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September 3, 2021

The Daily Audio Bible Reading for Friday September 3, 2021 (NIV)

Ecclesiastes 4-6

Oppression, Toil, Friendlessness

4 Again I looked and saw all the oppression^(A) that was taking place under the sun:

I saw the tears of the oppressed—
and they have no comforter;
power was on the side of their oppressors—
and they have no comforter.^(B)
²And I declared that the dead,^(C)
who had already died,
are happier than the living,
who are still alive.^(D)
³But better than both
is the one who has never been born,^(E)
who has not seen the evil
that is done under the sun.^(F)

⁴And I saw that all toil and all achievement spring from one person’s envy of another. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.^(G)

⁵Fools fold their hands^(H)
and ruin themselves.
⁶Better one handful with tranquillity
than two handfuls with toil^(I)
and chasing after the wind.

⁷Again I saw something meaningless under the sun:

⁸There was a man all alone;
he had neither son nor brother.
There was no end to his toil,
yet his eyes were not content^(J) with his wealth.
“For whom am I toiling,” he asked,
“and why am I depriving myself of enjoyment?”
This too is meaningless—
a miserable business!

⁹Two are better than one,
because they have a good return for their labor:
¹⁰If either of them falls down,
one can help the other up.
But pity anyone who falls
and has no one to help them up.
¹¹Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.
But how can one keep warm alone?
¹²Though one may be overpowered,
two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

Advancement Is Meaningless

¹³Better a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer knows how to heed a warning. ¹⁴The youth may have come from prison to the kingship, or he may have been born in poverty within his kingdom. ¹⁵I saw that all who lived and walked under the sun followed the youth, the king’s successor. ¹⁶There was no end to all the people who were before them. But those who came later were not pleased with the successor. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.

Fulfill Your Vow to God

5 ^[a]Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong.

²Do not be quick with your mouth,
do not be hasty in your heart
to utter anything before God.^(K)
God is in heaven
and you are on earth,
so let your words be few.^(L)
³A dream^(M) comes when there are many cares,
and many words mark the speech of a fool.^(N)

⁴When you make a vow to God, do not delay to fulfill it.^(O) He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow.^(P) ⁵It is better not to make a vow than to make one and not fulfill it.^(Q) ⁶Do not let your mouth lead you into sin. And do not protest to the temple messenger, “My vow was a mistake.” Why should God be angry at what you say and destroy the work of your hands? ⁷Much dreaming and many words are meaningless. Therefore fear God.^(R)

Riches Are Meaningless

⁸If you see the poor oppressed^(S) in a district, and justice and rights denied, do not be surprised at such things; for one official is eyed by a higher one, and over them both are others higher still. ⁹The increase from the land is taken by all; the king himself profits from the fields.

¹⁰Whoever loves money never has enough;
whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income.
This too is meaningless.

¹¹As goods increase,
so do those who consume them.
And what benefit are they to the owners
except to feast their eyes on them?

¹²The sleep of a laborer is sweet,
whether they eat little or much,
but as for the rich, their abundance
permits them no sleep.^(T)

¹³I have seen a grievous evil under the sun:^(U)

wealth hoarded to the harm of its owners,
¹⁴or wealth lost through some misfortune,
so that when they have children
there is nothing left for them to inherit.
¹⁵Everyone comes naked from their mother’s womb,
and as everyone comes, so they depart.^(V)
They take nothing from their toil^(W)
that they can carry in their hands.^(X)

¹⁶This too is a grievous evil:

As everyone comes, so they depart,
and what do they gain,
since they toil for the wind?^(Y)
¹⁷All their days they eat in darkness,
with great frustration, affliction and anger.

¹⁸This is what I have observed to be good: that it is appropriate for a person to eat, to drink^(Z) and to find satisfaction in their toilsome labor^(AA) under the sun during the few days of life God has given them—for this is their lot. ¹⁹Moreover, when God gives someone wealth and possessions,^(AB) and the ability to enjoy them,^(AC) to accept their lot^(AD) and be happy in their toil—this is a gift of God.^(AE) ²⁰They seldom reflect on the days of their life, because God keeps them occupied with gladness of heart.^(AF)

6 I have seen another evil under the sun, and it weighs heavily on mankind: ²God gives some people wealth, possessions and honor, so that they lack nothing their hearts desire, but God does not grant them the ability to enjoy them,^(AG) and strangers enjoy them instead. This is meaningless, a grievous evil.^(AH)

³A man may have a hundred children and live many years; yet no matter how long he lives, if he cannot enjoy his prosperity and does not receive proper burial, I say that a stillborn^(AI) child is better off than he.^(AJ) ⁴It comes without meaning, it departs in darkness, and in darkness its name is shrouded. ⁵Though it never saw the sun or knew anything, it has more rest than does that man— ⁶even if he lives a thousand years twice over but fails to enjoy his prosperity. Do not all go to the same place?^(AK)

⁷Everyone’s toil is for their mouth,
yet their appetite is never satisfied.^(AL)
⁸What advantage have the wise over fools?^(AM)
What do the poor gain
by knowing how to conduct themselves before others?
⁹Better what the eye sees
than the roving of the appetite.
This too is meaningless,
a chasing after the wind.^(AN)

¹⁰Whatever exists has already been named,^(AO)
and what humanity is has been known;
no one can contend
with someone who is stronger.
¹¹The more the words,
the less the meaning,
and how does that profit anyone?

¹²For who knows what is good for a person in life, during the few and meaningless days^(AP) they pass through like a shadow?^(AQ) Who can tell them what will happen under the sun after they are gone?

Footnotes:

Ecclesiastes 5:1 In Hebrew texts 5:1 is numbered 4:17, and 5:2-20 is numbered 5:1-19.

Cross references:

New International Version (NIV)

2 Corinthians 6:14-7:7

Warning Against Idolatry

¹⁴Do not be yoked together^(A) with unbelievers.^(B) For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?^(C) ¹⁵What harmony is there between Christ and Belial^[a]?^(D) Or what does a believer^(E) have in common with an unbeliever?^(F) ¹⁶What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols?^(G) For we are the temple^(H) of the living God.^(I) As God has said:

“I will live with them
and walk among them,
and I will be their God,
and they will be my people.”^[b]^(J)

¹⁷Therefore,

“Come out from them^(K)
and be separate,
says the Lord.
Touch no unclean thing,
and I will receive you.”^[c]^(L)

¹⁸And,

“I will be a Father to you,
and you will be my sons and daughters,^(M)
says the Lord Almighty.”^[d]^(N)

7 Therefore, since we have these promises,^(O) dear friends,^(P) let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness^(Q) out of reverence for God.

Paul’s Joy Over the Church’s Repentance

²Make room for us in your hearts.^(R) We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have exploited no one. ³I do not say this to condemn you; I have said before that you have such a place in our hearts^(S) that we would live or die with you. ⁴I have spoken to you with great frankness; I take great pride in you.^(T) I am greatly encouraged;^(U) in all our troubles my joy knows no bounds.^(V)

⁵For when we came into Macedonia,^(W) we had no rest, but we were harassed at every turn^(X)—conflicts on the outside, fears within.^(Y) ⁶But God, who comforts the downcast,^(Z) comforted us by the coming of Titus,^(AA) ⁷and not only by his coming but also by the comfort you had given him. He told us about your longing for me, your deep sorrow, your ardent concern for me, so that my joy was greater than ever.

Footnotes:

2 Corinthians 6:15 Greek Beliar, a variant of Belial
2 Corinthians 6:16 Lev. 26:12; Jer. 32:38; Ezek. 37:27
2 Corinthians 6:17 Isaiah 52:11; Ezek. 20:34,41
2 Corinthians 6:18 2 Samuel 7:14; 7:8

Cross references:

New International Version (NIV)

Psalm 47

Psalm 47^[a]

For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm.

¹Clap your hands,^(A) all you nations;
shout to God with cries of joy.^(B)

²For the Lord Most High^(C) is awesome,^(D)
the great King^(E) over all the earth.
³He subdued^(F) nations under us,
peoples under our feet.
⁴He chose our inheritance^(G) for us,
the pride of Jacob,^(H) whom he loved.^[b]

⁵God has ascended^(I) amid shouts of joy,^(J)
the Lord amid the sounding of trumpets.^(K)
⁶Sing praises^(L) to God, sing praises;
sing praises to our King, sing praises.
⁷For God is the King of all the earth;^(M)
sing to him a psalm^(N) of praise.

⁸God reigns^(O) over the nations;
God is seated on his holy throne.^(P)
⁹The nobles of the nations assemble
as the people of the God of Abraham,
for the kings^[c] of the earth belong to God;^(Q)
he is greatly exalted.^(R)

Footnotes:

Psalm 47:1 In Hebrew texts 47:1-9 is numbered 47:2-10.
Psalm 47:4 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.
Psalm 47:9 Or shields

New International Version (NIV)

Proverbs 22:16

¹⁶One who oppresses the poor to increase his wealth
and one who gives gifts to the rich—both come to poverty.

New International Version (NIV)

September 2, 2021

The Daily Audio Bible Reading for Thursday September 2, 2021 (NIV)

Ecclesiastes 1-3

Everything Is Meaningless

1 The words of the Teacher,^[a]^(A) son of David, king in Jerusalem:^(B)

²“Meaningless! Meaningless!”
says the Teacher.
“Utterly meaningless!
Everything is meaningless.”^(C)

³What do people gain from all their labors
at which they toil under the sun?^(D)
⁴Generations come and generations go,
but the earth remains forever.^(E)
⁵The sun rises and the sun sets,
and hurries back to where it rises.^(F)
⁶The wind blows to the south
and turns to the north;
round and round it goes,
ever returning on its course.
⁷All streams flow into the sea,
yet the sea is never full.
To the place the streams come from,
there they return again.^(G)
⁸All things are wearisome,
more than one can say.
The eye never has enough of seeing,^(H)
nor the ear its fill of hearing.
⁹What has been will be again,
what has been done will be done again;^(I)
there is nothing new under the sun.
¹⁰Is there anything of which one can say,
“Look! This is something new”?
It was here already, long ago;
it was here before our time.
¹¹No one remembers the former generations,^(J)
and even those yet to come
will not be remembered
by those who follow them.^(K)

Wisdom Is Meaningless

¹²I, the Teacher,^(L) was king over Israel in Jerusalem.^(M) ¹³I applied my mind to study and to explore by wisdom all that is done under the heavens.^(N) What a heavy burden God has laid on mankind!^(O) ¹⁴I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind.^(P)

¹⁵What is crooked cannot be straightened;^(Q)
what is lacking cannot be counted.

¹⁶I said to myself, “Look, I have increased in wisdom more than anyone who has ruled over Jerusalem before me;^(R) I have experienced much of wisdom and knowledge.” ¹⁷Then I applied myself to the understanding of wisdom,^(S) and also of madness and folly,^(T) but I learned that this, too, is a chasing after the wind.

¹⁸For with much wisdom comes much sorrow;^(U)
the more knowledge, the more grief.^(V)

Pleasures Are Meaningless

2 I said to myself, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure^(W) to find out what is good.” But that also proved to be meaningless. ²“Laughter,”^(X) I said, “is madness. And what does pleasure accomplish?” ³I tried cheering myself with wine,^(Y) and embracing folly^(Z)—my mind still guiding me with wisdom. I wanted to see what was good for people to do under the heavens during the few days of their lives.

⁴I undertook great projects: I built houses for myself^(AA) and planted vineyards.^(AB) ⁵I made gardens and parks and planted all kinds of fruit trees in them. ⁶I made reservoirs to water groves of flourishing trees. ⁷I bought male and female slaves and had other slaves^(AC) who were born in my house. I also owned more herds and flocks than anyone in Jerusalem before me. ⁸I amassed silver and gold^(AD) for myself, and the treasure of kings and provinces.^(AE) I acquired male and female singers,^(AF) and a harem^[b] as well—the delights of a man’s heart. ⁹I became greater by far than anyone in Jerusalem^(AG) before me.^(AH) In all this my wisdom stayed with me.

¹⁰I denied myself nothing my eyes desired;
I refused my heart no pleasure.
My heart took delight in all my labor,
and this was the reward for all my toil.
¹¹Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done
and what I had toiled to achieve,
everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind;^(AI)
nothing was gained under the sun.^(AJ)

Wisdom and Folly Are Meaningless

¹²Then I turned my thoughts to consider wisdom,
and also madness and folly.^(AK)
What more can the king’s successor do
than what has already been done?^(AL)
¹³I saw that wisdom^(AM) is better than folly,^(AN)
just as light is better than darkness.
¹⁴The wise have eyes in their heads,
while the fool walks in the darkness;
but I came to realize
that the same fate overtakes them both.^(AO)

¹⁵Then I said to myself,

“The fate of the fool will overtake me also.
What then do I gain by being wise?”^(AP)
I said to myself,
“This too is meaningless.”
¹⁶For the wise, like the fool, will not be long remembered;^(AQ)
the days have already come when both have been forgotten.^(AR)
Like the fool, the wise too must die!^(AS)

Toil Is Meaningless

¹⁷So I hated life, because the work that is done under the sun was grievous to me. All of it is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.^(AT) ¹⁸I hated all the things I had toiled for under the sun, because I must leave them to the one who comes after me.^(AU) ¹⁹And who knows whether that person will be wise or foolish?^(AV) Yet they will have control over all the fruit of my toil into which I have poured my effort and skill under the sun. This too is meaningless. ²⁰So my heart began to despair over all my toilsome labor under the sun. ²¹For a person may labor with wisdom, knowledge and skill, and then they must leave all they own to another who has not toiled for it. This too is meaningless and a great misfortune. ²²What do people get for all the toil and anxious striving with which they labor under the sun?^(AW) ²³All their days their work is grief and pain;^(AX) even at night their minds do not rest.^(AY) This too is meaningless.

²⁴A person can do nothing better than to eat and drink^(AZ) and find satisfaction in their own toil.^(BA) This too, I see, is from the hand of God,^(BB) ²⁵for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment?^(BC) ²⁶To the person who pleases him, God gives wisdom,^(BD) knowledge and happiness, but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering and storing up wealth^(BE) to hand it over to the one who pleases God.^(BF) This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.

A Time for Everything

3 There is a time^(BG) for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:

²a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,^(BH)
³a time to kill^(BI) and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
⁴a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
⁵a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
⁶a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
⁷a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent^(BJ) and a time to speak,
⁸a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.

⁹What do workers gain from their toil?^(BK) ¹⁰I have seen the burden God has laid on the human race.^(BL) ¹¹He has made everything beautiful in its time.^(BM) He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet^[c] no one can fathom^(BN) what God has done from beginning to end.^(BO) ¹²I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. ¹³That each of them may eat and drink,^(BP) and find satisfaction^(BQ) in all their toil—this is the gift of God.^(BR) ¹⁴I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that people will fear him.^(BS)

¹⁵Whatever is has already been,^(BT)
and what will be has been before;^(BU)
and God will call the past to account.^[d]

¹⁶And I saw something else under the sun:

In the place of judgment—wickedness was there,
in the place of justice—wickedness was there.

¹⁷I said to myself,

“God will bring into judgment^(BV)
both the righteous and the wicked,
for there will be a time for every activity,
a time to judge every deed.”^(BW)

¹⁸I also said to myself, “As for humans, God tests them so that they may see that they are like the animals.^(BX) ¹⁹Surely the fate of human beings^(BY) is like that of the animals; the same fate awaits them both: As one dies, so dies the other. All have the same breath^[e]; humans have no advantage over animals. Everything is meaningless. ²⁰All go to the same place; all come from dust, and to dust all return.^(BZ) ²¹Who knows if the human spirit rises upward^(CA) and if the spirit of the animal goes down into the earth?”

²²So I saw that there is nothing better for a person than to enjoy their work,^(CB) because that is their lot.^(CC) For who can bring them to see what will happen after them?

Footnotes:

Ecclesiastes 1:1 Or the leader of the assembly; also in verses 2 and 12
Ecclesiastes 2:8 The meaning of the Hebrew for this phrase is uncertain.
Ecclesiastes 3:11 Or also placed ignorance in the human heart, so that
Ecclesiastes 3:15 Or God calls back the past
Ecclesiastes 3:19 Or spirit

Cross references:

New International Version (NIV)

2 Corinthians 6:1-13

6 As God’s co-workers^(A) we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain.^(B) ²For he says,

“In the time of my favor I heard you,
and in the day of salvation I helped you.”^[a]^(C)

I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.

Paul’s Hardships

³We put no stumbling block in anyone’s path,^(D) so that our ministry will not be discredited. ⁴Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; ⁵in beatings, imprisonments^(E) and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger;^(F) ⁶in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit^(G) and in sincere love;^(H) ⁷in truthful speech^(I) and in the power of God;^(J) with weapons of righteousness^(K) in the right hand and in the left; ⁸through glory and dishonor,^(L) bad report^(M) and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors;^(N) ⁹known, yet regarded as unknown; dying,^(O) and yet we live on;^(P) beaten, and yet not killed; ¹⁰sorrowful, yet always rejoicing;^(Q) poor, yet making many rich;^(R) having nothing,^(S) and yet possessing everything.^(T)

¹¹We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians, and opened wide our hearts to you.^(U) ¹²We are not withholding our affection from you, but you are withholding yours from us. ¹³As a fair exchange—I speak as to my children^(V)—open wide your hearts^(W) also.

Footnotes:

2 Corinthians 6:2 Isaiah 49:8

Cross references:

New International Version (NIV)

Psalm 46

Psalm 46^[a]

For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. According to alamoth.^[b] A song.

¹God is our refuge^(A) and strength,^(B)
an ever-present^(C) help^(D) in trouble.^(E)
²Therefore we will not fear,^(F) though the earth give way^(G)
and the mountains fall^(H) into the heart of the sea,^(I)
³though its waters roar^(J) and foam^(K)
and the mountains quake^(L) with their surging.^[c]

⁴There is a river^(M) whose streams^(N) make glad the city of God,^(O)
the holy place where the Most High^(P) dwells.^(Q)
⁵God is within her,^(R) she will not fall;^(S)
God will help^(T) her at break of day.
⁶Nations^(U) are in uproar,^(V) kingdoms^(W) fall;
he lifts his voice,^(X) the earth melts.^(Y)

⁷The Lord Almighty^(Z) is with us;^(AA)
the God of Jacob^(AB) is our fortress.^(AC)

⁸Come and see what the Lord has done,^(AD)
the desolations^(AE) he has brought on the earth.
⁹He makes wars^(AF) cease
to the ends of the earth.
He breaks the bow^(AG) and shatters the spear;
he burns the shields^[d] with fire.^(AH)
¹⁰He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;^(AI)
I will be exalted^(AJ) among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.”

¹¹The Lord Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob^(AK) is our fortress.^(AL)

Footnotes:

Psalm 46:1 In Hebrew texts 46:1-11 is numbered 46:2-12.
Psalm 46:1 Title: Probably a musical term
Psalm 46:3 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verses 7 and 11.
Psalm 46:9 Or chariots

Cross references:

New International Version (NIV)

Proverbs 22:15

¹⁵Folly is bound up in the heart of a child,
but the rod of discipline will drive it far away.^(A)

Cross references:

Proverbs 22:15 : S Pr 13:24; S 20:30

New International Version (NIV)

September 1, 2021

The Daily Audio Bible Reading for Wednesday September 1, 2021 (NIV)

Job 40-42

40 The Lord said to Job:^(A)

²“Will the one who contends with the Almighty^(B) correct him?^(C)
Let him who accuses God answer him!”^(D)

³Then Job answered the Lord:

⁴“I am unworthy^(E)—how can I reply to you?
I put my hand over my mouth.^(F)
⁵I spoke once, but I have no answer^(G)—
twice, but I will say no more.”^(H)

⁶Then the Lord spoke to Job out of the storm:^(I)

⁷“Brace yourself like a man;
I will question you,
and you shall answer me.^(J)

⁸“Would you discredit my justice?^(K)
Would you condemn me to justify yourself?^(L)
⁹Do you have an arm like God’s,^(M)
and can your voice^(N) thunder like his?^(O)
¹⁰Then adorn yourself with glory and splendor,
and clothe yourself in honor and majesty.^(P)
¹¹Unleash the fury of your wrath,^(Q)
look at all who are proud and bring them low,^(R)
¹²look at all who are proud^(S) and humble them,^(T)
crush^(U) the wicked where they stand.
¹³Bury them all in the dust together;^(V)
shroud their faces in the grave.^(W)
¹⁴Then I myself will admit to you
that your own right hand can save you.^(X)

¹⁵“Look at Behemoth,
which I made^(Y) along with you
and which feeds on grass like an ox.^(Z)
¹⁶What strength^(AA) it has in its loins,
what power in the muscles of its belly!^(AB)
¹⁷Its tail sways like a cedar;
the sinews of its thighs are close-knit.^(AC)
¹⁸Its bones are tubes of bronze,
its limbs^(AD) like rods of iron.^(AE)
¹⁹It ranks first among the works of God,^(AF)
yet its Maker^(AG) can approach it with his sword.^(AH)
²⁰The hills bring it their produce,^(AI)
and all the wild animals play^(AJ) nearby.^(AK)
²¹Under the lotus plants it lies,
hidden among the reeds^(AL) in the marsh.^(AM)
²²The lotuses conceal it in their shadow;
the poplars by the stream^(AN) surround it.
²³A raging river^(AO) does not alarm it;
it is secure, though the Jordan^(AP) should surge against its mouth.
²⁴Can anyone capture it by the eyes,
or trap it and pierce its nose?^(AQ)

41 ^[a]“Can you pull in Leviathan^(AR) with a fishhook^(AS)
or tie down its tongue with a rope?
²Can you put a cord through its nose^(AT)
or pierce its jaw with a hook?^(AU)
³Will it keep begging you for mercy?^(AV)
Will it speak to you with gentle words?
⁴Will it make an agreement with you
for you to take it as your slave for life?^(AW)
⁵Can you make a pet of it like a bird
or put it on a leash for the young women in your house?
⁶Will traders barter for it?
Will they divide it up among the merchants?
⁷Can you fill its hide with harpoons
or its head with fishing spears?^(AX)
⁸If you lay a hand on it,
you will remember the struggle and never do it again!^(AY)
⁹Any hope of subduing it is false;
the mere sight of it is overpowering.^(AZ)
¹⁰No one is fierce enough to rouse it.^(BA)
Who then is able to stand against me?^(BB)
¹¹Who has a claim against me that I must pay?^(BC)
Everything under heaven belongs to me.^(BD)

¹²“I will not fail to speak of Leviathan’s limbs,^(BE)
its strength^(BF) and its graceful form.
¹³Who can strip off its outer coat?
Who can penetrate its double coat of armor^[b]?^(BG)
¹⁴Who dares open the doors of its mouth,^(BH)
ringed about with fearsome teeth?
¹⁵Its back has^[c] rows of shields
tightly sealed together;^(BI)
¹⁶each is so close to the next
that no air can pass between.
¹⁷They are joined fast to one another;
they cling together and cannot be parted.
¹⁸Its snorting throws out flashes of light;
its eyes are like the rays of dawn.^(BJ)
¹⁹Flames^(BK) stream from its mouth;
sparks of fire shoot out.
²⁰Smoke pours from its nostrils^(BL)
as from a boiling pot over burning reeds.
²¹Its breath^(BM) sets coals ablaze,
and flames dart from its mouth.^(BN)
²²Strength^(BO) resides in its neck;
dismay goes before it.
²³The folds of its flesh are tightly joined;
they are firm and immovable.
²⁴Its chest is hard as rock,
hard as a lower millstone.^(BP)
²⁵When it rises up, the mighty are terrified;^(BQ)
they retreat before its thrashing.^(BR)
²⁶The sword that reaches it has no effect,
nor does the spear or the dart or the javelin.^(BS)
²⁷Iron it treats like straw^(BT)
and bronze like rotten wood.
²⁸Arrows do not make it flee;^(BU)
slingstones are like chaff to it.
²⁹A club seems to it but a piece of straw;^(BV)
it laughs^(BW) at the rattling of the lance.
³⁰Its undersides are jagged potsherds,
leaving a trail in the mud like a threshing sledge.^(BX)
³¹It makes the depths churn like a boiling caldron^(BY)
and stirs up the sea like a pot of ointment.^(BZ)
³²It leaves a glistening wake behind it;
one would think the deep had white hair.
³³Nothing on earth is its equal^(CA)—
a creature without fear.
³⁴It looks down on all that are haughty;^(CB)
it is king over all that are proud.^(CC)”

Job

42 Then Job replied to the Lord:

²“I know that you can do all things;^(CD)
no purpose of yours can be thwarted.^(CE)
³You asked, ‘Who is this that obscures my plans without knowledge?’^(CF)
Surely I spoke of things I did not understand,
things too wonderful for me to know.^(CG)

⁴“You said, ‘Listen now, and I will speak;
I will question you,
and you shall answer me.’^(CH)
⁵My ears had heard of you^(CI)
but now my eyes have seen you.^(CJ)
⁶Therefore I despise myself^(CK)
and repent^(CL) in dust and ashes.”^(CM)

Epilogue

⁷After the Lord had said these things to Job^(CN), he said to Eliphaz the Temanite, “I am angry with you and your two friends,^(CO) because you have not spoken the truth about me, as my servant Job has.^(CP) ⁸So now take seven bulls and seven rams^(CQ) and go to my servant Job^(CR) and sacrifice a burnt offering^(CS) for yourselves. My servant Job will pray for you, and I will accept his prayer^(CT) and not deal with you according to your folly.^(CU) You have not spoken the truth about me, as my servant Job has.”^(CV) ⁹So Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite^(CW) did what the Lord told them; and the Lord accepted Job’s prayer.^(CX)

¹⁰After Job had prayed for his friends, the Lord restored his fortunes^(CY) and gave him twice as much as he had before.^(CZ) ¹¹All his brothers and sisters and everyone who had known him before^(DA) came and ate with him in his house. They comforted and consoled him over all the trouble the Lord had brought on him,^(DB) and each one gave him a piece of silver^[d] and a gold ring.

¹²The Lord blessed the latter part of Job’s life more than the former part. He had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, a thousand yoke of oxen and a thousand donkeys. ¹³And he also had seven sons and three daughters. ¹⁴The first daughter he named Jemimah, the second Keziah and the third Keren-Happuch. ¹⁵Nowhere in all the land were there found women as beautiful as Job’s daughters, and their father granted them an inheritance along with their brothers.

¹⁶After this, Job lived a hundred and forty years; he saw his children and their children to the fourth generation. ¹⁷And so Job died, an old man and full of years.^(DC)

Footnotes:

Job 41:1 In Hebrew texts 41:1-8 is numbered 40:25-32, and 41:9-34 is numbered 41:1-26.
Job 41:13 Septuagint; Hebrew double bridle
Job 41:15 Or Its pride is its
Job 42:11 Hebrew him a kesitah; a kesitah was a unit of money of unknown weight and value.

Cross references:

Job 40:1 : S Job 5:8; S 10:2
Job 40:2 : S Job 13:3
Job 40:2 : S Job 9:15; S 11:8; S 33:13; Ro 9:20
Job 40:2 : S Job 9:3
Job 40:4 : Job 42:6
Job 40:4 : S Jdg 18:19; S Job 29:9
Job 40:5 : S Job 9:3
Job 40:5 : S Job 9:15
Job 40:6 : S Ex 14:21; S Job 38:1
Job 40:7 : S Job 38:3
Job 40:8 : S Job 15:25; S 27:2; Ro 3:3
Job 40:8 : S Job 2:3; S 34:17
Job 40:9 : S 2Ch 32:8; S Ps 98:1
Job 40:9 : Isa 6:8; Eze 10:5
Job 40:9 : S Ex 20:19; S Job 36:33
Job 40:10 : Ps 29:1-2; 45:3; 93:1; 96:6; 104:1; 145:5
Job 40:11 : S Job 20:28; Ps 7:11; Isa 5:25; 9:12, 19; 10:5; 13:3, 5; 30:27; 42:25; 51:20; Jer 7:20; Na 1:6; Zep 1:18
Job 40:11 : Ps 18:27; Isa 2:11, 12, 17; 23:9; 24:10; 25:12; 26:5; 32:19
Job 40:12 : Ps 10:4; Isa 25:11; Jer 48:29; 49:16; Zep 2:10
Job 40:12 : S 1Sa 2:7; S Ps 52:5; 1Pe 5:5
Job 40:12 : Ps 60:12; Isa 22:5; 28:3; 63:2-3, 6; Da 5:20; Mic 5:8; 7:10; Zec 10:5; Mal 4:3
Job 40:13 : Nu 16:31-34
Job 40:13 : S Job 4:9
Job 40:14 : Ex 15:6, 12; Ps 18:35; 20:6; 48:10; 60:5; 108:6; Isa 41:10; 63:5
Job 40:15 : S Job 9:9
Job 40:15 : Isa 11:7; 65:25
Job 40:16 : S Job 39:11
Job 40:16 : Job 41:9
Job 40:17 : Job 41:15
Job 40:18 : Job 41:12
Job 40:18 : Isa 11:4; 49:2
Job 40:19 : Job 41:33; Ps 40:5; 139:14; Isa 27:1
Job 40:19 : S Job 4:17; S 9:9
Job 40:19 : S Ge 3:24
Job 40:20 : Ps 104:14
Job 40:20 : Ps 104:26
Job 40:20 : S Job 5:23
Job 40:21 : S Ge 41:2; Ps 68:30; Isa 35:7
Job 40:21 : Job 8:11
Job 40:22 : Ps 1:3; Isa 44:4
Job 40:23 : Isa 8:7; 11:15
Job 40:23 : S Jos 3:1
Job 40:24 : 2Ki 19:28; Job 41:2, 7, 26; Isa 37:29
Job 41:1 : S Job 3:8
Job 41:1 : Am 4:2
Job 41:2 : S Job 40:24
Job 41:2 : Eze 19:4
Job 41:3 : 1Ki 20:31
Job 41:4 : S Ex 21:6
Job 41:7 : S Job 40:24
Job 41:8 : S Job 3:8
Job 41:9 : Job 40:16
Job 41:10 : S Job 3:8
Job 41:10 : S 2Ch 20:6; S Isa 46:5; Jer 50:44; Rev 6:17
Job 41:11 : S Job 34:33; Ro 11:35
Job 41:11 : Ps 24:1; 50:12; S Jos 3:11; S Job 10:4; Ac 4:24; 1Co 10:26
Job 41:12 : Job 40:18
Job 41:12 : S Job 39:11
Job 41:13 : S Job 30:11; S 39:10
Job 41:14 : Ps 22:13
Job 41:15 : Job 40:17
Job 41:18 : S Job 3:9
Job 41:19 : Da 10:6
Job 41:20 : Ps 18:8
Job 41:21 : S Job 4:9; Isa 11:4; 40:7
Job 41:21 : Ps 18:8; Isa 10:17; 30:27; 33:14; 66:14-16; Jer 4:4
Job 41:22 : S Job 39:11
Job 41:24 : Mt 18:6
Job 41:25 : Job 39:20
Job 41:25 : S Job 3:8
Job 41:26 : S Jos 8:18; S Job 40:24
Job 41:27 : ver 29
Job 41:28 : Ps 91:5
Job 41:29 : ver 27
Job 41:29 : S Job 5:22
Job 41:30 : Isa 28:27; 41:15; Am 1:3
Job 41:31 : 1Sa 2:14
Job 41:31 : Eze 32:2
Job 41:33 : S Job 40:19
Job 41:34 : Ps 18:27; 101:5; 131:1; Pr 6:17; 21:4; 30:13
Job 41:34 : Job 28:8
Job 42:2 : S Ge 18:14; S Mt 19:26
Job 42:2 : S 2Ch 20:6; S Job 16:19; Ac 4:28; Eph 1:11
Job 42:3 : S Job 34:35
Job 42:3 : S Job 5:9
Job 42:4 : S Job 38:3
Job 42:5 : S Job 26:14; Ro 10:17
Job 42:5 : Jdg 13:22; Isa 6:5; S Mt 5:8; Lk 2:30; Eph 1:17-18
Job 42:6 : Job 40:4; Eze 6:9; Ro 12:3
Job 42:6 : S Job 34:33
Job 42:6 : S Ex 10:3; S Ezr 9:6; S Job 2:8; S 6:29
Job 42:7 : S Jos 1:7
Job 42:7 : Job 32:3
Job 42:7 : ver 8; S Job 9:15
Job 42:8 : Nu 23:1, 29; Eze 45:23
Job 42:8 : Job 1:8
Job 42:8 : S Ge 8:20
Job 42:8 : Jas 5:15-16; 1Jn 5:16
Job 42:8 : Ge 20:7; Job 22:30
Job 42:8 : S ver 7
Job 42:9 : Job 2:11
Job 42:9 : S Ge 19:21; S 20:17; Eze 14:14
Job 42:10 : Dt 30:3; Ps 14:7
Job 42:10 : S Job 1:3; Ps 85:1-3; 126:5-6; Php 2:8-9; Jas 5:11
Job 42:11 : S Job 19:13
Job 42:11 : S Ge 37:35
Job 42:17 : S Ge 15:15

New International Version (NIV)

2 Corinthians 5:11-21

The Ministry of Reconciliation

¹¹Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord,^(A) we try to persuade others. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience.^(B) ¹²We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again,^(C) but are giving you an opportunity to take pride in us,^(D) so that you can answer those who take pride in what is seen rather than in what is in the heart. ¹³If we are “out of our mind,”^(E) as some say, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. ¹⁴For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.^(F) ¹⁵And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves^(G) but for him who died for them^(H) and was raised again.

¹⁶So from now on we regard no one from a worldly^(I) point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. ¹⁷Therefore, if anyone is in Christ,^(J) the new creation^(K) has come:^[a] The old has gone, the new is here!^(L) ¹⁸All this is from God,^(M) who reconciled us to himself through Christ^(N) and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: ¹⁹that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them.^(O) And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. ²⁰We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors,^(P) as though God were making his appeal through us.^(Q) We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.^(R) ²¹God made him who had no sin^(S) to be sin^[b] for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.^(T)

Footnotes:

2 Corinthians 5:17 Or Christ, that person is a new creation.
2 Corinthians 5:21 Or be a sin offering

New International Version (NIV)

Psalm 45

Psalm 45^[a]

For the director of music. To the tune of “Lilies.” Of the Sons of Korah. A maskil.^[b] A wedding song.^(A)

¹My heart is stirred by a noble theme
as I recite my verses for the king;
my tongue is the pen of a skillful writer.

²You are the most excellent of men
and your lips have been anointed with grace,^(B)
since God has blessed you forever.^(C)

³Gird your sword^(D) on your side, you mighty one;^(E)
clothe yourself with splendor and majesty.^(F)
⁴In your majesty ride forth victoriously^(G)
in the cause of truth, humility and justice;^(H)
let your right hand^(I) achieve awesome deeds.^(J)
⁵Let your sharp arrows^(K) pierce the hearts^(L) of the king’s enemies;^(M)
let the nations fall beneath your feet.
⁶Your throne, O God,^[c] will last for ever and ever;^(N)
a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom.
⁷You love righteousness^(O) and hate wickedness;^(P)
therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions
by anointing^(Q) you with the oil of joy.^(R)
⁸All your robes are fragrant^(S) with myrrh^(T) and aloes^(U) and cassia;^(V)
from palaces adorned with ivory^(W)
the music of the strings^(X) makes you glad.
⁹Daughters of kings^(Y) are among your honored women;
at your right hand^(Z) is the royal bride^(AA) in gold of Ophir.^(AB)

¹⁰Listen, daughter,^(AC) and pay careful attention:^(AD)
Forget your people^(AE) and your father’s house.
¹¹Let the king be enthralled by your beauty;^(AF)
honor^(AG) him, for he is your lord.^(AH)
¹²The city of Tyre^(AI) will come with a gift,^[d]^(AJ)
people of wealth will seek your favor.
¹³All glorious^(AK) is the princess within her chamber;
her gown is interwoven with gold.^(AL)
¹⁴In embroidered garments^(AM) she is led to the king;^(AN)
her virgin companions^(AO) follow her—
those brought to be with her.
¹⁵Led in with joy and gladness,^(AP)
they enter the palace of the king.

¹⁶Your sons will take the place of your fathers;
you will make them princes^(AQ) throughout the land.

¹⁷I will perpetuate your memory through all generations;^(AR)
therefore the nations will praise you^(AS) for ever and ever.^(AT)

Footnotes:

Psalm 45:1 In Hebrew texts 45:1-17 is numbered 45:2-18.
Psalm 45:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
Psalm 45:6 Here the king is addressed as God’s representative.
Psalm 45:12 Or A Tyrian robe is among the gifts

Cross references:

Psalm 45:1 : SS 1:1
Psalm 45:2 : Lk 4:22
Psalm 45:2 : Ps 21:6
Psalm 45:3 : S Dt 32:41; Ps 149:6; Rev 1:16
Psalm 45:3 : S 2Sa 1:19
Psalm 45:3 : S Job 40:10; S Ps 21:5
Psalm 45:4 : Rev 6:2
Psalm 45:4 : Zep 2:3
Psalm 45:4 : Ps 21:8
Psalm 45:4 : S Dt 4:34; Ps 65:5; 66:3
Psalm 45:5 : S Dt 32:23
Psalm 45:5 : S Nu 24:8
Psalm 45:5 : Ps 9:13; 92:9
Psalm 45:6 : S Ge 21:33; La 5:19
Psalm 45:7 : Ps 33:5
Psalm 45:7 : S Ps 11:5
Psalm 45:7 : Ps 2:2; Isa 45:1; 61:1; Zec 4:14
Psalm 45:7 : S Ps 23:5; Heb 1:8-9*
Psalm 45:8 : Pr 27:9; SS 1:3; 4:10
Psalm 45:8 : S Ge 37:25
Psalm 45:8 : S Nu 24:6; Jn 19:39
Psalm 45:8 : S Ex 30:24
Psalm 45:8 : S 1Ki 22:39
Psalm 45:8 : Ps 144:9; 150:4; Isa 38:20
Psalm 45:9 : SS 6:8
Psalm 45:9 : 1Ki 2:19
Psalm 45:9 : Isa 62:5
Psalm 45:9 : S Ge 10:29
Psalm 45:10 : Ru 1:11
Psalm 45:10 : Jer 5:1
Psalm 45:10 : Ru 1:16
Psalm 45:11 : S Est 1:11; S La 2:15
Psalm 45:11 : Eph 5:33
Psalm 45:11 : 1Pe 3:6
Psalm 45:12 : S Jos 19:29
Psalm 45:12 : S 1Ki 9:16; S 2Ch 9:24
Psalm 45:13 : Isa 61:10
Psalm 45:13 : Ex 39:3
Psalm 45:14 : S Jdg 5:30
Psalm 45:14 : Est 2:15
Psalm 45:14 : SS 1:3
Psalm 45:15 : S Est 8:17
Psalm 45:16 : 1Sa 2:8; Ps 68:27; 113:8
Psalm 45:17 : S Ex 3:15; Ps 33:11; 119:90; 135:13
Psalm 45:17 : Ps 138:4
Psalm 45:17 : S Ps 21:4; Rev 22:5

New International Version (NIV)

Proverbs 22:14

¹⁴The mouth of an adulterous woman is a deep pit;^(A)
a man who is under the Lord’s wrath falls into it.^(B)

Cross references:

New International Version (NIV)

August 31, 2021

The Daily Audio Bible Reading for Tuesday August 31, 2021 (NIV)

Job 37-39

37 “At this my heart pounds^(A)
and leaps from its place.
²Listen!^(B) Listen to the roar of his voice,^(C)
to the rumbling that comes from his mouth.^(D)
³He unleashes his lightning^(E) beneath the whole heaven
and sends it to the ends of the earth.^(F)
⁴After that comes the sound of his roar;
he thunders^(G) with his majestic voice.^(H)
When his voice resounds,
he holds nothing back.
⁵God’s voice thunders^(I) in marvelous ways;^(J)
he does great things beyond our understanding.^(K)
⁶He says to the snow,^(L) ‘Fall on the earth,’
and to the rain shower, ‘Be a mighty downpour.’^(M)
⁷So that everyone he has made may know his work,^(N)
he stops all people from their labor.^[a]^(O)
⁸The animals take cover;^(P)
they remain in their dens.^(Q)
⁹The tempest comes out from its chamber,^(R)
the cold from the driving winds.^(S)
¹⁰The breath of God produces ice,
and the broad waters become frozen.^(T)
¹¹He loads the clouds with moisture;^(U)
he scatters his lightning^(V) through them.^(W)
¹²At his direction they swirl around
over the face of the whole earth
to do whatever he commands them.^(X)
¹³He brings the clouds to punish people,^(Y)
or to water his earth and show his love.^(Z)

¹⁴“Listen^(AA) to this, Job;
stop and consider God’s wonders.^(AB)
¹⁵Do you know how God controls the clouds
and makes his lightning^(AC) flash?^(AD)
¹⁶Do you know how the clouds hang poised,^(AE)
those wonders of him who has perfect knowledge?^(AF)
¹⁷You who swelter in your clothes
when the land lies hushed under the south wind,^(AG)
¹⁸can you join him in spreading out the skies,^(AH)
hard as a mirror of cast bronze?^(AI)

¹⁹“Tell us what we should say to him;^(AJ)
we cannot draw up our case^(AK) because of our darkness.^(AL)
²⁰Should he be told that I want to speak?
Would anyone ask to be swallowed up?
²¹Now no one can look at the sun,^(AM)
bright as it is in the skies
after the wind has swept them clean.
²²Out of the north he comes in golden splendor;^(AN)
God comes in awesome majesty.^(AO)
²³The Almighty is beyond our reach and exalted in power;^(AP)
in his justice^(AQ) and great righteousness, he does not oppress.^(AR)
²⁴Therefore, people revere him,^(AS)
for does he not have regard for all the wise^(AT) in heart?^[b]”

The Lord Speaks

38 Then the Lord spoke to Job^(AU) out of the storm.^(AV) He said:

²“Who is this that obscures my plans^(AW)
with words without knowledge?^(AX)
³Brace yourself like a man;
I will question you,
and you shall answer me.^(AY)

⁴“Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation?^(AZ)
Tell me, if you understand.^(BA)
⁵Who marked off its dimensions?^(BB) Surely you know!
Who stretched a measuring line^(BC) across it?
⁶On what were its footings set,^(BD)
or who laid its cornerstone^(BE)—
⁷while the morning stars^(BF) sang together^(BG)
and all the angels^[c]^(BH) shouted for joy?^(BI)

⁸“Who shut up the sea behind doors^(BJ)
when it burst forth from the womb,^(BK)
⁹when I made the clouds its garment
and wrapped it in thick darkness,^(BL)
¹⁰when I fixed limits for it^(BM)
and set its doors and bars in place,^(BN)
¹¹when I said, ‘This far you may come and no farther;^(BO)
here is where your proud waves halt’?^(BP)

¹²“Have you ever given orders to the morning,^(BQ)
or shown the dawn its place,^(BR)
¹³that it might take the earth by the edges
and shake the wicked^(BS) out of it?^(BT)
¹⁴The earth takes shape like clay under a seal;^(BU)
its features stand out like those of a garment.
¹⁵The wicked are denied their light,^(BV)
and their upraised arm is broken.^(BW)

¹⁶“Have you journeyed to the springs of the sea
or walked in the recesses of the deep?^(BX)
¹⁷Have the gates of death^(BY) been shown to you?
Have you seen the gates of the deepest darkness?^(BZ)
¹⁸Have you comprehended the vast expanses of the earth?^(CA)
Tell me, if you know all this.^(CB)

¹⁹“What is the way to the abode of light?
And where does darkness reside?^(CC)
²⁰Can you take them to their places?
Do you know the paths^(CD) to their dwellings?
²¹Surely you know, for you were already born!^(CE)
You have lived so many years!

²²“Have you entered the storehouses of the snow^(CF)
or seen the storehouses^(CG) of the hail,^(CH)
²³which I reserve for times of trouble,^(CI)
for days of war and battle?^(CJ)
²⁴What is the way to the place where the lightning is dispersed,^(CK)
or the place where the east winds^(CL) are scattered over the earth?^(CM)
²⁵Who cuts a channel for the torrents of rain,
and a path for the thunderstorm,^(CN)
²⁶to water^(CO) a land where no one lives,
an uninhabited desert,^(CP)
²⁷to satisfy a desolate wasteland
and make it sprout with grass?^(CQ)
²⁸Does the rain have a father?^(CR)
Who fathers the drops of dew?
²⁹From whose womb comes the ice?
Who gives birth to the frost from the heavens^(CS)
³⁰when the waters become hard as stone,
when the surface of the deep is frozen?^(CT)

³¹“Can you bind the chains^[d] of the Pleiades?
Can you loosen Orion’s belt?^(CU)
³²Can you bring forth the constellations^(CV) in their seasons^[e]
or lead out the Bear^[f] with its cubs?^(CW)
³³Do you know the laws^(CX) of the heavens?^(CY)
Can you set up God’s^[g] dominion over the earth?

³⁴“Can you raise your voice to the clouds
and cover yourself with a flood of water?^(CZ)
³⁵Do you send the lightning bolts on their way?^(DA)
Do they report to you, ‘Here we are’?
³⁶Who gives the ibis wisdom^[h]^(DB)
or gives the rooster understanding?^[i]^(DC)
³⁷Who has the wisdom to count the clouds?
Who can tip over the water jars^(DD) of the heavens^(DE)
³⁸when the dust becomes hard^(DF)
and the clods of earth stick together?^(DG)

³⁹“Do you hunt the prey for the lioness
and satisfy the hunger of the lions^(DH)
⁴⁰when they crouch in their dens^(DI)
or lie in wait in a thicket?^(DJ)
⁴¹Who provides food^(DK) for the raven^(DL)
when its young cry out to God
and wander about for lack of food?^(DM)

39 “Do you know when the mountain goats^(DN) give birth?
Do you watch when the doe bears her fawn?^(DO)
²Do you count the months till they bear?
Do you know the time they give birth?^(DP)
³They crouch down and bring forth their young;
their labor pains are ended.
⁴Their young thrive and grow strong in the wilds;
they leave and do not return.

⁵“Who let the wild donkey^(DQ) go free?
Who untied its ropes?
⁶I gave it the wasteland^(DR) as its home,
the salt flats^(DS) as its habitat.^(DT)
⁷It laughs^(DU) at the commotion in the town;
it does not hear a driver’s shout.^(DV)
⁸It ranges the hills^(DW) for its pasture
and searches for any green thing.

⁹“Will the wild ox^(DX) consent to serve you?^(DY)
Will it stay by your manger^(DZ) at night?
¹⁰Can you hold it to the furrow with a harness?^(EA)
Will it till the valleys behind you?
¹¹Will you rely on it for its great strength?^(EB)
Will you leave your heavy work to it?
¹²Can you trust it to haul in your grain
and bring it to your threshing floor?

¹³“The wings of the ostrich flap joyfully,
though they cannot compare
with the wings and feathers of the stork.^(EC)
¹⁴She lays her eggs on the ground
and lets them warm in the sand,
¹⁵unmindful that a foot may crush them,
that some wild animal may trample them.^(ED)
¹⁶She treats her young harshly,^(EE) as if they were not hers;
she cares not that her labor was in vain,
¹⁷for God did not endow her with wisdom
or give her a share of good sense.^(EF)
¹⁸Yet when she spreads her feathers to run,
she laughs^(EG) at horse and rider.

¹⁹“Do you give the horse its strength^(EH)
or clothe its neck with a flowing mane?
²⁰Do you make it leap like a locust,^(EI)
striking terror^(EJ) with its proud snorting?^(EK)
²¹It paws fiercely, rejoicing in its strength,^(EL)
and charges into the fray.^(EM)
²²It laughs^(EN) at fear, afraid of nothing;
it does not shy away from the sword.
²³The quiver^(EO) rattles against its side,
along with the flashing spear^(EP) and lance.
²⁴In frenzied excitement it eats up the ground;
it cannot stand still when the trumpet sounds.^(EQ)
²⁵At the blast of the trumpet^(ER) it snorts, ‘Aha!’
It catches the scent of battle from afar,
the shout of commanders and the battle cry.^(ES)

²⁶“Does the hawk take flight by your wisdom
and spread its wings toward the south?^(ET)
²⁷Does the eagle soar at your command
and build its nest on high?^(EU)
²⁸It dwells on a cliff and stays there at night;
a rocky crag^(EV) is its stronghold.
²⁹From there it looks for food;^(EW)
its eyes detect it from afar.
³⁰Its young ones feast on blood,
and where the slain are, there it is.”^(EX)

Footnotes:

Job 37:7 Or work, / he fills all people with fear by his power
Job 37:24 Or for he does not have regard for any who think they are wise.
Job 38:7 Hebrew the sons of God
Job 38:31 Septuagint; Hebrew beauty
Job 38:32 Or the morning star in its season
Job 38:32 Or out Leo
Job 38:33 Or their
Job 38:36 That is, wisdom about the flooding of the Nile
Job 38:36 That is, understanding of when to crow; the meaning of the Hebrew for this verse is uncertain.

Cross references:

Job 37:1 : Ps 38:10; Isa 15:5; Jer 4:19; Hab 3:16
Job 37:2 : S Job 32:10
Job 37:2 : ver 5
Job 37:2 : Ps 18:13; 29:3-9
Job 37:3 : S 2Sa 22:13; Ps 18:14
Job 37:3 : S Job 36:32; Mt 24:27; Lk 17:24
Job 37:4 : S 1Sa 2:10
Job 37:4 : S Ex 20:19
Job 37:5 : S 1Sa 2:10; Jn 12:29
Job 37:5 : S Job 36:33
Job 37:5 : S Job 5:9; S 11:7-9; S 36:4
Job 37:6 : Dt 28:12; Job 38:22
Job 37:6 : S Ge 7:4; S Job 5:10; S 28:26
Job 37:7 : Ps 109:27
Job 37:7 : Ps 104:19-23; 111:2
Job 37:8 : S Job 28:26
Job 37:8 : Job 38:40; Ps 104:22
Job 37:9 : Ps 50:3
Job 37:9 : Ps 147:17
Job 37:10 : Job 38:29-30; Ps 147:17
Job 37:11 : S Job 26:8
Job 37:11 : S Job 36:30
Job 37:11 : S Job 28:26
Job 37:12 : S ver 3; Ps 147:16; 148:8
Job 37:13 : S Ge 7:4; Ex 9:22-23; S 1Sa 12:17
Job 37:13 : S 1Ki 18:45; S Job 5:10; S 36:31; 38:27
Job 37:14 : S Job 32:10
Job 37:14 : S Job 5:9
Job 37:15 : S Job 36:30
Job 37:15 : S Job 36:32
Job 37:16 : S Job 36:29
Job 37:16 : S Job 5:9; S 36:4
Job 37:17 : Ac 27:13
Job 37:18 : S Ge 1:1, 8; S Job 22:14
Job 37:18 : Dt 28:23
Job 37:19 : Ro 8:26
Job 37:19 : S Job 13:18
Job 37:19 : S Job 9:3
Job 37:21 : S Jdg 5:31; Ac 22:11; 26:13
Job 37:22 : Ps 19:5
Job 37:22 : Ex 24:17
Job 37:23 : S Job 5:9; S 36:4; Ro 11:33; 1Ti 6:16
Job 37:23 : S Job 8:3
Job 37:23 : S Job 4:17; Ps 44:1; Isa 63:9; Jer 25:5; La 3:33; Eze 18:23, 32
Job 37:24 : S Ge 22:12; Job 28:28; Ecc 12:13; Mic 6:8; Mt 10:28
Job 37:24 : S Job 5:13; Eph 5:15
Job 38:1 : S Job 11:5
Job 38:1 : S Ex 14:21; S 1Sa 2:10; Job 40:6; Isa 21:1; Eze 1:4
Job 38:2 : S 1Ki 22:5; Isa 40:13
Job 38:2 : S Job 34:35; Mk 10:38; 1Ti 1:7
Job 38:3 : Job 40:7; 42:4; Mk 11:29
Job 38:4 : S ver 5; S Ge 1:1; S 1Sa 2:8
Job 38:4 : ver 18; S Job 34:13; Pr 30:4
Job 38:5 : ver 4; Ps 102:25; Pr 8:29; Isa 40:12; 48:13; Jer 31:37
Job 38:5 : Jer 31:39; Zec 1:16; 4:9-10
Job 38:6 : Pr 8:25
Job 38:6 : S Job 26:7
Job 38:7 : S Ge 1:16
Job 38:7 : Ps 19:1-4; 148:2-3
Job 38:7 : S 1Ki 22:19
Job 38:7 : S Dt 16:15
Job 38:8 : ver 11; Ps 33:7; Pr 8:29; Jer 5:22
Job 38:8 : S Ge 1:9-10
Job 38:9 : S Ge 1:2
Job 38:10 : S Job 28:25; Ps 33:7; 104:9; Isa 40:12
Job 38:10 : Ne 3:3; Job 7:12; 26:10
Job 38:11 : S ver 8
Job 38:11 : Ps 65:7; 89:9; 104:6-9
Job 38:12 : Ps 57:8
Job 38:12 : Ps 74:16; Am 5:8
Job 38:13 : Ps 104:35
Job 38:13 : S Job 8:22
Job 38:14 : Ex 28:11
Job 38:15 : S Dt 28:29; S Job 15:22; S 18:5
Job 38:15 : S Ge 17:14; S Job 4:10; S 31:22
Job 38:16 : S Ge 1:7; S Job 9:8
Job 38:17 : S Job 33:22; Mt 16:18; Rev 1:18
Job 38:17 : S Job 7:9
Job 38:18 : S Job 28:24; Isa 40:12
Job 38:18 : S ver 4
Job 38:19 : S Ge 1:4; S Job 28:3; Ps 139:11-12
Job 38:20 : S Job 24:13
Job 38:21 : Job 15:7
Job 38:22 : S Job 37:6
Job 38:22 : S Dt 28:12
Job 38:22 : Ps 105:32; 147:17
Job 38:23 : Ps 27:5; Isa 28:17; 30:30; Eze 13:11
Job 38:23 : Ex 9:26; Jos 10:11; Eze 13:13; Rev 16:21
Job 38:24 : S Job 28:24
Job 38:24 : S Job 27:21
Job 38:24 : Jer 10:13; 51:16
Job 38:25 : Job 28:26
Job 38:26 : Job 36:27
Job 38:26 : Ps 84:6; 107:35; Isa 41:18
Job 38:27 : S Job 28:26; S 37:13; S Ps 104:14
Job 38:28 : S 2Sa 1:21; S Job 5:10
Job 38:29 : Ps 147:16-17
Job 38:30 : Job 37:10
Job 38:31 : Job 9:9; Am 5:8
Job 38:32 : 2Ki 23:5; Isa 13:10; 40:26; 45:12; Jer 19:13
Job 38:32 : S Ge 1:16
Job 38:33 : Ps 148:6; Jer 31:36
Job 38:33 : S Ge 1:16
Job 38:34 : S Job 5:10; S 22:11
Job 38:35 : S Job 36:32
Job 38:36 : S Job 9:4; S 34:32; Jas 1:5
Job 38:36 : S Job 12:13
Job 38:37 : S Jos 3:16
Job 38:37 : S Job 22:11
Job 38:38 : S Lev 26:19
Job 38:38 : 1Ki 18:45
Job 38:39 : S Ge 49:9
Job 38:40 : S Job 37:8
Job 38:40 : S Ge 49:9
Job 38:41 : S Ge 1:30
Job 38:41 : S Ge 8:7; Lk 12:24
Job 38:41 : Ps 147:9; S Mt 6:26
Job 39:1 : S Dt 14:5
Job 39:1 : Ge 49:21
Job 39:2 : S Ge 31:7-9
Job 39:5 : S Ge 16:12
Job 39:6 : Job 24:5; Ps 107:34; Jer 2:24
Job 39:6 : Job 30:4
Job 39:6 : Job 30:7; Jer 14:6; 17:6
Job 39:7 : S Job 5:22
Job 39:7 : Job 3:18
Job 39:8 : Isa 32:20
Job 39:9 : S Nu 23:22
Job 39:9 : S Ex 21:6
Job 39:9 : S Ge 42:27
Job 39:10 : Job 41:13; Ps 32:9
Job 39:11 : ver 19; Job 40:16; 41:12, 22; Ps 147:10
Job 39:13 : Zec 5:9
Job 39:15 : 2Ki 14:9
Job 39:16 : ver 17; La 4:3
Job 39:17 : S ver 16; S Job 21:22
Job 39:18 : S Job 5:22
Job 39:19 : S ver 11
Job 39:20 : Joel 2:4-5; Rev 9:7
Job 39:20 : Job 41:25
Job 39:20 : Jer 8:16
Job 39:21 : ver 11
Job 39:21 : Jer 8:6
Job 39:22 : S Job 5:22
Job 39:23 : Isa 5:28; Jer 5:16
Job 39:23 : Na 3:3
Job 39:24 : Nu 10:9; Jer 4:5, 19; Eze 7:14; Am 3:6
Job 39:25 : Jos 6:5
Job 39:25 : Jer 8:6; Am 1:14; 2:2
Job 39:26 : Jer 8:7
Job 39:27 : Jer 49:16; Ob 1:4; Hab 2:9
Job 39:28 : Jer 49:16; Ob 1:3
Job 39:29 : S Job 9:26
Job 39:30 : Mt 24:28; Lk 17:37

New International Version (NIV)

2 Corinthians 4:13-5:10

¹³It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.”^[a]^(A) Since we have that same spirit of^[b] faith,^(B) we also believe and therefore speak, ¹⁴because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead^(C) will also raise us with Jesus^(D) and present us with you to himself.^(E) ¹⁵All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving^(F) to overflow to the glory of God.

¹⁶Therefore we do not lose heart.^(G) Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly^(H) we are being renewed^(I) day by day. ¹⁷For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.^(J) ¹⁸So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen,^(K) since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Awaiting the New Body

5 For we know that if the earthly^(L) tent^(M) we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. ²Meanwhile we groan,^(N) longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling,^(O) ³because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. ⁴For while we are in this tent, we groan^(P) and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling,^(Q) so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. ⁵Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.^(R)

⁶Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. ⁷For we live by faith, not by sight.^(S) ⁸We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.^(T) ⁹So we make it our goal to please him,^(U) whether we are at home in the body or away from it. ¹⁰For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us^(V) for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.

Footnotes:

2 Corinthians 4:13 Psalm 116:10 (see Septuagint)
2 Corinthians 4:13 Or Spirit-given

Cross references:

New International Version (NIV)

Psalm 44:9-26

⁹But now you have rejected^(A) and humbled us;^(B)
you no longer go out with our armies.^(C)
¹⁰You made us retreat^(D) before the enemy,
and our adversaries have plundered^(E) us.
¹¹You gave us up to be devoured like sheep^(F)
and have scattered us among the nations.^(G)
¹²You sold your people for a pittance,^(H)
gaining nothing from their sale.

¹³You have made us a reproach^(I) to our neighbors,^(J)
the scorn^(K) and derision^(L) of those around us.
¹⁴You have made us a byword^(M) among the nations;
the peoples shake their heads^(N) at us.
¹⁵I live in disgrace^(O) all day long,
and my face is covered with shame^(P)
¹⁶at the taunts^(Q) of those who reproach and revile^(R) me,
because of the enemy, who is bent on revenge.^(S)

¹⁷All this came upon us,
though we had not forgotten^(T) you;
we had not been false to your covenant.
¹⁸Our hearts had not turned^(U) back;
our feet had not strayed from your path.
¹⁹But you crushed^(V) us and made us a haunt for jackals;^(W)
you covered us over with deep darkness.^(X)

²⁰If we had forgotten^(Y) the name of our God
or spread out our hands to a foreign god,^(Z)
²¹would not God have discovered it,
since he knows the secrets of the heart?^(AA)
²²Yet for your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep^(AB) to be slaughtered.^(AC)

²³Awake,^(AD) Lord! Why do you sleep?^(AE)
Rouse yourself!^(AF) Do not reject us forever.^(AG)
²⁴Why do you hide your face^(AH)
and forget^(AI) our misery and oppression?^(AJ)

²⁵We are brought down to the dust;^(AK)
our bodies cling to the ground.
²⁶Rise up^(AL) and help us;
rescue^(AM) us because of your unfailing love.^(AN)

Cross references:

New International Version (NIV)

Proverbs 22:13

¹³The sluggard says, “There’s a lion outside!^(A)
I’ll be killed in the public square!”

Cross references:

Proverbs 22:13 : Pr 26:13

New International Version (NIV)

August 30, 2021

The Daily Audio Bible Reading for Monday August 30, 2021 (NIV)

Job 34-36

34 Then Elihu said:

²“Hear my words, you wise men;
listen to me,^(A) you men of learning.
³For the ear tests words
as the tongue tastes food.^(B)
⁴Let us discern for ourselves what is right;^(C)
let us learn together what is good.^(D)

⁵“Job says, ‘I am innocent,^(E)
but God denies me justice.^(F)
⁶Although I am right,
I am considered a liar;^(G)
although I am guiltless,^(H)
his arrow inflicts an incurable wound.’^(I)
⁷Is there anyone like Job,
who drinks scorn like water?^(J)
⁸He keeps company with evildoers;
he associates with the wicked.^(K)
⁹For he says, ‘There is no profit
in trying to please God.’^(L)

¹⁰“So listen to me,^(M) you men of understanding.^(N)
Far be it from God to do evil,^(O)
from the Almighty to do wrong.^(P)
¹¹He repays everyone for what they have done;^(Q)
he brings on them what their conduct deserves.^(R)
¹²It is unthinkable that God would do wrong,^(S)
that the Almighty would pervert justice.^(T)
¹³Who appointed^(U) him over the earth?
Who put him in charge of the whole world?^(V)
¹⁴If it were his intention
and he withdrew his spirit^[a]^(W) and breath,^(X)
¹⁵all humanity would perish^(Y) together
and mankind would return to the dust.^(Z)

¹⁶“If you have understanding,^(AA) hear this;
listen to what I say.^(AB)
¹⁷Can someone who hates justice govern?^(AC)
Will you condemn the just and mighty One?^(AD)
¹⁸Is he not the One who says to kings, ‘You are worthless,’
and to nobles,^(AE) ‘You are wicked,’^(AF)
¹⁹who shows no partiality^(AG) to princes
and does not favor the rich over the poor,^(AH)
for they are all the work of his hands?^(AI)
²⁰They die in an instant, in the middle of the night;^(AJ)
the people are shaken and they pass away;
the mighty are removed without human hand.^(AK)

²¹“His eyes are on the ways of mortals;^(AL)
he sees their every step.^(AM)
²²There is no deep shadow,^(AN) no utter darkness,^(AO)
where evildoers can hide.^(AP)
²³God has no need to examine people further,^(AQ)
that they should come before him for judgment.^(AR)
²⁴Without inquiry he shatters^(AS) the mighty^(AT)
and sets up others in their place.^(AU)
²⁵Because he takes note of their deeds,^(AV)
he overthrows them in the night^(AW) and they are crushed.^(AX)
²⁶He punishes them for their wickedness^(AY)
where everyone can see them,
²⁷because they turned from following him^(AZ)
and had no regard for any of his ways.^(BA)
²⁸They caused the cry of the poor to come before him,
so that he heard the cry of the needy.^(BB)
²⁹But if he remains silent,^(BC) who can condemn him?^(BD)
If he hides his face,^(BE) who can see him?
Yet he is over individual and nation alike,^(BF)
³⁰to keep the godless^(BG) from ruling,^(BH)
from laying snares for the people.^(BI)

³¹“Suppose someone says to God,
‘I am guilty^(BJ) but will offend no more.
³²Teach me what I cannot see;^(BK)
if I have done wrong, I will not do so again.’^(BL)
³³Should God then reward you on your terms,
when you refuse to repent?^(BM)
You must decide, not I;
so tell me what you know.

³⁴“Men of understanding declare,
wise men who hear me say to me,
³⁵‘Job speaks without knowledge;^(BN)
his words lack insight.’^(BO)
³⁶Oh, that Job might be tested to the utmost
for answering like a wicked man!^(BP)
³⁷To his sin he adds rebellion;
scornfully he claps his hands^(BQ) among us
and multiplies his words^(BR) against God.”^(BS)

35 Then Elihu said:

²“Do you think this is just?
You say, ‘I am in the right,^(BT) not God.’^(BU)
³Yet you ask him, ‘What profit is it to me,^[b]
and what do I gain by not sinning?’^(BV)

⁴“I would like to reply to you
and to your friends with you.
⁵Look up at the heavens^(BW) and see;
gaze at the clouds so high above you.^(BX)
⁶If you sin, how does that affect him?
If your sins are many, what does that do to him?^(BY)
⁷If you are righteous, what do you give to him,^(BZ)
or what does he receive^(CA) from your hand?^(CB)
⁸Your wickedness only affects humans like yourself,^(CC)
and your righteousness only other people.^(CD)

⁹“People cry out^(CE) under a load of oppression;^(CF)
they plead for relief from the arm of the powerful.^(CG)
¹⁰But no one says, ‘Where is God my Maker,^(CH)
who gives songs^(CI) in the night,^(CJ)
¹¹who teaches^(CK) us^(CL) more than he teaches^[c] the beasts of the earth
and makes us wiser than^[d] the birds in the sky?’
¹²He does not answer^(CM) when people cry out
because of the arrogance^(CN) of the wicked.^(CO)
¹³Indeed, God does not listen to their empty plea;
the Almighty pays no attention to it.^(CP)
¹⁴How much less, then, will he listen
when you say that you do not see him,^(CQ)
that your case^(CR) is before him
and you must wait for him,^(CS)
¹⁵and further, that his anger never punishes^(CT)
and he does not take the least notice of wickedness.^[e]^(CU)
¹⁶So Job opens his mouth with empty talk;^(CV)
without knowledge he multiplies words.”^(CW)

36 Elihu continued:

²“Bear with me a little longer and I will show you
that there is more to be said in God’s behalf.
³I get my knowledge from afar;^(CX)
I will ascribe justice to my Maker.^(CY)
⁴Be assured that my words are not false;^(CZ)
one who has perfect knowledge^(DA) is with you.^(DB)

⁵“God is mighty,^(DC) but despises no one;^(DD)
he is mighty, and firm in his purpose.^(DE)
⁶He does not keep the wicked alive^(DF)
but gives the afflicted their rights.^(DG)
⁷He does not take his eyes off the righteous;^(DH)
he enthrones them with kings^(DI)
and exalts them forever.^(DJ)
⁸But if people are bound in chains,^(DK)
held fast by cords of affliction,^(DL)
⁹he tells them what they have done—
that they have sinned arrogantly.^(DM)
¹⁰He makes them listen^(DN) to correction^(DO)
and commands them to repent of their evil.^(DP)
¹¹If they obey and serve him,^(DQ)
they will spend the rest of their days in prosperity^(DR)
and their years in contentment.^(DS)
¹²But if they do not listen,
they will perish by the sword^[f]^(DT)
and die without knowledge.^(DU)

¹³“The godless in heart^(DV) harbor resentment;^(DW)
even when he fetters them, they do not cry for help.^(DX)
¹⁴They die in their youth,^(DY)
among male prostitutes of the shrines.^(DZ)
¹⁵But those who suffer^(EA) he delivers in their suffering;^(EB)
he speaks^(EC) to them in their affliction.^(ED)

¹⁶“He is wooing^(EE) you from the jaws of distress
to a spacious place^(EF) free from restriction,^(EG)
to the comfort of your table^(EH) laden with choice food.^(EI)
¹⁷But now you are laden with the judgment due the wicked;^(EJ)
judgment and justice have taken hold of you.^(EK)
¹⁸Be careful that no one entices you by riches;
do not let a large bribe^(EL) turn you aside.^(EM)
¹⁹Would your wealth^(EN) or even all your mighty efforts
sustain you so you would not be in distress?
²⁰Do not long for the night,^(EO)
to drag people away from their homes.^[g]
²¹Beware of turning to evil,^(EP)
which you seem to prefer to affliction.^(EQ)

²²“God is exalted in his power.^(ER)
Who is a teacher like him?^(ES)
²³Who has prescribed his ways^(ET) for him,^(EU)
or said to him, ‘You have done wrong’?^(EV)
²⁴Remember to extol his work,^(EW)
which people have praised in song.^(EX)
²⁵All humanity has seen it;^(EY)
mortals gaze on it from afar.
²⁶How great is God—beyond our understanding!^(EZ)
The number of his years is past finding out.^(FA)

²⁷“He draws up the drops of water,^(FB)
which distill as rain to the streams^[h];^(FC)
²⁸the clouds pour down their moisture
and abundant showers^(FD) fall on mankind.^(FE)
²⁹Who can understand how he spreads out the clouds,
how he thunders^(FF) from his pavilion?^(FG)
³⁰See how he scatters his lightning^(FH) about him,
bathing the depths of the sea.^(FI)
³¹This is the way he governs^[i] the nations^(FJ)
and provides food^(FK) in abundance.^(FL)
³²He fills his hands with lightning
and commands it to strike its mark.^(FM)
³³His thunder announces the coming storm;^(FN)
even the cattle make known its approach.^[j]^(FO)

Footnotes:

Job 34:14 Or Spirit
Job 35:3 Or you
Job 35:11 Or night, / ¹¹who teaches us by
Job 35:11 Or us wise by
Job 35:15 Symmachus, Theodotion and Vulgate; the meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain.
Job 36:12 Or will cross the river
Job 36:20 The meaning of the Hebrew for verses 18-20 is uncertain.
Job 36:27 Or distill from the mist as rain
Job 36:31 Or nourishes
Job 36:33 Or announces his coming— / the One zealous against evil

Cross references:

New International Version (NIV)

2 Corinthians 4:1-12

Present Weakness and Resurrection Life

4 Therefore, since through God’s mercy^(A) we have this ministry, we do not lose heart.^(B) ²Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways;^(C) we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God.^(D) On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience^(E) in the sight of God. ³And even if our gospel^(F) is veiled,^(G) it is veiled to those who are perishing.^(H) ⁴The god^(I) of this age^(J) has blinded^(K) the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ,^(L) who is the image of God.^(M) ⁵For what we preach is not ourselves,^(N) but Jesus Christ as Lord,^(O) and ourselves as your servants^(P) for Jesus’ sake. ⁶For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,”^[a]^(Q) made his light shine in our hearts^(R) to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.^(S)

⁷But we have this treasure in jars of clay^(T) to show that this all-surpassing power is from God^(U) and not from us. ⁸We are hard pressed on every side,^(V) but not crushed; perplexed,^(W) but not in despair; ⁹persecuted,^(X) but not abandoned;^(Y) struck down, but not destroyed.^(Z) ¹⁰We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus,^(AA) so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.^(AB) ¹¹For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake,^(AC) so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. ¹²So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.^(AD)

Footnotes:

2 Corinthians 4:6 Gen. 1:3

Cross references:

New International Version (NIV)

Psalm 44:1-8

Psalm 44^[a]

For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A maskil.^[b]

¹We have heard it with our ears,^(A) O God;
our ancestors have told us^(B)
what you did in their days,
in days long ago.^(C)
²With your hand you drove out^(D) the nations
and planted^(E) our ancestors;
you crushed^(F) the peoples
and made our ancestors flourish.^(G)
³It was not by their sword^(H) that they won the land,
nor did their arm bring them victory;
it was your right hand,^(I) your arm,^(J)
and the light^(K) of your face, for you loved^(L) them.

⁴You are my King^(M) and my God,^(N)
who decrees^[c] victories^(O) for Jacob.
⁵Through you we push back^(P) our enemies;
through your name we trample^(Q) our foes.
⁶I put no trust in my bow,^(R)
my sword does not bring me victory;
⁷but you give us victory^(S) over our enemies,
you put our adversaries to shame.^(T)
⁸In God we make our boast^(U) all day long,^(V)
and we will praise your name forever.^[d]^(W)

Footnotes:

Psalm 44:1 In Hebrew texts 44:1-26 is numbered 44:2-27.
Psalm 44:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
Psalm 44:4 Septuagint, Aquila and Syriac; Hebrew King, O God; / command
Psalm 44:8 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.

New International Version (NIV)

Proverbs 22:10-12

¹⁰Drive out the mocker, and out goes strife;
quarrels and insults are ended.^(A)

¹¹One who loves a pure heart and who speaks with grace
will have the king for a friend.^(B)

¹²The eyes of the Lord keep watch over knowledge,
but he frustrates the words of the unfaithful.

Cross references:

New International Version (NIV)

August 29, 2021

The Daily Audio Bible Reading for Sunday August 29, 2021 (NIV)

Job 31-33

31 “I made a covenant with my eyes^(A)
not to look lustfully at a young woman.^(B)
²For what is our lot^(C) from God above,
our heritage from the Almighty on high?^(D)
³Is it not ruin^(E) for the wicked,
disaster^(F) for those who do wrong?^(G)
⁴Does he not see my ways^(H)
and count my every step?^(I)

⁵“If I have walked with falsehood
or my foot has hurried after deceit^(J)—
⁶let God weigh me^(K) in honest scales^(L)
and he will know that I am blameless^(M)—
⁷if my steps have turned from the path,^(N)
if my heart has been led by my eyes,
or if my hands^(O) have been defiled,^(P)
⁸then may others eat what I have sown,^(Q)
and may my crops be uprooted.^(R)

⁹“If my heart has been enticed^(S) by a woman,^(T)
or if I have lurked at my neighbor’s door,
¹⁰then may my wife grind^(U) another man’s grain,
and may other men sleep with her.^(V)
¹¹For that would have been wicked,^(W)
a sin to be judged.^(X)
¹²It is a fire^(Y) that burns to Destruction^[a];^(Z)
it would have uprooted my harvest.^(AA)

¹³“If I have denied justice to any of my servants,^(AB)
whether male or female,
when they had a grievance against me,^(AC)
¹⁴what will I do when God confronts me?^(AD)
What will I answer when called to account?^(AE)
¹⁵Did not he who made me in the womb make them?^(AF)
Did not the same one form us both within our mothers?^(AG)

¹⁶“If I have denied the desires of the poor^(AH)
or let the eyes of the widow^(AI) grow weary,^(AJ)
¹⁷if I have kept my bread to myself,
not sharing it with the fatherless^(AK)—
¹⁸but from my youth I reared them as a father would,
and from my birth I guided the widow^(AL)—
¹⁹if I have seen anyone perishing for lack of clothing,^(AM)
or the needy^(AN) without garments,
²⁰and their hearts did not bless me^(AO)
for warming them with the fleece^(AP) from my sheep,
²¹if I have raised my hand against the fatherless,^(AQ)
knowing that I had influence in court,^(AR)
²²then let my arm fall from the shoulder,
let it be broken off at the joint.^(AS)
²³For I dreaded destruction from God,^(AT)
and for fear of his splendor^(AU) I could not do such things.^(AV)

²⁴“If I have put my trust in gold^(AW)
or said to pure gold, ‘You are my security,’^(AX)
²⁵if I have rejoiced over my great wealth,^(AY)
the fortune my hands had gained,^(AZ)
²⁶if I have regarded the sun^(BA) in its radiance
or the moon^(BB) moving in splendor,
²⁷so that my heart was secretly enticed^(BC)
and my hand offered them a kiss of homage,^(BD)
²⁸then these also would be sins to be judged,^(BE)
for I would have been unfaithful to God on high.^(BF)

²⁹“If I have rejoiced at my enemy’s misfortune^(BG)
or gloated over the trouble that came to him^(BH)—
³⁰I have not allowed my mouth to sin
by invoking a curse against their life^(BI)—
³¹if those of my household have never said,
‘Who has not been filled with Job’s meat?’^(BJ)—
³²but no stranger had to spend the night in the street,
for my door was always open to the traveler^(BK)—
³³if I have concealed^(BL) my sin as people do,^[b]
by hiding^(BM) my guilt in my heart
³⁴because I so feared the crowd^(BN)
and so dreaded the contempt of the clans
that I kept silent^(BO) and would not go outside—

³⁵(“Oh, that I had someone to hear me!^(BP)
I sign now my defense—let the Almighty answer me;
let my accuser^(BQ) put his indictment in writing.
³⁶Surely I would wear it on my shoulder,^(BR)
I would put it on like a crown.^(BS)
³⁷I would give him an account of my every step;^(BT)
I would present it to him as to a ruler.^(BU))—

³⁸“if my land cries out against me^(BV)
and all its furrows are wet^(BW) with tears,
³⁹if I have devoured its yield without payment^(BX)
or broken the spirit of its tenants,^(BY)
⁴⁰then let briers^(BZ) come up instead of wheat
and stinkweed^(CA) instead of barley.”

The words of Job are ended.^(CB)

Elihu

32 So these three men stopped answering Job,^(CC) because he was righteous in his own eyes.^(CD) ²But Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite,^(CE) of the family of Ram, became very angry with Job for justifying himself^(CF) rather than God.^(CG) ³He was also angry with the three friends,^(CH) because they had found no way to refute Job,^(CI) and yet had condemned him.^[c]^(CJ) ⁴Now Elihu had waited before speaking to Job because they were older than he.^(CK) ⁵But when he saw that the three men had nothing more to say, his anger was aroused.

⁶So Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite said:

“I am young in years,
and you are old;^(CL)
that is why I was fearful,
not daring to tell you what I know.
⁷I thought, ‘Age should speak;
advanced years should teach wisdom.’^(CM)
⁸But it is the spirit^[d]^(CN) in a person,
the breath of the Almighty,^(CO) that gives them understanding.^(CP)
⁹It is not only the old^[e] who are wise,^(CQ)
not only the aged^(CR) who understand what is right.^(CS)

¹⁰“Therefore I say: Listen to me;^(CT)
I too will tell you what I know.^(CU)
¹¹I waited while you spoke,
I listened to your reasoning;
while you were searching for words,
¹²I gave you my full attention.
But not one of you has proved Job wrong;
none of you has answered his arguments.^(CV)
¹³Do not say, ‘We have found wisdom;^(CW)
let God, not a man, refute^(CX) him.’
¹⁴But Job has not marshaled his words against me,^(CY)
and I will not answer him with your arguments.

¹⁵“They are dismayed and have no more to say;
words have failed them.^(CZ)
¹⁶Must I wait, now that they are silent,
now that they stand there with no reply?
¹⁷I too will have my say;
I too will tell what I know.^(DA)
¹⁸For I am full of words,
and the spirit^(DB) within me compels me;^(DC)
¹⁹inside I am like bottled-up wine,
like new wineskins ready to burst.^(DD)
²⁰I must speak and find relief;
I must open my lips and reply.^(DE)
²¹I will show no partiality,^(DF)
nor will I flatter anyone;^(DG)
²²for if I were skilled in flattery,
my Maker^(DH) would soon take me away.^(DI)

33 “But now, Job, listen^(DJ) to my words;
pay attention to everything I say.^(DK)
²I am about to open my mouth;
my words are on the tip of my tongue.
³My words come from an upright heart;^(DL)
my lips sincerely speak what I know.^(DM)
⁴The Spirit^(DN) of God has made me;^(DO)
the breath of the Almighty^(DP) gives me life.^(DQ)
⁵Answer me^(DR) then, if you can;
stand up^(DS) and argue your case before me.^(DT)
⁶I am the same as you in God’s sight;^(DU)
I too am a piece of clay.^(DV)
⁷No fear of me should alarm you,
nor should my hand be heavy on you.^(DW)

⁸“But you have said in my hearing—
I heard the very words—
⁹‘I am pure,^(DX) I have done no wrong;^(DY)
I am clean and free from sin.^(DZ)
¹⁰Yet God has found fault with me;
he considers me his enemy.^(EA)
¹¹He fastens my feet in shackles;^(EB)
he keeps close watch on all my paths.’^(EC)

¹²“But I tell you, in this you are not right,
for God is greater than any mortal.^(ED)
¹³Why do you complain to him^(EE)
that he responds to no one’s words^[f]?^(EF)
¹⁴For God does speak^(EG)—now one way, now another^(EH)—
though no one perceives it.^(EI)
¹⁵In a dream,^(EJ) in a vision^(EK) of the night,^(EL)
when deep sleep^(EM) falls on people
as they slumber in their beds,
¹⁶he may speak^(EN) in their ears
and terrify them^(EO) with warnings,^(EP)
¹⁷to turn them from wrongdoing
and keep them from pride,^(EQ)
¹⁸to preserve them from the pit,^(ER)
their lives from perishing by the sword.^[g]^(ES)

¹⁹“Or someone may be chastened^(ET) on a bed of pain^(EU)
with constant distress in their bones,^(EV)
²⁰so that their body finds food^(EW) repulsive
and their soul loathes the choicest meal.^(EX)
²¹Their flesh wastes away to nothing,
and their bones,^(EY) once hidden, now stick out.^(EZ)
²²They draw near to the pit,^(FA)
and their life to the messengers of death.^[h]^(FB)
²³Yet if there is an angel at their side,
a messenger,^(FC) one out of a thousand,
sent to tell them how to be upright,^(FD)
²⁴and he is gracious to that person and says to God,
‘Spare them from going down to the pit;^(FE)
I have found a ransom for them^(FF)—
²⁵let their flesh be renewed^(FG) like a child’s;
let them be restored as in the days of their youth’^(FH)—
²⁶then that person can pray to God and find favor with him,^(FI)
they will see God’s face and shout for joy;^(FJ)
he will restore them to full well-being.^(FK)
²⁷And they will go to others and say,
‘I have sinned,^(FL) I have perverted what is right,^(FM)
but I did not get what I deserved.^(FN)
²⁸God has delivered^(FO) me from going down to the pit,^(FP)
and I shall live to enjoy the light of life.’^(FQ)

²⁹“God does all these things to a person^(FR)—
twice, even three times^(FS)—
³⁰to turn them back^(FT) from the pit,^(FU)
that the light of life^(FV) may shine on them.^(FW)

³¹“Pay attention, Job, and listen^(FX) to me;^(FY)
be silent,^(FZ) and I will speak.
³²If you have anything to say, answer me;^(GA)
speak up, for I want to vindicate you.^(GB)
³³But if not, then listen to me;^(GC)
be silent,^(GD) and I will teach you wisdom.^(GE)”

Footnotes:

Job 31:12 Hebrew Abaddon
Job 31:33 Or as Adam did
Job 32:3 Masoretic Text; an ancient Hebrew scribal tradition Job, and so had condemned God
Job 32:8 Or Spirit; also in verse 18
Job 32:9 Or many; or great
Job 33:13 Or that he does not answer for any of his actions
Job 33:18 Or from crossing the river
Job 33:22 Or to the place of the dead

Cross references:

Job 31:1 : Pr 4:25; 17:24; 2Pe 2:14
Job 31:1 : Ex 20:14, 17; Dt 5:18; Mt 5:28
Job 31:2 : Nu 26:55; Ps 11:6; 16:5; 50:18; Ecc 3:22; 5:19; 9:9
Job 31:2 : S Job 16:19; S 20:29
Job 31:3 : S Job 21:30
Job 31:3 : Job 18:12
Job 31:3 : Job 34:22; Ro 2:9
Job 31:4 : 2Ch 16:9; Ps 139:3; Da 4:37; 5:23
Job 31:4 : S ver 14; S Job 10:4
Job 31:5 : S Job 15:31
Job 31:6 : Ps 139:23
Job 31:6 : S Lev 19:36; S Job 6:2
Job 31:6 : S Ge 6:9; S Job 2:3; S 23:10
Job 31:7 : S Job 23:11
Job 31:7 : S Job 9:30
Job 31:7 : Ps 7:3
Job 31:8 : S Job 5:5; S 20:10; Jn 4:37
Job 31:8 : ver 12; Mic 6:15
Job 31:9 : S Dt 11:16; S Job 24:15; Jas 1:14
Job 31:9 : Pr 5:3; 7:5
Job 31:10 : S Jdg 16:21
Job 31:10 : Dt 28:30
Job 31:11 : Pr 6:32-33
Job 31:11 : S Ge 38:24; S Ex 21:12; Jn 8:4-5
Job 31:12 : S Job 15:30
Job 31:12 : S Job 26:6
Job 31:12 : S ver 8
Job 31:13 : S Dt 5:14
Job 31:13 : Ex 21:2-11; Lev 25:39-46; Dt 24:14-15
Job 31:14 : Job 33:5
Job 31:14 : ver 4, 37; Ps 10:13, 15; 94:7; Isa 10:3; Jer 5:31; Hos 9:7; Mic 7:4; Col 4:1
Job 31:15 : S Job 4:17; Pr 22:2
Job 31:15 : S Job 10:3; Eph 6:9
Job 31:16 : S Lev 25:17; S Job 5:16
Job 31:16 : S Job 22:9; Jas 1:27
Job 31:16 : Job 22:7
Job 31:17 : S Job 6:27; S 22:7
Job 31:18 : Isa 51:18
Job 31:19 : Job 22:6; Isa 58:7
Job 31:19 : S Job 24:4
Job 31:20 : Job 29:13
Job 31:20 : Jdg 6:37
Job 31:21 : S Job 22:7; Jas 1:27
Job 31:21 : S Job 29:7, 9
Job 31:22 : Nu 15:30; Job 5:15; 38:15; Ps 10:15; 37:17; 137:5
Job 31:23 : S Job 10:3; S 30:15
Job 31:23 : Job 13:11
Job 31:23 : S Ge 20:11
Job 31:24 : S Job 22:25
Job 31:24 : Mt 6:24; Lk 12:15
Job 31:25 : S Ge 12:16; Ps 49:6; 52:7; 62:10; Isa 10:14
Job 31:25 : S Job 22:24; Eze 28:5; Lk 12:20-21
Job 31:26 : S Ge 1:16
Job 31:26 : Job 25:5
Job 31:27 : S Dt 11:16; S Job 24:15; Jas 1:14
Job 31:27 : Jer 8:2; 16:11
Job 31:28 : S Ge 38:24; Dt 17:2-7
Job 31:28 : S Nu 11:20; Eze 8:16
Job 31:29 : S Nu 14:1; Ps 35:15; Ob 1:12; Mt 5:44
Job 31:29 : Pr 17:5; 24:17-18
Job 31:30 : Job 5:3; Ro 12:14
Job 31:31 : S Job 22:7
Job 31:32 : Ge 19:2-3; Jdg 19:20; Mt 25:35; S Ro 12:13
Job 31:33 : Ps 32:5; Pr 28:13
Job 31:33 : S Ge 3:8
Job 31:34 : Ex 23:2
Job 31:34 : Ps 32:3; 39:2
Job 31:35 : S Job 9:24; 30:28
Job 31:35 : Job 27:7
Job 31:36 : S Ex 28:12
Job 31:36 : Job 29:14
Job 31:37 : S ver 14; S Job 11:11
Job 31:37 : S Job 21:28
Job 31:38 : S Ge 4:10
Job 31:38 : Ps 65:10
Job 31:39 : S 1Ki 21:19
Job 31:39 : S Lev 19:13; Jas 5:4
Job 31:40 : S Ge 3:18; Mt 13:7
Job 31:40 : Zep 2:9; Mt 13:26
Job 31:40 : Ps 72:20; Jer 51:64
Job 32:1 : ver 15
Job 32:1 : S Job 2:3; S 10:7
Job 32:2 : S Ge 22:21
Job 32:2 : ver 1
Job 32:2 : S Job 13:19; 27:5; 30:21; 35:2
Job 32:3 : Job 42:7
Job 32:3 : ver 12-13
Job 32:3 : S Job 15:13
Job 32:4 : S Lev 19:32
Job 32:6 : Job 15:10
Job 32:7 : S 1Ch 29:15; S 2Ch 10:6
Job 32:8 : ver 18
Job 32:8 : S Job 27:3
Job 32:8 : S Job 12:13; S Ps 119:34; Jas 1:5
Job 32:9 : 1Co 1:26
Job 32:9 : Ps 119:100
Job 32:9 : S Job 12:12, 20; Lk 2:47; 1Ti 4:12
Job 32:10 : Job 33:1, 31, 33; 34:2, 16; 37:2, 14; Ps 34:11
Job 32:10 : S Job 5:27
Job 32:12 : ver 3
Job 32:13 : S Job 4:12; S Ecc 9:11
Job 32:13 : S Job 11:5
Job 32:14 : Job 23:4
Job 32:15 : ver 1
Job 32:17 : S Job 5:27; 33:3; 36:4
Job 32:18 : ver 8
Job 32:18 : Ac 4:20; 1Co 9:16; 2Co 5:14
Job 32:19 : Jer 20:9; Am 3:8; Mt 9:17
Job 32:20 : S Job 4:2; S Jer 6:11
Job 32:21 : S Lev 19:15; S 2Ch 19:7; S Job 13:10; Mt 22:16
Job 32:21 : Pr 29:5; 1Th 2:5
Job 32:22 : S Job 4:17; S 9:9
Job 32:22 : Ps 12:2-4
Job 33:1 : Job 32:10
Job 33:1 : S Job 6:28; S 13:6
Job 33:3 : 1Ki 3:6; Ps 7:10; 11:2; 64:10
Job 33:3 : S Job 6:28
Job 33:4 : S Ge 1:2
Job 33:4 : Job 10:3
Job 33:4 : S Job 27:3
Job 33:4 : S Nu 16:22; S Job 12:10
Job 33:5 : ver 32
Job 33:5 : Job 13:18
Job 33:5 : S Job 31:14
Job 33:6 : Ac 14:15; Jas 5:17
Job 33:6 : S Job 4:19
Job 33:7 : S Job 9:34; 2Co 2:4
Job 33:9 : S Job 10:7
Job 33:9 : S Job 9:30; S 13:23
Job 33:9 : S Job 2:9
Job 33:10 : S Job 13:24
Job 33:11 : S Job 13:27
Job 33:11 : Job 14:16; Pr 3:6; Isa 30:21
Job 33:12 : S Job 5:9; Ps 8:4; 50:21; Ecc 7:20; Isa 55:8-9
Job 33:13 : Job 40:2; Isa 45:9
Job 33:13 : S Job 11:8
Job 33:14 : Ps 62:11
Job 33:14 : ver 29
Job 33:14 : Job 4:12
Job 33:15 : S Ge 20:3; Job 4:13; S Mt 27:19
Job 33:15 : Ac 16:9
Job 33:15 : S Ge 15:1; Da 2:19
Job 33:15 : S Ge 2:21
Job 33:16 : Job 36:10, 15
Job 33:16 : S Job 6:4
Job 33:16 : Ps 88:15-16
Job 33:17 : S Job 20:6
Job 33:18 : ver 22, 24, 28, 30; Ps 28:1; 30:9; 69:15; 88:6; 103:4; Pr 1:12; Isa 14:15; 38:17; Jnh 2:6; Zec 9:11
Job 33:18 : S Job 15:22; Mt 26:52
Job 33:19 : S Job 5:17
Job 33:19 : S Ge 17:1; S Dt 8:5; 2Co 12:7-10; Jas 1:3
Job 33:19 : S Job 16:16; Ps 6:2; 38:3; Isa 38:13
Job 33:20 : Ps 102:4; 107:18
Job 33:20 : S Job 3:24; S 6:6
Job 33:21 : S Job 2:5
Job 33:21 : S Job 16:8
Job 33:22 : S ver 18
Job 33:22 : Job 38:17; Ps 9:13; 88:3; 107:18; 116:3
Job 33:23 : Gal 3:19; Heb 8:6; 9:15
Job 33:23 : Job 36:9-10; Mic 6:8
Job 33:24 : S ver 18
Job 33:24 : S Job 6:22
Job 33:25 : Ps 103:5
Job 33:25 : 2Ki 5:14
Job 33:26 : S Job 5:15; Pr 8:35; 12:2; 18:22; Lk 2:52
Job 33:26 : S Ezr 3:13; S Job 22:26
Job 33:26 : Ps 13:5; 50:15; 51:12; 1Jn 1:9
Job 33:27 : S Nu 22:34
Job 33:27 : Lk 15:21
Job 33:27 : S Ezr 9:13; Ps 22:27; 51:13; Ro 6:21; Jas 2:13
Job 33:28 : S Ex 15:13; Ps 34:22; 107:20
Job 33:28 : S ver 18; S Job 17:16
Job 33:28 : S Job 22:28
Job 33:29 : Ps 139:16; Pr 16:9; 20:24; Jer 10:23; 1Co 12:6; Eph 1:11; Php 2:13
Job 33:29 : ver 14
Job 33:30 : Jas 5:19
Job 33:30 : S ver 18
Job 33:30 : Ps 49:19; 56:13; 116:9; Isa 53:11
Job 33:30 : Isa 60:1; Eph 5:14
Job 33:31 : Jer 23:18
Job 33:31 : S Job 32:10
Job 33:31 : ver 33
Job 33:32 : ver 5
Job 33:32 : S Job 6:29; 35:2
Job 33:33 : S Job 32:10
Job 33:33 : ver 31
Job 33:33 : S Job 6:24; Pr 10:8, 10, 19

New International Version (NIV)

2 Corinthians 3

3 Are we beginning to commend ourselves^(A) again? Or do we need, like some people, letters of recommendation^(B) to you or from you? ²You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everyone.^(C) ³You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God,^(D) not on tablets of stone^(E) but on tablets of human hearts.^(F)

⁴Such confidence^(G) we have through Christ before God. ⁵Not that we are competent in ourselves^(H) to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God.^(I) ⁶He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant^(J)—not of the letter^(K) but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.^(L)

The Greater Glory of the New Covenant

⁷Now if the ministry that brought death,^(M) which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory,^(N) transitory though it was, ⁸will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious? ⁹If the ministry that brought condemnation^(O) was glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness!^(P) ¹⁰For what was glorious has no glory now in comparison with the surpassing glory. ¹¹And if what was transitory came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts!

¹²Therefore, since we have such a hope,^(Q) we are very bold.^(R) ¹³We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face^(S) to prevent the Israelites from seeing the end of what was passing away. ¹⁴But their minds were made dull,^(T) for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant^(U) is read.^(V) It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away. ¹⁵Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. ¹⁶But whenever anyone turns to the Lord,^(W) the veil is taken away.^(X) ¹⁷Now the Lord is the Spirit,^(Y) and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.^(Z) ¹⁸And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate^[a]^(AA) the Lord’s glory,^(AB) are being transformed into his image^(AC) with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

Footnotes:

2 Corinthians 3:18 Or reflect

Cross references:

New International Version (NIV)

Psalm 43

Psalm 43^[a]

¹Vindicate me, my God,
and plead my cause^(A)
against an unfaithful nation.
Rescue me^(B) from those who are
deceitful and wicked.^(C)
²You are God my stronghold.
Why have you rejected^(D) me?
Why must I go about mourning,^(E)
oppressed by the enemy?^(F)
³Send me your light^(G) and your faithful care,^(H)
let them lead me;^(I)
let them bring me to your holy mountain,^(J)
to the place where you dwell.^(K)
⁴Then I will go^(L) to the altar^(M) of God,
to God, my joy^(N) and my delight.^(O)
I will praise you with the lyre,^(P)
O God, my God.

⁵Why, my soul, are you downcast?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and my God.^(Q)

Footnotes:

Psalm 43:1 In many Hebrew manuscripts Psalms 42 and 43 constitute one psalm.

Cross references:

Psalm 43:1 : S Jdg 6:31
Psalm 43:1 : S Ps 25:20
Psalm 43:1 : S Ps 36:3; 109:2
Psalm 43:2 : Ps 44:9; 74:1; 88:14; 89:38
Psalm 43:2 : S Ps 35:14
Psalm 43:2 : S Ps 42:9
Psalm 43:3 : Ps 27:1
Psalm 43:3 : S Ps 26:3
Psalm 43:3 : S Ps 25:5
Psalm 43:3 : Ps 2:6
Psalm 43:3 : S 2Sa 15:25
Psalm 43:4 : S Ps 42:2
Psalm 43:4 : Ps 26:6; 84:3
Psalm 43:4 : S Ps 21:6
Psalm 43:4 : Ps 16:3
Psalm 43:4 : S Ge 4:21
Psalm 43:5 : S Ps 42:6

New International Version (NIV)

Proverbs 22:8-9

⁸Whoever sows injustice reaps calamity,^(A)
and the rod they wield in fury will be broken.^(B)

⁹The generous will themselves be blessed,^(C)
for they share their food with the poor.^(D)

Cross references:

New International Version (NIV)

August 28, 2021

The Daily Audio Bible Reading for Saturday August 28, 2021 (NIV)

Job 28-30

Job Speaks of Wisdom and Understanding

28 “People know where to mine silver
and how to refine gold.
²They know where to dig iron from the earth
and how to smelt copper from rock.
³They know how to shine light in the darkness
and explore the farthest regions of the earth
as they search in the dark for ore.
⁴They sink a mine shaft into the earth
far from where anyone lives.
They descend on ropes, swinging back and forth.
⁵Food is grown on the earth above,
but down below, the earth is melted as by fire.
⁶Here the rocks contain precious lapis lazuli,
and the dust contains gold.
⁷These are treasures no bird of prey can see,
no falcon’s eye observe.
⁸No wild animal has walked upon these treasures;
no lion has ever set his paw there.
⁹People know how to tear apart flinty rocks
and overturn the roots of mountains.
¹⁰They cut tunnels in the rocks
and uncover precious stones.
¹¹They dam up the trickling streams
and bring to light the hidden treasures.

¹²“But do people know where to find wisdom?
Where can they find understanding?
¹³No one knows where to find it,^[a]
for it is not found among the living.
¹⁴‘It is not here,’ says the ocean.
‘Nor is it here,’ says the sea.
¹⁵It cannot be bought with gold.
It cannot be purchased with silver.
¹⁶It’s worth more than all the gold of Ophir,
greater than precious onyx or lapis lazuli.
¹⁷Wisdom is more valuable than gold and crystal.
It cannot be purchased with jewels mounted in fine gold.
¹⁸Coral and jasper are worthless in trying to get it.
The price of wisdom is far above rubies.
¹⁹Precious peridot from Ethiopia^[b] cannot be exchanged for it.
It’s worth more than the purest gold.

²⁰“But do people know where to find wisdom?
Where can they find understanding?
²¹It is hidden from the eyes of all humanity.
Even the sharp-eyed birds in the sky cannot discover it.
²²Destruction^[c] and Death say,
‘We’ve heard only rumors of where wisdom can be found.’

²³“God alone understands the way to wisdom;
he knows where it can be found,
²⁴for he looks throughout the whole earth
and sees everything under the heavens.
²⁵He decided how hard the winds should blow
and how much rain should fall.
²⁶He made the laws for the rain
and laid out a path for the lightning.
²⁷Then he saw wisdom and evaluated it.
He set it in place and examined it thoroughly.
²⁸And this is what he says to all humanity:
‘The fear of the Lord is true wisdom;
to forsake evil is real understanding.’”

Job Speaks of His Former Blessings

29 Job continued speaking:

²“I long for the years gone by
when God took care of me,
³when he lit up the way before me
and I walked safely through the darkness.
⁴When I was in my prime,
God’s friendship was felt in my home.
⁵The Almighty was still with me,
and my children were around me.
⁶My steps were awash in cream,
and the rocks gushed olive oil for me.

⁷“Those were the days when I went to the city gate
and took my place among the honored leaders.
⁸The young stepped aside when they saw me,
and even the aged rose in respect at my coming.
⁹The princes stood in silence
and put their hands over their mouths.
¹⁰The highest officials of the city stood quietly,
holding their tongues in respect.

¹¹“All who heard me praised me.
All who saw me spoke well of me.
¹²For I assisted the poor in their need
and the orphans who required help.
¹³I helped those without hope, and they blessed me.
And I caused the widows’ hearts to sing for joy.
¹⁴Everything I did was honest.
Righteousness covered me like a robe,
and I wore justice like a turban.
¹⁵I served as eyes for the blind
and feet for the lame.
¹⁶I was a father to the poor
and assisted strangers who needed help.
¹⁷I broke the jaws of godless oppressors
and plucked their victims from their teeth.

¹⁸“I thought, ‘Surely I will die surrounded by my family
after a long, good life.^[d]
¹⁹For I am like a tree whose roots reach the water,
whose branches are refreshed with the dew.
²⁰New honors are constantly bestowed on me,
and my strength is continually renewed.’

²¹“Everyone listened to my advice.
They were silent as they waited for me to speak.
²²And after I spoke, they had nothing to add,
for my counsel satisfied them.
²³They longed for me to speak as people long for rain.
They drank my words like a refreshing spring rain.
²⁴When they were discouraged, I smiled at them.
My look of approval was precious to them.
²⁵Like a chief, I told them what to do.
I lived like a king among his troops
and comforted those who mourned.

Job Speaks of His Anguish

30 “But now I am mocked by people younger than I,
by young men whose fathers are not worthy to run with my sheepdogs.
²A lot of good they are to me—
those worn-out wretches!
³They are gaunt from poverty and hunger.
They claw the dry ground in desolate wastelands.
⁴They pluck wild greens from among the bushes
and eat from the roots of broom trees.
⁵They are driven from human society,
and people shout at them as if they were thieves.
⁶So now they live in frightening ravines,
in caves and among the rocks.
⁷They sound like animals howling among the bushes,
huddled together beneath the nettles.
⁸They are nameless fools,
outcasts from society.

⁹“And now they mock me with vulgar songs!
They taunt me!
¹⁰They despise me and won’t come near me,
except to spit in my face.
¹¹For God has cut my bowstring.
He has humbled me,
so they have thrown off all restraint.
¹²These outcasts oppose me to my face.
They send me sprawling
and lay traps in my path.
¹³They block my road
and do everything they can to destroy me.
They know I have no one to help me.
¹⁴They come at me from all directions.
They jump on me when I am down.
¹⁵I live in terror now.
My honor has blown away in the wind,
and my prosperity has vanished like a cloud.

¹⁶“And now my life seeps away.
Depression haunts my days.
¹⁷At night my bones are filled with pain,
which gnaws at me relentlessly.
¹⁸With a strong hand, God grabs my shirt.^[e]
He grips me by the collar of my coat.
¹⁹He has thrown me into the mud.
I’m nothing more than dust and ashes.

²⁰“I cry to you, O God, but you don’t answer.
I stand before you, but you don’t even look.
²¹You have become cruel toward me.
You use your power to persecute me.
²²You throw me into the whirlwind
and destroy me in the storm.
²³And I know you are sending me to my death—
the destination of all who live.

²⁴“Surely no one would turn against the needy
when they cry for help in their trouble.
²⁵Did I not weep for those in trouble?
Was I not deeply grieved for the needy?
²⁶So I looked for good, but evil came instead.
I waited for the light, but darkness fell.
²⁷My heart is troubled and restless.
Days of suffering torment me.
²⁸I walk in gloom, without sunlight.
I stand in the public square and cry for help.
²⁹Instead, I am considered a brother to jackals
and a companion to owls.
³⁰My skin has turned dark,
and my bones burn with fever.
³¹My harp plays sad music,
and my flute accompanies those who weep.

Footnotes:

28:13 As in Greek version; Hebrew reads knows its value.
28:19 Hebrew from Cush.
28:22 Hebrew Abaddon.
29:18 Hebrew after I have counted my days like sand.
30:18 As in Greek version; Hebrew reads hand, my garment is disfigured.

New Living Translation (NLT)

2 Corinthians 2:12-17

¹²When I came to the city of Troas to preach the Good News of Christ, the Lord opened a door of opportunity for me. ¹³But I had no peace of mind because my dear brother Titus hadn’t yet arrived with a report from you. So I said good-bye and went on to Macedonia to find him.

Ministers of the New Covenant

¹⁴But thank God! He has made us his captives and continues to lead us along in Christ’s triumphal procession. Now he uses us to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere, like a sweet perfume. ¹⁵Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God. But this fragrance is perceived differently by those who are being saved and by those who are perishing. ¹⁶To those who are perishing, we are a dreadful smell of death and doom. But to those who are being saved, we are a life-giving perfume. And who is adequate for such a task as this?

¹⁷You see, we are not like the many hucksters^[a] who preach for personal profit. We preach the word of God with sincerity and with Christ’s authority, knowing that God is watching us.

Footnotes:

2:17 Some manuscripts read the rest of the hucksters.

New Living Translation (NLT)

Psalm 42

Book two (Psalms 42–72)

Psalm 42

For the choir director: A psalm^[a] of the descendants of Korah.

¹As the deer longs for streams of water,
so I long for you, O God.
²I thirst for God, the living God.
When can I go and stand before him?
³Day and night I have only tears for food,
while my enemies continually taunt me, saying,
“Where is this God of yours?”

⁴My heart is breaking
as I remember how it used to be:
I walked among the crowds of worshipers,
leading a great procession to the house of God,
singing for joy and giving thanks
amid the sound of a great celebration!

⁵Why am I discouraged?
Why is my heart so sad?
I will put my hope in God!
I will praise him again—
my Savior and ⁶my God!

Now I am deeply discouraged,
but I will remember you—
even from distant Mount Hermon, the source of the Jordan,
from the land of Mount Mizar.
⁷I hear the tumult of the raging seas
as your waves and surging tides sweep over me.
⁸But each day the Lord pours his unfailing love upon me,
and through each night I sing his songs,
praying to God who gives me life.

⁹“O God my rock,” I cry,
“Why have you forgotten me?
Why must I wander around in grief,
oppressed by my enemies?”
¹⁰Their taunts break my bones.
They scoff, “Where is this God of yours?”

¹¹Why am I discouraged?
Why is my heart so sad?
I will put my hope in God!
I will praise him again—
my Savior and my God!

Footnotes:

42:Title Hebrew maskil. This may be a literary or musical term.

New Living Translation (NLT)

Proverbs 22:7

⁷Just as the rich rule the poor,
so the borrower is servant to the lender.

New Living Translation (NLT)

August 27, 2021

The Daily Audio Bible Reading for Friday August 27, 2021 (NIV)

Job 23-27

Job’s Eighth Speech: A Response to Eliphaz

23 Then Job spoke again:

²“My complaint today is still a bitter one,
and I try hard not to groan aloud.
³If only I knew where to find God,
I would go to his court.
⁴I would lay out my case
and present my arguments.
⁵Then I would listen to his reply
and understand what he says to me.
⁶Would he use his great power to argue with me?
No, he would give me a fair hearing.
⁷Honest people can reason with him,
so I would be forever acquitted by my judge.
⁸I go east, but he is not there.
I go west, but I cannot find him.
⁹I do not see him in the north, for he is hidden.
I look to the south, but he is concealed.

¹⁰“But he knows where I am going.
And when he tests me, I will come out as pure as gold.
¹¹For I have stayed on God’s paths;
I have followed his ways and not turned aside.
¹²I have not departed from his commands,
but have treasured his words more than daily food.
¹³But once he has made his decision, who can change his mind?
Whatever he wants to do, he does.
¹⁴So he will do to me whatever he has planned.
He controls my destiny.
¹⁵No wonder I am so terrified in his presence.
When I think of it, terror grips me.
¹⁶God has made me sick at heart;
the Almighty has terrified me.
¹⁷Darkness is all around me;
thick, impenetrable darkness is everywhere.

Job Asks Why the Wicked Are Not Punished

24 “Why doesn’t the Almighty bring the wicked to judgment?
Why must the godly wait for him in vain?
²Evil people steal land by moving the boundary markers.
They steal livestock and put them in their own pastures.
³They take the orphan’s donkey
and demand the widow’s ox as security for a loan.
⁴The poor are pushed off the path;
the needy must hide together for safety.
⁵Like wild donkeys in the wilderness,
the poor must spend all their time looking for food,
searching even in the desert for food for their children.
⁶They harvest a field they do not own,
and they glean in the vineyards of the wicked.
⁷All night they lie naked in the cold,
without clothing or covering.
⁸They are soaked by mountain showers,
and they huddle against the rocks for want of a home.

⁹“The wicked snatch a widow’s child from her breast,
taking the baby as security for a loan.
¹⁰The poor must go about naked, without any clothing.
They harvest food for others while they themselves are starving.
¹¹They press out olive oil without being allowed to taste it,
and they tread in the winepress as they suffer from thirst.
¹²The groans of the dying rise from the city,
and the wounded cry for help,
yet God ignores their moaning.

¹³“Wicked people rebel against the light.
They refuse to acknowledge its ways
or stay in its paths.
¹⁴The murderer rises in the early dawn
to kill the poor and needy;
at night he is a thief.
¹⁵The adulterer waits for the twilight,
saying, ‘No one will see me then.’
He hides his face so no one will know him.
¹⁶Thieves break into houses at night
and sleep in the daytime.
They are not acquainted with the light.
¹⁷The black night is their morning.
They ally themselves with the terrors of the darkness.

¹⁸“But they disappear like foam down a river.
Everything they own is cursed,
and they are afraid to enter their own vineyards.
¹⁹The grave^[a] consumes sinners
just as drought and heat consume snow.
²⁰Their own mothers will forget them.
Maggots will find them sweet to eat.
No one will remember them.
Wicked people are broken like a tree in the storm.
²¹They cheat the woman who has no son to help her.
They refuse to help the needy widow.

²²“God, in his power, drags away the rich.
They may rise high, but they have no assurance of life.
²³They may be allowed to live in security,
but God is always watching them.
²⁴And though they are great now,
in a moment they will be gone like all others,
cut off like heads of grain.
²⁵Can anyone claim otherwise?
Who can prove me wrong?”

Bildad’s Third Response to Job

25 Then Bildad the Shuhite replied:

²“God is powerful and dreadful.
He enforces peace in the heavens.
³Who is able to count his heavenly army?
Doesn’t his light shine on all the earth?
⁴How can a mortal be innocent before God?
Can anyone born of a woman be pure?
⁵God is more glorious than the moon;
he shines brighter than the stars.
⁶In comparison, people are maggots;
we mortals are mere worms.”

Job’s Ninth Speech: A Response to Bildad

26 Then Job spoke again:

²“How you have helped the powerless!
How you have saved the weak!
³How you have enlightened my stupidity!
What wise advice you have offered!
⁴Where have you gotten all these wise sayings?
Whose spirit speaks through you?

⁵“The dead tremble—
those who live beneath the waters.
⁶The underworld^[b] is naked in God’s presence.
The place of destruction^[c] is uncovered.
⁷God stretches the northern sky over empty space
and hangs the earth on nothing.
⁸He wraps the rain in his thick clouds,
and the clouds don’t burst with the weight.
⁹He covers the face of the moon,^[d]
shrouding it with his clouds.
¹⁰He created the horizon when he separated the waters;
he set the boundary between day and night.
¹¹The foundations of heaven tremble;
they shudder at his rebuke.
¹²By his power the sea grew calm.
By his skill he crushed the great sea monster.^[e]
¹³His Spirit made the heavens beautiful,
and his power pierced the gliding serpent.
¹⁴These are just the beginning of all that he does,
merely a whisper of his power.
Who, then, can comprehend the thunder of his power?”

Job’s Final Speech

27 Job continued speaking:

²“I vow by the living God, who has taken away my rights,
by the Almighty who has embittered my soul—
³As long as I live,
while I have breath from God,
⁴my lips will speak no evil,
and my tongue will speak no lies.
⁵I will never concede that you are right;
I will defend my integrity until I die.
⁶I will maintain my innocence without wavering.
My conscience is clear for as long as I live.

⁷“May my enemy be punished like the wicked,
my adversary like those who do evil.
⁸For what hope do the godless have when God cuts them off
and takes away their life?
⁹Will God listen to their cry
when trouble comes upon them?
¹⁰Can they take delight in the Almighty?
Can they call to God at any time?
¹¹I will teach you about God’s power.
I will not conceal anything concerning the Almighty.
¹²But you have seen all this,
yet you say all these useless things to me.

¹³“This is what the wicked will receive from God;
this is their inheritance from the Almighty.
¹⁴They may have many children,
but the children will die in war or starve to death.
¹⁵Those who survive will die of a plague,
and not even their widows will mourn them.

¹⁶“Evil people may have piles of money
and may store away mounds of clothing.
¹⁷But the righteous will wear that clothing,
and the innocent will divide that money.
¹⁸The wicked build houses as fragile as a spider’s web,^[f]
as flimsy as a shelter made of branches.
¹⁹The wicked go to bed rich
but wake to find that all their wealth is gone.
²⁰Terror overwhelms them like a flood,
and they are blown away in the storms of the night.
²¹The east wind carries them away, and they are gone.
It sweeps them away.
²²It whirls down on them without mercy.
They struggle to flee from its power.
²³But everyone jeers at them
and mocks them.

Footnotes:

24:19 Hebrew Sheol.
26:6a Hebrew Sheol.
26:6b Hebrew Abaddon.
26:9 Or covers his throne.
26:12 Hebrew Rahab, the name of a mythical sea monster that represents chaos in ancient literature.
27:18 As in Greek and Syriac versions (see also 8:14); Hebrew reads a moth.

New Living Translation (NLT)

2 Corinthians 1:12-2:11

Paul’s Change of Plans

¹²We can say with confidence and a clear conscience that we have lived with a God-given holiness^[a] and sincerity in all our dealings. We have depended on God’s grace, not on our own human wisdom. That is how we have conducted ourselves before the world, and especially toward you. ¹³Our letters have been straightforward, and there is nothing written between the lines and nothing you can’t understand. I hope someday you will fully understand us, ¹⁴even if you don’t understand us now. Then on the day when the Lord Jesus^[b] returns, you will be proud of us in the same way we are proud of you.

¹⁵Since I was so sure of your understanding and trust, I wanted to give you a double blessing by visiting you twice— ¹⁶first on my way to Macedonia and again when I returned from Macedonia.^[c] Then you could send me on my way to Judea.

¹⁷You may be asking why I changed my plan. Do you think I make my plans carelessly? Do you think I am like people of the world who say “Yes” when they really mean “No”? ¹⁸As surely as God is faithful, our word to you does not waver between “Yes” and “No.” ¹⁹For Jesus Christ, the Son of God, does not waver between “Yes” and “No.” He is the one whom Silas,^[d] Timothy, and I preached to you, and as God’s ultimate “Yes,” he always does what he says. ²⁰For all of God’s promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding “Yes!” And through Christ, our “Amen” (which means “Yes”) ascends to God for his glory.

²¹It is God who enables us, along with you, to stand firm for Christ. He has commissioned us, ²²and he has identified us as his own by placing the Holy Spirit in our hearts as the first installment that guarantees everything he has promised us.

²³Now I call upon God as my witness that I am telling the truth. The reason I didn’t return to Corinth was to spare you from a severe rebuke. ²⁴But that does not mean we want to dominate you by telling you how to put your faith into practice. We want to work together with you so you will be full of joy, for it is by your own faith that you stand firm.

2 So I decided that I would not bring you grief with another painful visit. ²For if I cause you grief, who will make me glad? Certainly not someone I have grieved. ³That is why I wrote to you as I did, so that when I do come, I won’t be grieved by the very ones who ought to give me the greatest joy. Surely you all know that my joy comes from your being joyful. ⁴I wrote that letter in great anguish, with a troubled heart and many tears. I didn’t want to grieve you, but I wanted to let you know how much love I have for you.

Forgiveness for the Sinner

⁵I am not overstating it when I say that the man who caused all the trouble hurt all of you more than he hurt me. ⁶Most of you opposed him, and that was punishment enough. ⁷Now, however, it is time to forgive and comfort him. Otherwise he may be overcome by discouragement. ⁸So I urge you now to reaffirm your love for him.

⁹I wrote to you as I did to test you and see if you would fully comply with my instructions. ¹⁰When you forgive this man, I forgive him, too. And when I forgive whatever needs to be forgiven, I do so with Christ’s authority for your benefit, ¹¹so that Satan will not outsmart us. For we are familiar with his evil schemes.

Footnotes:

1:12 Some manuscripts read honesty.
1:14 Some manuscripts read our Lord Jesus.
1:16 Macedonia was in the northern region of Greece.
1:19 Greek Silvanus.

New Living Translation (NLT)

Psalm 41

For the choir director: A psalm of David.

¹Oh, the joys of those who are kind to the poor!
The Lord rescues them when they are in trouble.
²The Lord protects them
and keeps them alive.
He gives them prosperity in the land
and rescues them from their enemies.
³The Lord nurses them when they are sick
and restores them to health.

⁴“O Lord,” I prayed, “have mercy on me.
Heal me, for I have sinned against you.”
⁵But my enemies say nothing but evil about me.
“How soon will he die and be forgotten?” they ask.
⁶They visit me as if they were my friends,
but all the while they gather gossip,
and when they leave, they spread it everywhere.
⁷All who hate me whisper about me,
imagining the worst.
⁸“He has some fatal disease,” they say.
“He will never get out of that bed!”
⁹Even my best friend, the one I trusted completely,
the one who shared my food, has turned against me.

¹⁰Lord, have mercy on me.
Make me well again, so I can pay them back!
¹¹I know you are pleased with me,
for you have not let my enemies triumph over me.
¹²You have preserved my life because I am innocent;
you have brought me into your presence forever.

¹³Praise the Lord, the God of Israel,
who lives from everlasting to everlasting.
Amen and amen!

New Living Translation (NLT)

Proverbs 22:5-6

⁵Corrupt people walk a thorny, treacherous road;
whoever values life will avoid it.

⁶Direct your children onto the right path,
and when they are older, they will not leave it.

New Living Translation (NLT)

August 26, 2021

The Daily Audio Bible Reading for Thursday August 26, 2021 (NIV)

Job 20-22

Zophar’s Second Response to Job

20 Then Zophar the Naamathite replied:

²“I must reply
because I am greatly disturbed.
³I’ve had to endure your insults,
but now my spirit prompts me to reply.

⁴“Don’t you realize that from the beginning of time,
ever since people were first placed on the earth,
⁵the triumph of the wicked has been short lived
and the joy of the godless has been only temporary?
⁶Though the pride of the godless reaches to the heavens
and their heads touch the clouds,
⁷yet they will vanish forever,
thrown away like their own dung.
Those who knew them will ask,
‘Where are they?’
⁸They will fade like a dream and not be found.
They will vanish like a vision in the night.
⁹Those who once saw them will see them no more.
Their families will never see them again.
¹⁰Their children will beg from the poor,
for they must give back their stolen riches.
¹¹Though they are young,
their bones will lie in the dust.

¹²“They enjoyed the sweet taste of wickedness,
letting it melt under their tongue.
¹³They savored it,
holding it long in their mouths.
¹⁴But suddenly the food in their bellies turns sour,
a poisonous venom in their stomach.
¹⁵They will vomit the wealth they swallowed.
God won’t let them keep it down.
¹⁶They will suck the poison of cobras.
The viper will kill them.
¹⁷They will never again enjoy streams of olive oil
or rivers of milk and honey.
¹⁸They will give back everything they worked for.
Their wealth will bring them no joy.
¹⁹For they oppressed the poor and left them destitute.
They foreclosed on their homes.
²⁰They were always greedy and never satisfied.
Nothing remains of all the things they dreamed about.
²¹Nothing is left after they finish gorging themselves.
Therefore, their prosperity will not endure.

²²“In the midst of plenty, they will run into trouble
and be overcome by misery.
²³May God give them a bellyful of trouble.
May God rain down his anger upon them.
²⁴When they try to escape an iron weapon,
a bronze-tipped arrow will pierce them.
²⁵The arrow is pulled from their back,
and the arrowhead glistens with blood.^[a]
The terrors of death are upon them.
²⁶Their treasures will be thrown into deepest darkness.
A wildfire will devour their goods,
consuming all they have left.
²⁷The heavens will reveal their guilt,
and the earth will testify against them.
²⁸A flood will sweep away their house.
God’s anger will descend on them in torrents.
²⁹This is the reward that God gives the wicked.
It is the inheritance decreed by God.”

Job’s Seventh Speech: A Response to Zophar

21 Then Job spoke again:

²“Listen closely to what I am saying.
That’s one consolation you can give me.
³Bear with me, and let me speak.
After I have spoken, you may resume mocking me.

⁴“My complaint is with God, not with people.
I have good reason to be so impatient.
⁵Look at me and be stunned.
Put your hand over your mouth in shock.
⁶When I think about what I am saying, I shudder.
My body trembles.

⁷“Why do the wicked prosper,
growing old and powerful?
⁸They live to see their children grow up and settle down,
and they enjoy their grandchildren.
⁹Their homes are safe from every fear,
and God does not punish them.
¹⁰Their bulls never fail to breed.
Their cows bear calves and never miscarry.
¹¹They let their children frisk about like lambs.
Their little ones skip and dance.
¹²They sing with tambourine and harp.
They celebrate to the sound of the flute.
¹³They spend their days in prosperity,
then go down to the grave^[b] in peace.
¹⁴And yet they say to God, ‘Go away.
We want no part of you and your ways.
¹⁵Who is the Almighty, and why should we obey him?
What good will it do us to pray?’
¹⁶(They think their prosperity is of their own doing,
but I will have nothing to do with that kind of thinking.)

¹⁷“Yet the light of the wicked never seems to be extinguished.
Do they ever have trouble?
Does God distribute sorrows to them in anger?
¹⁸Are they driven before the wind like straw?
Are they carried away by the storm like chaff?
Not at all!

¹⁹“‘Well,’ you say, ‘at least God will punish their children!’
But I say he should punish the ones who sin,
so that they understand his judgment.
²⁰Let them see their destruction with their own eyes.
Let them drink deeply of the anger of the Almighty.
²¹For they will not care what happens to their family
after they are dead.

²²“But who can teach a lesson to God,
since he judges even the most powerful?
²³One person dies in prosperity,
completely comfortable and secure,
²⁴the picture of good health,
vigorous and fit.
²⁵Another person dies in bitter poverty,
never having tasted the good life.
²⁶But both are buried in the same dust,
both eaten by the same maggots.

²⁷“Look, I know what you’re thinking.
I know the schemes you plot against me.
²⁸You will tell me of rich and wicked people
whose houses have vanished because of their sins.
²⁹But ask those who have been around,
and they will tell you the truth.
³⁰Evil people are spared in times of calamity
and are allowed to escape disaster.
³¹No one criticizes them openly
or pays them back for what they have done.
³²When they are carried to the grave,
an honor guard keeps watch at their tomb.
³³A great funeral procession goes to the cemetery.
Many pay their respects as the body is laid to rest,
and the earth gives sweet repose.

³⁴“How can your empty clichés comfort me?
All your explanations are lies!”

Eliphaz’s Third Response to Job

22 Then Eliphaz the Temanite replied:

²“Can a person do anything to help God?
Can even a wise person be helpful to him?
³Is it any advantage to the Almighty if you are righteous?
Would it be any gain to him if you were perfect?
⁴Is it because you’re so pious that he accuses you
and brings judgment against you?
⁵No, it’s because of your wickedness!
There’s no limit to your sins.

⁶“For example, you must have lent money to your friend
and demanded clothing as security.
Yes, you stripped him to the bone.
⁷You must have refused water for the thirsty
and food for the hungry.
⁸You probably think the land belongs to the powerful
and only the privileged have a right to it!
⁹You must have sent widows away empty-handed
and crushed the hopes of orphans.
¹⁰That is why you are surrounded by traps
and tremble from sudden fears.
¹¹That is why you cannot see in the darkness,
and waves of water cover you.

¹²“God is so great—higher than the heavens,
higher than the farthest stars.
¹³But you reply, ‘That’s why God can’t see what I am doing!
How can he judge through the thick darkness?
¹⁴For thick clouds swirl about him, and he cannot see us.
He is way up there, walking on the vault of heaven.’

¹⁵“Will you continue on the old paths
where evil people have walked?
¹⁶They were snatched away in the prime of life,
the foundations of their lives washed away.
¹⁷For they said to God, ‘Leave us alone!
What can the Almighty do to us?’
¹⁸Yet he was the one who filled their homes with good things,
so I will have nothing to do with that kind of thinking.

¹⁹“The righteous will be happy to see the wicked destroyed,
and the innocent will laugh in contempt.
²⁰They will say, ‘See how our enemies have been destroyed.
The last of them have been consumed in the fire.’

²¹“Submit to God, and you will have peace;
then things will go well for you.
²²Listen to his instructions,
and store them in your heart.
²³If you return to the Almighty, you will be restored—
so clean up your life.
²⁴If you give up your lust for money
and throw your precious gold into the river,
²⁵the Almighty himself will be your treasure.
He will be your precious silver!

²⁶“Then you will take delight in the Almighty
and look up to God.
²⁷You will pray to him, and he will hear you,
and you will fulfill your vows to him.
²⁸You will succeed in whatever you choose to do,
and light will shine on the road ahead of you.
²⁹If people are in trouble and you say, ‘Help them,’
God will save them.
³⁰Even sinners will be rescued;
they will be rescued because your hands are pure.”

Footnotes:

20:25 Hebrew with gall.
21:13 Hebrew to Sheol.

New Living Translation (NLT)

1 Corinthians 1:1-11

Greetings from Paul

1 This letter is from Paul, chosen by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and from our brother Sosthenes.

²I am writing to God’s church in Corinth,^[a] to you who have been called by God to be his own holy people. He made you holy by means of Christ Jesus,^[b] just as he did for all people everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours.

³May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.

Paul Gives Thanks to God

⁴I always thank my God for you and for the gracious gifts he has given you, now that you belong to Christ Jesus. ⁵Through him, God has enriched your church in every way—with all of your eloquent words and all of your knowledge. ⁶This confirms that what I told you about Christ is true. ⁷Now you have every spiritual gift you need as you eagerly wait for the return of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁸He will keep you strong to the end so that you will be free from all blame on the day when our Lord Jesus Christ returns. ⁹God will do this, for he is faithful to do what he says, and he has invited you into partnership with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Divisions in the Church

¹⁰I appeal to you, dear brothers and sisters,^[c] by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, to live in harmony with each other. Let there be no divisions in the church. Rather, be of one mind, united in thought and purpose. ¹¹For some members of Chloe’s household have told me about your quarrels, my dear brothers and sisters.

Footnotes:

1:2a Corinth was the capital city of Achaia, the southern region of the Greek peninsula.
1:2b Or because you belong to Christ Jesus.
1:10 Greek brothers; also in 1:11, 26.

New Living Translation (NLT)

Psalm 40:11-17

¹¹Lord, don’t hold back your tender mercies from me.
Let your unfailing love and faithfulness always protect me.
¹²For troubles surround me—
too many to count!
My sins pile up so high
I can’t see my way out.
They outnumber the hairs on my head.
I have lost all courage.

¹³Please, Lord, rescue me!
Come quickly, Lord, and help me.
¹⁴May those who try to destroy me
be humiliated and put to shame.
May those who take delight in my trouble
be turned back in disgrace.
¹⁵Let them be horrified by their shame,
for they said, “Aha! We’ve got him now!”

¹⁶But may all who search for you
be filled with joy and gladness in you.
May those who love your salvation
repeatedly shout, “The Lord is great!”
¹⁷As for me, since I am poor and needy,
let the Lord keep me in his thoughts.
You are my helper and my savior.
O my God, do not delay.

New Living Translation (NLT)

Proverbs 22:2-4

²The rich and poor have this in common:
The Lord made them both.

³A prudent person foresees danger and takes precautions.
The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences.

⁴True humility and fear of the Lord
lead to riches, honor, and long life.

New Living Translation (NLT)

August 25, 2021

The Daily Audio Bible Reading for Wednesday August 25, 2021 (NIV)

Job 16-19

Job’s Fifth Speech: A Response to Eliphaz

16 Then Job spoke again:

²“I have heard all this before.
What miserable comforters you are!
³Won’t you ever stop blowing hot air?
What makes you keep on talking?
⁴I could say the same things if you were in my place.
I could spout off criticism and shake my head at you.
⁵But if it were me, I would encourage you.
I would try to take away your grief.
⁶Instead, I suffer if I defend myself,
and I suffer no less if I refuse to speak.

⁷“O God, you have ground me down
and devastated my family.
⁸As if to prove I have sinned, you’ve reduced me to skin and bones.
My gaunt flesh testifies against me.
⁹God hates me and angrily tears me apart.
He snaps his teeth at me
and pierces me with his eyes.
¹⁰People jeer and laugh at me.
They slap my cheek in contempt.
A mob gathers against me.
¹¹God has handed me over to sinners.
He has tossed me into the hands of the wicked.

¹²“I was living quietly until he shattered me.
He took me by the neck and broke me in pieces.
Then he set me up as his target,
¹³and now his archers surround me.
His arrows pierce me without mercy.
The ground is wet with my blood.^[a]
¹⁴Again and again he smashes against me,
charging at me like a warrior.
¹⁵I wear burlap to show my grief.
My pride lies in the dust.
¹⁶My eyes are red with weeping;
dark shadows circle my eyes.
¹⁷Yet I have done no wrong,
and my prayer is pure.

¹⁸“O earth, do not conceal my blood.
Let it cry out on my behalf.
¹⁹Even now my witness is in heaven.
My advocate is there on high.
²⁰My friends scorn me,
but I pour out my tears to God.
²¹I need someone to mediate between God and me,
as a person mediates between friends.
²²For soon I must go down that road
from which I will never return.

Job Continues to Defend His Innocence

17 “My spirit is crushed,
and my life is nearly snuffed out.
The grave is ready to receive me.
²I am surrounded by mockers.
I watch how bitterly they taunt me.

³“You must defend my innocence, O God,
since no one else will stand up for me.
⁴You have closed their minds to understanding,
but do not let them triumph.
⁵They betray their friends for their own advantage,
so let their children faint with hunger.

⁶“God has made a mockery of me among the people;
they spit in my face.
⁷My eyes are swollen with weeping,
and I am but a shadow of my former self.
⁸The virtuous are horrified when they see me.
The innocent rise up against the ungodly.
⁹The righteous keep moving forward,
and those with clean hands become stronger and stronger.

¹⁰“As for all of you, come back with a better argument,
though I still won’t find a wise man among you.
¹¹My days are over.
My hopes have disappeared.
My heart’s desires are broken.
¹²These men say that night is day;
they claim that the darkness is light.
¹³What if I go to the grave^[b]
and make my bed in darkness?
¹⁴What if I call the grave my father,
and the maggot my mother or my sister?
¹⁵Where then is my hope?
Can anyone find it?
¹⁶No, my hope will go down with me to the grave.
We will rest together in the dust!”

Bildad’s Second Response to Job

18 Then Bildad the Shuhite replied:

²“How long before you stop talking?
Speak sense if you want us to answer!
³Do you think we are mere animals?
Do you think we are stupid?
⁴You may tear out your hair in anger,
but will that destroy the earth?
Will it make the rocks tremble?

⁵“Surely the light of the wicked will be snuffed out.
The sparks of their fire will not glow.
⁶The light in their tent will grow dark.
The lamp hanging above them will be quenched.
⁷The confident stride of the wicked will be shortened.
Their own schemes will be their downfall.
⁸The wicked walk into a net.
They fall into a pit.
⁹A trap grabs them by the heel.
A snare holds them tight.
¹⁰A noose lies hidden on the ground.
A rope is stretched across their path.

¹¹“Terrors surround the wicked
and trouble them at every step.
¹²Hunger depletes their strength,
and calamity waits for them to stumble.
¹³Disease eats their skin;
death devours their limbs.
¹⁴They are torn from the security of their homes
and are brought down to the king of terrors.
¹⁵The homes of the wicked will burn down;
burning sulfur rains on their houses.
¹⁶Their roots will dry up,
and their branches will wither.
¹⁷All memory of their existence will fade from the earth;
no one will remember their names.
¹⁸They will be thrust from light into darkness,
driven from the world.
¹⁹They will have neither children nor grandchildren,
nor any survivor in the place where they lived.
²⁰People in the west are appalled at their fate;
people in the east are horrified.
²¹They will say, ‘This was the home of a wicked person,
the place of one who rejected God.’”

Job’s Sixth Speech: A Response to Bildad

19 Then Job spoke again:

²“How long will you torture me?
How long will you try to crush me with your words?
³You have already insulted me ten times.
You should be ashamed of treating me so badly.
⁴Even if I have sinned,
that is my concern, not yours.
⁵You think you’re better than I am,
using my humiliation as evidence of my sin.
⁶But it is God who has wronged me,
capturing me in his net.^[c]

⁷“I cry out, ‘Help!’ but no one answers me.
I protest, but there is no justice.
⁸God has blocked my way so I cannot move.
He has plunged my path into darkness.
⁹He has stripped me of my honor
and removed the crown from my head.
¹⁰He has demolished me on every side, and I am finished.
He has uprooted my hope like a fallen tree.
¹¹His fury burns against me;
he counts me as an enemy.
¹²His troops advance.
They build up roads to attack me.
They camp all around my tent.

¹³“My relatives stay far away,
and my friends have turned against me.
¹⁴My family is gone,
and my close friends have forgotten me.
¹⁵My servants and maids consider me a stranger.
I am like a foreigner to them.
¹⁶When I call my servant, he doesn’t come;
I have to plead with him!
¹⁷My breath is repulsive to my wife.
I am rejected by my own family.
¹⁸Even young children despise me.
When I stand to speak, they turn their backs on me.
¹⁹My close friends detest me.
Those I loved have turned against me.
²⁰I have been reduced to skin and bones
and have escaped death by the skin of my teeth.

²¹“Have mercy on me, my friends, have mercy,
for the hand of God has struck me.
²²Must you also persecute me, like God does?
Haven’t you chewed me up enough?

²³“Oh, that my words could be recorded.
Oh, that they could be inscribed on a monument,
²⁴carved with an iron chisel and filled with lead,
engraved forever in the rock.

²⁵“But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives,
and he will stand upon the earth at last.
²⁶And after my body has decayed,
yet in my body I will see God!^[d]
²⁷I will see him for myself.
Yes, I will see him with my own eyes.
I am overwhelmed at the thought!

²⁸“How dare you go on persecuting me,
saying, ‘It’s his own fault’?
²⁹You should fear punishment yourselves,
for your attitude deserves punishment.
Then you will know that there is indeed a judgment.”

Footnotes:

16:13 Hebrew my gall.
17:13 Hebrew to Sheol; also in 17:16.
19:6 Or for I am like a city under siege.
19:26 Or without my body I will see God. The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain.

New Living Translation (NLT)

1 Corinthians 16

The Collection for Jerusalem

16 Now regarding your question about the money being collected for God’s people in Jerusalem. You should follow the same procedure I gave to the churches in Galatia. ²On the first day of each week, you should each put aside a portion of the money you have earned. Don’t wait until I get there and then try to collect it all at once. ³When I come, I will write letters of recommendation for the messengers you choose to deliver your gift to Jerusalem. ⁴And if it seems appropriate for me to go along, they can travel with me.

Paul’s Final Instructions

⁵I am coming to visit you after I have been to Macedonia,^[a] for I am planning to travel through Macedonia. ⁶Perhaps I will stay awhile with you, possibly all winter, and then you can send me on my way to my next destination. ⁷This time I don’t want to make just a short visit and then go right on. I want to come and stay awhile, if the Lord will let me. ⁸In the meantime, I will be staying here at Ephesus until the Festival of Pentecost. ⁹There is a wide-open door for a great work here, although many oppose me.

¹⁰When Timothy comes, don’t intimidate him. He is doing the Lord’s work, just as I am. ¹¹Don’t let anyone treat him with contempt. Send him on his way with your blessing when he returns to me. I expect him to come with the other believers.^[b]

¹²Now about our brother Apollos—I urged him to visit you with the other believers, but he was not willing to go right now. He will see you later when he has the opportunity.

¹³Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous.^[c] Be strong. ¹⁴And do everything with love.

¹⁵You know that Stephanas and his household were the first of the harvest of believers in Greece,^[d] and they are spending their lives in service to God’s people. I urge you, dear brothers and sisters,^[e] ¹⁶to submit to them and others like them who serve with such devotion. ¹⁷I am very glad that Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus have come here. They have been providing the help you weren’t here to give me. ¹⁸They have been a wonderful encouragement to me, as they have been to you. You must show your appreciation to all who serve so well.

Paul’s Final Greetings

¹⁹The churches here in the province of Asia^[f] send greetings in the Lord, as do Aquila and Priscilla^[g] and all the others who gather in their home for church meetings. ²⁰All the brothers and sisters here send greetings to you. Greet each other with a sacred kiss.

²¹HERE IS MY GREETING IN MY OWN HANDWRITING—PAUL.

²²If anyone does not love the Lord, that person is cursed. Our Lord, come!^[h]

²³May the grace of the Lord Jesus be with you.

²⁴My love to all of you in Christ Jesus.^[i]

Footnotes:

16:5 Macedonia was in the northern region of Greece.
16:11 Greek with the brothers; also in 16:12.
16:13 Greek Be men.
16:15a Greek in Achaia, the southern region of the Greek peninsula.
16:15b Greek brothers; also in 16:20.
16:19a Asia was a Roman province in what is now western Turkey.
16:19b Greek Prisca.
16:22 From Aramaic, Marana tha. Some manuscripts read Maran atha, “Our Lord has come.”
16:24 Some manuscripts add Amen.

New Living Translation (NLT)

Psalm 40:1-10

Psalm 40

For the choir director: A psalm of David.

¹I waited patiently for the Lord to help me,
and he turned to me and heard my cry.
²He lifted me out of the pit of despair,
out of the mud and the mire.
He set my feet on solid ground
and steadied me as I walked along.
³He has given me a new song to sing,
a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see what he has done and be amazed.
They will put their trust in the Lord.

⁴Oh, the joys of those who trust the Lord,
who have no confidence in the proud
or in those who worship idols.
⁵O Lord my God, you have performed many wonders for us.
Your plans for us are too numerous to list.
You have no equal.
If I tried to recite all your wonderful deeds,
I would never come to the end of them.

⁶You take no delight in sacrifices or offerings.
Now that you have made me listen, I finally understand^[a]—
you don’t require burnt offerings or sin offerings.
⁷Then I said, “Look, I have come.
As is written about me in the Scriptures:
⁸I take joy in doing your will, my God,
for your instructions are written on my heart.”

⁹I have told all your people about your justice.
I have not been afraid to speak out,
as you, O Lord, well know.
¹⁰I have not kept the good news of your justice hidden in my heart;
I have talked about your faithfulness and saving power.
I have told everyone in the great assembly
of your unfailing love and faithfulness.

Footnotes:

40:6 Greek version reads You have given me a body. Compare Heb 10:5.

New Living Translation (NLT)

Proverbs 22:1

22 Choose a good reputation over great riches;
being held in high esteem is better than silver or gold.

New Living Translation (NLT)

Ecclesiastes 4-6

Oppression, Toil, Friendlessness

Advancement Is Meaningless

Fulfill Your Vow to God

Riches Are Meaningless

Footnotes:

Cross references:

2 Corinthians 6:14-7:7

Warning Against Idolatry

Paul’s Joy Over the Church’s Repentance

Footnotes:

Cross references:

Psalm 47

Psalm 47[a]

For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm.

Footnotes:

Cross references:

Proverbs 22:16

Ecclesiastes 1-3

Everything Is Meaningless

Wisdom Is Meaningless

Pleasures Are Meaningless

Wisdom and Folly Are Meaningless

Toil Is Meaningless

A Time for Everything

Footnotes:

Cross references:

2 Corinthians 6:1-13

Paul’s Hardships

Footnotes:

Cross references:

Psalm 46

Psalm 46[a]

For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. According to alamoth.[b] A song.

Footnotes:

Cross references:

Proverbs 22:15

Cross references:

Job 40-42

Job

Epilogue

Footnotes:

Cross references:

2 Corinthians 5:11-21

The Ministry of Reconciliation

Footnotes:

Cross references:

Psalm 45

Psalm 45[a]

For the director of music. To the tune of “Lilies.” Of the Sons of Korah. A maskil.[b] A wedding song.(A)

Footnotes:

Cross references:

Proverbs 22:14

Cross references:

Job 37-39

The Lord Speaks

Footnotes:

Cross references:

2 Corinthians 4:13-5:10

Awaiting the New Body

Footnotes:

Cross references:

Psalm 44:9-26

Cross references:

Proverbs 22:13

Cross references:

Job 34-36

Footnotes:

Cross references:

2 Corinthians 4:1-12

Present Weakness and Resurrection Life

Footnotes:

Cross references:

Psalm 44:1-8

Psalm 44[a]

For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A maskil.[b]

Footnotes:

Cross references:

Proverbs 22:10-12

Cross references:

Psalm 47^[a]

Psalm 46^[a]

For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. According to alamoth.^[b] A song.

Psalm 45^[a]

For the director of music. To the tune of “Lilies.” Of the Sons of Korah. A maskil.^[b] A wedding song.^(A)

Psalm 44^[a]

For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A maskil.^[b]

Psalm 43^[a]

For the choir director: A psalm^[a] of the descendants of Korah.