Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
To the director: To the tune “Don’t Destroy.” One of Asaph’s songs of praise.
75 We praise you, God!
We praise you because you[a] are near to us.
We tell about the amazing things you have done.
2 God says, “I have chosen a time for judgment,
and I will judge fairly.
3 The earth and all its people may shake,
but I am the one who keeps it steady. Selah
4 “To those who are proud I say, ‘Stop your boasting.’
I warn the wicked, ‘Don’t brag about how strong you are.
5 Don’t be so sure that you will win.
Don’t boast that victory is yours!’”
6 There is no power on earth
that can make a person important.[b]
7 God is the judge.
He decides who will be important.
He lifts one person up and brings another down.
8 The Lord has a cup in his hand.
It is filled with the poisoned wine of his anger.
He will pour out this wine,
and the wicked will drink it to the last drop.
9 I will always tell people how great God is.
I will sing praise to the God of Jacob.
10 God says, “I will take away any power the wicked have
and give it to those who are good.”
40 Then the Lord said to Job,
2 “You wanted to argue with God All-Powerful.
You wanted to correct me and prove that I was wrong.
So give me your answer!”
3 Then Job answered the Lord:
4 “I am not worthy to speak!
What can I say to you?
I cannot answer you!
I will put my hand over my mouth.
5 I spoke once, but I will not speak again.
I spoke twice, but I will not say anything more.”
6 Then the Lord spoke to Job again from the storm:
7 “Brace yourself[a]
and get ready to answer the questions I will ask you.
8 “Are you trying to show that I am unfair?
Are you trying to look innocent by saying that I am guilty?
9 Are your arms as strong as mine?
Do you have a voice like mine that is as loud as thunder?
10 If so, you can be proud
and wear glory and honor like clothes.
11 If you are as powerful as God, then show your anger!
Punish those who are proud and humble them.
12 Yes, just look at the proud and make them humble.
Crush those evil people where they stand.
13 Bury them all in the dirt.
Wrap their bodies up and put them in their graves.
14 If you can do any of these things, then even I will praise you.
And I will admit that you can save yourself by your own power.
15 “Look at the behemoth.[b]
I made the behemoth, and I made you.
He eats grass like a cow.
16 But he has great strength in his body.
The muscles in his stomach are powerful.
17 His tail stands strong like a cedar tree.
His leg muscles are very strong.
18 His bones are as strong as bronze.
His legs are like iron bars.
19 The behemoth is the most amazing animal I made,
but I can defeat him.
20 He eats the grass that grows on the hills
where the wild animals play.
21 He lies under the lotus plants.
He hides among the reeds of the swamp.
22 The lotus plants hide him in their shade.
He lives under the willow trees that grow near the river.
23 If the river floods, the behemoth will not run away.
He is not afraid if the Jordan River splashes on his face.
24 No one can blind his eyes and capture him.
No one can catch him in a trap.
6 So we should be finished with the beginning lessons about Christ. We should not have to keep going back to where we started. We began our new life by turning away from the evil we did in the past and by believing in God. That’s when we were taught about baptisms,[a] laying hands on people,[b] the resurrection of those who have died, and the final judgment. Now we need to go forward to more mature teaching. 3 And that’s what we will do if God allows.
4-6 After people have left the way of Christ, can you make them change their lives again? I am talking about people who once learned the truth, received God’s gift, and shared in the Holy Spirit. They were blessed to hear God’s good message and see the great power of his new world. But then they left it all behind, and it is not possible to make them change again. That’s because those who leave Christ are nailing him to the cross again, shaming him before everyone.
7 Some people are like land that gets plenty of rain and produces a good crop for those who farm it. That kind of land has God’s blessing. 8 But other people are like land that grows only thorns and weeds. It is worthless and in danger of being cursed by God. It will be destroyed by fire.
9 Dear friends, I am not saying this because I think it is happening to you. We really expect that you will do better—that you will do the good things that will result in your salvation. 10 God is fair, and he will remember all the work you have done. He will remember that you showed your love to him by helping his people and that you continue to help them. 11 We want each of you to be willing and eager to show your love like that the rest of your life. Then you will be sure to get what you hope for. 12 We don’t want you to be lazy. We want you to be like those who, because of their faith and patience, will get what God has promised.
Copyright © 2006 by Bible League International