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Job 16-18
English Standard Version
Job 16-18
English Standard Version
Job Replies: Miserable Comforters Are You
16 Then Job answered and said:
2 “I have heard (A)many such things;
(B)miserable comforters are you all.
3 Shall (C)windy words have an end?
Or what provokes you that you answer?
4 I also could speak as you do,
if you were in my place;
I could join words together against you
and (D)shake my head at you.
5 I could strengthen you with my mouth,
and the solace of my lips would assuage your pain.
6 “If I speak, my pain is not assuaged,
and if I forbear, how much of it leaves me?
7 Surely now God has worn me out;
(E)he has[a] made desolate all my company.
8 And he has shriveled me up,
which is (F)a witness against me,
and my (G)leanness has risen up against me;
it testifies to my face.
9 He has (H)torn me in his wrath (I)and hated me;
he has (J)gnashed his teeth at me;
my adversary sharpens his eyes against me.
10 Men have (K)gaped at me with their mouth;
they have (L)struck me insolently on the cheek;
they (M)mass themselves together against me.
11 God gives me up to the ungodly
and casts me into the hands of the wicked.
12 I was at ease, and he broke me apart;
he seized me by the neck and dashed me to pieces;
he set me up as his (N)target;
13 his (O)archers surround me.
He slashes open my kidneys (P)and does not spare;
he (Q)pours out my gall on the ground.
14 He breaks me with (R)breach upon breach;
he (S)runs upon me like a warrior.
15 I have sewed (T)sackcloth upon my skin
and have laid (U)my strength (V)in the dust.
16 My face is red with weeping,
and on my eyelids is (W)deep darkness,
17 although there is no (X)violence in my hands,
and my prayer is pure.
18 “O earth, (Y)cover not my blood,
and let my (Z)cry find no resting place.
19 Even now, behold, my (AA)witness is in heaven,
and he who testifies for me is (AB)on high.
20 My friends (AC)scorn me;
my eye pours out tears to God,
21 that he would (AD)argue the case of a man with God,
as[b] a son of man does with his neighbor.
22 For when a few years have come
I shall go the way (AE)from which I shall not return.
Job Continues: Where Then Is My Hope?
17 “My spirit is broken; my days are (AF)extinct;
(AG)the graveyard is ready for me.
2 Surely there are mockers about me,
and my eye dwells on their (AH)provocation.
3 “Lay down a pledge for me with you;
who is there who will put up (AI)security for me?
4 Since you have closed their hearts to understanding,
therefore you will not let them triumph.
5 He who informs against his friends to get a share of their property—
the (AJ)eyes of his children will fail.
6 “He has made me (AK)a byword of the peoples,
and I am one before whom men spit.
7 My (AL)eye has grown dim from vexation,
and all my members are like (AM)a shadow.
8 The upright are (AN)appalled at this,
and the innocent stirs himself up against the godless.
9 Yet the righteous holds to his way,
and he who has (AO)clean hands grows stronger and stronger.
10 But you, (AP)come on again, all of you,
and I shall not find a wise man among you.
11 My (AQ)days are past; my plans are broken off,
the desires of my heart.
12 They (AR)make night into day:
‘The light,’ they say, ‘is near to the darkness.’[c]
13 If I hope for (AS)Sheol as (AT)my house,
if I make my bed in darkness,
14 if I say to the pit, ‘You are my father,’
and to the worm, ‘My mother,’ or ‘My sister,’
15 where then is my hope?
Who will see my hope?
16 Will it go down to the bars of (AU)Sheol?
Shall we (AV)descend together (AW)into the dust?”[d]
Bildad Speaks: God Punishes the Wicked
18 Then (AX)Bildad the Shuhite answered and said:
2 “How long will you (AY)hunt for words?
Consider, and then we will speak.
3 Why are we counted as (AZ)cattle?
Why are we stupid in your sight?
4 You who (BA)tear yourself in your anger,
shall the earth be forsaken for you,
or (BB)the rock be removed out of its place?
5 “Indeed, (BC)the light of the wicked is put out,
and the flame of his fire does not shine.
6 The light is (BD)dark in his tent,
and his lamp above him is put out.
7 His strong steps are shortened,
and his (BE)own schemes throw him down.
8 For he is cast into a net by his own feet,
and he walks on its mesh.
9 (BF)A trap seizes him by the heel;
a snare lays hold of him.
10 A rope is hidden for him in the ground,
a trap for him in the path.
11 (BG)Terrors frighten him on every side,
and chase him at his heels.
12 His strength is famished,
and calamity is (BH)ready for his stumbling.
13 It consumes the parts of his skin;
(BI)the firstborn of death consumes his limbs.
14 He is torn from the tent in which he trusted
and is brought to (BJ)the king of terrors.
15 In his tent dwells that which is none of his;
(BK)sulfur is scattered over his habitation.
16 His (BL)roots dry up beneath,
and his branches (BM)wither above.
17 His (BN)memory perishes from the earth,
and he has no name in the street.
18 (BO)He is thrust from light into darkness,
and driven out of the world.
19 He has no (BP)posterity or progeny among his people,
and no survivor where he used to live.
20 They of the west are appalled at his (BQ)day,
and (BR)horror seizes them of the east.
21 Surely such are the dwellings of the unrighteous,
such is the place of him who (BS)knows not God.”
Job 16-18
New International Version
Job 16-18
New International Version
Job
16 Then Job replied:
2 “I have heard many things like these;
you are miserable comforters,(A) all of you!(B)
3 Will your long-winded speeches never end?(C)
What ails you that you keep on arguing?(D)
4 I also could speak like you,
if you were in my place;
I could make fine speeches against you
and shake my head(E) at you.
5 But my mouth would encourage you;
comfort(F) from my lips would bring you relief.(G)
6 “Yet if I speak, my pain is not relieved;
and if I refrain, it does not go away.(H)
7 Surely, God, you have worn me out;(I)
you have devastated my entire household.(J)
8 You have shriveled me up—and it has become a witness;
my gauntness(K) rises up and testifies against me.(L)
9 God assails me and tears(M) me in his anger(N)
and gnashes his teeth at me;(O)
my opponent fastens on me his piercing eyes.(P)
10 People open their mouths(Q) to jeer at me;(R)
they strike my cheek(S) in scorn
and unite together against me.(T)
11 God has turned me over to the ungodly
and thrown me into the clutches of the wicked.(U)
12 All was well with me, but he shattered me;
he seized me by the neck and crushed me.(V)
He has made me his target;(W)
13 his archers surround me.(X)
Without pity, he pierces(Y) my kidneys
and spills my gall on the ground.
14 Again and again(Z) he bursts upon me;
he rushes at me like a warrior.(AA)
15 “I have sewed sackcloth(AB) over my skin
and buried my brow in the dust.(AC)
16 My face is red with weeping,(AD)
dark shadows ring my eyes;(AE)
17 yet my hands have been free of violence(AF)
and my prayer is pure.(AG)
18 “Earth, do not cover my blood;(AH)
may my cry(AI) never be laid to rest!(AJ)
19 Even now my witness(AK) is in heaven;(AL)
my advocate is on high.(AM)
20 My intercessor(AN) is my friend[a](AO)
as my eyes pour out(AP) tears(AQ) to God;
21 on behalf of a man he pleads(AR) with God
as one pleads for a friend.
22 “Only a few years will pass
before I take the path of no return.(AS)
17 1 My spirit(AT) is broken,
my days are cut short,(AU)
the grave awaits me.(AV)
2 Surely mockers(AW) surround me;(AX)
my eyes must dwell on their hostility.
3 “Give me, O God, the pledge you demand.(AY)
Who else will put up security(AZ) for me?(BA)
4 You have closed their minds to understanding;(BB)
therefore you will not let them triumph.
5 If anyone denounces their friends for reward,(BC)
the eyes of their children will fail.(BD)
6 “God has made me a byword(BE) to everyone,(BF)
a man in whose face people spit.(BG)
7 My eyes have grown dim with grief;(BH)
my whole frame is but a shadow.(BI)
8 The upright are appalled at this;
the innocent are aroused(BJ) against the ungodly.
9 Nevertheless, the righteous(BK) will hold to their ways,
and those with clean hands(BL) will grow stronger.(BM)
10 “But come on, all of you, try again!
I will not find a wise man among you.(BN)
11 My days have passed,(BO) my plans are shattered.
Yet the desires of my heart(BP)
12 turn night into day;(BQ)
in the face of the darkness light is near.(BR)
13 If the only home I hope for is the grave,(BS)
if I spread out my bed(BT) in the realm of darkness,(BU)
14 if I say to corruption,(BV) ‘You are my father,’
and to the worm,(BW) ‘My mother’ or ‘My sister,’
15 where then is my hope—(BX)
who can see any hope for me?(BY)
16 Will it go down to the gates of death?(BZ)
Will we descend together into the dust?”(CA)
Bildad
18 Then Bildad the Shuhite(CB) replied:
2 “When will you end these speeches?(CC)
Be sensible, and then we can talk.
3 Why are we regarded as cattle(CD)
and considered stupid in your sight?(CE)
4 You who tear yourself(CF) to pieces in your anger,(CG)
is the earth to be abandoned for your sake?
Or must the rocks be moved from their place?(CH)
5 “The lamp of a wicked man is snuffed out;(CI)
the flame of his fire stops burning.(CJ)
6 The light in his tent(CK) becomes dark;(CL)
the lamp beside him goes out.(CM)
7 The vigor(CN) of his step is weakened;(CO)
his own schemes(CP) throw him down.(CQ)
8 His feet thrust him into a net;(CR)
he wanders into its mesh.
9 A trap seizes him by the heel;
a snare(CS) holds him fast.(CT)
10 A noose(CU) is hidden for him on the ground;
a trap(CV) lies in his path.(CW)
11 Terrors(CX) startle him on every side(CY)
and dog(CZ) his every step.
12 Calamity(DA) is hungry(DB) for him;
disaster(DC) is ready for him when he falls.(DD)
13 It eats away parts of his skin;(DE)
death’s firstborn devours his limbs.(DF)
14 He is torn from the security of his tent(DG)
and marched off to the king(DH) of terrors.(DI)
15 Fire resides[b] in his tent;(DJ)
burning sulfur(DK) is scattered over his dwelling.
16 His roots dry up below(DL)
and his branches wither above.(DM)
17 The memory of him perishes from the earth;(DN)
he has no name(DO) in the land.(DP)
18 He is driven from light into the realm of darkness(DQ)
and is banished(DR) from the world.(DS)
19 He has no offspring(DT) or descendants(DU) among his people,
no survivor(DV) where once he lived.(DW)
20 People of the west are appalled(DX) at his fate;(DY)
those of the east are seized with horror.
21 Surely such is the dwelling(DZ) of an evil man;(EA)
such is the place(EB) of one who does not know God.”(EC)
Acts 9:1-22
English Standard Version
Acts 9:1-22
English Standard Version
The Conversion of Saul
9 But Saul, (A)still (B)breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to (C)the high priest 2 and asked him for letters (D)to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to (E)the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3 (F)Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. 4 And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting (G)me?” 5 And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, (H)whom you are persecuting. 6 But (I)rise and enter the city, and you will be told (J)what you are to do.” 7 (K)The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, (L)hearing the voice but seeing no one. 8 Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, (M)he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9 And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.
10 Now there was a disciple at Damascus named (N)Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, (O)“Here I am, Lord.” 11 And the Lord said to him, “Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man (P)of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying, 12 and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and (Q)lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.” 13 But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, (R)how much evil he has done to (S)your (T)saints at Jerusalem. 14 And here he has authority from (U)the chief priests to bind all who (V)call on your name.” 15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for (W)he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name (X)before the Gentiles and (Y)kings and the children of Israel. 16 For (Z)I will show him how much (AA)he must suffer (AB)for the sake of my name.” 17 So (AC)Ananias departed and entered the house. And (AD)laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and (AE)be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and (AF)he regained his sight. Then (AG)he rose and was baptized; 19 and (AH)taking food, he was strengthened.
Saul Proclaims Jesus in Synagogues
For (AI)some days he was with the disciples at Damascus. 20 And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, (AJ)“He is the Son of God.” 21 And all who heard him were amazed and said, “Is not this the man who (AK)made havoc (AL)in Jerusalem of those who called upon this name? And has he not come here for this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests?” 22 But Saul (AM)increased all the more in strength, and (AN)confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving (AO)that Jesus was the Christ.
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Acts 9:1-22
New International Version
Acts 9:1-22
New International Version
Saul’s Conversion(A)
9 Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples.(B) He went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus,(C) so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way,(D) whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. 3 As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him.(E) 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice(F) say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”
5 “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked.
“I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. 6 “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”(G)
7 The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound(H) but did not see anyone.(I) 8 Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing.(J) So they led him by the hand into Damascus. 9 For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.
10 In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision,(K) “Ananias!”
“Yes, Lord,” he answered.
11 The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus(L) named Saul, for he is praying. 12 In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on(M) him to restore his sight.”
13 “Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people(N) in Jerusalem.(O) 14 And he has come here with authority from the chief priests(P) to arrest all who call on your name.”(Q)
15 But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument(R) to proclaim my name to the Gentiles(S) and their kings(T) and to the people of Israel. 16 I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”(U)
17 Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on(V) Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”(W) 18 Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized,(X) 19 and after taking some food, he regained his strength.
Saul in Damascus and Jerusalem
Saul spent several days with the disciples(Y) in Damascus.(Z) 20 At once he began to preach in the synagogues(AA) that Jesus is the Son of God.(AB) 21 All those who heard him were astonished and asked, “Isn’t he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name?(AC) And hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?”(AD) 22 Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah.(AE)
English Standard Version (ESV) 
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
New International Version (NIV) 
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NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.