WEBVTT 00:00:00.919 --> 00:00:03.700 Hello, this is Father Paul, and I'm glad we're 00:00:03.700 --> 00:00:05.740 taking this journey together to read the Bible 00:00:05.740 --> 00:00:08.839 in a year. Today's reading is from the book of 00:00:08.839 --> 00:00:13.439 Job, chapters 9 through 12. Chapter 9 Then Job 00:00:13.439 --> 00:00:16.839 answered and said, Truly I know it is so, but 00:00:16.839 --> 00:00:19.579 how can a man be righteous before God? If one 00:00:19.579 --> 00:00:21.920 wished to contend with him, he could not answer 00:00:21.920 --> 00:00:26.039 him one time out of a thousand. God is wise in 00:00:26.039 --> 00:00:28.750 heart and mighty in strength. who has hardened 00:00:28.750 --> 00:00:31.390 himself against him and prospered he removes 00:00:31.390 --> 00:00:34.369 the mountains and they do not know when he overturns 00:00:34.369 --> 00:00:36.890 them in his anger he shakes the earth out of 00:00:36.890 --> 00:00:39.850 its place and its pillars tremble he commands 00:00:39.850 --> 00:00:42.890 the sun and it does not rise he seals off the 00:00:42.890 --> 00:00:45.929 stars he alone spreads out the heavens and treads 00:00:45.929 --> 00:00:49.130 on the waves of the sea he made the bear orion 00:00:49.130 --> 00:00:51.590 and the pleiades and the chambers of the south 00:00:51.590 --> 00:00:55.469 he does great things past finding out yes wonders 00:00:55.469 --> 00:00:58.810 without number If he goes by me, I do not see 00:00:58.810 --> 00:01:01.630 him. If he moves past, I do not perceive him. 00:01:01.729 --> 00:01:04.909 If he takes away, who can hinder him? Who can 00:01:04.909 --> 00:01:07.689 say to him, what are you doing? God will not 00:01:07.689 --> 00:01:10.730 withdraw his anger. The allies of the proud lie 00:01:10.730 --> 00:01:13.629 prostrate beneath him. How then can I answer 00:01:13.629 --> 00:01:16.890 him and choose my words to reason with him? For 00:01:16.890 --> 00:01:19.310 though I were righteous, I could not answer him. 00:01:19.430 --> 00:01:22.530 I would beg mercy of my judge. If I called and 00:01:22.530 --> 00:01:24.969 he answered me, I would not believe that he was 00:01:24.969 --> 00:01:27.840 listening to my voice. For he crushes me with 00:01:27.840 --> 00:01:30.799 a tempest, and multiplies my wounds without cause. 00:01:31.019 --> 00:01:33.719 He will not allow me to catch my breath, but 00:01:33.719 --> 00:01:36.819 fills me with bitterness. If it is a matter of 00:01:36.819 --> 00:01:40.099 strength, indeed he is strong. And if of justice, 00:01:40.359 --> 00:01:43.400 who will appoint my day in court? Though I were 00:01:43.400 --> 00:01:46.599 righteous, my own mouth would condemn me. Though 00:01:46.599 --> 00:01:49.260 I were blameless, it would prove me perverse. 00:01:49.760 --> 00:01:53.659 I am blameless, yet I do not know myself. I despise 00:01:53.659 --> 00:01:56.950 my life. It is all one thing. therefore i say 00:01:56.950 --> 00:02:00.329 he destroys the blameless and the wicked if the 00:02:00.329 --> 00:02:03.590 scourge slays suddenly he laughs at the plight 00:02:03.590 --> 00:02:06.090 of the innocent the earth is given into the hand 00:02:06.090 --> 00:02:08.729 of the wicked he covers the faces of its judges 00:02:08.729 --> 00:02:12.969 if it is not he who else could it be now my days 00:02:12.969 --> 00:02:15.849 are swifter than a runner they flee away they 00:02:15.849 --> 00:02:19.590 see no good they pass by like swift ships like 00:02:19.590 --> 00:02:23.360 an eagle swooping on its prey If I say, I will 00:02:23.360 --> 00:02:26.300 forget my complaint, I will put off my sad face 00:02:26.300 --> 00:02:29.900 and wear a smile. I am afraid of all my sufferings. 00:02:29.919 --> 00:02:32.919 I know that you will not hold me innocent. If 00:02:32.919 --> 00:02:35.659 I am condemned, why then do I labor in vain? 00:02:35.960 --> 00:02:39.039 If I wash myself with snow water and cleanse 00:02:39.039 --> 00:02:42.360 my hands with soap, yet you will plunge me into 00:02:42.360 --> 00:02:45.939 the pit, and my own clothes will abhor me. For 00:02:45.939 --> 00:02:49.199 he is not a man as I am, that I may answer him, 00:02:49.300 --> 00:02:52.000 and that we should go to court together. nor 00:02:52.000 --> 00:02:54.900 is there any mediator between us, who may lay 00:02:54.900 --> 00:02:58.120 his hand on us both. Let him take his rod away 00:02:58.120 --> 00:03:01.439 from me, and do not let dread of him terrify 00:03:01.439 --> 00:03:04.199 me. Then I would speak and not fear him, but 00:03:04.199 --> 00:03:11.580 it is not so with me. My soul loathes my life. 00:03:11.780 --> 00:03:14.500 I will give free course to my complaint. I will 00:03:14.500 --> 00:03:17.020 speak in the bitterness of my soul. I will say 00:03:17.020 --> 00:03:20.259 to God, Do not condemn me. Show me why you contend 00:03:20.259 --> 00:03:23.129 with me. Does it seem good to you that you should 00:03:23.129 --> 00:03:25.770 oppress, that you should despise the work of 00:03:25.770 --> 00:03:28.370 your hands and smile on the counsel of the wicked? 00:03:28.590 --> 00:03:31.710 Do you have eyes of flesh, or do you see as man 00:03:31.710 --> 00:03:34.330 sees? Are your days like the days of a mortal 00:03:34.330 --> 00:03:36.969 man? Are your years like the days of a mighty 00:03:36.969 --> 00:03:39.969 man that you should seek for my iniquity and 00:03:39.969 --> 00:03:43.330 search out my sin? Although you know that I am 00:03:43.330 --> 00:03:45.729 not wicked, and there is no one who can deliver 00:03:45.729 --> 00:03:49.009 from your hand, your hands have made me and fashioned 00:03:49.009 --> 00:03:52.400 me. and intricate unity, yet you would destroy 00:03:52.400 --> 00:03:56.000 me. Remember, I pray, that you have made me like 00:03:56.000 --> 00:03:59.159 clay, and will you turn me into dust again? Did 00:03:59.159 --> 00:04:01.860 you not pour me out like milk, and curdle me 00:04:01.860 --> 00:04:05.439 like cheese? Clothe me with skin and flesh, and 00:04:05.439 --> 00:04:08.159 knit me together with bones and sinews? You have 00:04:08.159 --> 00:04:11.020 granted me life and favor, and your care has 00:04:11.020 --> 00:04:13.939 preserved my spirit, and these things you have 00:04:13.939 --> 00:04:16.620 hidden in your heart. I know that this was with 00:04:16.620 --> 00:04:19.970 you. If I sin, then you mark me, and will not 00:04:19.970 --> 00:04:22.970 acquit me of my iniquity. If I am wicked, woe 00:04:22.970 --> 00:04:26.029 to me. Even if I am righteous, I cannot lift 00:04:26.029 --> 00:04:29.569 up my head. I am full of disgrace, see my misery. 00:04:29.769 --> 00:04:32.610 If my head is exalted, you hunt me like a fierce 00:04:32.610 --> 00:04:35.670 lion, and again you show yourself awesome against 00:04:35.670 --> 00:04:38.910 me. You renew your witnesses against me, and 00:04:38.910 --> 00:04:41.649 increase your indignation toward me. Changes 00:04:41.649 --> 00:04:45.149 and war are ever with me. Why then have you brought 00:04:45.149 --> 00:04:48.110 me out of the womb? O that I had perished and 00:04:48.110 --> 00:04:50.829 no eye had seen me! I would have been as though 00:04:50.829 --> 00:04:53.589 I had not been. I would have been carried from 00:04:53.589 --> 00:04:57.709 the womb to the grave. Are not my days few? Cease, 00:04:57.730 --> 00:05:00.790 leave me alone, that I may take a little comfort 00:05:00.790 --> 00:05:03.509 before I go to the place from which I shall not 00:05:03.509 --> 00:05:05.990 return, to the land of darkness and the shadow 00:05:05.990 --> 00:05:08.889 of death, a land as dark as darkness itself, 00:05:09.250 --> 00:05:12.550 as the shadow of death without any order, where 00:05:12.550 --> 00:05:18.430 even the light is like darkness. Chapter 11 Then 00:05:18.430 --> 00:05:21.750 Zophar the Nematite answered and said, Should 00:05:21.750 --> 00:05:24.410 not the multitude of words be answered? And should 00:05:24.410 --> 00:05:27.529 a man full of talk be vindicated? Should your 00:05:27.529 --> 00:05:30.509 empty talk make men hold their peace? And when 00:05:30.509 --> 00:05:33.250 you mock, should no one rebuke you? For you have 00:05:33.250 --> 00:05:36.329 said, My doctrine is pure, and I am clean in 00:05:36.329 --> 00:05:39.750 your eyes. But, O, that God would speak, and 00:05:39.750 --> 00:05:42.389 open his lips against you, that he should show 00:05:42.389 --> 00:05:45.310 you the secrets of wisdom, for they would double 00:05:45.310 --> 00:05:48.500 your prudence. Know therefore that God exacts 00:05:48.500 --> 00:05:51.779 from you less than your iniquity deserves. Can 00:05:51.779 --> 00:05:54.300 you search out the deep things of God? Can you 00:05:54.300 --> 00:05:56.720 find out the limits of the Almighty? They are 00:05:56.720 --> 00:05:59.959 higher than heaven. What can you do? Deeper than 00:05:59.959 --> 00:06:03.339 Sheol. What can you know? Their measure is longer 00:06:03.339 --> 00:06:06.120 than the earth and broader than the sea. If he 00:06:06.120 --> 00:06:09.160 passes by, imprisons, and gathers to judgment, 00:06:09.399 --> 00:06:12.240 then who can hinder him? For he knows deceitful 00:06:12.240 --> 00:06:15.410 men. He sees wickedness also. will he not then 00:06:15.410 --> 00:06:18.250 consider it for an empty -headed man will be 00:06:18.250 --> 00:06:21.730 wise when a wild donkey's colt is born a man 00:06:21.730 --> 00:06:24.949 if you would prepare your heart and stretch out 00:06:24.949 --> 00:06:27.509 your hands toward him if iniquity were in your 00:06:27.509 --> 00:06:30.329 hand and you put it far away and would not let 00:06:30.329 --> 00:06:33.250 wickedness dwell in your tents then surely you 00:06:33.250 --> 00:06:36.230 could lift up your face without spot yes you 00:06:36.230 --> 00:06:38.970 could be steadfast and not fear because you would 00:06:38.970 --> 00:06:41.529 forget your misery and remember it as waters 00:06:41.529 --> 00:07:11.899 that have passed away Chapter 12 Then Job answered 00:07:11.899 --> 00:07:14.990 and said, no doubt you are the people and wisdom 00:07:14.990 --> 00:07:18.170 will die with you but i have understanding as 00:07:18.170 --> 00:07:21.889 well as you i am not inferior to you indeed who 00:07:21.889 --> 00:07:25.509 does not know such things as these i am one mocked 00:07:25.509 --> 00:07:28.170 by his friends who called on god and he answered 00:07:28.170 --> 00:07:31.589 him the just and blameless who is ridiculed a 00:07:31.589 --> 00:07:34.449 lamp is despised in the thought of one who is 00:07:34.449 --> 00:07:37.889 at ease it is made ready for those whose feet 00:07:37.889 --> 00:07:41.300 slip The tents of robbers prosper, and those 00:07:41.300 --> 00:07:44.480 who provoke God are secure, in what God provides 00:07:44.480 --> 00:07:47.860 by His hand. But now ask the beasts, and they 00:07:47.860 --> 00:07:50.240 will teach you, and the birds of the air, and 00:07:50.240 --> 00:07:52.779 they will tell you. Or speak to the earth, and 00:07:52.779 --> 00:07:55.180 it will teach you, and the fish of the sea will 00:07:55.180 --> 00:07:58.560 explain to you. Who among all these does not 00:07:58.560 --> 00:08:01.139 know that the hand of the Lord has done this, 00:08:01.279 --> 00:08:04.279 in whose hand is the life of every living thing, 00:08:04.500 --> 00:08:07.750 and the breath of all mankind? Does not the ear 00:08:07.750 --> 00:08:11.569 test words, and the mouth taste its food? Wisdom 00:08:11.569 --> 00:08:15.170 is with aged men, and with length of days understanding. 00:08:16.009 --> 00:08:19.209 With him are wisdom and strength. He has counsel 00:08:19.209 --> 00:08:21.910 and understanding. If he breaks a thing down, 00:08:22.050 --> 00:08:24.709 it cannot be rebuilt. If he imprisons a man, 00:08:24.889 --> 00:08:28.009 there can be no release. If he withholds the 00:08:28.009 --> 00:08:31.470 waters, they dry up. If he sends them out, they 00:08:31.470 --> 00:08:34.470 overwhelm the earth. With him are strength and 00:08:34.470 --> 00:08:37.340 prudence. The deceived and the deceiver are his. 00:08:37.600 --> 00:08:40.820 He leads counselors away plundered and makes 00:08:40.820 --> 00:08:43.820 fools of the judges. He loosens the bonds of 00:08:43.820 --> 00:08:47.480 kings and binds their waist with a belt. He leads 00:08:47.480 --> 00:08:50.159 princes away plundered and overthrows the mighty. 00:08:50.379 --> 00:08:53.720 He deprives the trusted ones of speech and takes 00:08:53.720 --> 00:08:56.559 away the discernment of the elders. He pours 00:08:56.559 --> 00:08:59.799 contempt on princes and disarms the mighty. He 00:08:59.799 --> 00:09:02.720 uncovers deep things out of darkness and brings 00:09:02.720 --> 00:09:05.899 the shadow of death to light. He makes nations 00:09:05.899 --> 00:09:08.799 great and destroys them. He enlarges nations 00:09:08.799 --> 00:09:12.139 and guides them. He takes away the understanding 00:09:12.139 --> 00:09:14.940 of the chiefs of the people of the earth and 00:09:14.940 --> 00:09:18.340 makes them wander in a pathless wilderness. They 00:09:18.340 --> 00:09:20.820 grope in the dark without light and he makes 00:09:20.820 --> 00:09:29.340 them stagger like a drunken man. I hope you enjoyed 00:09:29.340 --> 00:09:31.899 today's reading as much as I did and I look forward 00:09:31.899 --> 00:09:33.940 to seeing you again tomorrow to continue on our 00:09:33.940 --> 00:09:36.049 journey. God bless you and have a great day.