Job 14; Job 15; Job 16; Acts 9:22-43

Job 14

1 Man born of woman is short of days and full of trouble.

2 He blossoms like a flower, then withers; he flees like a shadow and does not last.

3 Do You really take notice of one like this? Will You bring me into judgment against You?

4 Who can produce something pure from what is impure? No one!

5 Since man's days are determined and the number of his months depends on You, and [since] You have set limits he cannot pass,

6 look away from him and let him rest so that he can enjoy his day like a hired hand.

7 There is hope for a tree: If it is cut down, it will sprout again, and its shoots will not die.

8 If its roots grow old in the ground and its stump starts to die in the soil,

9 the smell of water makes it thrive and produce twigs like a sapling.

10 But a man dies and fades away; he breathes his last-where is he?

11 As water disappears from the sea and a wadi becomes parched and dry,

12 so man lies down never to rise again. They will not wake up until the heavens are no more; they will not stir from their sleep.

13 If only You would hide me in Sheol and conceal me until Your anger passes, that You would appoint a time for me and then remember me.

14 When a man dies, will he come back to life? [If so,] I would wait all the days of my struggle until my relief comes.

15 You would call, and I would answer You. You would long for the work of Your hands.

16 For then You would count my steps but would not take note of my sin.

17 My rebellion would be sealed up in a bag, and You would cover over my iniquity.

18 But as a mountain collapses and crumbles and a rock is dislodged from its place,

19 as water wears away stones and torrents wash away the soil from the land, so You destroy a man's hope.

20 You completely overpower him, and he passes on; You change his appearance and send him away.

21 If his sons receive honor, he does not know it; if they become insignificant, he is unaware of it.

22 He feels only the pain of his own body and mourns only for himself.

Job 15

1 Then Eliphaz the Temanite replied:

2 Does a wise man answer with empty counsel or fill himself with the hot east wind?

3 Should he argue with useless talk or with words that serve no good purpose?

4 But you even undermine the fear [of God] and hinder meditation before Him.

5 Your iniquity teaches you what to say, and you choose the language of the crafty.

6 Your own mouth condemns you, not I; your own lips testify against you.

7 Were you the first person ever born, or were you brought forth before the hills?

8 Do you listen in on the council of God, or have a monopoly on wisdom?

9 What do you know that we don't? [What] do you understand that is not [clear] to us?

10 Both the gray-haired and the elderly are with us, men older than your father.

11 Are God's consolations not enough for you, even the words that [deal] gently with you?

12 Why has your heart misled you, and why do your eyes flash

13 as you turn your anger against God and allow such words to leave your mouth?

14 What is man, that he should be pure, or one born of woman, that he should be righteous?

15 If God puts no trust in His holy ones and the heavens are not pure in His sight,

16 how much less one who is revolting and corrupt, who drinks injustice like water?

17 Listen to me and I will inform you. I will describe what I have seen,

18 what was declared by wise men and was not suppressed by their ancestors,

19 the land was given to them alone when no foreigner passed among them.

20 A wicked man writhes in pain all his days; few years are stored up for the ruthless.

21 Dreadful sounds fill his ears; when he is at peace, a robber attacks him.

22 He doesn't believe he will return from darkness; he is destined for the sword.

23 He wanders about for food, [saying,] "Where is it?" He knows the day of darkness is at hand.

24 Trouble and distress terrify him, overwhelming him like a king prepared for battle.

25 For he has stretched out his hand against God and has arrogantly opposed the Almighty.

26 He rushes headlong at Him with his thick, studded shields.

27 Though his face is covered with fat and his waistline bulges with it,

28 he will dwell in ruined cities, in abandoned houses destined to become piles of rubble.

29 He will no longer be rich; his wealth will not endure. His possessions will not spread over the land.

30 He will not escape from the darkness; flames will wither his shoots, and he will depart by the breath of God's mouth.

31 Let him not put trust in worthless things, being led astray, for what he gets in exchange will prove worthless.

32 It will be accomplished before his time, and his branch will not flourish.

33 He will be like a vine that drops its unripe grapes and like an olive tree that sheds its blossoms.

34 For the company of the godless will be barren, and fire will consume the tents of those who offer bribes.

35 They conceive trouble and give birth to evil; their womb prepares deception.

Job 16

1 Then Job answered:

2 I have heard many things like these. You are all miserable comforters.

3 Is there [no] end to your empty words? What provokes you that you continue testifying?

4 If you were in my place I could also talk like you. I could string words together against you and shake my head at you, [but I wouldn't].

5 I would encourage you with my mouth, and the consolation from my lips would bring relief.

6 Even if I speak, my suffering is not relieved, and if I hold back, what have I lost?

7 Surely He has now exhausted me. You have devastated my entire family.

8 You have shriveled me up-it has become a witness; My frailty rises up against me and testifies to my face.

9 His anger tears [at me], and He harasses me. He gnashes His teeth at me. My enemy pierces me with His eyes.

10 They open their mouths against me and strike my cheeks with contempt; they join themselves together against me.

11 God hands me over to unjust men; He throws me into the hands of the wicked.

12 I was at ease, but He shattered me; He seized [me] by the scruff of the neck and smashed me to pieces. He set me up as His target;

13 His archers surround me. He pierces my kidneys without mercy and pours my bile on the ground.

14 He breaks through my defenses again and again; He charges at me like a warrior.

15 I have sewn sackcloth over my skin; I have buried my strength in the dust.

16 My face has grown red with weeping, and the shadow of death covers my eyes,

17 although my hands are free from violence and my prayer is pure.

18 Earth, do not cover my blood; may my cry for help find no resting place.

19 Even now my witness is in heaven, and my advocate is in the heights!

20 My friends scoff at me as I weep before God.

21 I wish that someone might arbitrate between a man and God just as a man [pleads] for his friend.

22 For [only] a few years will pass before I go the way of no return.

Acts 9:22-43

22 But Saul grew more capable, and kept confounding the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that this One is the Messiah.

23 After many days had passed, the Jews conspired to kill him,

24 but their plot became known to Saul. So they were watching the gates day and night intending to kill him,

25 but his disciples took him by night and lowered him in a large basket through [an opening in] the wall.

26 When he arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to associate with the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, since they did not believe he was a disciple.

27 Barnabas, however, took him and brought him to the apostles and explained to them how, on the road, Saul had seen the Lord, and that He had talked to him, and how in Damascus he had spoken boldly in the name of Jesus.

28 Saul was coming and going with them in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord.

29 He conversed and debated with the Hellenistic Jews, but they attempted to kill him.

30 When the brothers found out, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.

31 So the church throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace, being built up and walking in the fear of the Lord and in the encouragement of the Holy Spirit, and it increased in numbers.

32 As Peter was traveling from place to place, he also came down to the saints who lived in Lydda.

33 There he found a man named Aeneas, who was paralyzed and had been bedridden for eight years.

34 Peter said to him, "Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and make your own bed," and immediately he got up.

35 So all who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord.

36 In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha, which is translated Dorcas. She was always doing good works and acts of charity.

37 In those days she became sick and died. After washing her, they placed her in a room upstairs.

38 Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples heard that Peter was there and sent two men to him who begged him, "Don't delay in coming with us."

39 So Peter got up and went with them. When he arrived, they led him to the room upstairs. And all the widows approached him, weeping and showing him the robes and clothes that Dorcas had made while she was with them.

40 Then Peter sent them all out of the room. He knelt down, prayed, and turning toward the body said, "Tabitha, get up!" She opened her eyes, saw Peter, and sat up.

41 He gave her his hand and helped her stand up. Then he called the saints and widows and presented her alive.

42 This became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord.

43 And Peter stayed on many days in Joppa with Simon, a leather tanner.