Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
39 I thought, “I will guard my ways, so that I do not sin with my tongue. I will keep my mouth bridled while the wicked are in my sight.
2 I was dumb and spoke nothing. I kept silent, even from good; and my sorrow was more stirred.
3 My heart was hot within me. While I was musing, the fire kindled and I spoke with my tongue:
4 “LORD, let me know my end, and the measure of my days, what it is. Let me know how long I have to live.”
5 Behold, You have made my days as a handbreadth and my age as nothing in Your sight. Surely, every man is altogether vanity in his best state. Selah.
6 Doubtless, man walks in a shadow, and disquiets himself pointlessly. He heaps up riches and cannot tell who shall gather them.
7 And now LORD, for what do I wait? My hope is even in You.
8 Deliver me from all my transgressions, and do not make me a rebuke to the foolish.
9 I should have been dumb, and not have opened my mouth, because You did it.
10 Take Your plague away from me; for I am consumed by the stroke of Your hand.
11 When, with rebukes, You chastise man for iniquity, You make his beauty melt away as a moth. Surely, every man is vanity. Selah.
12 Hear my prayer, O LORD; and hear my cry. Do not keep silent at my tears; for I am a stranger with You and a sojourner, as all my fathers.
13 Keep Your anger from me, so that I may recover my strength before I go away and am no more. To him who excels: A Psalm of David.
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.”
19 “There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared well and delicately every day.
20 “Also, there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, who was laid at his gate (full of sores).
21 “And he desired to be refreshed with the crumbs that fell from the rich man’s table. And even the dogs came and licked his sores.
22 “And it happened that the beggar died and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried.
23 “And being in torment in Hell, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off (and Lazarus in his bosom).
24 “Then he cried and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me! And send Lazarus, so that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue! For I am tormented in this flame!’
25 “But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that you, in your lifetime, received your pleasures, and likewise Lazarus pains. Therefore, now he is comforted and you are tormented.
26 ‘Besides all this, there is a great gulf set between you and us, so that those who wish to go from here to you, cannot. Nor can anyone come from there to us.’
27 “Then he said, ‘Therefore I ask you, father, if you would send him to my father’s house,
28 ‘(for I have five brothers) so that he may testify to them, lest they also come into this place of torment.’
29 “Abraham said to him, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets. Let them hear them.’
30 “And he said, ‘No, father Abraham. But if one came to them from the dead, they will repent.’
31 “Then he said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, they will not be persuaded if one rises from the dead again.’”
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