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?”(P) 10 The dispute became so violent that the commander was afraid Paul would be torn to pieces by them. He ordered the troops to go down and take him away from them by force and bring him into the barracks.(Q)

11 The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Take courage!(R) As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.”(S)

The Plot to Kill Paul

12 The next morning some Jews formed a conspiracy(T) and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul.(U) 13 More than forty men were involved in this plot. 14 They went to the chief priests and the elders and said, “We have taken a solemn oath not to eat anything until we have killed Paul.(V) 15 Now then, you and the Sanhedrin(W) petition the commander to bring him before you on the pretext of wanting more accurate information about his case. We are ready to kill him before he gets here.”

16 But when the son of Paul’s sister heard of this plot, he went into the barracks(X) and told Paul.

17 Then Paul called one of the centurions and said, “Take this young man to the commander; he has something to tell him.” 18 So he took him to the commander.

The centurion said, “Paul, the prisoner,(Y) sent for me and asked me to bring this young man to you because he has something to tell you.”

19 The commander took the young man by the hand, drew him aside and asked, “What is it you want to tell me?”

20 He said: “Some Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul before the Sanhedrin(Z) tomorrow on the pretext of wanting more accurate information about him.(AA) 21 Don’t give in to them, because more than forty(AB) of them are waiting in ambush for him. They have taken an oath not to eat or drink until they have killed him.(AC) They are ready now, waiting for your consent to their request.”

22 The commander dismissed the young man with this warning: “Don’t tell anyone that you have reported this to me.”

Paul Transferred to Caesarea

23 Then he called two of his centurions and ordered them, “Get ready a detachment of two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen[b] to go to Caesarea(AD) at nine tonight.(AE) 24 Provide horses for Paul so that he may be taken safely to Governor Felix.”(AF)

25 He wrote a letter as follows:

26 Claudius Lysias,

To His Excellency,(AG) Governor Felix:

Greetings.(AH)

27 This man was seized by the Jews and they were about to kill him,(AI) but I came with my troops and rescued him,(AJ) for I had learned that he is a Roman citizen.(AK) 28 I wanted to know why they were accusing him, so I brought him to their Sanhedrin.(AL) 29 I found that the accusation had to do with questions about their law,(AM) but there was no charge against him(AN) that deserved death or imprisonment. 30 When I was informed(AO) of a plot(AP) to be carried out against the man, I sent him to you at once. I also ordered his accusers(AQ) to present to you their case against him.

31 So the soldiers, carrying out their orders, took Paul with them during the night and brought him as far as Antipatris. 32 The next day they let the cavalry(AR) go on with him, while they returned to the barracks.(AS) 33 When the cavalry(AT) arrived in Caesarea,(AU) they delivered the letter to the governor(AV) and handed Paul over to him. 34 The governor read the letter and asked what province he was from. Learning that he was from Cilicia,(AW) 35 he said, “I will hear your case when your accusers(AX) get here.” Then he ordered that Paul be kept under guard(AY) in Herod’s palace.

Footnotes

  1. Acts 23:5 Exodus 22:28
  2. Acts 23:23 The meaning of the Greek for this word is uncertain.

Bildad

18 Then Bildad the Shuhite(A) replied:

“When will you end these speeches?(B)
    Be sensible, and then we can talk.
Why are we regarded as cattle(C)
    and considered stupid in your sight?(D)
You 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)

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

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

“Though I cry, ‘Violence!’ I get no response;(BL)
    though I call for help,(BM) there is no justice.(BN)
He has blocked my way so I cannot pass;(BO)
    he has shrouded my paths in darkness.(BP)
He has stripped(BQ) me of my honor(BR)
    and removed the crown from my head.(BS)
10 He tears me down(BT) on every side till I am gone;
    he uproots my hope(BU) like a tree.(BV)
11 His anger(BW) burns against me;
    he counts me among his enemies.(BX)
12 His 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)
14 My relatives have gone away;
    my closest friends(CD) have forgotten me.
15 My guests(CE) and my female servants(CF) count me a foreigner;
    they look on me as on a stranger.
16 I summon my servant, but he does not answer,
    though I beg him with my own mouth.
17 My breath is offensive to my wife;
    I am loathsome(CG) to my own family.
18 Even the little boys(CH) scorn me;
    when I appear, they ridicule me.(CI)
19 All my intimate friends(CJ) detest me;(CK)
    those I love have turned against me.(CL)
20 I 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.
22 Why 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)
24 that they were inscribed with an iron tool(CT) on[c] lead,
    or engraved in rock forever!(CU)
25 I know that my redeemer[d](CV) lives,(CW)
    and that in the end he will stand on the earth.[e]
26 And after my skin has been destroyed,
    yet[f] in[g] my flesh I will see God;(CX)
27 I 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]
29 you 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:

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

“Surely you know how it has been from of old,(DG)
    ever since mankind[j] was placed on the earth,
that the mirth of the wicked(DH) is brief,
    the joy of the godless(DI) lasts but a moment.(DJ)
Though the pride(DK) of the godless person reaches to the heavens(DL)
    and his head touches the clouds,(DM)
he will perish forever,(DN) like his own dung;
    those who have seen him will say, ‘Where is he?’(DO)
Like a dream(DP) he flies away,(DQ) no more to be found,
    banished(DR) like a vision of the night.(DS)
The eye that saw him will not see him again;
    his place will look on him no more.(DT)
10 His children(DU) must make amends to the poor;
    his own hands must give back his wealth.(DV)
11 The 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)
13 though he cannot bear to let it go
    and lets it linger in his mouth,(EB)
14 yet his food will turn sour in his stomach;(EC)
    it will become the venom of serpents(ED) within him.
15 He will spit out the riches(EE) he swallowed;
    God will make his stomach vomit(EF) them up.
16 He will suck the poison(EG) of serpents;
    the fangs of an adder will kill him.(EH)
17 He will not enjoy the streams,
    the rivers(EI) flowing with honey(EJ) and cream.(EK)
18 What he toiled for he must give back uneaten;(EL)
    he will not enjoy the profit from his trading.(EM)
19 For 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)
21 Nothing is left for him to devour;
    his prosperity will not endure.(ES)
22 In the midst of his plenty, distress will overtake him;(ET)
    the full force of misery will come upon him.(EU)
23 When he has filled his belly,(EV)
    God will vent his burning anger(EW) against him
    and rain down his blows on him.(EX)
24 Though he flees(EY) from an iron weapon,
    a bronze-tipped arrow pierces him.(EZ)
25 He 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)
27 The heavens will expose his guilt;
    the earth will rise up against him.(FG)
28 A flood will carry off his house,(FH)
    rushing waters[k] on the day of God’s wrath.(FI)
29 Such is the fate God allots the wicked,
    the heritage appointed for them by God.”(FJ)

Footnotes

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

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