Old/New Testament
32 So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he esteemed himself just.
2 Then the wrath of Elihu, the son of Barachel the [b]Buzite, of the family of Ram, was kindled. His wrath was kindled against Job, because he justified himself more than God.
3 Also, his anger was kindled against his three friends, because they could not find an answer, yet condemned Job.
4 (Now Elihu had waited until Job had spoken. For they were older than he.)
5 So when Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of the three men, his wrath was kindled.
6 Therefore, Elihu, the son of Barachel the Buzite, answered and said, “I am young in years, and you are ancient. Therefore, I doubted and was afraid to show you my opinion.
7 “I said, ‘The days shall speak. And the multitude of years shall teach wisdom.’
8 “Surely, there is a spirit in man. But the inspiration of the Almighty gives understanding.
9 “Men of many years may not be wise, nor might the aged understand judgment.
10 “Therefore, I say, hear me. I will show my opinion also.
11 “Behold, I waited upon your words, listened to your knowledge, while you sought out reasons.
12 “Yea, when I had considered you, lo, there were none of you that reproved Job, nor answered his words.
13 “Lest you would say, ‘We have found wisdom. God has cast him down, not man.’
14 “Still, he has not directed his words to me. Nor will I answer him by your words.”
15 “They, fearing, answered no more, but left off their talk.
16 “When I had waited (for they did not speak, but stood still and answered no more),
17 “I answered in my turn, and I showed my opinion.
18 “For I am full of matter. The spirit within me compels me.
19 “Behold, my belly is as the wine which has no vent, like the new bottles that burst.
20 “I will speak, so that I may take breath. I will open my lips and will answer.
21 “I will not, now, accept the person of any man, nor will I give titles to man.
22 “For I may not give titles, lest my Maker should take me away suddenly.”
33 “Therefore, Job, please hear my talk and listen to all my words.
2 “Behold, now, I have opened my mouth. My tongue has spoken in my mouth.
3 “My words are in the uprightness of my heart. And my lips shall speak pure knowledge.
4 “The Spirit of God has made me. And the breath of the Almighty has given me life.
5 “If you can give me an answer, prepare yourself. Stand before me.
6 “Behold, I am as your mouth before God. I am also formed from the clay.
7 “Behold, my terror shall not scare you, nor shall my hand be heavy upon you.
8 “Doubtless you have spoken in my ears, and I have heard the voice of your words.
9 “I am clean, without sin. I am innocent and there is no iniquity in me.
10 “Lo, He has found occasions against me, and counted me for His enemy.
11 “He has put my feet in the stocks, and looks narrowly to all my paths.
12 “Behold, in this you have not done right. I will answer you, for God is greater than man.
13 “Why do you strive against Him? For He does not give account of all His matters.
14 “For God speaks once or twice, and one does not see it.
15 “In dreams and visions of the night, when sleep falls upon men, and they sleep upon beds,
16 “then He opens the ears of men, even by their corrections which He had sealed,
17 “so that He might cause man to turn away from his enterprise, and that He might hide the pride of man,
18 “and keep back his soul from the pit, and that his life should not pass by the sword.
19 “He is also stricken with sorrow upon his bed, and the grief of his bones is great,
20 “so that his life causes him to abhor bread, and his soul desirable food.
21 “His flesh fails, so that it cannot be seen. And his bones, which were not seen, clatter.
22 “So his soul draws to the grave, and his life to the executioner.
23 “If there is a messenger with him, an interpreter, one of a thousand to declare to man his righteousness,
24 “then He will have mercy upon him, and will say, ‘Deliver him, so that he does not go down into the pit. For I have received a reconciliation.’
25 “Then shall his flesh be as fresh as a child’s, and shall return as in the days of his youth.
26 “He shall pray to God, and he will be favorable to Him, and he shall see His Face with joy. For He will render to man His righteousness.
27 “He looks upon men. And if one says, ‘I have sinned, and perverted righteousness, and it did not profit me,’
28 “He will deliver his soul from going into the pit. And his life shall see the light.
29 “Lo, all these things will God work twice or three times with a man,
30 “so that He may turn back his soul from the pit, to be illuminated in the light of the living.
31 “Mark well, O Job. Hear me! Keep silent, and I will speak.
32 “If there is something, answer me, and speak. For I desire to justify you.
33 “If you have nothing, hear me. Hold your tongue, and I will teach you wisdom.”
14 And it so happened in Iconium that they went together into the synagogue of the Jews and spoke, so that a great multitude of both the Jews and the Hellenists believed.
2 And the unbelieving Jews stirred up and corrupted the minds of the Gentiles against the brothers.
3 So therefore they stayed there a long time, and spoke boldly in the Lord, Who gave testimony to the Word of His grace, and caused signs and wonders to be done by their hands.
4 But the multitude of the city was divided. And some were with the Jews, and some with the Apostles.
5 And when a violent attempt to stone them was made by both the Gentiles and the Jews, with their rulers,
6 they were made aware of it, and fled to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and to the surrounding region,
7 and preached the Gospel there.
8 Now there sat a certain man at Lystra, without strength in his feet, who had been a cripple from his mother’s womb, and had never walked.
9 He heard Paul speak - who, looking at him and perceiving that he had faith to be healed,
10 said with a loud voice, “Stand upright on your feet!” - And he leaped up and walked.
11 Then, when the people saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in the Lycaonian language, “Gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!”
12 And they called Barnabas ‘Zeus’, and Paul ‘Hermes’, because he was the chief speaker.
13 Then the priest of Zeus, who dwelt in front of their city, brought bulls with garlands to the gates, and would have sacrificed with the people.
14 But when the Apostles Barnabas and Paul heard it, they tore their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying,
15 and saying, “O men, why do you do these things!? We are just men, subject to the same passions that you are. And we preach to you that you should turn from these meaningless things, to the living God; Who made Heaven and Earth, and the sea, and all things in them!
16 “Who in times past allowed all the Gentiles to walk in their own ways.
17 “Nevertheless, He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good, gave us rain from the heaven and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.”
18 And, speaking these things, they scarcely restrained the multitude from sacrificing to them.
19 Then some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium who - when they had persuaded the people - stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing he was dead.
20 But as the disciples stood around him, he rose up, and came into the city. And the next day he left for Derbe with Barnabas.
21 And after they had preached the glad tidings of the Gospel to that city (and had taught many) they returned to Lystra, and to Iconium, and to Antioch,
22 confirming the disciples’ hearts and exhorting them to continue in the faith that we must enter into the Kingdom of God through many afflictions.
23 And when they had prayed and fasted and ordained them as elders by election in every church, they commended them to the Lord in Whom they believed.
24 Thus they went throughout Pisidia and came to Pamphylia.
25 And when they had preached the Word in Perga, they came down to Attalia,
26 And from there sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work which they had fulfilled.
27 And when they had come and gathered the church together, they recounted all the things which God had done through them, and how He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.
28 So they stayed there with the disciples a long time.
© 2019, 2024 by Five Talents Audio. All rights reserved.