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 9 through 12. Chapter 9 Then Job
answered and said, Truly I know it is so, but
how can a man be righteous before God? If one
wished to contend with him, he could not answer
him one time out of a thousand. God is wise in
heart and mighty in strength. who has hardened
himself against him and prospered he removes
the mountains and they do not know when he overturns
them in his anger he shakes the earth out of
its place and its pillars tremble he commands
the sun and it does not rise he seals off the
stars he alone spreads out the heavens and treads
on the waves of the sea he made the bear orion
and the pleiades and the chambers of the south
he does great things past finding out yes wonders
without number If he goes by me, I do not see
him. If he moves past, I do not perceive him.
If he takes away, who can hinder him? Who can
say to him, what are you doing? God will not
withdraw his anger. The allies of the proud lie
prostrate beneath him. How then can I answer
him and choose my words to reason with him? For
though I were righteous, I could not answer him.
I would beg mercy of my judge. If I called and
he answered me, I would not believe that he was
listening to my voice. For he crushes me with
a tempest, and multiplies my wounds without cause.
He will not allow me to catch my breath, but
fills me with bitterness. If it is a matter of
strength, indeed he is strong. And if of justice,
who will appoint my day in court? Though I were
righteous, my own mouth would condemn me. Though
I were blameless, it would prove me perverse.
I am blameless, yet I do not know myself. I despise
my life. It is all one thing. therefore i say
he destroys the blameless and the wicked if the
scourge slays suddenly he laughs at the plight
of the innocent the earth is given into the hand
of the wicked he covers the faces of its judges
if it is not he who else could it be now my days
are swifter than a runner they flee away they
see no good they pass by like swift ships like
an eagle swooping on its prey If I say, I will
forget my complaint, I will put off my sad face
and wear a smile. I am afraid of all my sufferings.
I know that you will not hold me innocent. If
I am condemned, why then do I labor in vain?
If I wash myself with snow water and cleanse
my hands with soap, yet you will plunge me into
the pit, and my own clothes will abhor me. For
he is not a man as I am, that I may answer him,
and that we should go to court together. nor
is there any mediator between us, who may lay
his hand on us both. Let him take his rod away
from me, and do not let dread of him terrify
me. Then I would speak and not fear him, but
it is not so with me. My soul loathes my life.
I will give free course to my complaint. I will
speak in the bitterness of my soul. I will say
to God, Do not condemn me. Show me why you contend
with me. Does it seem good to you that you should
oppress, that you should despise the work of
your hands and smile on the counsel of the wicked?
Do you have eyes of flesh, or do you see as man
sees? Are your days like the days of a mortal
man? Are your years like the days of a mighty
man that you should seek for my iniquity and
search out my sin? Although you know that I am
not wicked, and there is no one who can deliver
from your hand, your hands have made me and fashioned
me. and intricate unity, yet you would destroy
me. Remember, I pray, that you have made me like
clay, and will you turn me into dust again? Did
you not pour me out like milk, and curdle me
like cheese? Clothe me with skin and flesh, and
knit me together with bones and sinews? You have
granted me life and favor, and your care has
preserved my spirit, and these things you have
hidden in your heart. I know that this was with
you. If I sin, then you mark me, and will not
acquit me of my iniquity. If I am wicked, woe
to me. Even if I am righteous, I cannot lift
up my head. I am full of disgrace, see my misery.
If my head is exalted, you hunt me like a fierce
lion, and again you show yourself awesome against
me. You renew your witnesses against me, and
increase your indignation toward me. Changes
and war are ever with me. Why then have you brought
me out of the womb? O that I had perished and
no eye had seen me! I would have been as though
I had not been. I would have been carried from
the womb to the grave. Are not my days few? Cease,
leave me alone, that I may take a little comfort
before I go to the place from which I shall not
return, to the land of darkness and the shadow
of death, a land as dark as darkness itself,
as the shadow of death without any order, where
even the light is like darkness. Chapter 11 Then
Zophar the Nematite answered and said, Should
not the multitude of words be answered? And should
a man full of talk be vindicated? Should your
empty talk make men hold their peace? And when
you mock, should no one rebuke you? For you have
said, My doctrine is pure, and I am clean in
your eyes. But, O, that God would speak, and
open his lips against you, that he should show
you the secrets of wisdom, for they would double
your prudence. Know therefore that God exacts
from you less than your iniquity deserves. Can
you search out the deep things of God? Can you
find out the limits of the Almighty? They are
higher than heaven. What can you do? Deeper than
Sheol. What can you know? Their measure is longer
than the earth and broader than the sea. If he
passes by, imprisons, and gathers to judgment,
then who can hinder him? For he knows deceitful
men. He sees wickedness also. will he not then
consider it for an empty -headed man will be
wise when a wild donkey's colt is born a man
if you would prepare your heart and stretch out
your hands toward him if iniquity were in your
hand and you put it far away and would not let
wickedness dwell in your tents then surely you
could lift up your face without spot yes you
could be steadfast and not fear because you would
forget your misery and remember it as waters
that have passed away Chapter 12 Then Job answered
and said, no doubt you are the people and wisdom
will die with you but i have understanding as
well as you i am not inferior to you indeed who
does not know such things as these i am one mocked
by his friends who called on god and he answered
him the just and blameless who is ridiculed a
lamp is despised in the thought of one who is
at ease it is made ready for those whose feet
slip The tents of robbers prosper, and those
who provoke God are secure, in what God provides
by His hand. But now ask the beasts, and they
will teach you, and the birds of the air, and
they will tell you. Or speak to the earth, and
it will teach you, and the fish of the sea will
explain to you. Who among all these does not
know that the hand of the Lord has done this,
in whose hand is the life of every living thing,
and the breath of all mankind? Does not the ear
test words, and the mouth taste its food? Wisdom
is with aged men, and with length of days understanding.
With him are wisdom and strength. He has counsel
and understanding. If he breaks a thing down,
it cannot be rebuilt. If he imprisons a man,
there can be no release. If he withholds the
waters, they dry up. If he sends them out, they
overwhelm the earth. With him are strength and
prudence. The deceived and the deceiver are his.
He leads counselors away plundered and makes
fools of the judges. He loosens the bonds of
kings and binds their waist with a belt. He leads
princes away plundered and overthrows the mighty.
He deprives the trusted ones of speech and takes
away the discernment of the elders. He pours
contempt on princes and disarms the mighty. He
uncovers deep things out of darkness and brings
the shadow of death to light. He makes nations
great and destroys them. He enlarges nations
and guides them. He takes away the understanding
of the chiefs of the people of the earth and
makes them wander in a pathless wilderness. They
grope in the dark without light and he makes
them stagger like a drunken man. 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.