Saturday, August 28, 2021

Bible Readings for August 28, 2021

Let's read the Bible together in the next year. Today our passages are Job 28:1–30:31; 2 Corinthians 2:12-17; Psalm 42:1-11; and Proverbs 22:7. The readings are the Contemporary English Version.  


Job 28-30:31 (Contemporary English Version)


Job 28

Job Continues
Gold and Silver Are Mined

 1Gold and silver are mined,    then purified; 
    2the same is done 
   with iron and copper. 
    3Miners carry lanterns 
   deep into the darkness 
   to search for these metals. 
    4They dig tunnels 
   in distant, unknown places, 
   where they dangle by ropes. 
    5Far beneath the grain fields, 
   fires are built 
   to break loose those rocks 
    6that have jewels or gold. [a] 7Miners go to places unseen 
   by the eyes of hawks; 
    8they walk on soil unknown 
   to the proudest lions. 
    9With their own hands 
   they remove sharp rocks 
   and uproot mountains. 
    10They dig through the rocks 
   in search of jewels 
   and precious metals. 
    11They also uncover 
   the sources of [b] rivers and discover secret places.     

Where Is Wisdom Found?

 12But where is wisdom found?     13No human knows the way. [c] 14Nor can it be discovered 
   in the deepest sea. 
    15It is worth much more 
   than silver or pure gold 
    16or precious stones. 
    17Nothing is its equal-- 
   not gold or costly glass. [d] 18Wisdom is worth much more than 
   coral, jasper, [e] or rubies. 19All the topaz [f] of Ethiopia [g] and the finest gold 
   cannot compare with it. 
    20Where then is wisdom? 
    21It is hidden from human eyes 
   and even from birds. 
    22Death and destruction 
   have merely heard rumors 
   about where it is found. 
    23God is the only one who knows 
   the way to wisdom, 
    24because he sees everything 
   beneath the heavens. 
    25When God divided out 
   the wind and the water, 
    26and when he decided the path 
   for rain and lightning, 
    27he also determined the truth 
   and defined wisdom. 
    28God told us, "Wisdom means 
   that you respect me, the Lord, 
   and turn from sin." 
    

Job 29

Job Continues
I Long for the Past

 1Job said:     2I long for the past, 
   when God took care of me, 
    3and the light from his lamp 
   showed me the way 
   through the dark. 
    4I was in the prime of life, 
   God All-Powerful 
   was my closest friend, 
    5and all of my children 
   were nearby. 
    6My herds gave enough milk 
   to bathe my feet, 
   and from my olive harvest 
   flowed rivers of oil. 
    7When I sat down at the meeting 
   of the city council, 
    8the young leaders stepped aside, 
    9while the older ones stood 
    10and remained silent.     

Everyone Was Pleased

 11Everyone was pleased    with what I said and did. 
    12When poor people or orphans 
   cried out for help, 
   I came to their rescue. 
    13And I was highly praised 
   for my generosity to widows 
   and others in poverty. 
    14Kindness and justice 
   were my coat and hat; 
    15I was good to the blind 
   and to the lame. 
    16I was a father to the needy, 
   and I defended them in court, 
   even if they were strangers. 
    17When criminals attacked, 
   I broke their teeth 
   and set their victims free. 
    18I felt certain that I would live 
   a long and happy life, 
   then die in my own bed. 
    19In those days I was strong 
   like a tree with deep roots 
   and with plenty of water, 
    20or like an archer's new bow. 
    21Everyone listened in silence 
   to my welcome advice, 
    22and when I finished speaking, 
   nothing needed to be said. 
    23My words were eagerly accepted 
   like the showers of spring, 
    24and the smile on my face 
   renewed everyone's hopes. 
    25My advice was followed 
   as though I were a king 
   leading my troops, 
   or someone comforting 
   those in sorrow. 
    

Job 30

Job Continues
Young People Now Insult Me

 1Young people now insult me,    although their fathers 
   would have been a disgrace 
   to my sheep dogs. 
    2And those who insult me 
   are helpless themselves. 
    3They must claw the desert sand 
   in the dark 
   for something 
   to satisfy their hunger. [h] 4They gather tasteless shrubs 
   for food and firewood, 
    5and they are run out of towns, 
   as though they were thieves. 
    6Their only homes are ditches 
   or holes between rocks, 
    7where they bray like donkeys 
   gathering around shrubs. 
    8And like senseless donkeys 
   they are chased away.     

Those Worthless Nobodies

 9Those worthless nobodies    make up jokes and songs 
   to disgrace me. 
    10They are hateful 
   and keep their distance, 
   even while spitting 
   in my direction. 
    11God has destroyed me, 
   and so they don't care 
   what they do. [i] 12Their attacks never stop, 
   though I am defenseless, 
   and my feet are trapped. [j] 13Without any help, 
   they prevent my escape, 
   destroying me completely [k] 14and leaving me crushed. 
    15Terror has me surrounded; 
   my reputation and my riches 
   have vanished like a cloud.     

I Am Sick at Heart

 16I am sick at heart!    Pain has taken its toll. 
    17Night chews on my bones, 
   causing endless torment, 
    18and God has shrunk my skin, 
   choking me to death. 
    19I have been thrown in the dirt 
   and now am dirt myself. 
    20I beg God for help, 
   but there is no answer; 
   and when I stand up, 
   he simply stares. 
    21God has turned brutal, 
    22stirring up a windstorm 
   to toss me about. 
    23Soon he will send me home 
   to the world of the dead, 
   where we all must go. 
    24No one refuses help to others, 
   when disaster strikes. [l] 25I mourned for the poor 
   and those who suffered. 
    26But when I beg for relief 
   and light, 
   all I receive are disaster 
   and darkness. 
    27My stomach is tied in knots; 
   pain is my daily companion. 
    28Suffering has scorched my skin, 
   and in the city council 
   I stand and cry out, 
    29making mournful sounds 
   like jackals [m] and owls. 30My skin is so parched, 
   that it peels right off, 
   and my bones are burning. 
    31My only songs are sorrow 
   and sadness. 
    
Footnotes:
  1. Job 28:6 gold: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text of verses 5,6.
  2. Job 28:11 uncover the sources of: Two ancient translations; Hebrew "dam up."
  3. Job 28:13 the way: Or "its worth."
  4. Job 28:17 costly glass: In the ancient world, objects made of glass were costly.
  5. Job 28:18 jasper: A valuable stone, usually green or clear.
  6. Job 28:19 topaz: A valuable, yellow stone.
  7. Job 28:19 Ethiopia: The Hebrew text has "Cush," which was a region south of Egypt that included parts of the present countries of Ethiopia and Sudan.
  8. Job 30:3 hunger: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text of verse 3.
  9. Job 30:11 God. . . do: Or "They have destroyed me, and so they don't care what else they do."
  10. Job 30:12 trapped: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text of verse 12.
  11. Job 30:13 destroying. . . completely: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
  12. Job 30:24 strikes: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text of verse 24.
  13. Job 30:29 jackals: Desert animals related to wolves, but smaller.


2 Corinthians 2:12-17 (Contemporary English Version)


12When I went to Troas to preach the good news about Christ, I found that the Lord had already prepared the way.13But I was worried when I didn't find my friend Titus there. So I left the other followers and went on to Macedonia. 
    14I am grateful that God always makes it possible for Christ to lead us to victory. God also helps us spread the knowledge about Christ everywhere, and this knowledge is like the smell of perfume. 15-16In fact, God thinks of us as a perfume that brings Christ to everyone. For people who are being saved, this perfume has a sweet smell and leads them to a better life. But for people who are lost, it has a bad smell and leads them to a horrible death. 
   No one really has what it takes to do this work. 17A lot of people try to get rich from preaching God's message. But we are God's sincere messengers, and by the power of Christ we speak our message with God as our witness.


Psalm 42:1-11 (Contemporary English Version)


Psalm 42

BOOK II
(Psalms 42-72)
(A special psalm for the people of Korah and for the music leader.)
Longing for God

 1As a deer gets thirsty    for streams of water, 
   I truly am thirsty 
   for you, my God. 
    2In my heart, I am thirsty 
   for you, the living God. 
   When will I see your face? 
    3Day and night my tears 
   are my only food, 
   as everyone keeps asking, 
   "Where is your God?" 
    4Sorrow floods my heart, 
   when I remember 
   leading the worshipers 
   to your house. [a] I can still hear them shout 
   their joyful praises. 
    5Why am I discouraged? 
   Why am I restless? 
   I trust you! 
   And I will praise you again 
   because you help me, 
    6and you are my God. 
   I am deeply discouraged 
   as I think about you 
   from where the Jordan begins 
   at Mount Hermon 
   and from Mount Mizar. [b] 7Your vicious waves 
   have swept over me 
   like an angry ocean 
   or a roaring waterfall. 
    8Every day, you are kind, 
   and at night 
   you give me a song 
   as my prayer to you, 
   the living LORD God. 
    9You are my mighty rock. [c] Why have you forgotten me? 
   Why must enemies mistreat me 
   and make me sad? 
    10Even my bones are in pain, 
   while all day long 
   my enemies sneer and ask, 
   "Where is your God?" 
    11Why am I discouraged? 
   Why am I restless? 
   I trust you! 
   And I will praise you again 
   because you help me, 
   and you are my God. 
    
Footnotes:
  1. Psalm 42:4 leading. . . house: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
  2. Psalm 42:6 Mount Mizar: The location is not known.
  3. Psalm 42:9 mighty rock: See the note at 18.2.


Feeding on Christ Preaching the Proverbs - Feeding on Christ

Proverbs 22:7 (Contemporary English Version)


7The poor are ruled by the rich,
   and those who borrow
   are slaves of moneylenders.







Thought for the Day
 

“Jesus answered, 'God wants you to have faith in the one he sent.'” (John 6:29 - Contemporary English Version) Because he loves us, God wants us to trust that Jesus is the source of eternal life. You see, it's through faith that we can experience a peace and hope that's grounded in him.



Quote for the Day

American sociologist, C. Wright Mills wrote, “Neither the life of an individual nor the history of a society can be understood without understanding both.”


Joke for Today

Advice from a Secretary to the Boss

1. Never give me work in the morning. Always wait until 4:00 and then bring it to me. The challenge of a deadline is refreshing.
2. If it's really a rush job, run in and interrupt me every 10 minutes to inquire how it's going. That helps. Or even better, hover behind me, advising me at every keystroke.
3. Always leave without telling anyone where you're going. It gives me a chance to be creative when someone asks where you are.
4. If my arms are full of papers, boxes, books, or supplies, don't open the door for me. I need to learn how to function as a paraplegic and opening doors with no arms is good training in case I should ever be injured and lose all use of my limbs.
5. If you give me more than one job to do, don't tell me which is the priority. I am psychic.
6. Do your best to keep me late. I adore this office and really have nowhere to go or anything to do. I have no life beyond work.
7. If a job I do pleases you, keep it a secret. If that gets out, it could mean a promotion.
8. If you don't like my work, tell everyone. I like my name to be popular in conversations. I was born to be whipped.
9. If you have special instructions for a job, don't write them down. In fact, save them until the job is almost done. No use confusing me with useful information.
10. Never introduce me to the people you're with. I have no right to know anything. In the corporate food chain, I am plankton. When you refer to them later, my shrewd deductions will identify them.
11. Be nice to me only when the job I'm doing for you could really change your life and send you straight to manager's hell.
12. Tell me all your little problems. No one else has any and it's nice to know someone is less fortunate. I especially like the story about having to pay so much taxes on the bonus check you received for being such a good manager.
13. Wait until my yearly review and THEN tell me what my goals SHOULD have been. Give me a mediocre performance rating with a cost of living increase. I'm not here for the money anyway.






















A Prayer Request

As Christians, we can offer specific daily prayers for our community, nation and world. Below is the need that we're laying before God today.

That people stop expressing their frustration through violence.

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