Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)
9 Fear the Lord, you his saints,
since those who fear him lack nothing.
10 Young lions may lack food and be hungry,
but those who seek the Lord do not lack any good thing.
11 Come, children, listen to me.
I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
12 Who wants to find pleasure in life?
Who would love to experience many good days?
13 Guard your tongue from evil
and your lips from speaking deceit.
14 Turn from evil and do good.
Seek peace and pursue it.
Transition to Round Two
Job’s Summation
12 Then Job responded:
2 Yes, indeed. You are the people,
and wisdom will die with you!
3 But I understand things as well as you.[a]
I do not fall short of you.
Who doesn’t know all these things?
4 But I am a laughingstock to my neighbor—
I, who call on God, and he answers me—
I, a righteous and complete man, am a laughingstock!
5 Those who are carefree do not worry about disaster.
They think it is reserved for those whose feet are slipping.
6 The tents of raiders are undisturbed,
and those who provoke God are secure—
those who carry their god in their hand.[b]
7 Please ask the animals, and they will teach you.
Ask the birds of the sky, and they will inform you.
8 Complain to the earth, and it will teach you,
and the fish of the sea will tell you about it.
9 Who among all these does not know that the hand of the Lord[c] did this?
10 The life of every living thing is in his hand,
as well as the breath[d] in all human flesh.
11 Isn’t it true that the ear tests words
and the palate tastes food?
12 Isn’t it true that wisdom is found among the aged
and understanding among those who have had a long life?
13 But wisdom and power are with God.
He gives guidance and understanding.
14 If he tears something down, it cannot be rebuilt.
If he shuts a door on a man, it cannot be opened.
15 Look! He holds back the waters, and the land dries up.
He turns them loose, and the earth is overwhelmed.
16 He has strength and sound judgment.
The deceiver and the deceived both belong to him.
17 He causes royal advisors to be led away naked.
He makes fools of judges.
18 He takes away the ruling power of kings,
and he wraps a loincloth around their waist.[e]
19 He causes priests to be led away naked,
and he brings the pillars of society down to ruin.
20 He closes the lips of trusted advisors,
and he takes away good judgment from elders.
21 He pours contempt on nobles.
He loosens the belt of the strong.
22 He uncovers deep mysteries that were hidden in darkness.
He brings the shadow of death into the light.
23 He raises nations to power, and then he destroys them.
He enlarges nations, and then he leads them away captive.
24 He deprives the heads of the peoples of the earth of their reason.
He makes them wander in a wild land where there are no roads.
25 They grope around in darkness, where there is no light.
He causes them to wander aimlessly like drunks.
17 But I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and offenses contrary to the teaching that you learned, and keep away from them. 18 For such people are not serving Christ our Lord but their own appetites.[a] By smooth talk and flattery, they seduce the hearts of the unsuspecting.
19 Your obedience has become known to everyone, so I am very joyful about you. But I want you to continue to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil. 20 The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
The Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version®, EHV®, © 2019 Wartburg Project, Inc. All rights reserved.