Job 11; Job 12; Job 13; Acts 9:1-21

1 Then Zophar the Naamathite answered:

2 "Should these words go unanswered? Is this talker in the right?

3 Your lies do not make people quiet; people should correct you when you make fun of God.

4 You say, 'My teachings are right, and I am clean in God's sight.'

5 I wish God would speak and open his lips against you

6 and tell you the secrets of wisdom, because wisdom has two sides. your sin.

7 "Can you understand the secrets of God?

8 His limits are higher than the heavens; you cannot reach them! They are deeper than the grave; you cannot understand them!

9 His limits are longer than the earth and wider than the sea.

10 "If God comes along and puts you in prison or calls you into court, no one can stop him.

11 God knows who is evil, and when he sees evil, he takes note of it.

12 A fool cannot become wise any more than a wild donkey can be born tame.

13 "You must give your whole heart to him and hold out your hands to him for help.

14 Put away the sin that is in your hand; let no evil remain in your tent.

15 Then you can lift up your face without shame, and you can stand strong without fear.

16 You will forget your trouble and darkness will seem like morning.

17 Your life will be as bright as the noonday sun, and darkness will seem like morning.

18 You will feel safe because there is hope; you will look around and rest in safety.

19 You will lie down, and no one will scare you. Many people will want favors from you.

20 But the wicked will not be able to see, so they will not escape. Their only hope will be to die."

1 Then Job answered:

2 "You really think you are the only wise people and that when you die, wisdom will die with you!

3 But my mind is as good as yours; you are not better than I am. Everyone knows all these things.

4 My friends all laugh at me when I call on God and expect him to answer me; they laugh at me even though I am right and innocent!

5 Those who are comfortable don't care that others have trouble; they think it right that those people should have troubles.

6 The tents of robbers are not bothered, and those who make God angry are safe. They have their god in their pocket.

7 "But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or ask the birds of the air, and they will tell you.

8 Speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish of the sea tell you.

9 Every one of these knows that the hand of the Lord has done this.

10 The life of every creature and the breath of all people are in God's hand.

11 The ear tests words as the tongue tastes food.

12 Older people are wise, and long life brings understanding.

13 "But only God has wisdom and power, good advice and understanding.

14 What he tears down cannot be rebuilt; anyone he puts in prison cannot be let out.

15 If God holds back the waters, there is no rain; if he lets the waters go, they flood the land.

16 He is strong and victorious; both the one who fools others and the one who is fooled belong to him.

17 God leads the wise away as captives and turns judges into fools.

18 He takes off chains that kings put on and puts a garment on their bodies.

19 He leads priests away naked and destroys the powerful.

20 He makes trusted people be silent and takes away the wisdom of older leaders.

21 He brings disgrace on important people and takes away the weapons of the strong.

22 He uncovers the deep things of darkness and brings dark shadows into the light.

23 He makes nations great and then destroys them; he makes nations large and then scatters them.

24 He takes understanding away from the leaders of the earth and makes them wander through a pathless desert.

25 They feel around in darkness with no light; he makes them stumble like drunks.

1 "Now my eyes have seen all this; my ears have heard and understood it.

2 What you know, I also know. You are not better than I am.

3 But I want to speak to the Almighty and to argue my case with God.

4 But you smear me with lies. You are worthless doctors, all of you!

5 I wish you would just stop talking; then you would really be wise!

6 Listen to my argument, and hear the pleading of my lips.

7 You should not speak evil in the name of God; you cannot speak God's truth by telling lies.

8 You should not unfairly choose his side against mine; you should not argue the case for God.

9 You will not do well if he examines you; you cannot fool God as you might fool humans.

10 God would surely scold you if you unfairly took one person's side.

11 His bright glory would scare you, and you would be very much afraid of him.

12 Your wise sayings are worth no more than ashes, and your arguments are as weak as clay.

13 "Be quiet and let me speak. Let things happen to me as they will.

14 Why should I put myself in danger and take my life in my own hands?

15 Even if God kills me, I have hope in him; I will still defend my ways to his face.

16 This is my salvation. The wicked cannot come before him.

17 Listen carefully to my words; let your ears hear what I say.

18 See, I have prepared my case, and I know I will be proved right.

19 No one can accuse me of doing wrong. If someone can, I will be quiet and die.

20 "God, please just give me these two things, and then I will not hide from you:

21 Take your punishment away from me, and stop frightening me with your terrors.

22 Then call me, and I will answer, or let me speak, and you answer.

23 How many evil things and sins have I done? Show me my wrong and my sin.

24 Don't hide your face from me; don't think of me as your enemy.

25 Don't punish a leaf that is blown by the wind; don't chase after straw.

26 You write down cruel things against me and make me suffer for my boyhood sins.

27 You put my feet in chains and keep close watch wherever I go. You even mark the soles of my feet.

28 "Everyone wears out like something rotten, like clothing eaten by moths.

1 In Jerusalem Saul was still threatening the followers of the Lord by saying he would kill them. So he went to the high priest

2 and asked him to write letters to the synagogues in the city of Damascus. Then if Saul found any followers of Christ's Way, men or women, he would arrest them and bring them back to Jerusalem.

3 So Saul headed toward Damascus. As he came near the city, a bright light from heaven suddenly flashed around him.

4 Saul fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul! Why are you persecuting me?"

5 Saul said, "Who are you, Lord?" The voice answered, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.

6 Get up now and go into the city. Someone there will tell you what you must do."

7 The people traveling with Saul stood there but said nothing. They heard the voice, but they saw no one.

8 Saul got up from the ground and opened his eyes, but he could not see. So those with Saul took his hand and led him into Damascus.

9 For three days Saul could not see and did not eat or drink.

10 There was a follower of Jesus in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord spoke to Ananias in a vision, "Ananias!" Ananias answered, "Here I am, Lord."

11 The Lord said to him, "Get up and go to Straight Street. Find the house of Judas, and ask for a man named Saul from the city of Tarsus. He is there now, praying.

12 Saul has seen a vision in which a man named Ananias comes to him and lays his hands on him. Then he is able to see again."

13 But Ananias answered, "Lord, many people have told me about this man and the terrible things he did to your holy people in Jerusalem.

14 Now he has come here to Damascus, and the leading priests have given him the power to arrest everyone who worships you."

15 But the Lord said to Ananias, "Go! I have chosen Saul for an important work. He must tell about me to those who are not Jews, to kings, and to the people of Israel.

16 I will show him how much he must suffer for my name."

17 So Ananias went to the house of Judas. He laid his hands on Saul and said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus sent me. He is the one you saw on the road on your way here. He sent me so that you can see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit."

18 Immediately, something that looked like fish scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he was able to see again! Then Saul got up and was baptized.

19 After he ate some food, his strength returned. Saul stayed with the followers of Jesus in Damascus for a few days.

20 Soon he began to preach about Jesus in the synagogues, saying, "Jesus is the Son of God."

21 All the people who heard him were amazed. They said, "This is the man who was in Jerusalem trying to destroy those who trust in this name! He came here to arrest the followers of Jesus and take them back to the leading priests."