Job 13-14
Christian Standard Bible
13 Look, my eyes have seen all this;
my ears(A) have heard and understood it.
2 Everything you know, I also know;
I am not inferior to you.(B)
3 Yet I prefer to speak to the Almighty
and argue my case before God.(C)
4 You use lies like plaster;
you are all worthless healers.(D)
5 If only you would shut up
and let that be your wisdom!
6 Hear now my argument,
and listen to my defense.[a]
7 Would you testify unjustly on God’s behalf
or speak deceitfully for him?
8 Would you show partiality(E) to him
or argue the case in his defense?
9 Would it go well if he examined you?
Could you deceive him as you would deceive a man?(F)
10 Surely he would rebuke you
if you secretly showed partiality.
11 Would God’s majesty not terrify you?(G)
Would his dread not fall on you?
12 Your memorable sayings are proverbs of ash;(H)
your defenses are made of clay.
13 Be quiet,[b] and I will speak.
Let whatever comes happen to me.
14 I will put[c] myself at risk[d]
and take my life in my own hands.
15 Even if he kills me, I will hope in him.[e]
I will still defend(I) my ways before him.
16 Yes, this will result in my deliverance,
for no godless person(J) can appear before him.
17 Pay close attention to my words;
let my declaration ring in your ears.
18 Now then, I have prepared my case;(K)
I know that I am right.
19 Can anyone indict me?
If so, I will be silent and die.
20 Only grant these two things to me, God,
so that I will not have to hide from your presence:
21 remove your hand from me,
and do not let your terror frighten me.(L)
22 Then call, and I will answer,(M)
or I will speak, and you can respond to me.
23 How many iniquities(N) and sins have I committed?[f]
Reveal to me my transgression and sin.
24 Why do you hide your face
and consider me your enemy?(O)
25 Will you frighten a wind-driven leaf?
Will you chase after dry straw?
26 For you record bitter accusations against me
and make me inherit the iniquities of my youth.
27 You put my feet in the stocks
and stand watch over all my paths,
setting a limit for the soles[g] of my feet.
28 A person wears out like something rotten,
like a moth-eaten garment.(P)
14 Anyone born of woman
is short of days and full of trouble.(Q)
2 He blossoms like a flower, then withers;(R)
he flees like a shadow and does not last.
3 Do you really take notice of one like this?
Will you bring me into judgment against you?[h](S)
4 Who can produce something pure from what is impure?
No one!
5 Since a person’s days are determined
and the number of his months depends on you,
and since you have set[i] limits he cannot pass,(T)
6 look away from him and let him rest
so that he can enjoy his day like a hired worker.(U)
7 There is hope for a tree:
If it is cut down, it will sprout again,
and its shoots will not die.
8 If its roots grow old in the ground
and its stump starts to die in the soil,
9 the scent of water makes it thrive
and produce twigs like a sapling.(V)
10 But a person dies and fades away;
he breathes his last—where is he?
11 As water disappears from a lake
and a river becomes parched and dry,
12 so people lie down never to rise again.
They will not wake up until the heavens are no more;(W)
they will not stir from their sleep.
13 If only you would hide me in Sheol(X)
and conceal me until your anger(Y) passes.
If only you would appoint a time for me
and then remember me.
14 When a person dies, will he come back to life?
If so, I would wait(Z) all the days of my struggle(AA)
until my relief comes.
15 You would call, and I would answer you.
You would long for the work of your hands.(AB)
16 For then you would count my steps(AC)
but would not take note(AD) of my sin.
17 My rebellion would be sealed up in a bag,
and you would cover over my iniquity.
18 But as a mountain collapses and crumbles
and a rock is dislodged from its place,
19 as water wears away stones
and torrents wash away the soil from the land,
so you destroy a man’s hope.(AE)
20 You completely overpower him, and he passes on;
you change his appearance and send him away.
21 If his sons receive honor, he does not know it;
if they become insignificant, he is unaware of it.(AF)
22 He feels only the pain of his own body
and mourns only for himself.
Footnotes
Acts 24
Christian Standard Bible
The Accusation against Paul
24 Five days later Ananias(A) the high priest came down with some elders and a lawyer named Tertullus. These men presented their case against Paul to the governor.(B) 2 When Paul was called in, Tertullus began to accuse him and said, “We enjoy great peace because of you, and reforms are taking place for the benefit of this nation because of your foresight. 3 We acknowledge this in every way and everywhere, most excellent(C) Felix, with utmost gratitude. 4 But, so that I will not burden you any further, I request that you would be kind enough to give us a brief hearing. 5 For we have found this man to be a plague,(D) an agitator(E) among all the Jews throughout the Roman world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes.(F) 6 He even tried to desecrate the temple, and so we apprehended him.[a] 8 By examining him yourself you will be able to discern the truth about these charges we are bringing against him.” 9 The Jews also joined in the attack, alleging that these things were true.
Paul’s Defense before Felix
10 When the governor motioned for him to speak, Paul replied, “Because I know you have been a judge of this nation for many years, I am glad to offer my defense in what concerns me.(G) 11 You can verify for yourself that it is no more than twelve days since I went up to worship in Jerusalem.(H) 12 They didn’t find me arguing with anyone or causing a disturbance among the crowd, either in the temple or in the synagogues or anywhere in the city.(I) 13 Neither can they prove the charges they are now making against me. 14 But I admit this to you: I worship the God of my ancestors according to the Way,(J) which they call a sect, believing everything that is in accordance with the law and written in the prophets.(K) 15 I have a hope in God, which these men themselves also accept, that there will be a resurrection,[b](L) both of the righteous and the unrighteous.(M) 16 I always strive to have a clear conscience(N) toward God and men. 17 After many years, I came to bring charitable gifts and offerings to my people.(O) 18 While I was doing this, some Jews from Asia found me ritually purified in the temple, without a crowd and without any uproar.(P) 19 It is they who ought to be here before you to bring charges, if they have anything against me. 20 Or let these men here state what wrongdoing they found in me when I stood before the Sanhedrin, 21 other than this one statement I shouted while standing among them, ‘Today I am on trial before you concerning the resurrection of the dead.’”
The Verdict Postponed
22 Since Felix was well informed about the Way,(Q) he adjourned the hearing, saying, “When Lysias the commander comes down, I will decide your case.” 23 He ordered that the centurion keep Paul under guard, though he could have some freedom, and that he should not prevent any of his friends from meeting[c] his needs.(R)
24 Several days later, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, he sent for Paul and listened to him on the subject of faith in Christ Jesus. 25 Now as he spoke about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come,(S) Felix became afraid and replied, “Leave for now, but when I have an opportunity I’ll call for you.” 26 At the same time he was also hoping that Paul would offer him money.[d] So he sent for him quite often and conversed with him.
27 After two years had passed, Porcius Festus(T) succeeded Felix, and because Felix wanted to do the Jews a favor,(U) he left Paul in prison.(V)
Footnotes
- 24:6 Some mss include vv. 6b-8a: and wanted to judge him according to our law. 7 But Lysias the commander came and took him from our hands with great force, 8 commanding his accusers to come to you.
- 24:15 Other mss add of the dead
- 24:23 Other mss add or visiting
- 24:26 Other mss add so that he might release him
Psalm 89:28-34
Christian Standard Bible
28 I will always preserve my faithful love for him,
and my covenant with him will endure.(A)
29 I will establish his line forever,
his throne as long as heaven lasts.[a](B)
30 If his sons abandon my instruction
and do not live by my ordinances,(C)
31 if they dishonor my statutes
and do not keep my commands,(D)
32 then I will call their rebellion
to account with the rod,
their iniquity with blows.(E)
33 But I will not withdraw
my faithful love from him
or betray my faithfulness.(F)
34 I will not violate my covenant
or change what my lips have said.(G)
Footnotes
- 89:29 Lit as days of heaven
Proverbs 19:7-9
Christian Standard Bible
7 All the brothers of a poor person hate him;(A)
how much more do his friends
keep their distance from him!
He may pursue them with words,(B)
but they are not there.[a]
8 The one who acquires good sense[b] loves himself;
one who safeguards understanding finds success.(C)
9 A false witness will not go unpunished,
and one who utters lies perishes.(D)
The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.
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