Job 12
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Job Replies: I Am a Laughingstock
12 Then Job answered:
2 “No doubt you are the people,
and wisdom will die with you.
3 But I have understanding as well as you;
I am not inferior to you.
Who does not know such things as these?
4 I am a laughingstock to my friends;
I, who called upon God and he answered me,
a just and blameless man, I am a laughingstock.(A)
5 Those at ease have contempt for misfortune,[a]
but it is ready for those whose feet are unstable.(B)
6 The tents of robbers are at peace,
and those who provoke God are secure,
who bring their god in their hands.[b](C)
7 “But ask the animals, and they will teach you,
the birds of the air, and they will tell you;
8 ask the plants of the earth,[c] and they will teach you,
and the fish of the sea will declare to you.
9 Who among all these does not know
that the hand of the Lord has done this?(D)
10 In his hand is the life of every living thing
and the breath of every human being.(E)
11 Does not the ear test words
as the palate tastes food?(F)
12 Is wisdom with the aged
and understanding in length of days?(G)
13 “With God[d] are wisdom and strength;
he has counsel and understanding.(H)
14 If he tears down, no one can rebuild;
if he shuts someone in, no one can open up.(I)
15 If he withholds the waters, they dry up;
if he sends them out, they overwhelm the land.(J)
16 With him are strength and wisdom;
the deceived and the deceiver are his.(K)
17 He leads counselors away stripped
and makes fools of judges.(L)
18 He looses the sash of kings
and binds a waistcloth on their loins.(M)
19 He leads priests away stripped
and overthrows the mighty.
20 He deprives of speech those who are trusted
and takes away the discernment of the elders.(N)
21 He pours contempt on princes
and looses the belt of the strong.(O)
22 He uncovers deep things from the darkness
and brings deep darkness to light.(P)
23 He makes nations great, then destroys them;
he enlarges nations, then leads them away.(Q)
24 He strips understanding from the leaders[e] of the earth
and makes them wander in a pathless waste.(R)
25 They grope in the dark without light;
he makes them stagger like a drunkard.(S)
Acts 11:19-30
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
The Church in Antioch
19 Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that took place over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, and they spoke the word to no one except Jews.(A) 20 But among them were some men of Cyprus and Cyrene who, on coming to Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists[a] also, proclaiming the Lord Jesus.(B) 21 The hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number became believers and turned to the Lord.(C) 22 News of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. 23 When he came and saw the grace of God, he rejoiced, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast devotion,(D) 24 for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were brought to the Lord.(E) 25 Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul,(F) 26 and when he had found him he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for an entire year they met with the church and taught a great many people, and it was in Antioch that the disciples were first called “Christians.”(G)
27 At that time prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch.(H) 28 One of them named Agabus stood up and predicted by the Spirit that there would be a severe famine over all the world, and this took place during the reign of Claudius.(I) 29 The disciples determined that, according to their ability, each would send relief to the brothers and sisters living in Judea;(J) 30 this they did, sending it to the elders by Barnabas and Saul.(K)
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 11.20 Other ancient authorities read Greeks
John 8:21-32
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Jesus Foretells His Death
21 Again he said to them, “I am going away, and you will search for me, but you will die in your sin. Where I am going, you cannot come.”(A) 22 Then the Jews said, “Is he going to kill himself? Is that what he means by saying, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come’?” 23 He said to them, “You are from below, I am from above; you are from this world, I am not from this world.(B) 24 I told you that you would die in your sins, for you will die in your sins unless you believe that I am he.”[a](C) 25 They said to him, “Who are you?” Jesus said to them, “Why do I speak to you at all?[b] 26 I have much to say about you and much to condemn, but the one who sent me is true, and I declare to the world what I have heard from him.”(D) 27 They did not understand that he was speaking to them about the Father. 28 So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will realize that I am he[c] and that I do nothing on my own, but I speak these things as the Father instructed me.(E) 29 And the one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what is pleasing to him.”(F) 30 As he was saying these things, many believed in him.
True Disciples
31 Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, “If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”(G)
Read full chapterNew Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.