The Daily Audio Bible
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Job’s response
16 Then Job answered:
2 I’ve heard many things like these.
All of you are sorry comforters.
3 Will windy talk ever cease;
what bothers you that you must argue?
4 In your situation I could speak like you;
I could put words together to oppose you,
shake my head over you.
5 I could heap up words, strengthen you with my speech;
my trembling lips would be held in check.
6 If I speak, my pain is not eased;
if I hold back, what have I lost?
The innocent are God’s targets
7 Now God has surely worn me out.
You have destroyed my entire group,
8 seized me, which became grounds for an accusation.[a]
My leanness rises to bear witness against me.
9 His anger tears me and afflicts me;
he slashes at me with his teeth.
My enemy pierces me with his eyes.
10 They open their mouths at me
and strike my cheek in a taunt;
they gang up on me.
11 God delivers me to a criminal
and forces me into the hands of the wicked.
12 I was at rest, but he shattered me,
seized me by the back of my neck,
dashed me into pieces;
he raised me up for his target.
13 His archers surround me;
he cuts my kidneys open without pity and doesn’t care,
pours my gall on the ground,
14 bursts me open over and over,
runs against me like a strong man.
15 I’ve sewed rough cloth over my skin
and buried my dignity in the dust.
16 My face is red from crying,
and dark gloom hangs on my eyelids.
17 But there is no violence in my hands,
and my prayer is pure.
Lingering hope
18 Earth, don’t cover my blood;
let my outcry never cease.
19 Surely now my witness stands in heaven;
my advocate is on high;
20 my go-between, my friend.[b]
While my eyes drip tears to God,
21 let him plead with God for a human being,
like a person pleads for a friend.
22 A number of years will surely pass,
and then I’ll walk a path that I won’t return.
Another lament
17 My spirit is broken,
my days extinguished,
the grave,[c] mine.
2 Surely mockers are with me,
and my eye looks on their rebellion.
3 Take my guarantee.
Who else is willing to make an agreement?
4 You’ve closed their mind to insight;
therefore, you won’t be exalted.
5 He denounces his friends for gain,
and his children’s eyes fail.
6 He makes me a popular proverb;
I’m like spit in people’s faces.
7 My eye is weak from grief;
my limbs like a shadow—all of them.
8 Those who do the right thing are amazed at this;
the guiltless become troubled about the godless.
9 The innocent clings to his way;
the one whose hands are clean grows stronger.
10 But you can bring all of them again,
and I won’t find a wise one among you.
11 My days have passed;
my goals are destroyed, my heart’s desires.
12 They turn night into day;
light is near because of the darkness.
13 If I hope for the underworld[d] as my dwelling,
lay out my bed in darkness,
14 I’ve called corruption “my father,”
the worm, “my mother and sister.”
15 Where then is my hope?
My hope—who can see it?
16 Will they go down with me to the underworld;[e]
will we descend together to the dust?
Attack from a friend
18 Bildad from Shuah answered:
2 How long? Would you all stop talking.
Try to understand and then we can speak.
3 Why are we considered beasts,
ignorant in your sight?
4 To you who tear yourself in rage—
will earth be forsaken for your sake,
a rock be dislodged from its place?
Evil people’s fate
5 To be sure, the light of the wicked goes out;
the blaze of their fire doesn’t shine.
6 The light in their tent becomes dark,
and their lamp above doesn’t shine.
7 Their strong strides slow down;
their plans trip themselves.
8 They are caught by their feet in a net;
they walk on mesh.
9 A trap grabs them by the heel;
a snare tightens on them.
10 A rope is hidden on the ground for them;
a trap for them along the path.
11 Terrors round about scare them;
they follow their steps.
12 Their offspring hunger;
calamity is ready for their spouses.
13 It eats some of their skin.
Death’s firstborn consumes their limbs.
14 They are snatched from the safety of their tent;
it parades them before the king of terrors.
15 Nothing they own remains in their tent;
sulfur is scattered over their home.
16 Their roots dry out below;
their branches wither above.
17 The memory of them will perish from the earth;
they will achieve no recognition abroad.
18 They are thrust from light into darkness,
banished from the world.
19 They have no offspring or descendants among their people,
no survivor in their dwelling place.
20 Their successors are appalled at what happens to them;
their predecessors pull their hair.
21 These are surely the dwelling places of the evil;
this is the place of the one who doesn’t know God.
Failed friendship
19 Then Job responded:
2 How long will you harass me
and crush me with words?
3 These ten times you’ve humiliated me;
shamelessly you insult me.
4 Have I really gone astray?
If so, my error remains hidden inside me.
5 If you look down on me
and use my disgrace to criticize me,
6 know then that God has wronged me
and enclosed his net over me.
God’s treatment of Job
7 If I cry “Violence!” I’m not answered;
I shout—but there is no justice.
8 He walled up my path so I can’t pass
and put darkness on my trail,
9 stripped my honor from me,
removed the crown from my head,
10 tore me down completely so that I’ll die, and uprooted my hope like a tree.
11 His anger burns against me;
he considers me his enemy.
12 His troops come as one
and construct their siege ramp[f] against me;
they camp around my tent.
Social ostracism
13 He has distanced my family from me;
my acquaintances are also alienated from me.
14 My visitors have ceased;
those who know me have forgotten me.
15 My guests and female servants think me a stranger;
I’m a foreigner in their sight.
16 I call my servant, and he doesn’t answer;
I myself must beg him.
17 My breath stinks to my wife;
I am odious to my children.
18 Even the young despise me;
I get up, and they rail against me.
19 All my closest friends despise me;
the ones I have loved turn against me.
Misery
20 My bones cling to my skin and flesh;
I have escaped by the skin of my teeth.
21 Pity me. Pity me. You’re my friends.
God’s hand has truly struck me.
22 Why do you pursue me like God does,
always hungry for my flesh?
Brief hope
23 Oh, that my words were written down,
inscribed on a scroll
24 with an iron instrument and lead,
forever engraved on stone.
25 But I know that my redeemer[g] is alive
and afterward he’ll rise upon the dust.
26 After my skin has been torn apart this way—
then from my flesh[h] I’ll see God,
27 whom I’ll see myself—
my eyes see,[i] and not a stranger’s.
I am utterly dejected.
Warning
28 You say, “How will we pursue him
so that the root of the matter can be found in him?”[j]
29 You ought to fear the sword yourselves,
for wrath brings punishment by the sword.
You should know that there is judgment.
Collection for Jerusalem
16 Concerning the collection of money for God’s people: You should do what I have directed the churches in Galatia to do. 2 On the first day of the week, each of you should set aside whatever you can afford from what you earn so that the collection won’t be delayed until I come. 3 Then when I get there, I’ll send whomever you approve to Jerusalem with letters of recommendation to bring your gift. 4 If it seems right for me to go too, they’ll travel with me.
Plans to visit
5 I’ll come to you after I go through Macedonia, and because I’m going through Macedonia, 6 I may stay with you or even spend the winter there in Corinth so that you can send me on my way to wherever I’m off to next. 7 I don’t want to make a quick visit to you, since I hope to spend some time with you if the Lord lets it happen. 8 I’ll stay here in Ephesus until the Festival of Pentecost. 9 In spite of the fact that there are many opponents, a big and productive opportunity has opened up for my mission here.
10 If Timothy comes to you, be sure that he has no reason to be afraid while he’s with you, because he does the work of the Lord just like I do. 11 So don’t let anyone disrespect him, but send him on in peace so he can join me. I’m waiting for him along with the brothers and sisters. 12 Concerning Apollos our brother: I strongly encouraged him to visit you with the brothers and sisters, but he didn’t want to go now. He’ll come when he has an opportunity.
Final greeting
13 Stay awake, stand firm in your faith, be brave, be strong. 14 Everything should be done in love.
15 Brothers and sisters, I encourage you to do something else. You know that the people in Stephanas’ household were the first crop of the harvest to come from the mission to Achaia. They have dedicated themselves to the service of God’s people. 16 So accept the authority of people like them and of anyone who cooperates and works hard. 17 I’m so happy that Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus have arrived; they’ve made up for my missing you. 18 Indeed they’ve provided my spirit and yours with a much-needed rest. Therefore, give them proper recognition.
19 The churches in the province of Asia greet you. Aquila and Prisca greet you warmly in the Lord, together with the church that meets in their house. 20 All the brothers and sisters greet you. You in turn should greet each other with a holy kiss. 21 Here is my greeting in my own handwriting—Paul.
22 A curse on anyone who doesn’t love the Lord. Come, Lord! 23 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you. 24 My love is with all of you in Christ Jesus.
Psalm 40
For the music leader. Of David. A psalm.
40 I put all my hope in the Lord.
He leaned down to me;
he listened to my cry for help.
2 He lifted me out of the pit of death,
out of the mud and filth,
and set my feet on solid rock.
He steadied my legs.
3 He put a new song in my mouth,
a song of praise for our God.
Many people will learn of this and be amazed;
they will trust the Lord.
4 Those who put their trust in the Lord,
who pay no attention to the proud
or to those who follow lies,
are truly happy!
5 You, Lord my God!
You’ve done so many things—
your wonderful deeds and your plans for us—
no one can compare with you!
If I were to proclaim and talk about all of them,
they would be too numerous to count!
6 You don’t relish sacrifices or offerings;
you don’t require entirely burned offerings or compensation offerings—
but you have given me ears!
7 So I said, “Here I come!
I’m inscribed in the written scroll.
8 I want to do your will, my God.
Your Instruction is deep within me.”
9 I’ve told the good news of your righteousness
in the great assembly.
I didn’t hold anything back—
as you well know, Lord!
10 I didn’t keep your righteousness only to myself.
I declared your faithfulness and your salvation.
I didn’t hide your loyal love and trustworthiness
from the great assembly.
22 A good reputation is better than much wealth;
high esteem is better than silver and gold.
Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible