The Daily Audio Bible Reading for Thursday August 22, 2019 (NIV)

Job 4-7

First Series of Speeches

Eliphaz Speaks

Then Eliphaz the Temanite replied:

Should anyone try to speak with you
when you are exhausted?
Yet who can keep from speaking?
Indeed, you have instructed many
and have strengthened(A) weak hands.
Your words have steadied the one who was stumbling
and braced the knees that were buckling.(B)
But now that this has happened to you,
you have become exhausted.
It strikes(C) you, and you are dismayed.
Isn’t your piety your confidence,
and the integrity of your life[a] your hope?(D)
Consider: Who has perished when he was innocent?
Where have the honest[b] been destroyed?(E)
In my experience, those who plow injustice
and those who sow trouble(F) reap the same.(G)
They perish at a single blast(H) from God
and come to an end by the breath of his nostrils.(I)
10 The lion may roar and the fierce lion(J) growl,
but the teeth of young lions are broken.(K)
11 The strong lion dies if it catches no prey,
and the cubs of the lioness are scattered.(L)

12 A word was brought to me in secret;
my ears caught a whisper of it.(M)
13 Among unsettling thoughts from visions in the night,(N)
when deep sleep(O) comes over men,
14 fear and trembling came over me(P)
and made all my bones shake.
15 I felt a draft[c] on my face,
and the hair on my body stood up.
16 A figure stood there,
but I could not recognize its appearance;
a form loomed before my eyes.
I heard a whispering voice:
17 “Can a mortal be righteous before God?
Can a man be more pure than his Maker?” (Q)
18 If God puts no trust in his servants
and he charges his angels with foolishness,[d](R)
19 how much more those who dwell in clay houses,(S)
whose foundation is in the dust,
who are crushed like a moth!
20 They are smashed to pieces from dawn to dusk;
they perish forever while no one notices.(T)
21 Are their tent cords not pulled up?
They die without wisdom.(U)

Call out! Will anyone answer you?
Which of the holy ones(V) will you turn to?
For anger kills a fool,
and jealousy slays the gullible.(W)
I have seen a fool taking root,
but I immediately pronounced a curse on his home.
His children are far from safety.
They are crushed at the city gate,(X)
with no one to rescue them.
The hungry consume his harvest,
even taking it out of the thorns.[e]
The thirsty[f] pant for his children’s wealth.
For distress does not grow out of the soil,
and trouble does not sprout from the ground.
But humans are born for trouble(Y)
as surely as sparks fly upward.

However, if I were you, I would appeal to God
and would present my case to him.(Z)
He does great(AA) and unsearchable things,
wonders without number.(AB)
10 He gives rain to the earth
and sends water to the fields.(AC)
11 He sets the lowly on high,
and mourners are lifted to safety.(AD)
12 He frustrates the schemes of the crafty
so that they[g] achieve no success.
13 He traps the wise in their craftiness
so that the plans of the deceptive
are quickly brought to an end.(AE)
14 They encounter darkness by day,
and they grope at noon
as if it were night.(AF)
15 He saves the needy from their sharp words[h](AG)
and from the clutches of the powerful.
16 So the poor have hope,
and injustice shuts its mouth.(AH)
17 See how happy is the person whom God corrects;
so do not reject the discipline of the Almighty.
18 For he wounds but he also bandages;
he strikes, but his hands also heal.(AI)
19 He will rescue you from six calamities;
no harm will touch you in seven.
20 In famine he will redeem you from death,
and in battle, from the power of the sword.(AJ)
21 You will be safe from slander[i]
and not fear destruction when it comes.(AK)
22 You will laugh at destruction and hunger
and not fear the land’s wild creatures.
23 For you will have a covenant with the stones of the field,
and the wild animals will be at peace with you.(AL)
24 You will know that your tent is secure,(AM)
and nothing will be missing when you inspect your home.
25 You will also know that your offspring will be many
and your descendants like the grass of the earth.
26 You will approach the grave(AN) in full vigor,(AO)
as a stack of sheaves is gathered in its season.

27 We have investigated this, and it is true!
Hear it and understand it for yourself.

Job’s Reply to Eliphaz

Then Job answered:

If only my grief could be weighed
and my devastation(AP) placed with it on the scales.(AQ)
For then it would outweigh the sand of the seas!
That is why my words are rash.
Surely the arrows of the Almighty have pierced[j] me;
my spirit drinks their poison.
God’s terrors are arrayed against me.(AR)
Does a wild donkey bray over fresh grass
or an ox low over its fodder?
Is bland food eaten without salt?
Is there flavor in an egg white?[k]
I refuse to touch them;
they are like contaminated food.(AS)

If only my request would be granted
and God would provide what I hope for:
that he would decide to crush me,
to unleash his power and cut me off!
10 It would still bring me comfort,
and I would leap for joy in unrelenting pain
that I have not denied[l] the words of the Holy One.(AT)

11 What strength do I have, that I should continue to hope?
What is my future, that I should be patient?
12 Is my strength that of stone,
or my flesh made of bronze?
13 Since I cannot help myself,
the hope for success has been banished from me.

14 A despairing man should receive loyalty from his friends,[m](AU)
even if he abandons the fear of the Almighty.
15 My brothers are as treacherous as a wadi,
as seasonal streams that overflow
16 and become darkened[n] because of ice,
and the snow melts into them.
17 The wadis evaporate in warm weather;
they disappear from their channels in hot weather.
18 Caravans turn away from their routes,
go up into the desert, and perish.
19 The caravans of Tema look for these streams.
The traveling merchants of Sheba hope for them.
20 They are ashamed because they had been confident of finding water.
When they arrive there, they are disappointed.(AV)
21 So this is what you have now become to me.[o]
When you see something dreadful, you are afraid.
22 Have I ever said: “Give me something”
or “Pay a bribe for me from your wealth”
23 or “Deliver me from the enemy’s hand”
or “Redeem me from the hand of the ruthless”?

24 Teach me, and I will be silent.
Help me understand what I did wrong.
25 How painful honest words can be!
But what does your rebuke prove?
26 Do you think that you can disprove my words
or that a despairing man’s words are mere wind?(AW)
27 No doubt you would cast lots for a fatherless child
and negotiate a price to sell your friend.(AX)

28 But now, please look at me;
I will not lie to your face.(AY)
29 Reconsider; don’t be unjust.
Reconsider; my righteousness(AZ) is still the issue.
30 Is there injustice on my tongue
or can my palate not taste disaster?(BA)

Isn’t each person consigned to forced labor(BB) on earth?
Are not his days like those of a hired worker?
Like a slave he longs for shade;
like a hired worker he waits for his pay.
So I have been made to inherit months of futility,
and troubled nights have been assigned to me.(BC)
When I lie down I think,
“When will I get up?”
But the evening drags on endlessly,
and I toss and turn until dawn.
My flesh is clothed with maggots and encrusted with dirt.[p]
My skin forms scabs[q] and then oozes.(BD)

My days pass more swiftly than a weaver’s shuttle;
they come to an end without hope.(BE)
Remember that my life is but a breath.
My eye will never again see anything good.(BF)
The eye of anyone who looks on me
will no longer see me.
Your eyes will look for me, but I will be gone.(BG)
As a cloud fades away and vanishes,
so the one who goes down to Sheol(BH) will never rise again.
10 He will never return to his house;
his hometown will no longer remember[r] him.(BI)

11 Therefore I will not restrain my mouth.
I will speak in the anguish of my spirit;
I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.
12 Am I the sea[s](BJ) or a sea monster,(BK)
that you keep me under guard?
13 When I say, “My bed will comfort me,
and my couch will ease my complaint,”
14 then you frighten me with dreams,
and terrify me with visions,(BL)
15 so that I prefer strangling[t]
death rather than life in this body.[u](BM)
16 I give up! I will not live forever.
Leave me alone,(BN) for my days are a breath.[v]

17 What is a mere human, that you think so highly of him
and pay so much attention to him?(BO)
18 You inspect him every morning,
and put him to the test every moment.(BP)
19 Will you ever look away from me,
or leave me alone long enough to swallow?[w]
20 If I have sinned, what have I done to you,
Watcher of humanity?
Why have you made me your target,(BQ)
so that I have become a burden to you?[x]
21 Why not forgive my sin
and pardon my iniquity?(BR)
For soon I will lie down in the grave.(BS)
You will eagerly seek me, but I will be gone.(BT)

Footnotes:

  1. 4:6 Lit ways
  2. 4:7 Or the upright, or those with integrity
  3. 4:15 Or a spirit
  4. 4:18 Or error; Hb obscure
  5. 5:5 Hb obscure
  6. 5:5 Aq, Sym, Syr, Vg; MT reads snares
  7. 5:12 Lit their hands
  8. 5:15 Lit from the sword of their mouth; Ps 55:21; 59:7
  9. 5:21 Lit be hidden from the whip of the tongue
  10. 6:4 Lit Almighty are in
  11. 6:6 Hb obscure
  12. 6:10 Lit hidden
  13. 6:14 Lit To the despairing his friend loyalty
  14. 6:16 Or turbid
  15. 6:21 Alt Hb tradition reads So you have now become nothing
  16. 7:5 Or and dirty scabs
  17. 7:5 Lit skin hardens
  18. 7:10 Lit know
  19. 7:12 Or the sea god
  20. 7:15 Or suffocation
  21. 7:15 Lit than my bones
  22. 7:16 Or are futile
  23. 7:19 Lit swallow my saliva?
  24. 7:20 Alt Hb tradition, LXX; MT, Vg read myself

Cross references:

  1. 4:3 : Jb 26:2; Is 35:3; Heb 12:12
  2. 4:4 : Dt 3:28; Jb 16:15; Is 41:10
  3. 4:5 : Jb 5:19; 6:7; 19:21
  4. 4:6 : Jb 11:18; Ps 119:116; Jr 17:7
  5. 4:7 : Jb 8:20; Ps 37:25; Pr 12:21
  6. 4:8 : Jb 5:7; 15:35; Is 59:4
  7. 4:8 : Ps 7:15; Pr 22:8; Hs 8:7
  8. 4:9 : 2Sm 22:26; Jb 37:10; Is 30:33
  9. 4:9 : Ex 15:8-10; Ps 18:15; 2Th 2:8
  10. 4:10 : Ps 10:9; 17:12; 22:13,21
  11. 4:10 : Jb 29:17; Ps 3:7; 58:6
  12. 4:11 : Ps 59:11; Pr 20:8,20; Is 33:3
  13. 4:12 : Jb 13:1; 33:16; 36:10,15
  14. 4:13 : Jb 7:14; 20:8; 33:15
  15. 4:13 : Gn 2:21; 15:12; Jb 33:15
  16. 4:14 : Jb 21:6; Ps 55:5; 119:120
  17. 4:17 : Jb 15:14; 25:4; Pr 20:9
  18. 4:18 : Jb 15:15; 21:22; 25:5
  19. 4:19 : Jb 10:9; 33:6; Is 64:8
  20. 4:20 : Jb 14:2; 20:7; Ps 90:5-6
  21. 4:21 : Jb 36:12; Pr 5:23; 10:21
  22. 5:1 : Jb 15:15; Ps 89:5-7; Dn 4:17
  23. 5:2 : Pr 12:16; 14:18; 19:19
  24. 5:4 : Jb 31:21; Pr 22:22; Is 29:21
  25. 5:7 : Jb 4:8; 15:35; Is 59:4
  26. 5:8 : Jb 13:18; 23:4; Lm 3:59
  27. 5:9 : Jb 9:10; 37:5; Ps 71:19
  28. 5:9 : Jb 42:5; Ps 40:5; 72:18
  29. 5:10 : Jb 36:27-28; 38:26-28; Jr 14:22
  30. 5:11 : 1Sm 2:7; Ps 113:6-7; Mt 5:4
  31. 5:13 : Ps 9:15-16; Is 29:14; 1Co 3:19
  32. 5:14 : Dt 28:29; Jb 12:25; Is 59:10
  33. 5:15 : Ps 55:21; 59:7
  34. 5:16 : Ps 63:11; 107:42; Rm 3:19
  35. 5:18 : Dt 32:39; 1Sm 2:6; Hs 6:1
  36. 5:20 : Ps 33:19; 37:19; 144:10
  37. 5:21 : Ps 27:5; 31:20; 91:5
  38. 5:23 : Ps 91:12; Ezk 34:25; Hs 2:18
  39. 5:24 : Jb 8:6; 12:6; 21:9
  40. 5:26 : Jb 3:22; 10:19; 17:1
  41. 5:26 : Gn 15:15; 25:8; Jb 21:23
  42. 6:2 : Jb 30:13; Ps 57:1; Pr 19:13
  43. 6:2 : Jb 31:6; Dn 5:27; Mc 6:11
  44. 6:4 : Jb 30:15; Ps 38:2; 88:16
  45. 6:7 : Jb 3:24; 33:20; Ps 107:18
  46. 6:10 : Jb 22:22; 23:12; Ps 119:102
  47. 6:14 : Jb 19:21; Ps 38:11; Pr 17:17
  48. 6:20 : Jr 14:3; Jl 1:11; Am 4:8
  49. 6:26 : Jb 8:2; 15:2; 16:3
  50. 6:27 : Jl 3:3; Nah 3:10; 2Pt 2:3
  51. 6:28 : Jb 24:25; 27:4; 34:6
  52. 6:29 : Jb 2:3
  53. 6:30 : Jb 12:11; 27:4
  54. 7:1 : Jb 14:14; Is 40:2
  55. 7:3 : Jb 30:17; Ps 6:6; 42:3
  56. 7:5 : Dt 28:35; Ps 38:5; Is 1:6
  57. 7:6 : Jb 14:19; 17:15; 19:10
  58. 7:7 : Jb 9:25; Ps 78:39; Jms 4:14
  59. 7:8 : Jb 7:21; 20:9; Ps 37:36
  60. 7:9 : Jb 11:8; 14:13; 17:13,16
  61. 7:10 : Jb 8:18; 20:9; Ps 103:16
  62. 7:12 : Jb 26:12; Ps 74:13
  63. 7:12 : Ps 148:7; Is 27:1; Ezk 32:2
  64. 7:14 : Jb 4:13; 20:8; 33:15
  65. 7:15 : 1Kg 19:4; Jb 3:21; Jnh 4:3
  66. 7:16 : Jb 7:19; 10:20; Ps 39:13
  67. 7:17 : Ps 8:4; 144:3; Heb 2:6
  68. 7:18 : Ps 17:3; 73:14; 139:23
  69. 7:20 : Jb 16:12; Lm 3:12
  70. 7:21 : Jb 11:6; 13:23; 15:5
  71. 7:21 : Jb 17:16; 20:11; Is 26:19
  72. 7:21 : Jb 3:13; 7:8; Ps 37:36
Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.

1 Corinthians 14:18-40

18 I thank(A) God that I speak in other tongues more than all of you; 19 yet in the church I would rather speak five words(B) with my understanding, in order to teach others also, than ten thousand words in another tongue.

20 Brothers and sisters, don’t be childish in your thinking, but be infants in regard to evil and adult in your thinking.(C) 21 It is written in the law,

I will speak to this people
by people of other tongues
and by the lips of foreigners,
and even then, they will not listen to me,[a](D)

says the Lord. 22 Speaking in other tongues, then, is intended as a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers, while prophecy is not for unbelievers but for believers. 23 If, therefore, the whole church assembles together and all are speaking in other tongues and people who are outsiders or unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your minds? 24 But if all are prophesying and some unbeliever or outsider comes in, he is convicted by all and is called to account by all. 25 The secrets of his heart will be revealed, and as a result he will fall facedown and worship God, proclaiming, “God is really among you.”(E)

Order in Church Meetings

26 What then, brothers and sisters? Whenever you come together, each one[b] has a hymn, a teaching, a revelation, another tongue, or an interpretation.(F) Everything is to be done for building up. 27 If anyone speaks in another tongue, there are to be only two, or at the most three, each in turn, and let someone interpret. 28 But if there is no interpreter, that person is to keep silent in the church and speak to himself and God. 29 Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should evaluate.(G) 30 But if something has been revealed to another person sitting there, the first prophet should be silent. 31 For you can all prophesy one by one, so that everyone may learn and everyone may be encouraged.(H) 32 And the prophets’ spirits are subject to the prophets, 33 since God is not a God of disorder but of peace.

As in all the churches of the saints,(I) 34 the women[c] should be silent in the churches,(J) for they are not permitted to speak, but are to submit themselves, as the law also says. 35 If they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands(K) at home, since it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church. 36 Or did the word of God originate from you, or did it come to you only?

37 If anyone thinks he is a prophet or spiritual, he should recognize that what I write to you is the Lord’s command. 38 If anyone ignores this, he will be ignored.[d] 39 So then, my brothers and sisters, be eager(L) to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in other tongues. 40 But everything is to be done decently(M) and in order.

Footnotes:

  1. 14:21 Is 28:11-12
  2. 14:26 Other mss add of you
  3. 14:34 Other mss read your women
  4. 14:38 Other mss read he should be ignored
Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.

Psalm 37:30-40

30 The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom;
his tongue speaks what is just.(A)
31 The instruction of his God is in his heart;
his steps do not falter.(B)

32 The wicked one lies in wait for the righteous
and intends to kill him;(C)
33 the Lord will not leave him
in the power of the wicked one
or allow him to be condemned when he is judged.(D)

34 Wait for the Lord and keep his way,
and he will exalt you to inherit the land.
You will watch when the wicked are destroyed.(E)

35 I have seen a wicked, violent person
well-rooted,[a] like a flourishing native tree.(F)
36 Then I[b] passed by and noticed he was gone;
I searched for him, but he could not be found.(G)

37 Watch the blameless and observe the upright,
for the person of peace will have a future.[c](H)
38 But transgressors will all be eliminated;
the future of the wicked will be destroyed.(I)

39 The salvation of the righteous is from the Lord,
their refuge in a time of distress.(J)
40 The Lord helps and delivers them;
he will deliver them from the wicked and will save them
because they take refuge in him.(K)

Footnotes:

  1. 37:35 Hb obscure
  2. 37:36 LXX, Syr, Vg, Jer; MT reads he
  3. 37:37 Or posterity, also in v. 38
Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.

Proverbs 21:27

27 The sacrifice of a wicked person is detestable—
how much more so
when he brings it with ulterior motives!(A)

Cross references:

  1. 21:27 : Pr 15:8; 28:9; Is 66:3
Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.