Job 6:14-30

New International Version

¹⁴“Anyone who withholds kindness from a friend^(A)
    forsakes the fear of the Almighty.^(B)
¹⁵But my brothers are as undependable as intermittent streams,^(C)
    as the streams that overflow
¹⁶when darkened by thawing ice
    and swollen with melting snow,^(D)
¹⁷but that stop flowing in the dry season,
    and in the heat^(E) vanish from their channels.
¹⁸Caravans turn aside from their routes;
    they go off into the wasteland and perish.
¹⁹The caravans of Tema^(F) look for water,
    the traveling merchants of Sheba^(G) look in hope.
²⁰They are distressed, because they had been confident;
    they arrive there, only to be disappointed.^(H)
²¹Now you too have proved to be of no help;
    you see something dreadful and are afraid.^(I)
²²Have I ever said, ‘Give something on my behalf,
    pay a ransom^(J) for me from your wealth,^(K)
²³deliver me from the hand of the enemy,
    rescue me from the clutches of the ruthless’?^(L)

²⁴“Teach me, and I will be quiet;^(M)
    show me where I have been wrong.^(N)
²⁵How painful are honest words!^(O)
    But what do your arguments prove?
²⁶Do you mean to correct what I say,
    and treat my desperate words as wind?^(P)
²⁷You would even cast lots^(Q) for the fatherless^(R)
    and barter away your friend.

²⁸“But now be so kind as to look at me.
    Would I lie to your face?^(S)
²⁹Relent, do not be unjust;^(T)
    reconsider, for my integrity^(U) is at stake.^[a]^(V)
³⁰Is there any wickedness on my lips?^(W)
    Can my mouth not discern^(X) malice?

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Footnotes

Job 6:29 Or my righteousness still stands

Galatians 3:15-22

New International Version

The Law and the Promise

¹⁵Brothers and sisters,^(A) let me take an example from everyday life. Just as no one can set aside or add to a human covenant that has been duly established, so it is in this case. ¹⁶The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed.^(B) Scripture does not say “and to seeds,” meaning many people, but “and to your seed,”^[a]^(C) meaning one person, who is Christ. ¹⁷What I mean is this: The law, introduced 430 years^(D) later, does not set aside the covenant previously established by God and thus do away with the promise. ¹⁸For if the inheritance depends on the law, then it no longer depends on the promise;^(E) but God in his grace gave it to Abraham through a promise.

¹⁹Why, then, was the law given at all? It was added because of transgressions^(F) until the Seed^(G) to whom the promise referred had come. The law was given through angels^(H) and entrusted to a mediator.^(I) ²⁰A mediator,^(J) however, implies more than one party; but God is one.

²¹Is the law, therefore, opposed to the promises of God? Absolutely not!^(K) For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law.^(L) ²²But Scripture has locked up everything under the control of sin,^(M) so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe.

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