39 “Do you know when (A)the mountain goats give birth?
    Do you observe (B)the calving of the does?
Can you number the months that they fulfill,
    and do you know the time when they give birth,
when they (C)crouch, bring forth their offspring,
    and are delivered of their young?
Their young ones become strong; they grow up in the open;
    they go out and (D)do not return to them.

“Who has let the wild donkey go free?
    Who has (E)loosed the bonds of the swift donkey,
to whom I have given (F)the arid plain for his home
    and (G)the salt land for his dwelling place?
He scorns the tumult of the city;
    he hears not the shouts of the driver.
He ranges the mountains as his pasture,
    and he searches after every green thing.

“Is (H)the wild ox willing to serve you?
    Will he spend the night at your (I)manger?
10 Can you bind (J)him in the furrow with ropes,
    or will he harrow the valleys after you?
11 Will you depend on him because his strength is great,
    and will you leave to him your labor?
12 Do you have faith in him that he will return your grain
    and gather it to your threshing floor?

13 “The wings of the ostrich wave proudly,
    but are they the pinions and plumage of love?[a]
14 For she leaves her eggs to the earth
    and lets them be warmed on the ground,
15 forgetting that a foot may crush them
    and that the wild beast may trample them.
16 She (K)deals cruelly with her young, as if they were not hers;
    though her (L)labor be in vain, yet she has no fear,
17 because God has made her forget wisdom
    and (M)given her no share in understanding.
18 When she rouses herself to flee,[b]
    she laughs at the horse and his rider.

19 “Do you give the horse his might?
    Do you clothe his neck with a mane?
20 Do you make him leap like the locust?
    His majestic (N)snorting is terrifying.
21 He paws[c] in the valley and exults in his strength;
    he (O)goes out to meet the weapons.
22 He laughs at fear and is not dismayed;
    he does not turn back from the sword.
23 Upon him rattle the quiver,
    the flashing spear, and the javelin.
24 With fierceness and rage he swallows the ground;
    he cannot stand still at (P)the sound of the trumpet.
25 When the trumpet sounds, he says ‘Aha!’
    He smells the battle from afar,
    the thunder of the captains, and the shouting.

26 “Is it by your understanding that the hawk soars
    and spreads his wings toward the south?
27 Is it at your command that the eagle mounts up
    and makes his (Q)nest on high?
28 On the rock he dwells and makes his home,
    on (R)the rocky crag and stronghold.
29 From there he spies out the prey;
    his eyes behold it from far away.
30 His young ones suck up blood,
    and (S)where the slain are, there is he.”

40 And the Lord (T)said to Job:

“Shall a faultfinder (U)contend with the Almighty?
    He who argues with God, let him answer it.”

Job Promises Silence

Then Job answered the Lord and said:

“Behold, I am (V)of small account; what shall I answer you?
    (W)I lay my hand on my mouth.
I have spoken (X)once, and I will not answer;
    (Y)twice, but I will proceed no further.”

The Lord Challenges Job

Then the Lord (Z)answered Job out of the whirlwind and said:

(AA)“Dress for action[d] like a man;
    (AB)I will question you, and you make it known to me.
Will you even put me in the wrong?
    Will you condemn me that (AC)you may be in the right?
Have you (AD)an arm like God,
    and can you thunder with (AE)a voice like his?

10 “Adorn yourself with majesty and dignity;
    (AF)clothe yourself with glory and splendor.
11 Pour out the overflowings of your anger,
    and look on everyone who is (AG)proud and abase him.
12 Look on everyone who is proud and bring him low
    and (AH)tread down the wicked (AI)where they stand.
13 (AJ)Hide them all in (AK)the dust together;
    bind their faces in the world below.[e]
14 Then will I also acknowledge to you
    that your own (AL)right hand can save you.

15 “Behold, Behemoth,[f]
    which I made as I made you;
    he eats (AM)grass like an ox.
16 Behold, his strength in his loins,
    and his power in the muscles of his belly.
17 He makes his tail stiff like a cedar;
    the sinews of his thighs are knit together.
18 His bones are tubes of bronze,
    his limbs like bars of iron.

19 “He is (AN)the first of (AO)the works[g] of God;
    let him who made him bring near his sword!
20 For the mountains yield food for him
    where all the wild beasts play.
21 Under the lotus plants he lies,
    in the shelter of (AP)the reeds and in the marsh.
22 For his shade the lotus trees cover him;
    the willows of the brook surround him.
23 Behold, if the river is turbulent he is not frightened;
    he is confident though Jordan rushes against his mouth.
24 Can one take him by his eyes,[h]
    or pierce his nose with a snare?

Footnotes

  1. Job 39:13 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain
  2. Job 39:18 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain
  3. Job 39:21 Hebrew They paw
  4. Job 40:7 Hebrew Gird up your loins
  5. Job 40:13 Hebrew in the hidden place
  6. Job 40:15 A large animal, exact identity unknown
  7. Job 40:19 Hebrew ways
  8. Job 40:24 Or in his sight

39 “Do you know when the mountain goats(A) give birth?
    Do you watch when the doe bears her fawn?(B)
Do you count the months till they bear?
    Do you know the time they give birth?(C)
They crouch down and bring forth their young;
    their labor pains are ended.
Their young thrive and grow strong in the wilds;
    they leave and do not return.

“Who let the wild donkey(D) go free?
    Who untied its ropes?
I gave it the wasteland(E) as its home,
    the salt flats(F) as its habitat.(G)
It laughs(H) at the commotion in the town;
    it does not hear a driver’s shout.(I)
It ranges the hills(J) for its pasture
    and searches for any green thing.

“Will the wild ox(K) consent to serve you?(L)
    Will it stay by your manger(M) at night?
10 Can you hold it to the furrow with a harness?(N)
    Will it till the valleys behind you?
11 Will you rely on it for its great strength?(O)
    Will you leave your heavy work to it?
12 Can you trust it to haul in your grain
    and bring it to your threshing floor?

13 “The wings of the ostrich flap joyfully,
    though they cannot compare
    with the wings and feathers of the stork.(P)
14 She lays her eggs on the ground
    and lets them warm in the sand,
15 unmindful that a foot may crush them,
    that some wild animal may trample them.(Q)
16 She treats her young harshly,(R) as if they were not hers;
    she cares not that her labor was in vain,
17 for God did not endow her with wisdom
    or give her a share of good sense.(S)
18 Yet when she spreads her feathers to run,
    she laughs(T) at horse and rider.

19 “Do you give the horse its strength(U)
    or clothe its neck with a flowing mane?
20 Do you make it leap like a locust,(V)
    striking terror(W) with its proud snorting?(X)
21 It paws fiercely, rejoicing in its strength,(Y)
    and charges into the fray.(Z)
22 It laughs(AA) at fear, afraid of nothing;
    it does not shy away from the sword.
23 The quiver(AB) rattles against its side,
    along with the flashing spear(AC) and lance.
24 In frenzied excitement it eats up the ground;
    it cannot stand still when the trumpet sounds.(AD)
25 At the blast of the trumpet(AE) it snorts, ‘Aha!’
    It catches the scent of battle from afar,
    the shout of commanders and the battle cry.(AF)

26 “Does the hawk take flight by your wisdom
    and spread its wings toward the south?(AG)
27 Does the eagle soar at your command
    and build its nest on high?(AH)
28 It dwells on a cliff and stays there at night;
    a rocky crag(AI) is its stronghold.
29 From there it looks for food;(AJ)
    its eyes detect it from afar.
30 Its young ones feast on blood,
    and where the slain are, there it is.”(AK)

40 The Lord said to Job:(AL)

“Will the one who contends with the Almighty(AM) correct him?(AN)
    Let him who accuses God answer him!”(AO)

Then Job answered the Lord:

“I am unworthy(AP)—how can I reply to you?
    I put my hand over my mouth.(AQ)
I spoke once, but I have no answer(AR)
    twice, but I will say no more.”(AS)

Then the Lord spoke to Job out of the storm:(AT)

“Brace yourself like a man;
    I will question you,
    and you shall answer me.(AU)

“Would you discredit my justice?(AV)
    Would you condemn me to justify yourself?(AW)
Do you have an arm like God’s,(AX)
    and can your voice(AY) thunder like his?(AZ)
10 Then adorn yourself with glory and splendor,
    and clothe yourself in honor and majesty.(BA)
11 Unleash the fury of your wrath,(BB)
    look at all who are proud and bring them low,(BC)
12 look at all who are proud(BD) and humble them,(BE)
    crush(BF) the wicked where they stand.
13 Bury them all in the dust together;(BG)
    shroud their faces in the grave.(BH)
14 Then I myself will admit to you
    that your own right hand can save you.(BI)

15 “Look at Behemoth,
    which I made(BJ) along with you
    and which feeds on grass like an ox.(BK)
16 What strength(BL) it has in its loins,
    what power in the muscles of its belly!(BM)
17 Its tail sways like a cedar;
    the sinews of its thighs are close-knit.(BN)
18 Its bones are tubes of bronze,
    its limbs(BO) like rods of iron.(BP)
19 It ranks first among the works of God,(BQ)
    yet its Maker(BR) can approach it with his sword.(BS)
20 The hills bring it their produce,(BT)
    and all the wild animals play(BU) nearby.(BV)
21 Under the lotus plants it lies,
    hidden among the reeds(BW) in the marsh.(BX)
22 The lotuses conceal it in their shadow;
    the poplars by the stream(BY) surround it.
23 A raging river(BZ) does not alarm it;
    it is secure, though the Jordan(CA) should surge against its mouth.
24 Can anyone capture it by the eyes,
    or trap it and pierce its nose?(CB)

The Way of Love

13 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have (A)prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, (B)so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. (C)If I give away all I have, and (D)if I deliver up my body to be burned,[a] but have not love, I gain nothing.

(E)Love is patient and (F)kind; love (G)does not envy or boast; it (H)is not arrogant or rude. It (I)does not insist on its own way; it (J)is not irritable or resentful;[b] it (K)does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but (L)rejoices with the truth. (M)Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, (N)endures all things.

Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. For (O)we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but (P)when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. 11 When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. 12 For (Q)now we see in a mirror dimly, but (R)then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as (S)I have been fully known.

13 So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Prophecy and Tongues

14 (T)Pursue love, and (U)earnestly desire the (V)spiritual gifts, especially that you may (W)prophesy. For (X)one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit. On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation. The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church. Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but (Y)even more to prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be built up.

Now, brothers,[c] if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you unless I bring you some (Z)revelation or knowledge or prophecy or (AA)teaching? If even lifeless instruments, such as the flute or the harp, do not give distinct notes, how will anyone know what is played? And (AB)if the bugle gives an indistinct sound, who will get ready for battle? So with yourselves, if with your tongue you utter speech that is not intelligible, how will anyone know what is said? For you will be (AC)speaking into the air. 10 There are doubtless many different languages in the world, and none is without meaning, 11 but if I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be (AD)a foreigner to the speaker and the speaker a foreigner to me. 12 So with yourselves, since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church.

13 Therefore, one who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret. 14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind is unfruitful. 15 What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind also; (AE)I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will (AF)sing with my mind also. 16 Otherwise, if you give thanks with your spirit, how can anyone in the position of an outsider[d] say (AG)“Amen” to (AH)your thanksgiving when he does not know what you are saying? 17 For you may be giving thanks well enough, but the other person is not being built up. 18 I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. 19 Nevertheless, in church I would rather speak five words with my mind in order to instruct others, than ten thousand words in a tongue.

20 Brothers, (AI)do not be children in your thinking. (AJ)Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be (AK)mature. 21 (AL)In the Law it is written, (AM)“By people of strange tongues and by the lips of foreigners will I speak to this people, and even then they will not listen to me, says the Lord.” 22 Thus tongues are a sign not for believers but for unbelievers, while prophecy is a sign[e] not for unbelievers but for believers. 23 If, therefore, the whole church comes together and all speak in tongues, and outsiders or unbelievers enter, (AN)will they not say that you are out of your minds? 24 But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all, 25 (AO)the secrets of his heart are disclosed, and so, (AP)falling on his face, he will worship God and (AQ)declare that God is really among you.

Orderly Worship

26 What then, brothers? When you come together, each one has (AR)a hymn, (AS)a lesson, (AT)a revelation, (AU)a tongue, or (AV)an interpretation. (AW)Let all things be done for building up. 27 If any speak in (AX)a tongue, let there be only two or at most three, and each in turn, and let someone interpret. 28 But if there is no one to interpret, let each of them keep silent in church and speak to himself and to God. 29 Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others (AY)weigh what is said. 30 If a revelation is made to another sitting there, (AZ)let the first be silent. 31 For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all be encouraged, 32 and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets. 33 For God is not a God of (BA)confusion but of peace.

As in (BB)all the churches of the saints, 34 (BC)the women should keep silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but (BD)should be in submission, as (BE)the Law also says. 35 If there is anything they desire to learn, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is shameful for a woman to speak in church.

36 Or was it from you that the word of God came? Or are you the only ones it has reached? 37 (BF)If anyone thinks that he is a prophet, or spiritual, he should acknowledge that the things I am writing to you are a command of the Lord. 38 If anyone does not recognize this, he is not recognized. 39 So, my brothers, (BG)earnestly desire to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. 40 (BH)But all things should be done decently and (BI)in order.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 13:3 Some manuscripts deliver up my body [to death] that I may boast
  2. 1 Corinthians 13:5 Greek irritable and does not count up wrongdoing
  3. 1 Corinthians 14:6 Or brothers and sisters; also verses 20, 26, 39
  4. 1 Corinthians 14:16 Or of him that is without gifts
  5. 1 Corinthians 14:22 Greek lacks a sign

13 If I speak in the tongues[a](A) of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy(B) and can fathom all mysteries(C) and all knowledge,(D) and if I have a faith(E) that can move mountains,(F) but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor(G) and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,[b](H) but do not have love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient,(I) love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.(J) It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking,(K) it is not easily angered,(L) it keeps no record of wrongs.(M) Love does not delight in evil(N) but rejoices with the truth.(O) It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.(P)

Love never fails. But where there are prophecies,(Q) they will cease; where there are tongues,(R) they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part(S) and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes,(T) what is in part disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood(U) behind me. 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror;(V) then we shall see face to face.(W) Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.(X)

13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love.(Y) But the greatest of these is love.(Z)

Intelligibility in Worship

14 Follow the way of love(AA) and eagerly desire(AB) gifts of the Spirit,(AC) especially prophecy.(AD) For anyone who speaks in a tongue[c](AE) does not speak to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands them;(AF) they utter mysteries(AG) by the Spirit. But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening,(AH) encouraging(AI) and comfort. Anyone who speaks in a tongue(AJ) edifies(AK) themselves, but the one who prophesies(AL) edifies the church. I would like every one of you to speak in tongues,[d] but I would rather have you prophesy.(AM) The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues,[e] unless someone interprets, so that the church may be edified.(AN)

Now, brothers and sisters, if I come to you and speak in tongues, what good will I be to you, unless I bring you some revelation(AO) or knowledge(AP) or prophecy or word of instruction?(AQ) Even in the case of lifeless things that make sounds, such as the pipe or harp, how will anyone know what tune is being played unless there is a distinction in the notes? Again, if the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle?(AR) So it is with you. Unless you speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying? You will just be speaking into the air. 10 Undoubtedly there are all sorts of languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning. 11 If then I do not grasp the meaning of what someone is saying, I am a foreigner to the speaker, and the speaker is a foreigner to me.(AS) 12 So it is with you. Since you are eager for gifts of the Spirit,(AT) try to excel in those that build up(AU) the church.

13 For this reason the one who speaks in a tongue should pray that they may interpret what they say.(AV) 14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays,(AW) but my mind is unfruitful. 15 So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit,(AX) but I will also pray with my understanding; I will sing(AY) with my spirit, but I will also sing with my understanding. 16 Otherwise when you are praising God in the Spirit, how can someone else, who is now put in the position of an inquirer,[f] say “Amen”(AZ) to your thanksgiving,(BA) since they do not know what you are saying? 17 You are giving thanks well enough, but no one else is edified.(BB)

18 I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. 19 But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.(BC)

20 Brothers and sisters, stop thinking like children.(BD) In regard to evil be infants,(BE) but in your thinking be adults. 21 In the Law(BF) it is written:

“With other tongues
    and through the lips of foreigners
I will speak to this people,
    but even then they will not listen to me,(BG)
says the Lord.”[g]

22 Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers; prophecy,(BH) however, is not for unbelievers but for believers. 23 So if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in tongues, and inquirers or unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your mind?(BI) 24 But if an unbeliever or an inquirer comes in while everyone is prophesying, they are convicted of sin and are brought under judgment by all, 25 as the secrets(BJ) of their hearts are laid bare. So they will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, “God is really among you!”(BK)

Good Order in Worship

26 What then shall we say, brothers and sisters?(BL) When you come together, each of you(BM) has a hymn,(BN) or a word of instruction,(BO) a revelation, a tongue(BP) or an interpretation.(BQ) Everything must be done so that the church may be built up.(BR) 27 If anyone speaks in a tongue, two—or at the most three—should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret. 28 If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and to God.

29 Two or three prophets(BS) should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said.(BT) 30 And if a revelation comes to someone who is sitting down, the first speaker should stop. 31 For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged. 32 The spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets.(BU) 33 For God is not a God of disorder(BV) but of peace(BW)—as in all the congregations(BX) of the Lord’s people.(BY)

34 Women[h] should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak,(BZ) but must be in submission,(CA) as the law(CB) says. 35 If they want to inquire about something, they should ask their own husbands at home; for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church.[i]

36 Or did the word of God(CC) originate with you? Or are you the only people it has reached? 37 If anyone thinks they are a prophet(CD) or otherwise gifted by the Spirit,(CE) let them acknowledge that what I am writing to you is the Lord’s command.(CF) 38 But if anyone ignores this, they will themselves be ignored.[j]

39 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, be eager(CG) to prophesy,(CH) and do not forbid speaking in tongues. 40 But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly(CI) way.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 13:1 Or languages
  2. 1 Corinthians 13:3 Some manuscripts body to the flames
  3. 1 Corinthians 14:2 Or in another language; also in verses 4, 13, 14, 19, 26 and 27
  4. 1 Corinthians 14:5 Or in other languages; also in verses 6, 18, 22, 23 and 39
  5. 1 Corinthians 14:5 Or in other languages; also in verses 6, 18, 22, 23 and 39
  6. 1 Corinthians 14:16 The Greek word for inquirer is a technical term for someone not fully initiated into a religion; also in verses 23 and 24.
  7. 1 Corinthians 14:21 Isaiah 28:11,12
  8. 1 Corinthians 14:34 Or peace. As in all the congregations of the Lord’s people, 34 women
  9. 1 Corinthians 14:35 In a few manuscripts these verses come after verse 40.
  10. 1 Corinthians 14:38 Some manuscripts But anyone who is ignorant of this will be ignorant