Eliphaz Speaks: The Innocent Prosper

Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said:

Read full chapter

Eliphaz

Then Eliphaz the Temanite(A) replied:

Read full chapter

For affliction does not come from the dust,
    nor does trouble sprout from the ground,
but man is (A)born to trouble
    as the sparks fly upward.

“As for me, I would seek God,
    and to God would I commit my cause,
who (B)does great things and (C)unsearchable,
    (D)marvelous things without number:
10 he gives (E)rain on the earth
    and sends waters on the fields;
11 he (F)sets on high those who are lowly,
    and those who mourn are lifted to safety.
12 He (G)frustrates the devices of the crafty,
    so that their hands achieve no success.
13 He (H)catches the wise in their own craftiness,
    and the schemes of the wily are brought to a quick end.
14 They meet with darkness in the daytime
    and (I)grope at noonday as in the night.
15 But he (J)saves the needy from the sword of their mouth
    and from the hand of the mighty.
16 So the poor have hope,
    and (K)injustice shuts her mouth.

17 “Behold, (L)blessed is the one whom God reproves;
    therefore (M)despise not the discipline of the (N)Almighty.
18 For he wounds, but he (O)binds up;
    he (P)shatters, but his hands heal.
19 He will (Q)deliver you from six troubles;
    in seven no (R)evil[a] shall touch you.
20 (S)In famine he will redeem you from death,
    and in war from the power of the sword.
21 You shall be (T)hidden from the lash of the tongue,
    and shall not fear destruction when it comes.
22 At destruction and famine you shall laugh,
    and shall not fear (U)the beasts of the earth.
23 For you shall be in league with the stones of the field,
    and the beasts of the field shall be at peace with you.
24 You shall know that your (V)tent is at peace,
    and you shall inspect your fold and miss nothing.
25 You shall know also that your (W)offspring shall be many,
    and your descendants as (X)the grass of the earth.
26 You shall come to your grave in (Y)ripe old age,
    like a sheaf gathered up in its season.
27 Behold, this we have (Z)searched out; it is true.
    Hear, and know it for your good.”[b]

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Job 5:19 Or disaster
  2. Job 5:27 Hebrew for yourself

For hardship does not spring from the soil,
    nor does trouble sprout from the ground.(A)
Yet man is born to trouble(B)
    as surely as sparks fly upward.

“But if I were you, I would appeal to God;
    I would lay my cause before him.(C)
He performs wonders(D) that cannot be fathomed,(E)
    miracles that cannot be counted.(F)
10 He provides rain for the earth;(G)
    he sends water on the countryside.(H)
11 The lowly he sets on high,(I)
    and those who mourn(J) are lifted(K) to safety.
12 He thwarts the plans(L) of the crafty,
    so that their hands achieve no success.(M)
13 He catches the wise(N) in their craftiness,(O)
    and the schemes of the wily are swept away.(P)
14 Darkness(Q) comes upon them in the daytime;
    at noon they grope as in the night.(R)
15 He saves the needy(S) from the sword in their mouth;
    he saves them from the clutches of the powerful.(T)
16 So the poor(U) have hope,
    and injustice shuts its mouth.(V)

17 “Blessed is the one whom God corrects;(W)
    so do not despise the discipline(X) of the Almighty.[a](Y)
18 For he wounds, but he also binds up;(Z)
    he injures, but his hands also heal.(AA)
19 From six calamities he will rescue(AB) you;
    in seven no harm will touch you.(AC)
20 In famine(AD) he will deliver you from death,
    and in battle from the stroke of the sword.(AE)
21 You will be protected from the lash of the tongue,(AF)
    and need not fear(AG) when destruction comes.(AH)
22 You will laugh(AI) at destruction and famine,(AJ)
    and need not fear the wild animals.(AK)
23 For you will have a covenant(AL) with the stones(AM) of the field,
    and the wild animals will be at peace with you.(AN)
24 You will know that your tent is secure;(AO)
    you will take stock of your property and find nothing missing.(AP)
25 You will know that your children will be many,(AQ)
    and your descendants like the grass of the earth.(AR)
26 You will come to the grave in full vigor,(AS)
    like sheaves gathered in season.(AT)

27 “We have examined this, and it is true.
    So hear it(AU) and apply it to yourself.”(AV)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Job 5:17 Hebrew Shaddai; here and throughout Job

Prophecy Against the Shepherds of Israel

34 The word of the Lord came to me: (A)“Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy, and say to them, even to the shepherds, Thus says the Lord God: (B)Ah, shepherds of Israel (C)who have been feeding yourselves! (D)Should not shepherds feed the sheep? (E)You eat the fat, you clothe yourselves with the wool, (F)you slaughter the fat ones, but you do not feed the sheep. (G)The weak you have not strengthened, the sick you have not healed, (H)the injured you have not bound up, (I)the strayed you have not brought back, (J)the lost you have not sought, and with force and (K)harshness you have ruled them. (L)So they were scattered, because there was no shepherd, and (M)they became food for all the wild beasts. My sheep were scattered; they wandered over all the mountains and on every high hill. My sheep were scattered over all the face of the earth, (N)with none to search or seek for them.

“Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: (O)As I live, declares the Lord God, surely because (P)my sheep have become a prey, and my sheep have become food for all the wild beasts, since there was no shepherd, and because my shepherds have not searched for my sheep, but the shepherds have fed themselves, and have not fed my sheep, therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: 10 Thus says the Lord God, (Q)Behold, I am against the shepherds, and (R)I will require my sheep at their hand and (S)put a stop to their feeding the sheep. (T)No longer shall the shepherds feed themselves. (U)I will rescue my sheep from their mouths, that they may not be food for them.

The Lord God Will Seek Them Out

11 “For thus says the Lord God: (V)Behold, I, I (W)myself will search for my sheep and will seek them out. 12 As a shepherd seeks out his flock when he is among his sheep that have been scattered, so will I seek out my sheep, and I will rescue them from all places where they have been scattered on (X)a day of clouds and (Y)thick darkness. 13 And I will bring them out from the peoples (Z)and gather them from the countries, and will bring them into their own land. And I will feed them on (AA)the mountains of Israel, by the ravines, and in all the inhabited places of the country. 14 (AB)I will feed them with good pasture, and on the mountain heights of Israel shall be their grazing land. (AC)There they shall lie down in good grazing land, and on rich pasture they shall feed on the mountains of Israel. 15 (AD)I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, (AE)and I myself will make them lie down, declares the Lord God. 16 (AF)I will seek the lost, (AG)and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak, and (AH)the fat and the strong I will destroy.[a] I will feed them in justice.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 34:16 Septuagint, Syriac, Vulgate I will watch over

The Lord Will Be Israel’s Shepherd

34 The word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Woe to you shepherds of Israel who only take care of yourselves! Should not shepherds take care of the flock?(A) You eat the curds, clothe yourselves with the wool and slaughter the choice animals, but you do not take care of the flock.(B) You have not strengthened the weak or healed(C) the sick or bound up(D) the injured. You have not brought back the strays or searched for the lost. You have ruled them harshly and brutally.(E) So they were scattered because there was no shepherd,(F) and when they were scattered they became food for all the wild animals.(G) My sheep wandered over all the mountains and on every high hill.(H) They were scattered(I) over the whole earth, and no one searched or looked for them.(J)

“‘Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, because my flock lacks a shepherd and so has been plundered(K) and has become food for all the wild animals,(L) and because my shepherds did not search for my flock but cared for themselves rather than for my flock,(M) therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: 10 This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am against(N) the shepherds and will hold them accountable for my flock. I will remove them from tending the flock so that the shepherds can no longer feed themselves. I will rescue(O) my flock from their mouths, and it will no longer be food for them.(P)

11 “‘For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I myself will search for my sheep(Q) and look after them. 12 As a shepherd(R) looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness.(S) 13 I will bring them out from the nations and gather(T) them from the countries, and I will bring them into their own land.(U) I will pasture them on the mountains of Israel, in the ravines and in all the settlements in the land.(V) 14 I will tend them in a good pasture, and the mountain heights of Israel(W) will be their grazing land. There they will lie down in good grazing land, and there they will feed in a rich pasture(X) on the mountains of Israel.(Y) 15 I myself will tend my sheep and have them lie down,(Z) declares the Sovereign Lord.(AA) 16 I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up(AB) the injured and strengthen the weak,(AC) but the sleek and the strong I will destroy.(AD) I will shepherd the flock with justice.(AE)

Read full chapter

Shepherd the Flock of God

So I exhort the elders among you, (A)as a fellow elder and (B)a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: (C)shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight,[a] (D)not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you;[b] (E)not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not (F)domineering over those in your charge, but (G)being examples to the flock. And when (H)the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the (I)unfading (J)crown of glory. Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. (K)Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for (L)“God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

(M)Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, (N)casting all your anxieties on him, because (O)he cares for you. (P)Be sober-minded; (Q)be watchful. Your (R)adversary the devil (S)prowls around (T)like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. (U)Resist him, (V)firm in your faith, knowing that (W)the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. 10 And (X)after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, (Y)who has called you to his (Z)eternal glory in Christ, will himself (AA)restore, (AB)confirm, strengthen, and establish you. 11 (AC)To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 1 Peter 5:2 Some manuscripts omit exercising oversight
  2. 1 Peter 5:2 Some manuscripts omit as God would have you

To the Elders and the Flock

To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder(A) and a witness(B) of Christ’s sufferings who also will share in the glory to be revealed:(C) Be shepherds of God’s flock(D) that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be;(E) not pursuing dishonest gain,(F) but eager to serve; not lording it over(G) those entrusted to you, but being examples(H) to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd(I) appears, you will receive the crown of glory(J) that will never fade away.(K)

In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves(L) to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility(M) toward one another, because,

“God opposes the proud
    but shows favor to the humble.”[a](N)

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.(O) Cast all your anxiety on him(P) because he cares for you.(Q)

Be alert and of sober mind.(R) Your enemy the devil prowls around(S) like a roaring lion(T) looking for someone to devour. Resist him,(U) standing firm in the faith,(V) because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.(W)

10 And the God of all grace, who called you(X) to his eternal glory(Y) in Christ, after you have suffered a little while,(Z) will himself restore you and make you strong,(AA) firm and steadfast. 11 To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.(AB)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 1 Peter 5:5 Prov. 3:34

Woes to the Pharisees and Lawyers

37 While Jesus[a] was speaking, (A)a Pharisee asked him to dine with him, so he went in and reclined at table. 38 The Pharisee was astonished to see (B)that he did not first wash before dinner. 39 And the Lord said to him, (C)“Now you Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside you are full of (D)greed and wickedness. 40 (E)You fools! (F)Did not he who made the outside make the inside also? 41 But (G)give as alms those things that are within, and behold, (H)everything is clean for you.

42 (I)“But woe to you Pharisees! For (J)you tithe mint and rue and every herb, and neglect (K)justice and (L)the love of God. (M)These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. 43 Woe to you Pharisees! For (N)you love the best seat in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces. 44 Woe to you! (O)For you are like unmarked graves, and people walk over them without knowing it.”

45 One of (P)the lawyers answered him, “Teacher, in saying these things you insult us also.” 46 And he said, “Woe to you (Q)lawyers also! For (R)you load people with burdens hard to bear, and you yourselves do not touch the burdens with one of your fingers. 47 (S)Woe to you! For you build the tombs of the prophets whom your fathers killed. 48 (T)So you are witnesses and you (U)consent to the deeds of (V)your fathers, for they killed them, and you build their tombs. 49 Therefore also (W)the Wisdom of God said, (X)‘I will send them (Y)prophets and apostles, (Z)some of whom they will (AA)kill and persecute,’ 50 so that (AB)the blood of all the prophets, shed (AC)from the foundation of the world, may be (AD)charged against this generation, 51 from the blood of (AE)Abel to the blood of (AF)Zechariah, who perished between (AG)the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, it will be (AH)required of this generation. 52 Woe to you (AI)lawyers! (AJ)For you have taken away the key of (AK)knowledge. You (AL)did not enter yourselves, and you hindered those who were entering.”

53 As he went away from there, the scribes and the Pharisees began to press him hard and to provoke him to speak about many things, 54 (AM)lying in wait for him, (AN)to catch him in something he might say.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Luke 11:37 Greek he

Woes on the Pharisees and the Experts in the Law

37 When Jesus had finished speaking, a Pharisee invited him to eat with him; so he went in and reclined at the table.(A) 38 But the Pharisee was surprised when he noticed that Jesus did not first wash before the meal.(B)

39 Then the Lord(C) said to him, “Now then, you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness.(D) 40 You foolish people!(E) Did not the one who made the outside make the inside also? 41 But now as for what is inside you—be generous to the poor,(F) and everything will be clean for you.(G)

42 “Woe to you Pharisees, because you give God a tenth(H) of your mint, rue and all other kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God.(I) You should have practiced the latter without leaving the former undone.(J)

43 “Woe to you Pharisees, because you love the most important seats in the synagogues and respectful greetings in the marketplaces.(K)

44 “Woe to you, because you are like unmarked graves,(L) which people walk over without knowing it.”

45 One of the experts in the law(M) answered him, “Teacher, when you say these things, you insult us also.”

46 Jesus replied, “And you experts in the law, woe to you, because you load people down with burdens they can hardly carry, and you yourselves will not lift one finger to help them.(N)

47 “Woe to you, because you build tombs for the prophets, and it was your ancestors who killed them. 48 So you testify that you approve of what your ancestors did; they killed the prophets, and you build their tombs.(O) 49 Because of this, God in his wisdom(P) said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles, some of whom they will kill and others they will persecute.’(Q) 50 Therefore this generation will be held responsible for the blood of all the prophets that has been shed since the beginning of the world, 51 from the blood of Abel(R) to the blood of Zechariah,(S) who was killed between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, this generation will be held responsible for it all.(T)

52 “Woe to you experts in the law, because you have taken away the key to knowledge. You yourselves have not entered, and you have hindered those who were entering.”(U)

53 When Jesus went outside, the Pharisees and the teachers of the law began to oppose him fiercely and to besiege him with questions, 54 waiting to catch him in something he might say.(V)

Read full chapter