Job 28; Job 29; Acts 13:1-25

1 "There are mines where silver is found. There are places where gold is purified.

2 Iron is taken out of the earth. Copper is melted down from ore.

3 A miner lights up the darkness. He searches for ore in the deepest pits. He looks for it in the blackest darkness.

4 Far from where people live he cuts a tunnel. He does it in places where others don't go. Far away from people he swings back and forth on ropes.

5 Food grows on the surface of the earth. But far below, the earth is changed as if by fire.

6 Sapphires are taken from its rocks. Its dust contains nuggets of gold.

7 No bird knows the miner's hidden path. No falcon's eye has seen it.

8 Proud animals don't walk on it. Lions don't prowl there.

9 The miner attacks the hardest rock. His strong hands uncover the base of the mountains.

10 He tunnels through the rock. His eyes see all of its treasures.

11 He searches the places where the rivers begin. He brings hidden things out into the light.

12 "And where can wisdom be found? Where does understanding live?

13 No one knows how much it's worth. It can't be found anywhere in the world.

14 The ocean says, 'It's not in me.' The sea says, 'It's not here either.'

15 It can't be bought with the finest gold. Its price can't be weighed out in silver.

16 It can't be bought with gold from Ophir. It can't be bought with priceless onyx or sapphires.

17 Gold or crystal can't compare with it. It can't be bought with jewels made of gold.

18 Don't bother to talk about coral and jasper. Wisdom is worth far more than rubies.

19 A topaz from Cush can't compare with it. It can't be bought with the purest gold.

20 "So where does wisdom come from? Where does understanding live?

21 It's hidden from the eyes of every living thing. Even the birds of the air can't find it.

22 Death and the Grave say, 'Only reports about it have reached our ears.'

23 But God understands the way to it. He's the only one who knows where it lives.

24 He sees from one end of the earth to the other. He views everything in the world.

25 He made the mighty wind. He measured out the waters.

26 He gave orders for the rain to fall. He made paths for the thunderstorms.

27 Then he looked at wisdom and set its price. He established it and put it to the test.

28 He said to human beings, 'Have respect for me. That will prove you are wise. Avoid evil. That will show you have understanding.' "

1 Job continued to speak. He said,

2 "How I long for the good old days! That's when God watched over me.

3 The light of his lamp shone on me. I walked through darkness by his light.

4 Those were the best days of my life. That's when God's friendship blessed my house.

5 The Mighty One was still with me. My children were all around me.

6 The path in front of me was like sweet cream. It was as if the rock poured out olive oil for me.

7 "In those days I went to the city gate. I took my seat as a member of the council.

8 Young people who saw me stepped to one side. Old people stood up as I approached.

9 The leaders stopped speaking. They covered their mouths with their hands.

10 The voices of the nobles became quiet. Their tongues stuck to the roofs of their mouths.

11 Everyone who heard me said good things about me. Those who saw me honored me.

12 That's because I saved poor people who cried out for help. I saved helpless children whose fathers had died.

13 Those who were dying gave me their blessing. I made the hearts of widows sing.

14 I put on a godly life as if it were my clothes. Fairness was my robe and my turban.

15 I was like eyes for those who were blind. I was like feet for those who couldn't walk.

16 I was like a father to needy people. I stood up for strangers in court.

17 Sinners are like animals that have powerful teeth. But I took from their mouths the people they had caught.

18 "I thought, 'I'll die in my own house. The days of my life will be as many as the grains of sand.

19 My roots will reach down to the water. The dew will lie all night on my branches.

20 I will remain healthy and strong. My bow will stay as good as new in my hand.'

21 "People wanted to hear what I had to say. They waited silently for the advice I gave them.

22 After I had spoken, they didn't speak anymore. My words fell gently on their ears.

23 They waited for me just as they would wait for showers. They drank my words just as they would drink the spring rain.

24 When I smiled at them, they could hardly believe it. The light of my face lifted their spirits.

25 I chose the way they should go. I sat as their chief. I lived as a king lives among his troops. I was like someone who comforts those who are sad.

1 In the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers. Among them were Barnabas, Simeon, and Lucius from Cyrene. Simeon was also called Niger. Another was Manaen. He had been brought up with Herod, the ruler of Galilee. Saul was among them too.

2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit spoke. "Set apart Barnabas and Saul for me," he said. "I have appointed them to do special work."

3 The prophets and teachers fasted and prayed. They placed their hands on Barnabas and Saul. Then they sent them off.

4 Barnabas and Saul were sent on their way by the Holy Spirit. They went down to Seleucia. From there they sailed to Cyprus.

5 They arrived at Salamis. There they preached God's word in the Jewish synagogues. John was with them as their helper.

6 They traveled all across the island until they came to Paphos. There they met a Jew named Bar-Jesus. He was an evil magician and a false prophet.

7 He was an attendant of Sergius Paulus, the governor. Paulus was a man of understanding. He sent for Barnabas and Saul. He wanted to hear God's word.

8 But Elymas, the evil magician, opposed them. The name Elymas means "magician." He tried to keep the governor from becoming a believer.

9 Saul was also known as Paul. He was filled with the Holy Spirit. He looked straight at Elymas. He said to him,

10 "You are a child of the devil! You are an enemy of everything that is right! You cheat people. You use all kinds of tricks. Won't you ever stop twisting the right ways of the Lord?

11 Now the Lord's hand is against you. You are going to go blind. You won't be able to see the light of the sun for a while." Right away mist and darkness came over him. He tried to feel his way around. He wanted to find someone to lead him by the hand.

12 When the governor saw what had happened, he believed. He was amazed at what Paul was teaching about the Lord.

13 From Paphos, Paul and his companions sailed to Perga in Pamphylia. There John left them and returned to Jerusalem.

14 From Perga they went on to Pisidian Antioch. On the Sabbath day they entered the synagogue and sat down.

15 The Law and the Prophets were read aloud. Then the synagogue rulers sent word to Paul and his companions. They said, "Brothers, do you have a message of hope for the people? If you do, please speak."

16 Paul stood up and motioned with his hand. Then he said, "Men of Israel, and you non-Jews who worship God, listen to me!

17 The God of Israel chose our people who lived long ago. He blessed them greatly while they were in Egypt. With his mighty power he led them out of that country.

18 He put up with them for about 40 years in the desert.

19 He destroyed seven nations in Canaan. Then he gave the land to his people as their rightful share.

20 All of this took about 450 years. "After this, God gave them judges until the time of Samuel the prophet.

21 Then the people asked for a king. He gave them Saul, son of Kish. Saul was from the tribe of Benjamin. He ruled for 40 years.

22 God removed him and made David their king. Here is God's witness about him. 'David, son of Jesse, is a man dear to my heart,' he said. 'He will do everything I want him to do.'

23 "From this man's family line God has brought to Israel the Savior Jesus. This is what he had promised.

24 Before Jesus came, John preached that we should turn away from our sins and be baptized. He preached this to all Israel.

25 John was coming to the end of his work. 'Who do you think I am?' he said. 'I am not the one you are looking for. No, he is coming after me. I am not good enough to untie his sandals.'