Today's Reading

Job 31-33

Job Chapter 31
1 - I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid?
2 - For what portion of God is there from above? and what inheritance of the Almighty from on high?
3 - Is not destruction to the wicked? and a strange punishment to the workers of iniquity?
4 - Doth not he see my ways, and count all my steps?
5 - If I have walked with vanity, or if my foot hath hasted to deceit;
6 - Let me be weighed in an even balance that God may know mine integrity.
7 - If my step hath turned out of the way, and mine heart walked after mine eyes, and if any blot hath cleaved to mine hands;
8 - Then let me sow, and let another eat; yea, let my offspring be rooted out.
9 - If mine heart have been deceived by a woman, or if I have laid wait at my neighbour's door;
10 - Then let my wife grind unto another, and let others bow down upon her.
11 - For this is an heinous crime; yea, it is an iniquity to be punished by the judges.
12 - For it is a fire that consumeth to destruction, and would root out all mine increase.
13 - If I did despise the cause of my manservant or of my maidservant, when they contended with me;
14 - What then shall I do when God riseth up? and when he visiteth, what shall I answer him?
15 - Did not he that made me in the womb make him? and did not one fashion us in the womb?
16 - If I have withheld the poor from their desire, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail;
17 - Or have eaten my morsel myself alone, and the fatherless hath not eaten thereof;
18 - (For from my youth he was brought up with me, as with a father, and I have guided her from my mother's womb;)
19 - If I have seen any perish for want of clothing, or any poor without covering;
20 - If his loins have not blessed me, and if he were not warmed with the fleece of my sheep;
21 - If I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless, when I saw my help in the gate:
22 - Then let mine arm fall from my shoulder blade, and mine arm be broken from the bone.
23 - For destruction from God was a terror to me, and by reason of his highness I could not endure.
24 - If I have made gold my hope, or have said to the fine gold, Thou art my confidence;
25 - If I rejoice because my wealth was great, and because mine hand had gotten much;
26 - If I beheld the sun when it shined, or the moon walking in brightness;
27 - And my heart hath been secretly enticed, or my mouth hath kissed my hand:
28 - This also were an iniquity to be punished by the judge: for I should have denied the God that is above.
29 - If I rejoice at the destruction of him that hated me, or lifted up myself when evil found him:
30 - Neither have I suffered my mouth to sin by wishing a curse to his soul.
31 - If the men of my tabernacle said not, Oh that we had of his flesh! we cannot be satisfied.
32 - The stranger did not lodge in the street: but I opened my doors to the traveller.
33 - If I covered my transgressions as Adam, by hiding mine iniquity in my bosom:
34 - Did I fear a great multitude, or did the contempt of families terrify me, that I kept silence, and went not out of the door?
35 - Oh that one would hear me! behold, my desire is, that the Almighty would answer me, and that mine adversary had written a book.
36 - Surely I would take it upon my shoulder, and bind it as a crown to me.
37 - I would declare unto him the number of my steps; as a prince would I go near unto him.
38 - If my land cry against me, or that the furrows likewise thereof complain;
39 - If I have eaten the fruits thereof without money, or have caused the owners thereof to lose their life:
40 - Let thistles grow instead of wheat, and cockle instead of barley. The words of Job are ended.

Job Chapter 32
1 - So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes.
2 - Then was kindled the wrath of Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the kindred of Ram: against Job was his wrath kindled, because he justified himself rather than God.
3 - Also against his three friends was his wrath kindled, because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job.
4 - Now Elihu had waited till Job had spoken, because they were elder than he.
5 - When Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, then his wrath was kindled.
6 - And Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered and said, I am young, and ye are very old; wherefore I was afraid, and durst not shew you mine opinion.
7 - I said, Days should speak, and multitude of years should teach wisdom.
8 - But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding.
9 - Great men are not always wise: neither do the aged understand judgment.
10 - Therefore I said, Hearken to me; I also will shew mine opinion.
11 - Behold, I waited for your words; I gave ear to your reasons, whilst ye searched out what to say.
12 - Yea, I attended unto you, and, behold, there was none of you that convinced Job, or that answered his words:
13 - Lest ye should say, We have found out wisdom: God thrusteth him down, not man.
14 - Now he hath not directed his words against me: neither will I answer him with your speeches.
15 - They were amazed, they answered no more: they left off speaking.
16 - When I had waited, (for they spake not, but stood still, and answered no more;)
17 - I said, I will answer also my part, I also will shew mine opinion.
18 - For I am full of matter, the spirit within me constraineth me.
19 - Behold, my belly is as wine which hath no vent; it is ready to burst like new bottles.
20 - I will speak, that I may be refreshed: I will open my lips and answer.
21 - Let me not, I pray you, accept any man's person, neither let me give flattering titles unto man.
22 - For I know not to give flattering titles; in so doing my maker would soon take me away.

Job Chapter 33
1 - Wherefore, Job, I pray thee, hear my speeches, and hearken to all my words.
2 - Behold, now I have opened my mouth, my tongue hath spoken in my mouth.
3 - My words shall be of the uprightness of my heart: and my lips shall utter knowledge clearly.
4 - The spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life.
5 - If thou canst answer me, set thy words in order before me, stand up.
6 - Behold, I am according to thy wish in God's stead: I also am formed out of the clay.
7 - Behold, my terror shall not make thee afraid, neither shall my hand be heavy upon thee.
8 - Surely thou hast spoken in mine hearing, and I have heard the voice of thy words, saying,
9 - I am clean without transgression, I am innocent; neither is there iniquity in me.
10 - Behold, he findeth occasions against me, he counteth me for his enemy,
11 - He putteth my feet in the stocks, he marketh all my paths.
12 - Behold, in this thou art not just: I will answer thee, that God is greater than man.
13 - Why dost thou strive against him? for he giveth not account of any of his matters.
14 - For God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not.
15 - In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed;
16 - Then he openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction,
17 - That he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man.
18 - He keepeth back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword.
19 - He is chastened also with pain upon his bed, and the multitude of his bones with strong pain:
20 - So that his life abhorreth bread, and his soul dainty meat.
21 - His flesh is consumed away, that it cannot be seen; and his bones that were not seen stick out.
22 - Yea, his soul draweth near unto the grave, and his life to the destroyers.
23 - If there be a messenger with him, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to shew unto man his uprightness:
24 - Then he is gracious unto him, and saith, Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom.
25 - His flesh shall be fresher than a child's: he shall return to the days of his youth:
26 - He shall pray unto God, and he will be favourable unto him: and he shall see his face with joy: for he will render unto man his righteousness.
27 - He looketh upon men, and if any say, I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it profited me not;
28 - He will deliver his soul from going into the pit, and his life shall see the light.
29 - Lo, all these things worketh God oftentimes with man,
30 - To bring back his soul from the pit, to be enlightened with the light of the living.
31 - Mark well, O Job, hearken unto me: hold thy peace, and I will speak.
32 - If thou hast anything to say, answer me: speak, for I desire to justify thee.
33 - If not, hearken unto me: hold thy peace, and I shall teach thee wisdom.