Eliphaz Accuses and Exhorts Job

22 Then Eliphaz the Temanite responded,

“Can a strong (A)man be of use to God,
Or a wise one be useful to himself?
Is it any pleasure to [a]the Almighty if you are righteous,
Or gain if you make your ways blameless?
Is it because of your [b]reverence that He punishes you,
That He (B)enters into judgment against you?
Is (C)your wickedness not abundant,
And is there no end to your guilty deeds?
For you have (D)seized pledges from your brothers without cause,
And [c](E)stripped people naked.
You have (F)given the weary no water to drink,
And you have (G)withheld bread from the hungry.
But the earth (H)belongs to the (I)powerful man,
And (J)the one who is honorable dwells on it.
You have sent (K)widows away empty,
And the [d]strength of (L)orphans has been crushed.
10 Therefore (M)traps surround you,
And sudden (N)dread terrifies you,
11 Or (O)darkness, so that you cannot see,
And a (P)flood of water covers you.

12 “Is God not (Q)in the height of heaven?
Look also at the [e]highest stars, how high they are!
13 But you say, ‘(R)What does God know?
Can He judge through the thick darkness?
14 (S)Clouds are a hiding place for Him, so that He cannot see;
And He walks on the [f]vault of heaven.’
15 Will you keep to the ancient path
Which (T)wicked people have walked,
16 Who were snatched away (U)before their time,
Whose (V)foundations were [g]washed away by a river?
17 They (W)said to God, ‘Go away from us!’
And ‘What can [h]the Almighty do to them?’
18 Yet He (X)filled their houses with good things;
But (Y)the advice of the wicked is far from me.
19 The (Z)righteous see and are glad,
And the innocent mock them, saying,
20 ‘Truly our enemies are eliminated,
And (AA)fire has consumed their [i]abundance.’

21 (AB)Be reconciled with Him, and be at peace;
Thereby good will come to you.
22 Please receive [j](AC)instruction from His mouth,
And put His words in your heart.
23 If you (AD)return to [k]the Almighty, you will be [l]restored;
If you (AE)remove injustice far from your tent,
24 And (AF)put your [m]gold in the dust,
And the gold of Ophir among the stones of the brooks,
25 Then [n]the Almighty will be your [o]gold
And abundant silver to you.
26 For then you will (AG)take pleasure in [p]the Almighty
And lift up your face to God.
27 You will (AH)pray to Him, and (AI)He will hear you;
And you will pay your vows.
28 You will also decide something, and it will be established for you;
And (AJ)light will shine on your ways.
29 When [q]they have brought you low, you will speak with [r]confidence,
And He will save the [s](AK)humble person.
30 He will rescue one who is not innocent,
And he will be (AL)rescued due to the cleanness of your hands.”

Footnotes

  1. Job 22:3 Heb Shaddai
  2. Job 22:4 Or fear
  3. Job 22:6 Lit stripped clothing of the naked
  4. Job 22:9 Lit arms
  5. Job 22:12 Lit head, top-most
  6. Job 22:14 Lit circle
  7. Job 22:16 Lit poured out
  8. Job 22:17 Heb Shaddai
  9. Job 22:20 Or excess
  10. Job 22:22 Or law
  11. Job 22:23 Heb Shaddai
  12. Job 22:23 Lit built up
  13. Job 22:24 Lit ore
  14. Job 22:25 Heb Shaddai
  15. Job 22:25 Lit ore
  16. Job 22:26 Heb Shaddai
  17. Job 22:29 Lit they cast you down
  18. Job 22:29 Lit pride
  19. Job 22:29 Lit lowly of eyes

Eliphaz

22 Then Eliphaz the Temanite(A) replied:

“Can a man be of benefit to God?(B)
    Can even a wise person benefit him?(C)
What pleasure(D) would it give the Almighty if you were righteous?(E)
    What would he gain if your ways were blameless?(F)

“Is it for your piety that he rebukes you
    and brings charges against you?(G)
Is not your wickedness great?
    Are not your sins(H) endless?(I)
You demanded security(J) from your relatives for no reason;(K)
    you stripped people of their clothing, leaving them naked.(L)
You gave no water(M) to the weary
    and you withheld food from the hungry,(N)
though you were a powerful man, owning land(O)
    an honored man,(P) living on it.(Q)
And you sent widows(R) away empty-handed(S)
    and broke the strength of the fatherless.(T)
10 That is why snares(U) are all around you,(V)
    why sudden peril terrifies you,(W)
11 why it is so dark(X) you cannot see,
    and why a flood of water covers you.(Y)

12 “Is not God in the heights of heaven?(Z)
    And see how lofty are the highest stars!
13 Yet you say, ‘What does God know?(AA)
    Does he judge through such darkness?(AB)
14 Thick clouds(AC) veil him, so he does not see us(AD)
    as he goes about in the vaulted heavens.’(AE)
15 Will you keep to the old path
    that the wicked(AF) have trod?(AG)
16 They were carried off before their time,(AH)
    their foundations(AI) washed away by a flood.(AJ)
17 They said to God, ‘Leave us alone!
    What can the Almighty do to us?’(AK)
18 Yet it was he who filled their houses with good things,(AL)
    so I stand aloof from the plans of the wicked.(AM)
19 The righteous see their ruin and rejoice;(AN)
    the innocent mock(AO) them, saying,
20 ‘Surely our foes are destroyed,(AP)
    and fire(AQ) devours their wealth.’

21 “Submit to God and be at peace(AR) with him;(AS)
    in this way prosperity will come to you.(AT)
22 Accept instruction from his mouth(AU)
    and lay up his words(AV) in your heart.(AW)
23 If you return(AX) to the Almighty, you will be restored:(AY)
    If you remove wickedness far from your tent(AZ)
24 and assign your nuggets(BA) to the dust,
    your gold(BB) of Ophir(BC) to the rocks in the ravines,(BD)
25 then the Almighty will be your gold,(BE)
    the choicest silver for you.(BF)
26 Surely then you will find delight in the Almighty(BG)
    and will lift up your face(BH) to God.(BI)
27 You will pray to him,(BJ) and he will hear you,(BK)
    and you will fulfill your vows.(BL)
28 What you decide on will be done,(BM)
    and light(BN) will shine on your ways.(BO)
29 When people are brought low(BP) and you say, ‘Lift them up!’
    then he will save the downcast.(BQ)
30 He will deliver even one who is not innocent,(BR)
    who will be delivered through the cleanness of your hands.”(BS)

(A)The end of all things [a]is near; therefore, (B)be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of [b]prayer. Above all, (C)keep fervent in your love for one another, because (D)love covers a multitude of sins. (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.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Peter 4:7 Lit has come near
  2. 1 Peter 4:7 Lit prayers
  3. 1 Peter 4:10 Or manifold
  4. 1 Peter 4:11 Lit from
  5. 1 Peter 4:11 Or power
  6. 1 Peter 4:14 Lit in
  7. 1 Peter 4:15 Lit one who oversees others’ affairs
  8. 1 Peter 4:17 Lit from
  9. 1 Peter 4:17 Lit from
  10. 1 Peter 4:18 Lit where will appear

The end of all things is near.(A) Therefore be alert and of sober mind(B) so that you may pray. Above all, love each other deeply,(C) because love covers over a multitude of sins.(D) Offer hospitality(E) to one another without grumbling.(F) 10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others,(G) as faithful(H) stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 11 If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God.(I) If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides,(J) so that in all things God may be praised(K) through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.(L)

Suffering for Being a Christian

12 Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you(M) to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice(N) inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ,(O) so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.(P) 14 If you are insulted because of the name of Christ,(Q) you are blessed,(R) for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. 15 If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. 16 However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.(S) 17 For it is time for judgment to begin with God’s household;(T) and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God?(U) 18 And,

“If it is hard for the righteous to be saved,
    what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?”[a](V)

19 So then, those who suffer according to God’s will(W) should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Peter 4:18 Prov. 11:31 (see Septuagint)

Job Says He Longs for God

23 Then Job responded,

“Even today my (A)complaint is rebellion;
[a]His hand is (B)heavy despite my groaning.
Oh that I knew how to find Him,
That I might come to His home!
I would (C)present my case before Him
And fill my mouth with arguments.
I would learn the words which He would [b]answer,
And perceive what He would tell me.
Would He contend with me by (D)the greatness of His power?
No, surely He would pay attention to me.
There the upright would (E)argue with Him;
And I [c]would be (F)free of my Judge forever.

“Behold, I go forward but He is not there,
And backward, but I (G)cannot perceive Him;
When He acts on the left, I cannot see Him;
He turns to the right, but I cannot see Him.
10 But He knows the [d]way I take;
When He has (H)put me to the test, I will come out as gold.
11 My foot has (I)held on to His path;
I have kept His way and not turned aside.
12 I have not [e]failed the command of His lips;
I have treasured the (J)words of His mouth [f]more than my [g]necessary food.
13 But He is unique, and who can [h]make Him turn?
Whatever His soul desires, He does it.
14 For He carries out what is destined for me,
And many such destinies are with Him.
15 Therefore, I would be terrified at His presence;
When I consider this, I am frightened of Him.
16 It is God who has made my (K)heart faint,
And the Almighty who has terrified me,
17 But I (L)am not destroyed by darkness,
Nor by (M)deep gloom which covers me.

Footnotes

  1. Job 23:2 As in LXX and Syriac; MT My
  2. Job 23:5 Lit answer me
  3. Job 23:7 Or bring forth my justice forever
  4. Job 23:10 Lit way with me
  5. Job 23:12 Lit ceased from
  6. Job 23:12 Or with some ancient versions, in my breast
  7. Job 23:12 Lit prescribed portion
  8. Job 23:13 Or deprive Him of anything

Job

23 Then Job replied:

“Even today my complaint(A) is bitter;(B)
    his hand[a] is heavy in spite of[b] my groaning.(C)
If only I knew where to find him;
    if only I could go to his dwelling!(D)
I would state my case(E) before him
    and fill my mouth with arguments.(F)
I would find out what he would answer me,(G)
    and consider what he would say to me.
Would he vigorously oppose me?(H)
    No, he would not press charges against me.(I)
There the upright(J) can establish their innocence before him,(K)
    and there I would be delivered forever from my judge.(L)

“But if I go to the east, he is not there;
    if I go to the west, I do not find him.
When he is at work in the north, I do not see him;
    when he turns to the south, I catch no glimpse of him.(M)
10 But he knows the way that I take;(N)
    when he has tested me,(O) I will come forth as gold.(P)
11 My feet have closely followed his steps;(Q)
    I have kept to his way without turning aside.(R)
12 I have not departed from the commands of his lips;(S)
    I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread.(T)

13 “But he stands alone, and who can oppose him?(U)
    He does whatever he pleases.(V)
14 He carries out his decree against me,
    and many such plans he still has in store.(W)
15 That is why I am terrified before him;(X)
    when I think of all this, I fear him.(Y)
16 God has made my heart faint;(Z)
    the Almighty(AA) has terrified me.(AB)
17 Yet I am not silenced by the darkness,(AC)
    by the thick darkness that covers my face.

Footnotes

  1. Job 23:2 Septuagint and Syriac; Hebrew / the hand on me
  2. Job 23:2 Or heavy on me in

Followers of Tradition

(A)The Pharisees and some of the scribes *gathered to Him after they came (B)from Jerusalem, and saw that some of His disciples were eating their bread with [a](C)unholy hands, that is, unwashed. (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; 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.) 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?” But He said to them, “Rightly did Isaiah prophesy about you hypocrites, as it is written:

(H)This people honors Me with their lips,
But their heart is far away from Me.
(I)And in vain do they worship Me,
Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’

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

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.”

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Footnotes

  1. Mark 7:2 Lit common; i.e., ritually unclean
  2. Mark 7:3 Lit with a fist (following a prescribed ritual)
  3. Mark 7:4 Lit baptize; i.e., immerse; two early mss purify
  4. Mark 7:4 Lit baptisms
  5. Mark 7:5 Lit common; i.e., ritually unclean
  6. Mark 7:10 Lit to die with death
  7. Mark 7:11 Lit a gift; i.e., an offering
  8. Mark 7:15 Late mss add, as v 16: If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.
  9. Mark 7:19 Lit goes out into the latrine
  10. Mark 7:21 heart
  11. Mark 7:22 Lit an evil eye
  12. Mark 7:22 Or arrogance

That Which Defiles(A)

The Pharisees and some of the teachers of the law who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus and saw some of his disciples eating food with hands that were defiled,(B) that is, unwashed. (The Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they give their hands a ceremonial washing, holding to the tradition of the elders.(C) When they come from the marketplace they do not eat unless they wash. And they observe many other traditions, such as the washing of cups, pitchers and kettles.[a])(D)

So the Pharisees and teachers of the law asked Jesus, “Why don’t your disciples live according to the tradition of the elders(E) instead of eating their food with defiled hands?”

He replied, “Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written:

“‘These people honor me with their lips,
    but their hearts are far from me.
They worship me in vain;
    their teachings are merely human rules.’[b](F)

You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions.”(G)

And he continued, “You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe[c] your own traditions!(H) 10 For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and mother,’[d](I) and, ‘Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death.’[e](J) 11 But you say(K) that if anyone declares that what might have been used to help their father or mother is Corban (that is, devoted to God)— 12 then you no longer let them do anything for their father or mother. 13 Thus you nullify the word of God(L) by your tradition(M) that you have handed down. And you do many things like that.”

14 Again Jesus called the crowd to him and said, “Listen to me, everyone, and understand this. 15 Nothing outside a person can defile them by going into them. Rather, it is what comes out of a person that defiles them.” [16] [f]

17 After he had left the crowd and entered the house, his disciples asked him(N) about this parable. 18 “Are you so dull?” he asked. “Don’t you see that nothing that enters a person from the outside can defile them? 19 For it doesn’t go into their heart but into their stomach, and then out of the body.” (In saying this, Jesus declared all foods(O) clean.)(P)

20 He went on: “What comes out of a person is what defiles them. 21 For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder, 22 adultery, greed,(Q) malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. 23 All these evils come from inside and defile a person.”

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Footnotes

  1. Mark 7:4 Some early manuscripts pitchers, kettles and dining couches
  2. Mark 7:7 Isaiah 29:13
  3. Mark 7:9 Some manuscripts set up
  4. Mark 7:10 Exodus 20:12; Deut. 5:16
  5. Mark 7:10 Exodus 21:17; Lev. 20:9
  6. Mark 7:16 Some manuscripts include here the words of 4:23.