Let's read the Bible together in the next year. Today our passages are Job 37:1–39:30; 2 Corinthians 4:13–5:10; Psalm 44:9-26; and Proverbs 22:13. The readings are the Contemporary English Version.
Job 37-39:30 (Contemporary English Version)
Job 37
Elihu Continues
I Am Frightened
1I am frightened and tremble all over, 2when I hear the roaring voice of God in the thunder, 3and when I see his lightning flash across the sky. 4God's majestic voice thunders his commands, [a] 5creating miracles too marvelous for us to understand. 6Snow and heavy rainstorms 7make us stop and think about God's power, 8and they force animals to seek shelter. 9The windstorms of winter strike, 10and the breath of God freezes streams and rivers. 11Rain clouds filled with lightning appear at God's command, 12traveling across the sky 13to release their cargo-- sometimes as punishment for sin, sometimes as kindness.
and tremble all over,
2when I hear the roaring voice
of God in the thunder,
3and when I see his lightning
flash across the sky.
4God's majestic voice
thunders his commands, [a] 5creating miracles too marvelous
for us to understand.
6Snow and heavy rainstorms
7make us stop and think
about God's power,
8and they force animals
to seek shelter.
9The windstorms of winter strike,
10and the breath of God
freezes streams and rivers.
11Rain clouds filled with lightning
appear at God's command,
12traveling across the sky
13to release their cargo--
sometimes as punishment for sin,
sometimes as kindness.
Consider Carefully
14Job, consider carefully the many wonders of God. 15Can you explain why lightning flashes at the orders 16of God who knows all things? Or how he hangs the clouds in empty space? 17You almost melt in the heat of fierce desert winds when the sky is like brass. 18God can spread out the clouds to get relief from the heat, but can you? 19Tell us what to say to God! Our minds are in the dark, and we don't know how to argue our case. 20Should I risk my life by telling God that I want to speak? 21No one can stare at the sun after a breeze has blown the clouds from the sky. 22Yet the glorious splendor of God All-Powerful is brighter by far. 23God cannot be seen-- but his power is great, and he is always fair. 24And so we humans fear God, because he shows no respect for those who are proud and think they know so much.
the many wonders of God.
15Can you explain why lightning
flashes
at the orders
16of God who knows all things?
Or how he hangs the clouds
in empty space?
17You almost melt in the heat
of fierce desert winds
when the sky is like brass.
18God can spread out the clouds
to get relief from the heat,
but can you?
19Tell us what to say to God!
Our minds are in the dark,
and we don't know how
to argue our case.
20Should I risk my life
by telling God
that I want to speak?
21No one can stare at the sun
after a breeze has blown
the clouds from the sky.
22Yet the glorious splendor
of God All-Powerful
is brighter by far.
23God cannot be seen--
but his power is great,
and he is always fair.
24And so we humans fear God,
because he shows no respect
for those who are proud
and think they know so much.
Job 38
The LORD Speaks
From Out of a Storm
1From out of a storm, the LORD said to Job: 2Why do you talk so much when you know so little? 3Now get ready to face me! Can you answer the questions I ask? 4How did I lay the foundation for the earth? Were you there? 5Doubtless you know who decided its length and width. 6What supports the foundation? Who placed the cornerstone, 7while morning stars sang, and angels rejoiced? 8When the ocean was born, I set its boundaries 9and wrapped it in blankets of thickest fog. 10Then I built a wall around it, locked the gates, 11and said, "Your powerful waves stop here! They can go no farther."
the LORD said to Job:
2Why do you talk so much
when you know so little?
3Now get ready to face me!
Can you answer
the questions I ask?
4How did I lay the foundation
for the earth?
Were you there?
5Doubtless you know who decided
its length and width.
6What supports the foundation?
Who placed the cornerstone,
7while morning stars sang,
and angels rejoiced?
8When the ocean was born,
I set its boundaries
9and wrapped it in blankets
of thickest fog.
10Then I built a wall around it,
locked the gates, 11and said,
"Your powerful waves stop here!
They can go no farther."
Did You Ever Tell the Sun To Rise?
12Did you ever tell the sun to rise? And did it obey? 13Did it take hold of the earth and shake out the wicked like dust from a rug? 14Early dawn outlines the hills like stitches on clothing or sketches on clay. 15But its light is too much for those who are evil, and their power is broken. 16Job, have you ever walked on the ocean floor? 17Have you seen the gate to the world of the dead? 18And how large is the earth? Tell me, if you know! 19Where is the home of light, and where does darkness live? 20Can you lead them home? 21I'm certain you must be able to, since you were already born when I created everything. 22Have you been to the places where I keep snow and hail, 23until I use them to punish and conquer nations? 24From where does lightning leap, or the east wind blow? 25Who carves out a path for thunderstorms? Who sends torrents of rain 26on empty deserts where no one lives? 27Rain that changes barren land to meadows green with grass. 28Who is the father of the dew and of the rain? 29Who gives birth to the sleet and the frost 30that fall in winter, when streams and lakes freeze solid as a rock?
And did it obey?
13Did it take hold of the earth
and shake out the wicked
like dust from a rug?
14Early dawn outlines the hills
like stitches on clothing
or sketches on clay.
15But its light is too much
for those who are evil,
and their power is broken.
16Job, have you ever walked
on the ocean floor?
17Have you seen the gate
to the world of the dead?
18And how large is the earth?
Tell me, if you know!
19Where is the home of light,
and where does darkness live?
20Can you lead them home?
21I'm certain you must be able to,
since you were already born
when I created everything.
22Have you been to the places
where I keep snow and hail,
23until I use them to punish
and conquer nations?
24From where does lightning leap,
or the east wind blow?
25Who carves out a path
for thunderstorms?
Who sends torrents of rain
26on empty deserts
where no one lives?
27Rain that changes barren land
to meadows green with grass.
28Who is the father of the dew
and of the rain?
29Who gives birth to the sleet
and the frost
30that fall in winter,
when streams and lakes
freeze solid as a rock?
Can You Arrange Stars?
31Can you arrange stars in groups such as Orion and the Pleiades? 32Do you control the stars or set in place the Big Dipper and the Little Dipper? 33Do you know the laws that govern the heavens, and can you make them rule the earth? 34Can you order the clouds to send a downpour, 35or will lightning flash at your command? 36Did you teach birds to know that rain or floods are on their way? [b] 37Can you count the clouds or pour out their water 38on the dry, lumpy soil? 39When lions are hungry, do you help them hunt? 40Do you send an animal into their den? 41And when starving young ravens cry out to me for food, do you satisfy their hunger?
such as Orion
and the Pleiades?
32Do you control the stars
or set in place the Big Dipper
and the Little Dipper?
33Do you know the laws
that govern the heavens,
and can you make them rule
the earth?
34Can you order the clouds
to send a downpour,
35or will lightning flash
at your command?
36Did you teach birds to know
that rain or floods
are on their way? [b] 37Can you count the clouds
or pour out their water
38on the dry, lumpy soil?
39When lions are hungry,
do you help them hunt?
40Do you send an animal
into their den?
41And when starving young ravens
cry out to me for food,
do you satisfy their hunger?
Job 39
The LORD Continues
When Do Mountain Goats Give Birth?
1When do mountain goats and deer give birth? Have you been there when their young are born? 2How long are they pregnant 3before they deliver? 4Soon their young grow strong and then leave to be on their own. 5Who set wild donkeys free? 6I alone help them survive in salty desert sand. 7They stay far from crowded cities and refuse to be tamed. 8Instead, they roam the hills, searching for pastureland. 9Would a wild ox agree to live in your barn and labor for you? 10Could you force him to plow or to drag a heavy log to smooth out the soil? 11Can you depend on him to use his great strength and do your heavy work? 12Can you trust him to harvest your grain or take it to your barn from the threshing place?
and deer give birth?
Have you been there
when their young are born?
2How long are they pregnant
3before they deliver?
4Soon their young grow strong
and then leave
to be on their own.
5Who set wild donkeys free?
6I alone help them survive
in salty desert sand.
7They stay far from crowded cities
and refuse to be tamed.
8Instead, they roam the hills,
searching for pastureland.
9Would a wild ox agree
to live in your barn
and labor for you?
10Could you force him to plow
or to drag a heavy log
to smooth out the soil?
11Can you depend on him
to use his great strength
and do your heavy work?
12Can you trust him
to harvest your grain
or take it to your barn
from the threshing place?
An Ostrich Proudly Flaps Her Wings
13An ostrich proudly flaps her wings, but not because she loves her young. 14She abandons her eggs and lets the dusty ground keep them warm. 15And she doesn't seem to worry that the feet of an animal could crush them all. 16She treats her eggs as though they were not her own, unconcerned that her work might be for nothing. 17I myself made her foolish and without common sense. 18But once she starts running, [c] she laughs at a rider on the fastest horse.
flaps her wings,
but not because
she loves her young.
14She abandons her eggs
and lets the dusty ground
keep them warm.
15And she doesn't seem to worry
that the feet of an animal
could crush them all.
16She treats her eggs as though
they were not her own,
unconcerned that her work
might be for nothing.
17I myself made her foolish
and without common sense.
18But once she starts running, [c] she laughs at a rider
on the fastest horse.
Did You Give Horses Their Strength?
19Did you give horses their strength and the flowing hair along their necks? 20Did you make them able to jump like grasshoppers or to frighten people with their snorting? 21Before horses are ridden into battle, they paw at the ground, proud of their strength. 22Laughing at fear, they rush toward the fighting, 23while the weapons of their riders rattle and flash in the sun. 24Unable to stand still, they gallop eagerly into battle when trumpets blast. 25Stirred by the distant smells and sounds of war, they snort in reply to the trumpet. 26Did you teach hawks to fly south for the winter? 27Did you train eagles [d] to build 28their nests on rocky cliffs, 29where they can look down to spot their next meal? 30Then their young gather to feast wherever the victim lies. Footnotes:
and the flowing hair
along their necks?
20Did you make them able
to jump like grasshoppers
or to frighten people
with their snorting?
21Before horses are ridden
into battle,
they paw at the ground,
proud of their strength.
22Laughing at fear, they rush
toward the fighting,
23while the weapons of their riders
rattle and flash in the sun.
24Unable to stand still,
they gallop eagerly into battle
when trumpets blast.
25Stirred by the distant smells
and sounds of war,
they snort
in reply to the trumpet.
26Did you teach hawks to fly south
for the winter?
27Did you train eagles [d] to build 28their nests on rocky cliffs,
29where they can look down
to spot their next meal?
30Then their young gather to feast
wherever the victim lies.
Footnotes:
2 Corinthians 4:13-5:10 (Contemporary English Version)
13In the Scriptures it says, "I spoke because I had faith." We have that same kind of faith. So we speak 14because we know that God raised the Lord Jesus to life. And just as God raised Jesus, he will also raise us to life. Then he will bring us into his presence together with you. 15All of this has been done for you, so that more and more people will know how kind God is and will praise and honor him.
Faith in the Lord
16We never give up. Our bodies are gradually dying, but we ourselves are being made stronger each day. 17These little troubles are getting us ready for an eternal glory that will make all our troubles seem like nothing. 18Things that are seen don't last forever, but things that are not seen are eternal. That's why we keep our minds on the things that cannot be seen.
2 Corinthians 5
1Our bodies are like tents that we live in here on earth. But when these tents are destroyed, we know that God will give each of us a place to live. These homes will not be buildings that someone has made, but they are in heaven and will last forever. 2While we are here on earth, we sigh because we want to live in that heavenly home. 3We want to put it on like clothes and not be naked. 4These tents we now live in are like a heavy burden, and we groan. But we don't do this just because we want to leave these bodies that will die. It is because we want to change them for bodies that will never die. 5God is the one who makes all of this possible. He has given us his Spirit to make us certain that he will do it. 6So always be cheerful! As long as we are in these bodies, we are away from the Lord. 7But we live by faith, not by what we see. 8We should be cheerful, because we would rather leave these bodies and be at home with the Lord. 9But whether we are at home with the Lord or away from him, we still try our best to please him. 10After all, Christ will judge each of us for the good or the bad that we do while living in these bodies.
4These tents we now live in are like a heavy burden, and we groan. But we don't do this just because we want to leave these bodies that will die. It is because we want to change them for bodies that will never die. 5God is the one who makes all of this possible. He has given us his Spirit to make us certain that he will do it. 6So always be cheerful!
As long as we are in these bodies, we are away from the Lord. 7But we live by faith, not by what we see. 8We should be cheerful, because we would rather leave these bodies and be at home with the Lord. 9But whether we are at home with the Lord or away from him, we still try our best to please him. 10After all, Christ will judge each of us for the good or the bad that we do while living in these bodies.
Psalm 44:9-26 (Contemporary English Version)
9But now you have rejected us; you don't lead us into battle, and we look foolish. 10You made us retreat, and our enemies have taken everything we own. 11You let us be slaughtered like sheep, and you scattered us among the nations. 12You sold your people for little or nothing, and you earned no profit. 13You made us look foolish to our neighbors, and people who live nearby insult us and sneer. 14Foreigners joke about us and shake their heads. 15I am embarrassed every day, and I blush with shame. 16But others mock and sneer, as they watch my enemies take revenge on me. 17All of this has happened to us, though we didn't forget you or break our agreement. 18We always kept you in mind and followed your teaching. 19But you crushed us, and you covered us with deepest darkness where wild animals live. 20We did not forget you or lift our hands in prayer to foreign gods. 21You would have known it because you discover every secret thought. 22We face death all day for you. We are like sheep on their way to be slaughtered. 23Wake up! Do something, Lord! Why are you sleeping? Don't desert us forever. 24Why do you keep looking away? Don't forget our sufferings and all of our troubles. 25We are flat on the ground, holding on to the dust. 26Do something! Help us! Show how kind you are and come to our rescue.
9But now you have rejected us;
you don't lead us into battle,
and we look foolish.
10You made us retreat,
and our enemies have taken
everything we own.
11You let us be slaughtered
like sheep,
and you scattered us
among the nations.
12You sold your people
for little or nothing,
and you earned no profit.
13You made us look foolish
to our neighbors,
and people who live nearby
insult us and sneer.
14Foreigners joke about us
and shake their heads.
15I am embarrassed every day,
and I blush with shame.
16But others mock and sneer,
as they watch my enemies
take revenge on me.
17All of this has happened to us,
though we didn't forget you
or break our agreement.
18We always kept you in mind
and followed your teaching.
19But you crushed us,
and you covered us
with deepest darkness
where wild animals live.
20We did not forget you
or lift our hands in prayer
to foreign gods.
21You would have known it
because you discover
every secret thought.
22We face death all day for you.
We are like sheep on their way
to be slaughtered.
23Wake up! Do something, Lord!
Why are you sleeping?
Don't desert us forever.
24Why do you keep looking away?
Don't forget our sufferings
and all of our troubles.
25We are flat on the ground,
holding on to the dust.
26Do something! Help us!
Show how kind you are
and come to our rescue.
Proverbs 22:13 (Contemporary English Version)
13Don't be so lazy that you say, "If I go to work, a lion will eat me!"
13Don't be so lazy that you say,
"If I go to work,
a lion will eat me!"
Thought for the Day
“Bow down and worship the LORD our Creator! The LORD is our God, and we are his people, the sheep he takes care of in his own pasture. Listen to God's voice today!” (Psalm 95:6-7 - Contemporary English Version) We are the children of God, and he cares for us like a shepherd cares for his sheep. And this is the reason we can looking into the future with both peace and hope.
Quote for the Day
Russian Empire-born American songwriter of Tin Pan Alley, L. Wolfe Gilbert wrote, “Those who find beauty in all of nature will find themselves at one with the secrets of life itself.”
Joke for Today
A member of our church choir arrives every Sunday morning with her seven children in tow, all a bit rumpled but never the less on time.
Scarcely able to get my one child ready, I asked her how she managed her brood so efficiently.
"Easy," she replied with a smile. "I dress them the night before."
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 international tensions decrease and all nations learn to live in peace with one another.
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