Eliphaz Accuses and Exhorts Job

22 Then Eliphaz the Temanite responded,

^7 (A)The end of all things ^[a]is near; therefore, ^(B)be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of ^[b]prayer. ⁸ Above all, ^(C)keep fervent in your love for one another, because ^(D)love covers a multitude of sins. ^9 (E)Be hospitable to one another without ^(F)complaint. ^10 (G)As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good ^(H)stewards of the ^[c]multifaceted grace of God. ^11 (I)Whoever speaks is to do so as one who is speaking ^(J)actual words of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving ^[d](K)by the strength which God supplies; so that ^(L)in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, ^(M)to whom belongs the glory and ^[e]dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Share the Sufferings of Christ

^12 (N)Beloved, do not be surprised at the ^(O)fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though something strange were happening to you; ¹³ but to the degree that you ^(P)share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that at the ^(Q)revelation of His glory ^(R)you may also rejoice and be overjoyed. ¹⁴ If you are insulted ^[f](S)for the name of Christ, ^(T)you are blessed, ^(U)because the Spirit of glory, and of God, rests upon you. ¹⁵ Make sure that ^(V)none of you suffers as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a ^[g](W)troublesome meddler; ¹⁶ but if anyone suffers as a ^(X)Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to ^(Y)glorify God in this name. ¹⁷ For it is time for judgment ^(Z)to begin ^[h]with ^(AA)the household of God; and if it ^(AB)begins ^[i]with us first, what will be the outcome for those ^(AC)who do not obey the ^(AD)gospel of God? ^18 (AE)And if it is with difficulty that the righteous is saved, ^[j]what will become of the ^(AF)godless man and the sinner? ¹⁹ Therefore, those also who suffer according to ^(AG)the will of God are to entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right.

Job Says He Longs for God

23 Then Job responded,

Followers of Tradition

7 ^(A)The Pharisees and some of the scribes *gathered to Him after they came ^(B)from Jerusalem, ² and saw that some of His disciples were eating their bread with ^[a](C)unholy hands, that is, unwashed. ³ (For the Pharisees and all the other Jews do not eat unless they ^[b]carefully wash their hands, thereby holding firmly to the ^(D)tradition of the elders; ⁴ and when they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they ^[c]completely cleanse themselves; and there are many other things which they have received as traditions to firmly hold, such as the ^[d]washing of ^(E)cups, pitchers, and copper pots.) ⁵ And the Pharisees and the scribes *asked Him, “Why do Your disciples not walk in accordance with the ^(F)tradition of the elders, but eat their bread with ^(G)[e]unholy hands?” ⁶ But He said to them, “Rightly did Isaiah prophesy about you hypocrites, as it is written:

⁸ Neglecting the commandment of God, you hold to the ^(J)tradition of men.”

⁹ He was also saying to them, “You are experts at setting aside the commandment of God in order to keep your ^(K)tradition. ¹⁰ For Moses said, ‘^(L)Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘^(M)The one who speaks evil of father or mother, is ^[f]certainly to be put to death’; ¹¹ but you say, ‘If a person says to his father or his mother, whatever I have that would help you is ^(N)Corban (that is, ^[g]given to God),’ ¹² you no longer allow him to do anything for his father or his mother; ¹³ thereby invalidating the word of God by your ^(O)tradition which you have handed down; and you do many things such as that.”

The Heart of Man

¹⁴ After He called the crowd to Him again, He began saying to them, “Listen to Me, all of you, and understand: ¹⁵ there is nothing outside the person which can defile him if it goes into him; but the things which come out of the person are what defile the person^[h].”

¹⁷ And when He later entered a house, away from the crowd, ^(P)His disciples asked Him about the parable. ¹⁸ And He *said to them, “Are you so lacking in understanding as well? Do you not understand that whatever goes into the person from outside cannot defile him, ¹⁹ because it does not go into his heart, but into his stomach, and ^[i]is eliminated?” (Thereby He declared ^(Q)all foods ^(R)clean.) ²⁰ And He was saying, “^(S)That which comes out of the person, that is what defiles the person. ²¹ For from within, out of the ^[j]hearts of people, come the evil thoughts, acts of sexual immorality, thefts, murders, acts of adultery, ²² deeds of greed, wickedness, deceit, indecent behavior, ^[k](T)envy, slander, ^[l]pride, and foolishness. ²³ All these evil things come from within and defile the person.”