Job 32; Job 33; Acts 14

1 These three men stopped answering Job because he thought he was righteous.

2 Elihu son of Barachel the Buzite from the clan of Ram was angry, angry with Job because he considered himself more righteous than God.

3 He was also angry with his three friends because they hadn't found an answer but nevertheless thought Job wicked.

4 Elihu had waited while Job spoke, for they were older than he.

5 When Elihu saw that there had been no response in the speeches of the three men, he became very angry.

6 Elihu son of Barachel the Buzite said: I'm young and you're old, so I held back, afraid to express my opinion to you.

7 I thought, Let days speak; let multiple years make wisdom known.

8 But the spirit in a person, the Almighty's breath, gives understanding.

9 The advanced in days aren't wise; the old don't understand what's right.

10 Therefore, I say: "Listen to me; I'll state my view, even I."

11 Look, I waited while you spoke, listened while you reasoned, while you searched for words.

12 I was attentive to you, but you offered no rebuke to Job, no answer from you for his words.

13 Be careful you don't say, "We've found wisdom; God, not a person, will defeat him."

14 Now Job hasn't addressed me, and I won't quote you to him.

15 They are troubled, no longer answer; words now escape them.

16 I waited, but they didn't speak, for they stood but answered no more.

17 I will answer. Indeed, I will state my piece; I too will declare my view,

18 for I'm full of words. The spirit in my belly compels me.

19 Look, my belly is like unopened wine; like new wineskins it will burst.

20 I will speak and get relief; I will open my lips and respond.

21 I won't be partial to anyone, won't flatter a person;

22 for I don't know flattery; otherwise my maker would quickly whisk me away.

1 But now, listen to me, Job; pay attention to all my words.

2 Notice that I am opening my mouth; my tongue is speaking in my mouth.

3 My words come from a virtuous heart; my lips speak knowledge clearly.

4 God's spirit made me; the Almighty's breath enlivens me.

5 If you are able, answer me; lay out your case before me and take a stand.

6 Notice that I'm just like you to God; I also was pinched from clay.

7 Surely fear of me shouldn't scare you; my pressure on you shouldn't be heavy.

8 You certainly said in my hearing; I heard the sound of your words:

9 "I'm pure, without sin; I'm innocent, without offense.

10 Notice that he invents arguments against me; he considers me his enemy,

11 ties up my feet, watches all my paths."

12 Now you're wrong about this; I'll answer you, for God is greater than anybody.

13 Why do you contend with him, saying that he doesn't answer all your words?

14 God speaks in one way, in two ways, but no one perceives it.

15 In the dream, a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls upon humans, during their slumber on a bed,

16 then he opens people's ears, scares them with warnings,

17 to turn them from a deed and to smother human pride.

18 He keeps one from the pit, a life from perishing by the sword.

19 Or a person may be disciplined by pain while in bed, bones ever aching

20 until a person loathes food, an appetite rejects a delicacy;

21 the flesh wastes away, no longer visible; the bones, once hidden, protrude.

22 A life approaches the pit; its very being draws near the death dealers.

23 Surely there's a messenger for this person, a mediator, one out of a thousand to declare one's integrity to another

24 so that God has compassion on that person and says, "Rescue this one from going down to the pit; I have found a ransom."

25 That person's flesh is renewed like a child's; they regain their youth.

26 They pray to God, and God is pleased with them; they behold God's presence with a joyful shout. God rewards a person's righteousness.

27 They sing before people and say: "I have sinned, perverted justice, but didn't experience the consequences.

28 He ransomed me from crossing into the pit; my life beholds light."

29 Look, God does all this, twice, three times with persons

30 to bring them back from the pit, to shine with life's light.

31 Listen, Job; hear me; be quiet, and I will speak.

32 If you have words, answer me; speak, for I want to be innocent.

33 If not, you must hear me; be quiet, and I will teach you wisdom.

1 The same thing happened in Iconium. Paul and Barnabas entered the Jewish synagogue and spoke as they had before. As a result, a huge number of Jews and Greeks believed.

2 However, the Jews who rejected the faith stirred up the Gentiles, poisoning their minds against the brothers.

3 Nevertheless, Paul and Barnabas stayed there for quite some time, confidently speaking about the Lord. And the Lord confirmed the word about his grace by the signs and wonders he enabled them to perform.

4 The people of the city were divided—some siding with the Jews, others with the Lord's messengers.

5 Then some Gentiles and Jews, including their leaders, hatched a plot to mistreat and stone Paul and Barnabas.

6 When they learned of it, these two messengers fled to the Lycaonian cities of Lystra and Derbe and the surrounding area,

7 where they continued to proclaim the good news.

8 In Lystra there was a certain man who lacked strength in his legs. He had been crippled since birth and had never walked. Sitting there, he

9 heard Paul speaking. Paul stared at him and saw that he believed he could be healed.

10 Raising his voice, Paul said, "Stand up straight on your feet!" He jumped up and began to walk.

11 Seeing what Paul had done, the crowd shouted in the Lycaonian language, "The gods have taken human form and come down to visit us!"

12 They referred to Barnabas as Zeus and to Paul as Hermes, since Paul was the main speaker.

13 The priest of Zeus, whose temple was located just outside the city, brought bulls and wreaths to the city gates. Along with the crowds, he wanted to offer sacrifices to them.

14 When the Lord's messengers Barnabas and Paul found out about this, they tore their clothes in protest and rushed out into the crowd. They shouted,

15 "People, what are you doing? We are humans too, just like you! We are proclaiming the good news to you: turn to the living God and away from such worthless things. He made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and everything in them.

16 In the past, he permitted every nation to go its own way.

17 Nevertheless, he hasn't left himself without a witness. He has blessed you by giving you rain from above as well as seasonal harvests, and satisfying you with food and happiness."

18 Even with these words, they barely kept the crowds from sacrificing to them.

19 Jews from Antioch and Iconium arrived and won the crowds over. They stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing he was dead.

20 When the disciples surrounded him, he got up and entered the city again. The following day he left with Barnabas for Derbe.

21 Paul and Barnabas proclaimed the good news to the people in Derbe and made many disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, where

22 they strengthened the disciples and urged them to remain firm in the faith. They told them, "If we are to enter God's kingdom, we must pass through many troubles."

23 They appointed elders for each church. With prayer and fasting, they committed these elders to the Lord, in whom they had placed their trust.

24 After Paul and Barnabas traveled through Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia.

25 They proclaimed the word in Perga, then went down to Attalia.

26 From there they sailed to Antioch, where they had been entrusted by God's grace to the work they had now completed.

27 On their arrival, they gathered the church together and reported everything that God had accomplished through their activity, and how God had opened a door of faith for the Gentiles.

28 They stayed with the disciples a long time.