Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
39 I said, “I will take heed of my ways, that I sin not with my tongue; I will keep my mouth with a bridle while the wicked is before me.”
2 I was dumb with silence; I held my peace, even from good, and my sorrow was stirred.
3 My heart was hot within me; while I was musing, the fire burned. Then I spoke with my tongue:
4 “Lord, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is, that I may know how frail I am.
5 Behold, Thou hast made my days as a handbreadth, and mine age is as nothing before Thee; verily every man in his best state is altogether vanity. Selah
6 “Surely every man walketh in a vain show; surely they are disquieted in vain; he heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them.
7 “And now, Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in Thee.
8 Deliver me from all my transgressions; make me not the reproach of the foolish.
9 I was dumb, I opened not my mouth, because Thou didst it.
10 Remove Thy stroke away from me; I am consumed by the blow of Thine hand.
11 When with rebukes Thou dost correct man for iniquity, Thou makest his beauty to be consumed away like a moth; surely every man is vanity. Selah
12 “Hear my prayer, O Lord, and give ear unto my cry; hold not Thy peace at my tears; for I am a stranger with Thee and a sojourner, as all my fathers were.
13 O spare me, that I may recover strength before I go hence and am no more.”
32 So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes.
2 Then was kindled the wrath of Elihu, the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the kindred of Ram. Against Job was his wrath kindled, because he justified himself rather than God.
3 Also against his three friends was his wrath kindled, because they had found no answer and yet had condemned Job.
4 Now Elihu had waited until Job had spoken, because they were older than he.
5 When Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, then his wrath was kindled.
6 And Elihu, the son of Barachel the Buzite, answered and said: “I am young, and ye are very old; therefore I was afraid, and dared not show you mine opinion.
7 I said, ‘Days should speak, and multitude of years should teach wisdom.’
8 But there is a spirit in man, and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding.
9 Great men are not always wise, neither do the aged understand judgment.
10 Therefore I say, ‘Hearken to me; I also will show mine opinion.’
11 “Behold, I waited for your words; I gave ear to your reasons, whilst ye searched out what to say.
12 Yea, I attended unto you, and behold, there was none of you that convinced Job or that answered his words,
13 lest ye should say, ‘We have found out wisdom. God thrusteth him down, not man.’
14 Now he hath not directed his words against me, neither will I answer him with your speeches.
15 “They were amazed, they answered no more; they left off speaking.
16 When I had waited (for they spoke not, but stood still and answered no more),
17 I said, ‘I will answer also my part; I also will show mine opinion.
18 For I am full of matters; the spirit within me constraineth me.
19 Behold, my belly is as wine which hath no vent; it is ready to burst like new wineskins.’
20 I will speak, that I may be refreshed; I will open my lips and answer.
21 Let me not, I pray you, accept any man’s person, neither let me give flattering titles unto man.
22 For I know not to give flattering titles; in so doing my Maker would soon take me away.
19 “There was a certain rich man, who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day.
20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, who was laid at his gate, full of sores
21 and desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.
22 And it came to pass that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died, and was buried.
23 And in hell, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off and Lazarus in his bosom.
24 And he cried and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus 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 thou in thy lifetime received thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and thou art tormented.
26 And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that they who would pass from here to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from there.’
27 Then he said, ‘I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house,
28 for I have five brethren, that he may testify unto them lest they also come into this place of torment.’
29 Abraham said unto him, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.’
30 And he said, ‘Nay, father Abraham; but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.’
31 And Abraham said unto him, ‘If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rose from the dead.’”
Copyright © 1994 by Deuel Enterprises, Inc.