Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)
12 Happy is the nation whose God is the Lord.
Happy are the people he chose for his very own.
13 The Lord looks down from heaven.
He sees every person.
14 From his throne he watches
everyone who lives on earth.
15 He made their hearts.
He understands everything they do.
16 No king is saved by his great army.
No warrior escapes by his great strength.
17 Horses can’t bring victory.
They can’t save by their strength.
18 But the Lord looks after those who fear him.
He watches over those who put their hope in his love.
19 He saves them from death.
He spares their lives in times of hunger.
20 So our hope is in the Lord.
He is our help, our shield to protect us.
21 We rejoice in him.
We trust his holy name.
22 Lord, show your love to us
as we put our hope in you.
Job Answers Zophar
21 Then Job answered:
2 “Listen carefully to my words.
Let this be the way you comfort me.
3 Be patient while I speak.
After I have finished, you may continue to make fun of me if you wish.
4 “My complaint is not just against people.
I have reason to be impatient.
5 Look at me then and be shocked.
Put your hand over your mouth in shock.
6 When I think about this, I am terribly afraid.
My body shakes!
7 Why do evil people live a long time?
They grow old and become more powerful.
8 They see their children become strong around them.
They watch their children grow up.
9 Their homes are safe and without fear.
God does not punish them.
10 Their bulls never fail to mate.
Their cows have healthy calves.
11 Their children run and play like flocks of lambs.
Their little ones dance about.
12 They sing to the music of tambourines and harps.
The sound of the flute makes them happy.
13 Evil people enjoy success during their lives.
Then they go down in peace to where the dead are.
14 But they say to God, ‘Leave us alone!
We don’t want to know your ways.
15 Who is God All-Powerful that we should serve him?
We would gain nothing by praying to him.’
16 But the wicked think they succeed by their own strength.
Their way of thinking is not godly.
God and the Jewish People
9 I am in Christ, and I am telling you the truth. I do not lie. My feelings are ruled by the Holy Spirit, and they tell me that I am not lying. 2 I have great sorrow and always feel much sadness for the Jewish people. 3 I wish I could help my Jewish brothers, my people. I would even wish that I were cursed and cut off from Christ if that would help them. 4 They are the people of Israel. They were God’s chosen children. They have the glory of God and the agreements that God made between himself and his people. God gave them the law of Moses and the right way of worship. And God gave his promises to them. 5 They are the descendants of our great ancestors, and they are the earthly family of Christ. Christ is God over all. Praise him forever![a] Amen.
6 I do not mean that God failed to keep his promise to them. But only some of the people of Israel are truly God’s people.[b] 7 And only some of Abraham’s[c] descendants are true children of Abraham. But God said to Abraham: “The descendants I promised you will be from Isaac.”[d] 8 This means that not all of Abraham’s descendants are God’s true children. Abraham’s true children are those who become God’s children because of the promise God made to Abraham. 9 God’s promise to Abraham was this: “At the right time I will return, and Sarah will have a son.”[e]
The Holy Bible, International Children’s Bible® Copyright© 1986, 1988, 1999, 2015 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission.