Today's Reading

¹Elihu also continued, and said,

²"Bear with me a little, and I will show you; for I still have something to say on God's behalf.

³I will get my knowledge from afar, and will ascribe righteousness to my Maker.

⁴For truly my words are not false. One who is perfect in knowledge is with you.

⁵"Behold, God is mighty, and doesn't despise anyone. He is mighty in strength of understanding.

⁶He doesn't preserve the life of the wicked, but gives to the afflicted their right.

⁷He doesn't withdraw his eyes from the righteous, but with kings on the throne, he sets them forever, and they are exalted.

⁸If they are bound in fetters, and are taken in the cords of afflictions,

⁹then he shows them their work, and their transgressions, that they have behaved themselves proudly.

¹⁰He also opens their ears to instruction, and commands that they return from iniquity.

¹¹If they listen and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures.

¹²But if they do not listen, they shall perish by the sword; they shall die without knowledge.

¹³"But those who are godless in heart lay up anger. They do not cry for help when he binds them.

¹⁴They die in youth. Their life perishes among the unclean.

¹⁵He delivers the afflicted by their affliction, and opens their ear in oppression.

¹⁶Yes, he would have allured you out of distress, into a broad place, where there is no restriction. That which is set on your table would be full of fatness.

¹⁷"But you are full of the judgment of the wicked. Judgment and justice take hold of you.

¹⁸Do not let riches entice you to wrath, neither let the great size of a bribe turn you aside.

¹⁹Would your wealth sustain you in distress, or all the might of your strength?

²⁰Do not desire the night, when people are cut off in their place.

²¹Take heed, do not regard iniquity; for you have chosen this rather than affliction.

²²Behold, God is exalted in his power. Who is a teacher like him?

²³Who has prescribed his way for him? Or who can say, 'You have committed unrighteousness?'

²⁴"Remember that you magnify his work, whereof men have sung.

²⁵All men have looked thereon. Man sees it afar off.

²⁶Behold, God is great, and we do not know him. The number of his years is unsearchable.

²⁷For he draws up the drops of water, which distill in rain from his vapor,

²⁸Which the skies pour down and which drop on man abundantly.

²⁹Yes, can any understand the spreading of the clouds, and the thunderings of his pavilion?

³⁰Behold, he spreads his light around him. He covers the bottom of the sea.

³¹For by these he judges the people. He gives food in abundance.

³²He covers his hands with the lightning, and commands it to strike the mark.

³³Its noise tells about him, and the livestock also concerning the storm that comes up.

¹"Yes, at this my heart trembles, and is moved out of its place.

²Hear, oh, hear the noise of his voice, the sound that goes out of his mouth.

³He sends it forth under the whole sky, and his lightning to the ends of the earth.

⁴After it a voice roars. He thunders with the voice of his majesty. He doesn't hold back anything when his voice is heard.

⁵God thunders marvelously with his voice. He does great things, which we can't comprehend.

⁶For he says to the snow, 'Fall on the earth;' likewise to the shower of rain, and to the showers of his mighty rain.

⁷He seals up the hand of every man, that all men whom he has made may know it.

⁸Then the animals take cover, and remain in their dens.

⁹Out of its chamber comes the storm, and cold out of the north.

¹⁰By the breath of God, ice is given, and the breadth of the waters is frozen.

¹¹Yes, he loads the thick cloud with moisture. He spreads abroad the cloud of his lightning.

¹²It is turned around by his guidance, that they may do whatever he commands them on the surface of the habitable world,

¹³Whether it is for correction, or for his land, or for loving kindness, that he causes it to come.

¹⁴"Listen to this, Job. Stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God.

¹⁵Do you know how God controls them, and causes the lightning of his cloud to shine?

¹⁶Do you know the workings of the clouds, the wondrous works of him who is perfect in knowledge?

¹⁷You whose clothing is warm, when the earth is still by reason of the south wind?

¹⁸Can you, with him, spread out the sky, which is strong as a cast metal mirror?

¹⁹Teach us what we shall tell him, for we can't make our case by reason of darkness.

²⁰Shall it be told him that I would speak? Or should a man wish that he were swallowed up?

²¹Now men do not see the light which is bright in the skies, but the wind passes, and clears them.

²²Out of the north comes golden splendor. With God is awesome majesty.

²³We can't reach the Almighty. He is exalted in power. In justice and great righteousness, he will not oppress.

²⁴Therefore men revere him. He doesn't regard any who are wise of heart."

¹Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind,

²"Who is this who darkens counsel by words without knowledge?

³Brace yourself like a man, for I will question you, then you answer me!

⁴"Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Declare, if you have understanding.

⁵Who determined its measures, if you know? Or who stretched the line on it?

⁶Whereupon were its foundations fastened? Or who laid its cornerstone,

⁷when the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

⁸"Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it broke forth from the womb,

⁹when I made clouds its garment, and wrapped it in thick darkness,

¹⁰marked out for it my bound, set bars and doors,

¹¹and said, 'Here you may come, but no further. Here your proud waves shall be stayed?'

¹²"Have you commanded the morning in your days, and caused the dawn to know its place;

¹³that it might take hold of the ends of the earth, and shake the wicked out of it?

¹⁴It is changed as clay under the seal, and stands forth as a garment.

¹⁵From the wicked, their light is withheld. The high arm is broken.

¹⁶"Have you entered into the springs of the sea? Or have you walked in the recesses of the deep?

¹⁷Have the gates of death been revealed to you? Or have you seen the gates of the shadow of death?

¹⁸Have you comprehended the earth in its breadth? Declare, if you know it all.

¹⁹"What is the way to the dwelling of light? As for darkness, where is its place,

²⁰that you should take it to its bound, that you should discern the paths to its house?

²¹Surely you know, for you were born then, and the number of your days is great!

²²Have you entered the treasuries of the snow, or have you seen the treasures of the hail,

²³which I have reserved against the time of trouble, against the day of battle and war?

²⁴By what way is the lightning distributed, or the east wind scattered on the earth?

²⁵Who has cut a channel for the flood water, or the path for the thunderstorm;

²⁶To cause it to rain on a land where no man is; on the wilderness, in which there is no man;

²⁷to satisfy the waste and desolate ground, to cause the tender grass to spring forth?

²⁸Does the rain have a father? Or who fathers the drops of dew?

²⁹Out of whose womb came the ice? The gray frost of the sky, who has given birth to it?

³⁰The waters become hard like stone, when the surface of the deep is frozen.

³¹"Can you bind the cluster of the Pleiades, or loosen the cords of Orion?

³²Can you lead forth the constellations in their season? Or can you guide the Bear with her cubs?

³³Do you know the laws of the heavens? Can you establish its dominion over the earth?

³⁴"Can you lift up your voice to the clouds, That abundance of waters may cover you?

³⁵Can you send forth lightnings, that they may go? Do they report to you, 'Here we are?'

³⁶Who has put wisdom in the inward parts? Or who has given understanding to the mind?

³⁷Who can number the clouds by wisdom? Or who can pour out the bottles of the sky,

³⁸when the dust runs into a mass, and the clods of earth stick together?

³⁹"Can you hunt the prey for the lioness, or satisfy the appetite of the young lions,

⁴⁰when they crouch in their dens, and lie in wait in the thicket?

⁴¹Who provides for the raven his prey, when his young ones cry to God, and wander for lack of food?

¹It is indeed unnecessary for me to write to you concerning the service to the saints,

²for I know your readiness, of which I boast on your behalf to them of Macedonia, that Achaia has been prepared for a year past. Your zeal has stirred up very many of them.

³But I have sent the brothers that our boasting on your behalf may not be in vain in this respect, that, just as I said, you may be prepared,

⁴so that I won't by any means, if there come with me any of Macedonia and find you unprepared, we (to say nothing of you) should be disappointed in this confidence.

⁵I thought it necessary therefore to entreat the brothers that they would go before to you, and arrange ahead of time the generous gift that you promised before, that the same might be ready as a matter of generosity, and not of greediness.

⁶Remember this: he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly. He who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.

⁷Let each man give according as he has determined in his heart; not grudgingly, or under compulsion; for God loves a cheerful giver.

⁸And God is able to make all grace abound to you, that you, always having all sufficiency in everything, may abound to every good work.

⁹As it is written, "He has scattered abroad, he has given to the poor. His righteousness remains forever."

¹⁰Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food, will supply and multiply your seed for sowing, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;

¹¹you being enriched in everything to all liberality, which works through us thanksgiving to God.

¹²For this service of giving that you perform not only makes up for lack among the saints, but abounds also through many givings of thanks to God;

¹³seeing that through the proof given by this service, they glorify God for the obedience of your confession to the Good News of Christ, and for the liberality of your contribution to them and to all;

¹⁴while they themselves also, with supplication on your behalf, yearn for you by reason of the exceeding grace of God in you.

¹⁵Now thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift!

¹My son, do not forget my teaching; but let your heart keep my commandments:

²for length of days, and years of life, and peace, will they add to you.

³Do not let kindness and truth forsake you. Bind them around your neck. Write them on the tablet of your heart.

⁴So you will find favor, and good understanding in the sight of God and man.

⁵Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.

⁶In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

⁷Do not be wise in your own eyes. Fear the Lord, and depart from evil.

⁸It will be health to your body, and nourishment to your bones.

⁹Honor the Lord with your substance, with the first fruits of all your increase:

¹⁰so your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine.

¹¹My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline, neither be weary of his reproof:

¹²for whom the Lord loves, he reproves; even as a father reproves the son in whom he delights.

¹³Happy is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gets understanding.

¹⁴For her good profit is better than getting silver, and her return is better than fine gold.

¹⁵She is more precious than rubies. None of the things you can desire are to be compared to her.

¹⁶Length of days is in her right hand. In her left hand are riches and honor.

¹⁷Her ways are ways of pleasantness. All her paths are peace.

¹⁸She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her. Happy is everyone who retains her.

¹⁹By wisdom the Lord founded the earth. By understanding, he established the heavens.

²⁰By his knowledge, the depths were broken up, and the skies drop down the dew.

²¹My son, let them not depart from your eyes. Keep sound wisdom and discretion:

²²so they will be life to your soul, and grace for your neck.

²³Then you shall walk in your way securely. Your foot won't stumble.

²⁴When you lie down, you will not be afraid. Yes, you will lie down, and your sleep will be sweet.

²⁵Do not be afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it comes:

²⁶for the Lord will be your confidence, and will keep your foot from being taken.

²⁷Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in the power of your hand to do it.

²⁸Do not say to your neighbor, "Go, and come again; tomorrow I will give it to you," when you have it by you.

²⁹Do not devise evil against your neighbor, seeing he dwells securely by you.

³⁰Do not strive with a man without cause, if he has done you no harm.

³¹Do not envy the man of violence. Choose none of his ways.

³²For the perverse is an abomination to the Lord, but his friendship is with the upright.

³³The Lord's curse is in the house of the wicked, but he blesses the habitation of the righteous.

³⁴Surely he is scornful to scoffers, but he gives grace to the humble.

³⁵The wise will inherit glory, but shame will be the promotion of fools.