Saturday, August 26, 2023

Bible Readings for August 26, 2023

Let's read the Bible together in the next year. Today our passages are Job 20:1–22:30; 2 Corinthians 1:1-11; Psalm 40:11-17; and Proverbs 22:2-4. The readings are the Contemporary English Version. 

Job 20-22:30 (Contemporary English Version)


Job 20

Zophar's Second Speech
Your Words Are Disturbing

 1Zophar from Naamah [a] said: 2Your words are disturbing;
   now I must speak.
    3You have accused
   and insulted me,
   and reason requires a reply.
    4Since the time of creation,
   everyone has known
    5that sinful people are happy
   for only a while.
    6Though their pride and power
   may reach to the sky,
    7they will disappear like dust,
   and those who knew them
   will wonder what happened.
    8They will be forgotten
   like a dream
    9and vanish from the sight
   of family and friends.
    10Their children will have to repay
   what the parents took
   from the poor.
    11Indeed, the wicked will die
   and go to their graves
   in the prime of life.   

Sinners Love the Taste of Sin

 12Sinners love the taste of sin;
   they relish every bite
    13and swallow it slowly.
    14But their food will turn sour
   and poison their stomachs.
    15Then God will make them lose
   the wealth they gobbled down.
    16They will die from the fangs
   of poisonous snakes
    17and never enjoy rivers flowing
   with milk and honey.
    18Their hard work will result
   in nothing gained,
    19because they cheated the poor
   and took their homes.
    20Greedy people want everything
   and are never satisfied. [b] 21But when nothing remains
   for them to grab,
   they will be nothing.
    22Once they have everything,
   distress and despair
   will strike them down,
    23and God will make them swallow
   his blazing anger. [c] 24While running from iron spears,
   they will be killed
   by arrows of bronze,
    25whose shining tips go straight
   through their bodies.
   They will be trapped by terror,
    26and what they treasure most
   will be lost in the dark.
   God will send flames
   to destroy them in their tents
   with all their property.
    27The heavens and the earth
   will testify against them,
    28and all their possessions
   will be dragged off
   when God becomes angry.
    29This is what God has decided
   for those who are evil.
   

Job 21

Job's Reply to Zophar
If You Want To Offer Comfort

 1Job said:
    2If you want to offer comfort,
   then listen to me.
    3And when I have finished,
   you can start your insults
   all over again.
    4My complaint is against God;
   that's why I am impatient.
    5Just looking at me is enough
   to make you sick,
    6and the very thought of myself
   fills me with disgust.
    7Why do evil people live so long
   and gain such power?
    8Why are they allowed to see
   their children grow up? [d] 9They have no worries at home,
   and God never punishes them.
    10Their cattle have lots of calves
   without ever losing one;
    11their children play and dance
   safely by themselves.
    12These people sing and celebrate
   to the sound of tambourines,
   small harps, and flutes,
    13and they are successful,
   without a worry,
   until the day they die.   

Leave Us Alone!

 14Those who are evil say
   to God All-Powerful,
   "Leave us alone! Don't bother us
   with your teachings.
    15What do we gain from praying
   and worshiping you?
    16We succeeded all on our own."
   And so, I keep away from them
   and their evil schemes.
    17How often does God become angry
   and send disaster and darkness
   to punish sinners?
    18How often does he strike them
   like a windstorm
   that scatters straw?
    19You say, "God will punish
   those sinners' children
   in place of those sinners."
   But I say, "Let him punish
   those sinners themselves
   until they really feel it.
    20Let God All-Powerful force them
   to drink
   their own destruction
   from the cup of his anger.
    21Because after they are dead,
   they won't care what happens
   to their children."   

Who Can Tell God What To Do?

 22Who can tell God what to do?
   He judges powerful rulers.
    23Some of us die prosperous,
    24enjoying good health,
    25while others die in poverty,
   having known only pain.
    26But we all end up dead,
   beneath a blanket of worms.
    27My friends, I know that you
   are plotting against me.
    28You ask, "Where is the home
   of that important person
   who does so much evil?"
    29Everyone, near and far, agrees
    30that those who do wrong
   never suffer disaster,
   when God becomes angry.
    31No one points out their sin
   or punishes them.
    32Then at their funerals,
   they are highly praised;
    33the earth welcomes them home,
   while crowds mourn.
    34But empty, meaningless words
   are the comfort you offer me.
   

Job 22

Eliphaz's Third Speech
What Use Are We Humans to God?

 1Eliphaz from Teman [e] said: 2What use are we humans
   to God,
   even the wisest of us?
    3If you were completely sinless,
   that would still mean nothing
   to God All-Powerful.
    4Is he correcting you
   for worshiping him?
    5No! It's because
   of your terrible sins.
    6To guarantee payment of a debt,
   you have taken clothes
   from the poor.
    7And you refused bread and water
   to the hungry and thirsty,
    8although you were rich,
   respected, and powerful.
    9You have turned away widows
   and have broken the arms
   of orphans.
    10That's why you were suddenly
   trapped by terror,
    11blinded by darkness,
   and drowned in a flood.   

God Lives in the Heavens

 12God lives in the heavens
   above the highest stars,
   where he sees everything.
    13Do you think the deep darkness
   hides you from God?
    14Do thick clouds cover his eyes,
   as he walks around heaven's dome
   high above the earth?
    15Give up those ancient ideas
   believed by sinners,
    16who were swept away
   without warning.
    17They rejected God All-Powerful,
   feeling he was helpless,
    18although he had been kind
   to their families.
   The beliefs of these sinners
   are truly disgusting.
    19When God's people see
   the godless swept away,
   they celebrate, 20saying,
   "Our enemies are gone,
   and fire has destroyed
   their possessions."   

Surrender to God All-Powerful

 21Surrender to God All-Powerful!
   You will find peace
   and prosperity.
    22Listen to his teachings
   and take them to heart.
    23If you return to God
   and turn from sin,
   all will go well for you.
    24So get rid of your finest gold,
   as though it were sand.
    25Let God All-Powerful
   be your silver and gold,
    26and you will find happiness
   by worshiping him.
    27God will answer your prayers,
   and you will keep the promises
   you made to him.
    28He will do whatever you ask,
   and life will be bright.
    29When others are disgraced,
   God will clear their names
   in answer to your prayers.
    30Even those who are guilty
   will be forgiven,
   because you obey God. [f]

Footnotes:
  1. Job 20:1 Naamah: See the note at 2.11.
  2. Job 20:20 are never satisfied: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
  3. Job 20:23 anger: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text of verse 23.
  4. Job 21:8 up: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text of verse 8.
  5. Job 22:1 Teman: See the note at 2.11.
  6. Job 22:30 God: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text of verses 29,30.




2 Corinthians 1:1-11 (Contemporary English Version)


2 Corinthians 1


 1From Paul, chosen by God to be an apostle of Jesus Christ, and from Timothy, who is also a follower.
   To God's church in Corinth and to all of God's people in Achaia.
    2I pray that God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ will be kind to you and will bless you with peace!   
Paul Gives Thanks
 3Praise God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! The Father is a merciful God, who always gives us comfort. 4He comforts us when we are in trouble, so that we can share that same comfort with others in trouble. 5We share in the terrible sufferings of Christ, but also in the wonderful comfort he gives. 6We suffer in the hope that you will be comforted and saved. And because we are comforted, you will also be comforted, as you patiently endure suffering like ours. 7You never disappoint us. You suffered as much as we did, and we know that you will be comforted as we were.
    8My friends, I want you to know what a hard time we had in Asia. Our sufferings were so horrible and so unbearable that death seemed certain. 9In fact, we felt sure that we were going to die. But this made us stop trusting in ourselves and start trusting God, who raises the dead to life. 10God saved us from the threat of death, [a] and we are sure that he will do it again and again. 11Please help us by praying for us. Then many people will give thanks for the blessings we receive in answer to all these prayers.

Footnotes:
  1. 2 Corinthians 1:10 the threat of death: Some manuscripts have "many threats of death."



Psalm 40:11-17 (Contemporary English Version)


11You, LORD, never fail
   to have pity on me;
   your love and faithfulness
   always keep me secure.
    12I have more troubles
   than I can count.
   My sins are all around me,
   and I can't find my way.
   My sins outnumber
   the hairs on my head,
   and I feel weak.
    13Please show that you care
   and come to my rescue.
   Hurry and help me!
    14Disappoint and confuse
   all who want me dead;
   turn away and disgrace
   all who want to hurt me.
    15Embarrass and shame
   all of those who say,
   "Just look at you now!"
    16Our LORD, let your worshipers
   rejoice and be glad.
   They love you for saving them,
   so let them always say,
   "The LORD is wonderful!"
    17I am poor and needy,
   but, LORD God,
   you care about me,
   and you come to my rescue.
   Please hurry and help.



Proverbs 22:2-4 (Contemporary English Version)


2The rich and the poor
   are all created
   by the LORD.
    3When you see trouble coming,
   don't be stupid
   and walk right into it--
   be smart and hide.
    4Respect and serve the LORD!
   Your reward will be wealth,
   a long life, and honor.




Thought for the Day
 

“A body is made up of many parts, and each of them has its own use. That's how it is with us. There are many of us, but we each are part of the body of Christ, as well as part of one another.” (Romans 12:4-5 - Contemporary English Version) The church is a community made of different people with different skills and talents, but one single goal: to communicate the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit to the entire world.



Quote for the Day

Singer-songwriter and musician specializing in jazz, blues, and Tin Pan Alley classics, Leon Redbone wrote, "Home is where you hang your hat."




A Joke for Today

The temporary Sunday School teacher was struggling to open a combination lock on the supply cabinet. She had been told the combination, but couldn't quite remember it. She went to the pastor's study and asked for help. The pastor came into the room and began to turn the dial. After the first two numbers he paused and stared blankly for a moment.

Finally he looked serenely heavenward and his lips moved silently. Then he looked back at the lock, and quickly turned to the final number, and opened the lock. The teacher was amazed. "I'm in awe at your faith, pastor," she said. "It's really nothing," he answered. "The number is on a piece of tape on the ceiling."


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 we approach our differences with both faith and commonsense.

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