Eliphaz: Job Has Sinned

Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said:

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Eliphaz

Then Eliphaz the Temanite(A) replied:

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For affliction does not come from the dust,
Nor does trouble spring from the ground;
Yet man is (A)born to [a]trouble,
As the sparks fly upward.

“But as for me, I would seek God,
And to God I would commit my cause—
Who does great things, and unsearchable,
Marvelous things without number.
10 (B)He gives rain on the earth,
And sends waters on the fields.
11 (C)He sets on high those who are lowly,
And those who mourn are lifted to safety.
12 (D)He frustrates the devices of the crafty,
So that their hands cannot carry out their plans.
13 He catches the (E)wise in their own craftiness,
And the counsel of the cunning comes quickly upon them.
14 They meet with darkness in the daytime,
And grope at noontime as in the night.
15 But (F)He saves the needy from the sword,
From the mouth of the mighty,
And from their hand.
16 (G)So the poor have hope,
And injustice shuts her mouth.

17 “Behold,(H) happy is the man whom God corrects;
Therefore do not despise the chastening of the Almighty.
18 (I)For He bruises, but He binds up;
He wounds, but His hands make whole.
19 (J)He shall deliver you in six troubles,
Yes, in seven (K)no evil shall touch you.
20 (L)In famine He shall redeem you from death,
And in war from the [b]power of the sword.
21 (M)You shall be hidden from the scourge of the tongue,
And you shall not be afraid of destruction when it comes.
22 You shall laugh at destruction and famine,
And (N)you shall not be afraid of the (O)beasts of the earth.
23 (P)For you shall have a covenant with the stones of the field,
And the beasts of the field shall be at peace with you.
24 You shall know that your tent is in peace;
You shall visit your dwelling and find nothing amiss.
25 You shall also know that (Q)your descendants shall be many,
And your offspring (R)like the grass of the earth.
26 (S)You shall come to the grave at a full age,
As a sheaf of grain ripens in its season.
27 Behold, this we have (T)searched out;
It is true.
Hear it, and know for yourself.”

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Footnotes

  1. Job 5:7 labor
  2. Job 5:20 Lit. hand

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)

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Footnotes

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

Irresponsible Shepherds

34 And the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God to the shepherds: (A)“Woe to the shepherds of Israel who feed themselves! Should not the shepherds feed the flocks? (B)You eat the fat and clothe yourselves with the wool; you (C)slaughter the fatlings, but you do not feed the flock. (D)The weak you have not strengthened, nor have you healed those who were sick, nor bound up the broken, nor brought back what was driven away, nor (E)sought what was lost; but with (F)force and [a]cruelty you have ruled them. (G)So they were (H)scattered because there was no shepherd; (I)and they became food for all the beasts of the field when they were scattered. My sheep (J)wandered through all the mountains, and on every high hill; yes, My flock was scattered over the whole face of the earth, and no one was seeking or searching for them.

‘Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: As I live,” says the Lord God, “surely because My flock became a prey, and My flock (K)became food for every beast of the field, because there was no shepherd, nor did My shepherds search for My flock, (L)but the shepherds fed themselves and did not feed My flock”— therefore, O shepherds, hear the word of the Lord! 10 Thus says the Lord God: “Behold, I am (M)against the shepherds, and (N)I will require My flock at their hand; I will cause them to cease feeding the sheep, and the shepherds shall (O)feed themselves no more; for I will (P)deliver My flock from their mouths, that they may no longer be food for them.”

God, the True Shepherd

11 ‘For thus says the Lord God: “Indeed I Myself will search for My sheep and seek them out. 12 As a (Q)shepherd seeks out his flock on the day he is among his scattered sheep, so will I seek out My sheep and deliver them from all the places where they were scattered on (R)a cloudy and dark day. 13 And (S)I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land; I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, [b]in the valleys and in all the inhabited places of the country. 14 (T)I will feed them in good pasture, and their fold shall be on the high mountains of Israel. (U)There they shall lie down in a good fold and feed in rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. 15 I will feed My flock, and I will make them lie down,” says the Lord God. 16 (V)“I will seek what was lost and bring back what was driven away, bind up the broken and strengthen what was sick; but I will destroy (W)the fat and the strong, and feed them (X)in judgment.”

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Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 34:4 harshness or rigor
  2. Ezekiel 34:13 Or by the streams

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)

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Shepherd the Flock

The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a (A)witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the (B)glory that will be revealed: (C)Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, (D)not by compulsion but [a]willingly, (E)not for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as (F)being [b]lords over (G)those entrusted to you, but (H)being examples to the flock; and when (I)the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive (J)the crown of glory that does not fade away.

Submit to God, Resist the Devil

Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, (K)all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for

(L)“God resists the proud,
But (M)gives grace to the humble.”

Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

Be [c]sober, be [d]vigilant; [e]because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. 10 But [f]may the God of all grace, (N)who called [g]us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, [h]perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. 11 (O)To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Peter 5:2 NU adds according to God
  2. 1 Peter 5:3 masters
  3. 1 Peter 5:8 self-controlled
  4. 1 Peter 5:8 watchful
  5. 1 Peter 5:8 NU, M omit because
  6. 1 Peter 5:10 NU the God of all grace,
  7. 1 Peter 5:10 NU, M you
  8. 1 Peter 5:10 NU will perfect

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)

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Footnotes

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

Woe to the Pharisees and Lawyers

37 And as He spoke, a certain Pharisee asked Him to dine with him. So He went in and sat down to eat. 38 (A)When the Pharisee saw it, he marveled that He had not first washed before dinner.

39 (B)Then the Lord said to him, “Now you Pharisees make the outside of the cup and dish clean, but (C)your inward part is full of [a]greed and wickedness. 40 Foolish ones! Did not (D)He who made the outside make the inside also? 41 (E)But rather give alms of [b]such things as you have; then indeed all things are clean to you.

42 (F)“But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and (G)pass by justice and the (H)love of God. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone. 43 (I)Woe to you Pharisees! For you love the [c]best seats in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces. 44 (J)Woe to you, [d]scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! (K)For you are like graves which are not seen, and the men who walk over them are not aware of them.

45 Then one of the lawyers answered and said to Him, “Teacher, by saying these things You reproach us also.”

46 And He said, “Woe to you also, lawyers! (L)For you load men with burdens hard to bear, and you yourselves do not touch the burdens with one of your fingers. 47 (M)Woe to you! For you build the tombs of the prophets, and your fathers killed them. 48 In fact, you bear witness that you approve the deeds of your fathers; for they indeed killed them, and you build their tombs. 49 Therefore the wisdom of God also said, (N)‘I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they will kill and persecute,’ 50 that the blood of all the prophets which was shed from the foundation of the world may be required of this generation, 51 (O)from the blood of Abel to (P)the blood of Zechariah who perished between the altar and the temple. Yes, I say to you, it shall be required of this generation.

52 (Q)“Woe to you lawyers! For you have taken away the key of knowledge. You did not enter in yourselves, and those who were entering in you hindered.”

53 [e]And as He said these things to them, the scribes and the Pharisees began to assail Him vehemently, and to cross-examine Him about many things, 54 lying in wait for Him, [f]and (R)seeking to catch Him in something He might say, [g]that they might accuse Him.

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Footnotes

  1. Luke 11:39 Lit. eager grasping or robbery
  2. Luke 11:41 Or what is inside
  3. Luke 11:43 Or places of honor
  4. Luke 11:44 NU omits scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites
  5. Luke 11:53 NU And when He left there
  6. Luke 11:54 NU omits and seeking
  7. Luke 11:54 NU omits that they might accuse Him

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)

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