Job Continues: Where Is Wisdom?

28 “Surely there is a mine for silver,
    and a place for gold that they (A)refine.
Iron is taken out of the earth,
    and copper is smelted from the ore.
Man puts an end to darkness
    and searches out to the farthest limit
    the ore in (B)gloom and (C)deep darkness.
He opens shafts in a valley away from where anyone lives;
    they are forgotten by travelers;
    they hang in the air, far away from mankind; they swing to and fro.
As for the earth, (D)out of it comes bread,
    but underneath it is turned up as by fire.
Its stones are the place of (E)sapphires,[a]
    and it has dust of gold.

“That path no bird of prey knows,
    and the falcon's eye has not seen it.
(F)The proud beasts have not trodden it;
    (G)the lion has not passed over it.

“Man puts his hand to (H)the flinty rock
    and overturns mountains by the roots.
10 He cuts out channels in the rocks,
    and his eye sees every precious thing.
11 He dams up the streams so that they do not trickle,
    and the thing that is hidden he brings out to light.

12 (I)“But where shall wisdom be found?
    And where is the place of understanding?
13 Man does not know its worth,
    and it is not found in (J)the land of the living.
14 (K)The deep says, ‘It is not in me,’
    and the sea says, ‘It is not with me.’
15 It (L)cannot be bought for gold,
    and silver cannot be weighed as its price.
16 It cannot be valued in (M)the gold of (N)Ophir,
    in precious (O)onyx or (P)sapphire.
17 Gold and glass cannot equal it,
    nor can it be exchanged for jewels of fine gold.
18 No mention shall be made of (Q)coral or of crystal;
    the price of wisdom is above (R)(S)pearls.
19 (T)The topaz of Ethiopia cannot equal it,
    nor can it be valued in pure gold.

20 “From where, then, does wisdom come?
    And where is the place of understanding?
21 It is hidden from the eyes of (U)all living
    and concealed from the birds of the air.
22 (V)Abaddon and Death say,
    ‘We have heard a rumor of it with our ears.’

23 (W)“God understands the way to it,
    and he knows its place.
24 For he (X)looks to the ends of the earth
    and sees everything under the heavens.
25 When he (Y)gave to the wind its weight
    and apportioned the waters by measure,
26 when he made a decree for the rain
    and (Z)a way for the lightning of the thunder,
27 then he saw it and declared it;
    he established it, and searched it out.
28 And he said to man,
‘Behold, (AA)the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom,
    and to (AB)turn away from evil is understanding.’”

Footnotes

  1. Job 28:6 Or lapis lazuli; also verse 16

Jonah Goes to Nineveh

Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah the second time, saying, “Arise, go to (A)Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it the message that I tell you.” So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord. Now (B)Nineveh was an exceedingly great city,[a] three days' journey in breadth.[b] Jonah began to go into the city, going a day's journey. And he called out, “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!” (C)And the people of Nineveh believed God. (D)They called for a fast and (E)put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least of them.

The People of Nineveh Repent

The word reached[c] the king of Nineveh, and (F)he arose from his throne, removed his robe, covered himself with sackcloth, (G)and sat in ashes. And he issued a proclamation and published through Nineveh, (H)“By the decree of the king and his nobles: Let neither man nor (I)beast, herd nor flock, taste anything. Let them not feed or drink water, but let man and (J)beast be covered with sackcloth, and let them call out mightily to God. (K)Let everyone turn from his evil way and from (L)the violence that is in his hands. (M)Who knows? God may turn and relent (N)and turn from his fierce anger, so that we may not perish.”

10 When God saw what they did, (O)how they turned from their evil way, (P)God relented of the disaster that he had said he would do to them, and he did not do it.

Jonah's Anger and the Lord's Compassion

But it displeased Jonah exceedingly,[d] and (Q)he was angry. And he prayed to the Lord and said, “O Lord, is not this what I said when I was yet in my country? (R)That is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish; for I knew that you are a (S)gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and (T)relenting from disaster. (U)Therefore now, O Lord, please take my life from me, (V)for it is better for me to die than to live.” And the Lord said, (W)“Do you do well to be angry?”

Jonah went out of the city and sat to the east of the city and (X)made a booth for himself there. He sat under it in the shade, till he should see what would become of the city. Now the Lord God appointed a plant[e] and made it come up over Jonah, that it might be a shade over his head, to save him from his discomfort.[f] So Jonah was exceedingly glad because of the plant. But when dawn came up the next day, God appointed a worm that attacked the plant, so that it withered. When the sun rose, God appointed a scorching (Y)east wind, (Z)and the sun beat down on the head of Jonah so that he (AA)was faint. And he asked that he might die and said, (AB)“It is better for me to die than to live.” But God said to Jonah, (AC)“Do you do well to be angry for the plant?” And he said, “Yes, I do well to be angry, angry enough to die.” 10 And the Lord said, “You pity the plant, for which you did not labor, nor did you make it grow, which came into being in a night and perished in a night. 11 And should not I pity (AD)Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know their right hand from their left, and also much (AE)cattle?”

Footnotes

  1. Jonah 3:3 Hebrew a great city to God
  2. Jonah 3:3 Or a visit was a three days' journey
  3. Jonah 3:6 Or had reached
  4. Jonah 4:1 Hebrew it was exceedingly evil to Jonah
  5. Jonah 4:6 Hebrew qiqayon, probably the castor oil plant; also verses 7, 9, 10
  6. Jonah 4:6 Or his evil

The Parable of the Hidden Treasure

44 “The kingdom of heaven (A)is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy (B)he goes and sells all that he has and (C)buys that field.

The Parable of the Pearl of Great Value

45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, 46 who, on finding (D)one pearl of great value, (E)went and sold all that he had and (F)bought it.

The Parable of the Net

47 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is (G)like a net that was thrown into the sea and (H)gathered fish of every kind. 48 When it was full, (I)men drew it ashore and sat down and sorted the good into containers but threw away the bad. 49 So it will be at (J)the end of the age. The angels will come out and (K)separate the evil from the righteous 50 (L)and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place (M)there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

New and Old Treasures

51 (N)“Have you understood all these things?” They said to him, “Yes.” 52 And he said to them, “Therefore every (O)scribe (P)who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house, who (Q)brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.”

Jesus Rejected at Nazareth

53 And when Jesus had finished these parables, he went away from there, 54 (R)and coming to (S)his hometown (T)he taught them in their synagogue, so that (U)they were astonished, and said, “Where did this man get this wisdom and these mighty works? 55 (V)Is not this (W)the carpenter's son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not (X)his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? 56 And are not all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?” 57 And (Y)they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, (Z)“A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and in his own household.” 58 And he did not do many mighty works there, (AA)because of their unbelief.

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Therefore, my brothers,[a] whom I love and (A)long for, (B)my joy and (C)crown, (D)stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.

Exhortation, Encouragement, and Prayer

I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to (E)agree in the Lord. Yes, I ask you also, true companion,[b] help these women, who have labored[c] side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, (F)whose names are in the book of life.

(G)Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness[d] be known to everyone. (H)The Lord is at hand; (I)do not be anxious about anything, (J)but in everything by prayer and supplication (K)with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And (L)the peace of God, (M)which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned[e] and (N)received and heard and seen (O)in me—practice these things, and (P)the God of peace will be with you.

God's Provision

10 I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length (Q)you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. 11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be (R)content. 12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and (S)hunger, abundance and (T)need. 13 I can do all things (U)through him who strengthens me.

14 Yet it was kind of you (V)to share[f] my trouble. 15 And you Philippians yourselves know that (W)in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, (X)no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only. 16 Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again. 17 (Y)Not that I seek the gift, but I seek (Z)the fruit that increases to your credit.[g] 18 I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, (AA)having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, (AB)a fragrant offering, (AC)a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. 19 And my God (AD)will supply every need of yours (AE)according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. 20 To (AF)our God and Father be (AG)glory forever and ever. Amen.

Final Greetings

21 Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. (AH)The brothers who are with me greet you. 22 (AI)All the saints greet you, especially those of Caesar's household.

23 (AJ)The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.

Footnotes

  1. Philippians 4:1 Or brothers and sisters; also verses 8, 21
  2. Philippians 4:3 Or loyal Syzygus; Greek true yokefellow
  3. Philippians 4:3 Or strived (see 1:27)
  4. Philippians 4:5 Or gentleness
  5. Philippians 4:9 Or these things—9which things you have also learned
  6. Philippians 4:14 Or have fellowship in
  7. Philippians 4:17 Or I seek the profit that accrues to your account

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