Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
For the director of music. A psalm of David to the tune of “The Doe of the Morning.”
22 My God, my God, why have you deserted me?
Why do you seem so far away when I need you to save me?
Why do you seem so far away that you can’t hear my groans?
2 My God, I cry out in the daytime. But you don’t answer.
I cry out at night. But you don’t let me sleep.
3 But you rule from your throne as the Holy One.
You are the God Israel praises.
4 Our people of long ago put their trust in you.
They trusted in you, and you saved them.
5 They cried out to you and were saved.
They trusted in you, and you didn’t let them down.
6 Everyone treats me like a worm and not a man.
They hate me and look down on me.
7 All those who see me laugh at me.
They shout at me and make fun of me.
They shake their heads at me.
8 They say, “He trusts in the Lord.
Let the Lord help him.
If the Lord is pleased with him,
let him save him.”
9 But you brought me out of my mother’s body.
You made me trust in you
even when I was at my mother’s breast.
10 From the time I was born, you took good care of me.
Ever since I came out of my mother’s body, you have been my God.
11 Don’t be far away from me.
Trouble is near,
and there is no one to help me.
12 Many enemies are all around me.
They are like strong bulls from the land of Bashan.
13 They are like roaring lions that tear to pieces what they kill.
They open their mouths wide to attack me.
14 My strength is like water that is poured out on the ground.
I feel as if my bones aren’t connected.
My heart has turned to wax.
It has melted away inside me.
15 My mouth is dried up like a piece of broken pottery.
My tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth.
You bring me down to the edge of the grave.
The Second Speech of Bildad
18 Then Bildad the Shuhite replied,
2 “Job, when will you stop these speeches of yours?
Be reasonable! Then we can talk.
3 Why do you look at us as if we were cattle?
Why do you think of us as being stupid?
4 Your anger is tearing you to pieces.
Does the earth have to be deserted just to prove you are right?
Must all the rocks be moved from their places?
5 “The lamps of sinful people are blown out.
Their flames will never burn again.
6 The lights in their tents become dark.
The lamps beside those who are evil go out.
7 They walk more slowly than they used to.
Their own evil plans make them fall.
8 Their feet take them into a net.
They wander right into it.
9 A trap grabs hold of their heels.
It refuses to let them go.
10 A trap lies in their path.
A rope to catch them is hidden on the ground.
11 Terrors alarm them on every side.
They follow them every step of the way.
12 Trouble would like to eat them up.
Danger waits for them when they fall.
13 It eats away parts of their skin.
Death itself feeds on their arms and legs.
14 They are torn away from the safety of their tents.
They are marched off to the one who rules over death.
15 Fire races through their tents.
Burning sulfur is scattered over their homes.
16 Their roots dry up under them.
Their branches dry up above them.
17 No one on earth remembers them.
Their names are forgotten in the land.
18 They are driven from light into the place of darkness.
They are thrown out of the world.
19 Their family dies out among their people.
No one is left where they used to live.
20 What has happened to them shocks the people in the west.
It terrifies the people in the east.
21 Now you know what the homes of sinners are like.
Those who don’t know God live in places like that.”
God’s People Enter His Sabbath Rest
4 God’s promise of enjoying his rest still stands. So be careful that none of you fails to receive it. 2 The good news was announced to our people of long ago. It has also been preached to us. The message they heard didn’t have any value for them. That’s because they didn’t share the faith of those who obeyed. 3 Now we who have believed enjoy that rest. God said,
“When I was angry, I made a promise.
I said, ‘They will never enjoy the rest I planned for them.’ ” (Psalm 95:11)
Ever since God created the world, his works have been finished. 4 Somewhere he spoke about the seventh day. He said, “On the seventh day God rested from all his works.” (Genesis 2:2) 5 In the part of Scripture I talked about earlier God spoke. He said, “They will never enjoy the rest I planned for them.” (Psalm 95:11)
6 It is still true that some people will enjoy this rest. But those who had the good news announced to them earlier didn’t go in. That’s because they didn’t obey. 7 So God again chose a certain day. He named it Today. He did this when he spoke through David a long time later. Here is what was written in the Scripture already given.
“Listen to his voice today.
If you hear it, don’t be stubborn.” (Psalm 95:7,8)
8 Suppose Joshua had given them rest. If he had, God would not have spoken later about another day. 9 So there is still a Sabbath rest for God’s people. 10 God rested from his work. Those who enjoy God’s rest also rest from their works. 11 So let us make every effort to enjoy that rest. Then no one will die by disobeying as they did.
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