Hello, this is Father Paul, and I'm glad we're
taking this journey together to read the Bible
in a year. Today's reading is from the book of
Job, chapters 5 through 8. Chapter 5 Call out
now, is there anyone who will answer you? And
to which of the holy ones will you turn? For
wrath kills a foolish man, and envy slays a simple
one. I have seen the foolish take root, but suddenly
I cursed his dwelling place. they are crushed
in the gate and there is no deliverer because
the hungry eat up his harvest taking it even
from the thorns and a snare snatches their substance
for affliction does not come from the dust nor
does trouble spring from the ground yet man is
born to trouble as the sparks fly upward but
as for me i would seek god and to god i would
commit my cause who does great things and unsearchable
marvellous things without number he gives rain
on the earth and sends waters on the fields he
sets on high those who are lowly and those who
mourn are lifted to safety he frustrates the
devices of the crafty so that their hands cannot
carry out their plans he catches the wise in
their own craftiness and the counsel of the cunning
comes quickly upon them they meet with darkness
in the daytime and grope at noontime as in the
night but he saves the needy from the sword from
the mouth of the mighty and from their hand So
the poor have hope, and injustice shuts her mouth.
Behold, happy is the man whom God corrects. Therefore
do not despise the chastening of the Almighty.
For he bruises, but he binds up. He wounds, but
his hands make whole. He shall deliver you in
six troubles. Yes, in seven no evil shall touch
you. In famine he shall redeem you from death,
and in war from the power of the sword. You shall
be hidden from the scourge of the tongue, and
you shall not be afraid of destruction when it
comes. you shall laugh at destruction and famine
and you shall not be afraid of the beasts of
the earth for you shall have a covenant with
the stones of the field and the beasts of the
field shall be at peace with you you shall know
that your tent is in peace you shall visit your
dwelling and find nothing amiss you shall also
know that your descendants shall be many and
your offspring like the grass of the earth you
shall come to the grave at a full age as a sheaf
of grain ripens in its season Behold, this we
have searched out. It is true. Hear it and know
for yourself. Chapter 6 Then Job answered and
said, O that my grief were fully weighed, and
my calamity laid with it on the scales! For then
it would be heavier than the sand of the sea.
Therefore my words have been rash. For the arrows
of the Almighty are within me. My spirit drinks
in their poison. The terrors of God are arrayed
against me. Does the wild donkey bray when it
has grass, or does the ox low over its fodder?
Can flavorless food be eaten without salt, or
is there any taste in the white of an egg? My
soul refuses to touch them. They are as loathsome
food to me. Oh, that I might have my request,
that God would grant me the thing that I long
for, that it would please God to crush me, that
he would loose his hand and cut me off. then
i would still have comfort though in anguish
i would exalt he will not spare for i have not
concealed the words of the holy one what strength
do i have that i should hope and what is my end
that i should prolong my life is my strength
the strength of stones or is my flesh bronze
is my help not within me and is success driven
from me to him who is afflicted kindness should
be shown by his friend even though he forsakes
the fear of the Almighty. My brothers have dealt
deceitfully like a brook, like the streams of
the brooks that pass away, which are dark because
of the ice, and into which the snow vanishes.
When it is warm, they cease to flow. When it
is hot, they vanish from their place. The paths
of their way turn aside. They go nowhere and
perish. The caravans of Tema look. The travelers
of Sheba hope for them. They are disappointed
because they were confident. They come there
and are confused. For now you are nothing. You
see terror and are afraid. Did I ever say, bring
something to me? Or offer a bribe for me from
your wealth? Or deliver me from the enemy's hand?
Or redeem me from the hand of oppressors? Teach
me and I will hold my tongue. Cause me to understand
wherein I have erred. How forceful are right
words! But what does your arguing prove? Chapter
7 Is there not a time of hard service for man
on earth? Are not his days also like the days
of a hired man, like a servant who earnestly
desires the shade, and like a hired man who eagerly
looks for his wages? So I have been allotted
month of futility, and wearisome nights have
been appointed to me. When I lie down, I say,
When shall I arise, and the night be ended? For
I have had my fill of tossing till dawn. my flesh
is caked with worms and dust my skin is cracked
and breaks out afresh my days are swifter than
a weaver's shuttle and are spent without hope
o remember that my life is a breath my eye will
never again see good the eye of him who sees
me will see me no more while your eyes are upon
me i shall no longer be as the cloud disappears
and vanishes away so he who goes down to the
grave does not come up He shall never return
to his house, nor shall his place know him any
more. Therefore I will not restrain my mouth.
I will speak in the anguish of my spirit. I will
complain in the bitterness of my soul. Am I a
sea or a sea serpent that you set a guard over
me? When I say my bed will comfort me, my couch
will ease my complaint. Then you scare me with
dreams and terrify me with visions, so that my
soul chooses strangling and death rather than
my body. I loathe my life. I would not live forever.
Let me alone, for my days are but a breath. What
is man that you should exalt him, that you should
set your heart on him, that you should visit
him every morning and test him every moment?
How long? Will you not look away from me and
let me alone till I swallow my saliva? Have I
sinned? What have I done to you, O watcher of
men? why have you set me as your target so that
i am a burden to myself why then do you not pardon
my transgression and take away my iniquity for
now i will lie down in the dust and you will
seek me diligently but i will no longer be chapter
eight then bildad the shuhite answered and said
How long will you speak these things, and the
words of your mouth be like a strong wind? Does
God subvert judgment, or does the Almighty pervert
justice? If your sons have sinned against Him,
He has cast them away for their transgression.
If you would earnestly seek God and make your
supplication to the Almighty, if you were pure
and upright, surely now He would awake for you
and prosper your rightful dwelling place. Though
your beginning was small, yet your latter end
would increase abundantly. For inquire, please,
of the former age, and consider the things discovered
by their fathers. For we were born yesterday
and know nothing, because our days on earth are
a shadow. Will they not teach you and tell you
and utter words from their heart? Can the papyrus
grow up without a marsh? Can the reeds flourish
without water? While it is yet green and not
cut down, it withers before any other plant.
So are the paths of all who forget God, and the
hope of the hypocrite shall perish, whose confidence
shall be cut off, and whose trust is a spider's
web. He leans on his house, but it does not stand.
He holds it fast, but it does not endure. He
grows green in the sun, and his branches spread
out in his garden. His roots wrap around the
rock heap and look for a place in the stones.
If he is destroyed from his place, then it will
deny him, saying, I have not seen you. I hope
you enjoyed today's reading as much as I did.
And I look forward to seeing you again tomorrow
to continue on our journey. God bless you and
have a great day.