Job 36; Job 37; Acts 15:22-41

1 Elihu continued,

2 "Put up with me a little longer. I'll show you I can speak up for God even more.

3 I get my knowledge from far away. I'll announce that the One who made me is fair.

4 You can be sure that my words are true. One who has perfect knowledge is talking to you.

5 "God is mighty, but he doesn't hate people. He's mighty, and he knows exactly what he's going to do.

6 He doesn't keep alive those who are evil. Instead, he gives suffering people their rights.

7 He watches over those who do what is right. He puts them on thrones as if they were kings. He honors them forever.

8 But some people are held by chains. They are tied up with painful ropes.

9 God tells them what they've done. He tells them they've become proud and sinned against him.

10 He makes them listen when he corrects them. He commands them to turn away from the evil things they've done.

11 If they obey him and serve him, they'll enjoy a long and happy life. Things will go well with them.

12 But if they don't listen to him, they'll be killed with swords. They'll die because they didn't want to know anything about him.

13 "Those whose hearts are ungodly are always angry. Even when God puts them in chains, they don't cry out for help.

14 They die while they are still young. They die among the male prostitutes at the temples.

15 But God saves suffering people while they are suffering. He speaks to them while they are hurting.

16 "Job, he wants to take you out of the jaws of trouble. He wants to bring you to a wide and safe place. He'd like to seat you at a table that is loaded with the best food.

17 But now you are loaded down with the punishment sinners will receive. You have been judged fairly.

18 Be careful that no one tempts you with riches. Don't take money from people who want special favors, no matter how much it is.

19 Can your wealth keep you out of trouble? Can all of your mighty efforts keep you going?

20 Don't long for the night to come so you can drag people away from their homes.

21 Be careful not to do what is evil. You seem to like evil better than suffering!

22 "God is honored because he is so powerful. He has no equal as a teacher.

23 Who has told him what he can do? Who has said to him, 'You have done what is wrong'?

24 Remember to thank him for what he's done. People have praised him with their songs.

25 Every human being has seen his work. People can see it from far away.

26 How great God is! We'll never completely understand him. We'll never find out how long he has lived.

27 "He makes mist rise from the water. Then it falls as rain into the streams.

28 The clouds pour down their moisture. Rain showers fall on people everywhere.

29 Who can understand how God spreads out the clouds? Who can explain how he thunders from his home in heaven?

30 See how he scatters his lightning around him! He lights up the deepest parts of the ocean.

31 The rain he sends makes things grow for the nations. He provides them with plenty of food.

32 He holds lightning bolts in his hands. He commands them to strike their marks.

33 His thunder announces that a storm is coming. Even the cattle let us know it's approaching.

1 "When I hear the thunder, my heart pounds. It beats faster inside me.

2 Listen! Listen to the roar of his voice! Listen to the thunder that comes from him!

3 He sends his lightning across the sky. It reaches from one end of the earth to the other.

4 Next comes the sound of his roaring thunder. He thunders with his majestic voice. When his voice fills the air, he doesn't hold anything back.

5 God's voice thunders in wonderful ways. We'll never understand the great things he does.

6 He says to the snow, 'Fall on the earth.' He tells the rain, 'Pour down your mighty waters.'

7 He stops everyone from working. He wants them to see his work.

8 The animals go inside. They remain in their dens.

9 The storm comes out of its storeroom in the heavens. The cold comes from the driving winds.

10 The breath of God produces ice. The shallow water freezes over.

11 He loads the clouds with moisture. He scatters his lightning through them.

12 He directs the clouds to circle above the surface of the whole earth. They do everything he commands them to do.

13 He tells the clouds to punish people. Or he brings them to water his earth and show his love.

14 "Job, listen to me. Stop and think about the wonderful things God does.

15 Do you know how he controls the clouds? Do you understand how he makes his lightning flash?

16 Do you know how the clouds stay up in the sky? Do you understand the wonders of the One who has perfect knowledge?

17 Even your clothes are too hot for you when the land lies quiet under the south wind.

18 Can you help God spread out the skies? They are as hard as a mirror that's made out of bronze.

19 "Job, tell us what we should say to God. We can't prepare our case because our minds are dark.

20 Should he be told that I want to speak? Would any man ask to be destroyed by him?

21 No one can look at the sun. It's too bright after the wind has swept the skies clean.

22 Out of the north, God comes in his shining glory. He comes in all of his wonderful majesty.

23 We can't reach up to the Mighty One. He is lifted high because of his power. Everything he does is fair and right. So he doesn't crush people.

24 That's why they have respect for him. He cares about all those who are wise."

22 Then the apostles, the elders and the whole church decided what to do. They would choose some of their own men. They would send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. So they chose two leaders among the believers. Their names were Judas Barsabbas and Silas.

23 Here is the letter they sent with them. The apostles and elders, your brothers, are writing this letter. We are sending it to the non-Jewish believers in Antioch, Syria and Cilicia. Greetings.

24 We have heard that some of our people came to you and caused trouble. You were upset by what they said. But we had given them no authority to go.

25 So we all agreed to send our dear friends Barnabas and Paul to you. We chose some others to go with them.

26 Barnabas and Paul have put their lives in danger for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

27 So we are sending Judas and Silas with them. What they say will agree with this letter.

28 It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to give you a load that is too heavy. So here are a few basic rules.

29 Don't eat food that has been offered to statues of gods. Don't drink blood. Don't eat the meat of animals that have been choked to death. And don't commit sexual sins. You will do well to keep away from these things. Farewell.

30 The men were sent down to Antioch. There they gathered the church together. They gave the letter to them.

31 The people read it. They were glad for its message of hope.

32 Judas and Silas were prophets. They said many things to give strength and hope to the believers.

33 Judas and Silas stayed there for some time. Then the believers sent them away with the blessing of peace. They sent them back to those who had sent them out.

35 Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch. There they and many others taught and preached the word of the Lord.

36 Some time later Paul spoke to Barnabas. "Let's go back to all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord," he said. "Let's visit the believers and see how they are doing."

37 Barnabas wanted to take John Mark with them.

38 But Paul didn't think it was wise to take him. Mark had deserted them in Pamphylia. He hadn't continued with them in their work.

39 Barnabas and Paul strongly disagreed with each other. So they went their separate ways. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus.

40 But Paul chose Silas. The believers asked the Lord to give his grace to Paul and Silas as they went.

41 Paul traveled through Syria and Cilicia. He gave strength to the churches there.