Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
The Prayer of an Innocent Man
Of David.
26 Lord, defend me.
I have lived an innocent life.
I trusted the Lord and never doubted.
2 Lord, try me and test me.
Look closely into my heart and mind.
3 I see your love.
I live by your truth.
4 I do not spend time with liars.
I do not make friends with people who hide their sin.
5 I hate the company of evil people.
I won’t sit with the wicked.
6 I wash my hands to show I am innocent.
I come to your altar, Lord.
7 I raise my voice in praise.
I tell of all the miracles you have done.
8 Lord, I love the Temple where you live.
It is where your greatness is.
9 Do not kill me with those sinners.
Do not take my life with those murderers.
10 Evil is in their hands.
They do wrong for money.
11 But I have lived an innocent life.
So save me and be kind to me.
12 I stand in a safe place.
Lord, I praise you in the great meeting.
Job’s Three Friends
11 Now Job had three friends. They were Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite. These friends heard about the troubles that had happened to Job. So they agreed to meet and go see Job. They wanted to show him they were upset for him, too. And they wanted to comfort him. 12 They saw Job from far away. But he looked so different they almost didn’t recognize him. They began to cry loudly. They tore their robes and put dirt on their heads to show how sad they were. 13 Then they sat on the ground with Job seven days and seven nights. No one said a word to him. This was because they saw how much he was suffering.
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.”
23 Before this faith came, we were all held prisoners by the law. We had no freedom until God showed us the way of faith that was coming. 24 So the law was our master until Christ came. After Christ came, we could be made right with God through faith. 25 Now the way of faith has come, and we no longer live under the law.
26-27 You were all baptized into Christ, and so you were all clothed with Christ. This shows that you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 28 Now, in Christ, there is no difference between Jew and Greek. There is no difference between slaves and free men. There is no difference between male and female. You are all the same in Christ Jesus. 29 You belong to Christ. So you are Abraham’s descendants. You get all of God’s blessings because of the promise that God made to Abraham.
The Holy Bible, International Children’s Bible® Copyright© 1986, 1988, 1999, 2015 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission.