Job 34; Job 35; Acts 15:1-21

1 Elihu continued,

2 "Hear what I'm saying, you wise men. Listen to me, you who have learned so much.

3 Our tongues tell us what tastes good and what doesn't. And our ears tell us what's true and what isn't.

4 So let's choose for ourselves what is right. Let's learn together what is good.

5 "Job says, 'I'm not guilty of doing anything wrong. But God doesn't treat me fairly.

6 Even though I'm right, he thinks I'm a liar. Even though I'm not guilty, his arrows give me wounds that can't be healed.'

7 Is there any other man like Job? He laughs at God and makes fun of him.

8 He's a companion of those who do evil. He spends his time with sinful people.

9 He asks, 'What good is it to try to please God?'

10 "So listen to me, you men who have understanding. God would never do what is evil. The Mighty One would never do what is wrong.

11 He pays a man back for what he's done. He gives him exactly what he should get.

12 It isn't possible for God to do wrong. The Mighty One would never treat people unfairly.

13 Who appointed him to rule over the earth? Who put him in charge of the whole world?

14 If he really wanted to, he could hold back his spirit and breath.

15 Then everyone would die together. They would return to the dust.

16 "Job, if you have understanding, listen to me. Pay attention to what I'm saying.

17 Can someone who hates to be fair govern? Will you bring charges against the holy and mighty One?

18 He says to kings, 'You are worthless.' He says to nobles, 'You are evil.'

19 He doesn't favor princes. He treats rich people and poor people the same. His hands created all of them.

20 They die suddenly in the middle of the night. God strikes them down, and they pass away. Those who are mighty are removed, but not by human hands.

21 "His eyes see how people live. He watches every step they take.

22 There isn't a dark place or deep shadow where those who do what is evil can hide.

23 God doesn't need to bring charges against men. He knows they are guilty. So he doesn't need to have them appear in his court to be judged.

24 He destroys the mighty without asking them questions in court. Then he sets others up in their places.

25 He knows what they do. So he crushes them during the night.

26 He punishes them for the sins they commit. He does it where everyone can see them.

27 That's because they turned away from following him. They didn't have respect for anything he does.

28 They caused poor people to cry out to him. He heard the cries of those who were in need.

29 But if he remains silent, who can judge him? If he turns his face away, who can see him? He rules over people and nations alike.

30 He keeps those who are ungodly from ruling. He keeps them from laying traps for others.

31 "Someone might say to God, 'I'm guilty of sinning, but I won't do it anymore.

32 Show me my sins that I'm not aware of. If I've done what is wrong, I won't do it again.'

33 But you refuse to turn away from your sins. So God won't treat you the way you want to be treated. You must decide, Job. I can't do it for you. So tell me what you know.

34 "You men who have understanding have spoken. You wise men who hear me have said to me,

35 'Job doesn't know what he's talking about. The things he has said don't make any sense.'

36 I wish Job would be put to the hardest test! He answered like someone who is evil.

37 To his sin he adds even more sin. He claps his hands and makes fun of us. He multiplies his words against God."

1 Elihu continued,

2 "Job, do you think it's fair for you to say, 'God will clear me of all charges'?

3 You ask him, 'What good is it for me not to sin? What do I get by not sinning?'

4 "I'd like to reply to you and to your friends who are with you.

5 Look up at the heavens. Observe the clouds that are high above you.

6 If you sin, what does that mean to God? If you sin many times, what does that do to him?

7 If you do what is right, how does that help him? What does he get from you?

8 The evil things you do only hurt someone like yourself. The right things you do only help other human beings.

9 "People cry out when they are beaten down. They beg to be set free from the power of those who are over them.

10 But no one says, 'Where is the God who made me? He gives us songs even during the night.

11 He teaches more to us than to wild animals. He makes us wiser than the birds of the air.'

12 He doesn't answer sinful people when they cry out to him. That's because they are so proud.

13 In fact, God doesn't listen to their empty cries. The Mighty One doesn't pay any attention to them.

14 So he certainly won't listen to you. When you say you don't see him, he won't hear you. He won't listen when you state your case to him. He won't pay attention even if you wait for him.

15 When you say his anger never punishes sin, he won't hear you. He won't listen when you say he doesn't pay any attention to evil.

16 So you say things that don't mean anything. You use a lot of words, but you don't know what you are talking about."

1 Certain people came down from Judea to Antioch. Here is what they were teaching the believers. "Moses commanded you to be circumcised," they said. "If you aren't, you can't be saved."

2 But Paul and Barnabas didn't agree with this. They argued strongly with them. So Paul and Barnabas were appointed to go up to Jerusalem. Some other believers were chosen to go with them. They were supposed to see the apostles and elders about this question.

3 The church sent them on their way. As they traveled through Phoenicia and Samaria, they told how those who weren't Jews had turned to God. This news made all the believers very glad.

4 When they arrived in Jerusalem, the church welcomed them. The apostles and elders welcomed them too. Then Paul and Barnabas reported everything God had done through them.

5 Some of the believers were Pharisees. They stood up and said, "Those who aren't Jews must be circumcised. They must obey the law of Moses."

6 The apostles and elders met to consider this question.

7 After they had talked it over, Peter got up and spoke to them. "Brothers," he said, "you know that some time ago God chose me to take the good news to those who aren't Jews. He wanted them to hear the good news and believe.

8 God knows the human heart. By giving the Holy Spirit to non-Jews, he showed that he accepted them. He did the same for them as he had done for us.

9 He showed that there is no difference between us and them. He made their hearts pure because of their faith.

10 "Now then, why are you trying to test God? You test him when you put a heavy load on the believers' shoulders. Our people of long ago couldn't carry that load. We can't either.

11 No! We believe we are saved through the grace of our Lord Jesus. Those who aren't Jews are saved in the same way."

12 Everyone became quiet as they listened to Barnabas and Paul. They were telling about the miraculous signs and wonders God had done through them among non-Jews.

13 When they finished, James spoke up. "Brothers," he said, "listen to me.

14 Simon Peter has explained to us how God first showed his concern for those who aren't Jews. He chose some of them to be his very own people.

15 The prophets' words agree with that. They say,

16 " 'After this I will return and rebuild David's fallen tent. I will rebuild what was destroyed. I will make it what it used to be.

17 Then the rest of the people can look to the Lord. This means all the non-Jews who belong to me. The Lord says this. He is the one who does these things.' (Amos 9:11,12)

18 The Lord does things that have been known for a long time.

19 "Now here is my opinion. We should not make it hard for the non-Jews who are turning to God.

20 Here is what we should write to them. They must not eat food polluted by being offered to statues of gods. They must not commit sexual sins. They must not eat the meat of animals that have been choked to death. And they must not drink blood.

21 These laws of Moses have been preached in every city from the earliest times. They are read out loud in the synagogues every Sabbath day."