Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
Life Is Short
For the director of music. For Jeduthun. A song of David.
39 I said, “I will be careful how I act.
I will not sin by what I say.
I will be careful what I say
around wicked people.”
2 So I kept very quiet.
I didn’t even say anything good.
But I became even more upset.
3 I became very angry inside.
And the more I thought about it, the angrier I became.
So I spoke:
4 “Lord, tell me when the end will come.
How long will I live?
Let me know how long I have.
5 You have given me only a short life.
My lifetime is like nothing to you.
Everyone’s life is only a breath. Selah
6 A person is like a shadow moving about.
All his work is for nothing.
He collects things, but he doesn’t know who will get them.
7 “So, Lord, what hope do I have?
You are my hope.
8 Save me from all my sins.
Don’t let wicked fools make fun of me.
9 I am quiet. I do not open my mouth.
You are the one who has done this.
10 Quit punishing me.
Your beating is about to kill me.
11 You correct and punish people for their sins.
Like a moth, you destroy what they love.
Everyone’s life is only a breath. Selah
12 “Lord, hear my prayer.
Listen to my cry.
Do not ignore my tears.
I am like a visitor with you.
Like my ancestors, I’m only here a short time.
13 Leave me alone so I can be happy.
Soon I will leave and be no more.”
Elihu Speaks
32 These three men stopped answering Job. This is because Job was so sure he was right. 2 But Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite became very angry with Job. (Elihu was from the family of Ram.) He was angry because Job claimed he was right instead of God. 3 Elihu was also angry with Job’s three friends. They had no answer to show that Job was wrong. And yet they continued to blame him. 4 Now Elihu had waited before speaking to Job. This is because the three friends were older than he was. 5 But when Elihu saw that the three men had nothing more to say, he became very angry.
6 So Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite said this:
“I am young,
and you are old.
That is why I was afraid
to tell you what I know.
7 I thought, ‘Older people should speak.
Those who have lived many years should teach wisdom.’
8 But it is the spirit in a person that gives him understanding.
It is the breath of God All-Powerful in him.
9 It is not just older people who are wise.
Older people are not the only ones who understand what is right.
10 So I say, listen to me!
I will also tell you what I know.
11 I waited while you spoke.
I listened to your explanations.
I waited while you looked for words to use.
12 I paid close attention to you.
But not one of you has proved Job wrong.
Not one of you has answered his arguments.
13 Don’t you say, ‘We have found wisdom.
Only God will show Job to be wrong, not people.’
14 Job has not spoken his words against me.
So I will not use your arguments to answer Job.
15 “These three friends are defeated and have no more to say.
Words have failed them.
16 Now they are standing there with no answer for Job.
Now that they are quiet, must I wait to speak?
17 No, I also will speak.
I will also tell what I know.
18 I am full of words.
And the spirit in me causes me to speak.
19 I am like wine that has been bottled up.
I am ready to burst like a new leather bag for holding wine.
20 I must speak. Then I will feel relief.
I must open my mouth and answer.
21 I will be fair to everyone.
I will not flatter anyone.
22 I don’t know how to flatter.
If I did, God, my Maker, would quickly take me away.
The Rich Man and Lazarus
19 Jesus said, “There was a rich man who always dressed in the finest clothes. He lived in luxury every day. 20 There was also a very poor man named Lazarus, whose body was covered with sores. Lazarus was often placed at the rich man’s gate. 21 He wanted to eat only the small pieces of food that fell from the rich man’s table. And the dogs would come and lick his sores! 22 Later, Lazarus died. The angels took Lazarus and placed him in the arms of Abraham. The rich man died, too, and was buried. 23 But he was sent to where the dead are and had much pain. The rich man saw Abraham far away with Lazarus in his arms. 24 He called, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me! Send Lazarus to me so that he can dip his finger in water and cool my tongue. I am suffering in this fire!’ 25 But Abraham said, ‘My child, remember when you lived? You had all the good things in life, but all the bad things happened to Lazarus. Now Lazarus is comforted here, and you are suffering. 26 Also, there is a big pit between you and us. No one can cross over to help you. And no one can leave there and come here.’ 27 The rich man said, ‘Then please send Lazarus to my father’s house on earth! 28 I have five brothers. Lazarus could warn my brothers so that they will not come to this place of pain.’ 29 But Abraham said, ‘They have the law of Moses and the writings of the prophets to read; let them learn from them!’ 30 The rich man said, ‘No, father Abraham! If someone came to them from the dead, they would believe and change their hearts and lives.’ 31 But Abraham said to him, ‘No! If your brothers won’t listen to Moses and the prophets, then they won’t listen to someone who comes back from death.’”
The Holy Bible, International Children’s Bible® Copyright© 1986, 1988, 1999, 2015 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission.