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.
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."
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.
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.
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.
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.
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:- Job 28:6 gold: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text of verses 5,6.
- Job 28:11 uncover the sources of: Two ancient translations; Hebrew "dam up."
- Job 28:13 the way: Or "its worth."
- Job 28:17 costly glass: In the ancient world, objects made of glass were costly.
- Job 28:18 jasper: A valuable stone, usually green or clear.
- Job 28:19 topaz: A valuable, yellow stone.
- 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.
- Job 30:3 hunger: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text of verse 3.
- Job 30:11 God. . . do: Or "They have destroyed me, and so they don't care what else they do."
- Job 30:12 trapped: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text of verse 12.
- Job 30:13 destroying. . . completely: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
- Job 30:24 strikes: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text of verse 24.
- Job 30:29 jackals: Desert animals related to wolves, but smaller.
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:
- Job 28:6 gold: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text of verses 5,6.
- Job 28:11 uncover the sources of: Two ancient translations; Hebrew "dam up."
- Job 28:13 the way: Or "its worth."
- Job 28:17 costly glass: In the ancient world, objects made of glass were costly.
- Job 28:18 jasper: A valuable stone, usually green or clear.
- Job 28:19 topaz: A valuable, yellow stone.
- 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.
- Job 30:3 hunger: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text of verse 3.
- Job 30:11 God. . . do: Or "They have destroyed me, and so they don't care what else they do."
- Job 30:12 trapped: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text of verse 12.
- Job 30:13 destroying. . . completely: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
- Job 30:24 strikes: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text of verse 24.
- 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.
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:- Psalm 42:4 leading. . . house: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
- Psalm 42:6 Mount Mizar: The location is not known.
- Psalm 42:9 mighty rock: See the note at 18.2.
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:
- Psalm 42:4 leading. . . house: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
- Psalm 42:6 Mount Mizar: The location is not known.
- Psalm 42:9 mighty rock: See the note at 18.2.
Proverbs 22:7 (Contemporary English Version)
7The poor are ruled by the rich,
and those who borrow
are slaves of moneylenders.
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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