Old/New Testament

Zophar Talks

11 Then Zophar the Naamathite answered, ² “Should many words go without an answer? Should a man full of talk be said to be without blame? ³ Should your words of pride make men quiet? Should you make fun of truth and no one speak sharp words to you? ⁴ For you say, ‘What I believe is pure. I am without fault in Your eyes.’ ⁵ If only God would speak, and open His lips against you. ⁶ He would show you the secrets of wisdom because there are two sides. Then you would know that God is punishing you less than you should get.

⁷ “Can you find out the deep things of God? Can you find out how far the All-powerful can go? ⁸ They are higher than the heavens. What can you do? They are deeper than the place of the dead. What can you know? ⁹ They are longer than the earth and wider than the sea. ¹⁰ If He passes by, puts a man in prison, or calls him to trial, who can stop Him? ¹¹ For He knows men who are no good. When He sees wrong-doing, will He not look into it? ¹² A fool cannot become wise anymore than a wild donkey can give birth to a man.

¹³ “If you set your heart right, and put out your hands to Him, ¹⁴ and if you put away the sin that is in your hand, do not let wrong-doing be in your tents. ¹⁵ Then you will be able to lift up your face without sin. You would be strong and not afraid. ¹⁶ For you would forget your trouble, remembering it as waters that have passed by. ¹⁷ Your life would be brighter than noon. Darkness would be like the morning. ¹⁸ Then you would trust, because there is hope. You would look around and rest and be safe. ¹⁹ You would lie down and no one would make you afraid. Many would ask for your favor. ²⁰ But the eyes of the sinful will waste away. There will be no way for them to get away. And their hope is to breathe their last.”

Job Talks

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 less than you. Who does not know such things as these? ⁴ Even my friends laugh at me. The man who called on God, and God answered him, the man who is right and without blame is laughed at. ⁵ He who lives in comfort laughs at one who has trouble and whose feet are slipping. ⁶ The tents of those who destroy have much. Those who make God angry are safe and have their god in their own hands.

⁷ “But ask the wild animals, and they will teach you. Ask the birds of the heavens, and let them tell you. ⁸ Or speak to the earth, and let it teach you. Let the fish of the sea make it known to you. ⁹ Who among all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this? ¹⁰ In His hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all men. ¹¹ Does not the ear test words as the mouth tastes food? ¹² Wisdom is with old men, and understanding with long life.

¹³ “With God are wisdom and strength. Wise words and understanding belong to Him. ¹⁴ See, He tears down, and it cannot be built again. He puts a man in prison, and no one can free him. ¹⁵ See, He stops the waters and they dry up. He sends them out, and they cover the earth. ¹⁶ Strength and wisdom are with Him. Both the fool and the one who fools him belong to God. ¹⁷ He takes wisdom away from leaders and makes fools of judges. ¹⁸ He takes off chains put on by kings, and holds back the power of kings. ¹⁹ He makes religious leaders walk without pride, and takes the power away from those who think they are safe. ²⁰ He stops the trusted ones from speaking and takes away the wisdom of the leaders. ²¹ He pours anger on rulers, and takes away the strength of the strong. ²² He makes known hidden truth from the darkness, and brings deep darkness to light. ²³ He makes the nations great, and then destroys them. He helps nations to become large, then leads them away. ²⁴ He takes away understanding from the leaders of the people of the earth, and makes them travel in a waste-land with no path. ²⁵ They feel their way in darkness with no light. And He makes them walk from side to side like a drunk man.

Job Talks

13 “See, my eye has seen all this. My ear has heard and understood it. ² What you know I also know. I am not less than you.

³ “But I wish to speak to the All-powerful. I want to argue with God. ⁴ But you cover things with lies. You are doctors of no worth. ⁵ If only you would be quiet, and that would show your wisdom! ⁶ Hear what I think. Listen to the arguing of my lips. ⁷ Will you say what is not true for God? Will you lie for Him? ⁸ Will you show favor for Him? Will you argue for God? ⁹ Will it be well when He tests you? Or do you lie to Him as one lies to a man? ¹⁰ For sure He will speak strong words to you if you show favor in secret. ¹¹ Will not His great power make you afraid? Will not the fear of Him come upon you? ¹² Your wise sayings are sayings of ashes. Your strength is the strength of clay.

¹³ “Be quiet so that I may speak. Then let come on me what will. ¹⁴ Why should I take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in my hands? ¹⁵ Even though He would kill me, yet I will trust in Him. I will argue my ways to His face. ¹⁶ This will save me, for a sinful man may not come to Him. ¹⁷ Be careful to listen to my words. Let what I say fill your ears. ¹⁸ See, I am ready to tell everything, and all will know I am right. ¹⁹ Who will talk against me? For then I would be quiet and die.

²⁰ “Only two things I ask of You, and then I will not hide from Your face. ²¹ Take Your hand from me, and do not let the fear of You make me so afraid. ²² Then call, and I will answer. Or let me speak, and You answer me. ²³ How many are my sins and wrong-doings? Help me to know my wrong-doing and sin. ²⁴ Why do You hide Your face, and think of me as one who hates You? ²⁵ Will You make a wind-blown leaf afraid? Will You go after the dry parts of a grain-field that have no worth? ²⁶ For You write bitter things against me. You punish me for the sins I did when I was young. ²⁷ You put chains on my feet, and watch everything I do. You let me walk only so far. ²⁸ I am wasting away like a piece of dead wood, like clothing eaten by the moth.

Saul Becomes a Christian on the Way to Damascus ^(A)

9 Saul was still talking much about how he would like to kill the followers of the Lord. He went to the head religious leader. ² He asked for letters to be written to the Jewish places of worship in the city of Damascus. The letters were to say that if he found any men or women following the Way of Christ he might bring them to Jerusalem in chains.

³ He went on his way until he came near Damascus. All at once he saw a light from heaven shining around him. ⁴ He fell to the ground. Then he heard a voice say, “Saul, Saul, why are you working so hard against Me?” ⁵ Saul answered, “Who are You, Lord?” He said, “I am Jesus, the One Whom you are working against. You hurt yourself by trying to hurt Me.” ⁶ Saul was shaken and surprised. Then he said, “What do You want me to do, Lord?” The Lord said to him, “Get up! Go into the city and you will be told what to do.”

⁷ Those with Saul were not able to say anything. They heard a voice but saw no one. ⁸ Saul got up from the ground. When he opened his eyes, he saw nothing. They took him by the hand and led him to Damascus. ⁹ He could not see for three days. During that time he did not eat or drink.

¹⁰ In Damascus there was a follower by the name of Ananias. The Lord showed him in a dream what He wanted him to see. He said, “Ananias!” And Ananias answered, “Yes, Lord, I am here.” ¹¹ The Lord said, “Get up! Go over to Straight Street to Judas’ house and ask for a man from the city of Tarsus. His name is Saul. You will find him praying there. ¹² Saul has seen a man called Ananias in a dream. He is to come and put his hands on Saul so he might see again.”

¹³ Ananias said, “But Lord, many people have told me about this man. He is the reason many of Your followers in Jerusalem have had to suffer much. ¹⁴ He came here with the right and the power from the head religious leaders to put everyone in chains who call on Your name.” ¹⁵ The Lord said to him, “Go! This man is the one I have chosen to carry My name among the people who are not Jews and to their kings and to Jews. ¹⁶ I will show him how much he will have to suffer because of Me.”

Saul Is Baptized

¹⁷ So Ananias went to that house. He put his hands on Saul and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus has sent me to you. You saw the Lord along the road as you came here. The Lord has sent me so you might be able to see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” ¹⁸ At once something like a covering fell from the eyes of Saul and he could see. He got up and was baptized. ¹⁹ After that he ate some food and received strength. For some days he stayed with the followers in Damascus.

Saul Preaches the Good News

²⁰ At once Saul began to preach in the Jewish places of worship that Jesus is the Son of God. ²¹ All who heard him were surprised and wondered. They said, “This is the man who beat and killed the followers in Jerusalem. He came here to tie the followers in chains and take them to the head religious leaders.”