Old/New Testament
Job Curses His Birth
3 After seven days Job spoke. He cursed the day he had been born. 2 Job said:
3 “Let the day I was born be destroyed.
And destroy the night when it was said, ‘A boy is born!’
4 Let that day turn to darkness.
Let God not even care about it.
Don’t let light shine on that day.
5 Let darkness and gloom have that day.
Let a cloud hide that day.
Let darkness cover its light.
6 Let thick darkness capture that night.
Don’t count it among the days of the year.
Don’t put it in any of the months.
7 Let that night be empty.
Let no shout of joy be heard in it.
8 Let the people who curse days curse that day.
They know how to wake up the sea monster Leviathan.
9 Let that day’s morning stars become dark.
Let it wait for daylight, but don’t let it come.
Don’t let it see the first light of dawn.
10 This is because it allowed me to be born.
That day did not hide trouble from my eyes.
11 “Why didn’t I die as soon as I was born?
Why didn’t I die when I came out of the womb?
12 Why did my mother’s knees receive me?
Why did my mother’s breasts feed me?
13 If they had not been there, I would be lying dead in peace.
I would be asleep and at rest.
14 I would be asleep with kings and wise men of the earth.
They built places for themselves that are now ruined.
15 I would be asleep with rulers who had gold.
They filled their houses with silver!
16 Or why was I not buried like a child born dead?
I wish I were like a baby who never saw the light of day.
17 In the grave the wicked stop causing trouble.
And people who are tired are at rest.
18 In the grave there is rest for the captives.
They no longer hear the shout of the slave driver.
19 People great and small are in the grave.
And the slave is freed from his master.
20 “Why is life given to those who are in misery?
Why is it given to those who are so unhappy?
21 Some people want to die, but death does not come.
They search for death more than for hidden treasure.
22 They are very happy
when they get to the grave.
23 Life shouldn’t be given to a man who doesn’t know what will happen to him.
It shouldn’t be given to a man who feels trapped by God.
24 I make sad sounds as I eat.
My groans pour out like water.
25 The thing I was afraid of has happened to me.
And the thing I dreaded has happened.
26 I have no peace. I have no quietness.
I have no rest. I only have trouble.”
Eliphaz Speaks
4 Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered:
2 “If someone tried to speak with you, would you be upset?
I cannot keep from speaking.
3 Think about how many people you have taught.
Think about how you have made weak hands strong.
4 Your words have comforted those who fell.
And you have given strength to those who could not stand.
5 But now trouble comes to you. And you are discouraged.
Trouble hits you, and you are terrified.
6 You should trust in your respect for God.
You should have hope because you are innocent.
7 “Think about this now: A person who has not done wrong will not die.
Honest people were never destroyed.
8 I have noticed that people who plow evil
and plant trouble harvest it.
9 God’s breath destroys them.
A blast of his anger kills them.
10 The lions roar and growl.
But the teeth of great lions are broken.
11 The lion dies because he can’t find an animal to eat.
So the cubs of the female lion are scattered.
12 “A word was brought to me in secret.
My ears heard a whisper of it.
13 It was during troublesome dreams in the night
when men are in deep sleep.
14 I was shaking with fear.
All my bones were shaking.
15 A spirit glided past my face.
The hair on my body stood up in fear.
16 The spirit stopped,
but I could not see what it was.
A shape stood before my eyes.
And I heard a quiet voice.
17 It said, ‘Can a man be holy in the presence of God?
Can a man be pure before the one who made him?
18 God does not trust his servants.
He even blames his angels for mistakes.
19 So he puts even more blame on people who live in clay houses.[a]
The foundations of these houses are made of dust.
They can be crushed more easily than a moth.
20 Between dawn and sunset they are broken to pieces.
They are not noticed. They die and are gone forever.
21 The ropes of their tents are pulled up.
And they die without wisdom.’
44 “The Holy Tent where God spoke to our fathers was with the Jews in the desert. God told Moses how to make this Tent. He made it like the plan God showed him. 45 Later, Joshua led our fathers to capture the lands of the other nations. Our people went in, and God drove the other people out. When our people went into this new land, they took with them this same Tent. They received this Tent from their fathers and kept it until the time of David. 46 God was very pleased with David. He asked God to let him build a house for him, the God of Jacob.[a] 47 But Solomon was the one who built the Temple.
48 “But the Most High does not live in houses that men build with their hands. This is what the prophet says:
49 ‘Heaven is my throne.
The earth is my footstool.
So do you think you can build a house for me? says the Lord.
There is no place where I need to rest.
50 Remember, I made all these things!’” Isaiah 66:1-2
51 Stephen continued speaking: “You stubborn Jewish leaders! You have not given your hearts to God! You won’t listen to him! You are always against what the Holy Spirit is trying to tell you. Your ancestors were like this, and you are just like them! 52 Your fathers tried to hurt every prophet who ever lived. Those prophets said long ago that the Righteous One would come. But your fathers killed them. And now you have turned against the Righteous One and killed him. 53 You received the law of Moses, which God gave you through his angels. But you don’t obey it!”
Stephen Is Killed
54 When the leaders heard Stephen saying all these things, they became very angry. They were so mad that they were grinding their teeth at Stephen. 55 But Stephen was full of the Holy Spirit. He looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God. He saw Jesus standing at God’s right side. 56 He said, “Look! I see heaven open. And I see the Son of Man standing at God’s right side!”
57 Then they all shouted loudly. They covered their ears with their hands and all ran at Stephen. 58 They took him out of the city and threw stones at him until he was dead. The men who told lies against Stephen left their coats with a young man named Saul. 59 While they were throwing stones, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!” 60 He fell on his knees and cried in a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them!” After Stephen said this, he died.
The Holy Bible, International Children’s Bible® Copyright© 1986, 1988, 1999, 2015 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission.