WEBVTT 00:00:00.919 --> 00:00:03.740 Hello, this is Father Paul, and I'm glad we're 00:00:03.740 --> 00:00:05.740 taking this journey together to read the Bible 00:00:05.740 --> 00:00:09.060 in a year. Today's reading is from the book of 00:00:09.060 --> 00:00:14.939 Job, chapters 13 through 17. Chapter 13 Behold, 00:00:15.039 --> 00:00:18.179 my eye has seen all this, my ear has heard and 00:00:18.179 --> 00:00:21.739 understood it. What you know, I also know. I 00:00:21.739 --> 00:00:24.320 am not inferior to you, but I would speak to 00:00:24.320 --> 00:00:26.620 the Almighty, and I desire to reason with God. 00:00:27.039 --> 00:00:30.260 But you forgers of lies, you are all worthless 00:00:30.260 --> 00:00:33.039 physicians. Oh, that you would be silent, and 00:00:33.039 --> 00:00:35.619 it would be your wisdom. Now hear my reasoning, 00:00:35.740 --> 00:00:38.600 and heed the pleadings of my lips. Will you speak 00:00:38.600 --> 00:00:41.759 wickedly for God, and talk deceitfully for Him? 00:00:41.979 --> 00:00:44.960 Will you show partiality for Him? Will you contend 00:00:44.960 --> 00:00:47.759 for God? Will it be well when He searches you 00:00:47.759 --> 00:00:50.880 out? Or can you mock Him as one mocks a man? 00:00:51.219 --> 00:00:54.119 He will surely rebuke you if you secretly show 00:00:54.119 --> 00:00:57.119 partiality. Will not his excellence make you 00:00:57.119 --> 00:01:00.340 afraid, and the dread of him fall upon you? Your 00:01:00.340 --> 00:01:03.920 platitudes are proverbs of ashes, your defences 00:01:03.920 --> 00:01:07.140 are defences of clay. Hold your peace with me, 00:01:07.180 --> 00:01:10.319 and let me speak, then let come on me what may. 00:01:10.579 --> 00:01:13.439 Why do I take my flesh in my teeth, and put my 00:01:13.439 --> 00:01:16.560 life in my hands? Though he slay me, yet will 00:01:16.560 --> 00:01:19.620 I trust him. Even so I will defend my own ways 00:01:19.620 --> 00:01:23.049 before him. He also shall be my salvation. for 00:01:23.049 --> 00:01:25.730 a hypocrite could not come before him listen 00:01:25.730 --> 00:01:28.209 carefully to my speech and to my declaration 00:01:28.209 --> 00:01:31.810 with your ears see now i have prepared my case 00:01:31.810 --> 00:01:35.689 i know that i shall be vindicated who is he who 00:01:35.689 --> 00:01:38.590 will contend with me if now i hold my tongue 00:01:38.590 --> 00:01:42.569 i perish only two things do not do to me then 00:01:42.569 --> 00:01:45.629 i will not hide myself from you withdraw your 00:01:45.629 --> 00:01:48.569 hand far from me and let not the dread of you 00:01:48.569 --> 00:01:52.180 make me afraid then call and i will answer Or 00:01:52.180 --> 00:01:55.359 let me speak, then you respond to me. How many 00:01:55.359 --> 00:01:58.659 are my iniquities and sins? Make me know my transgression 00:01:58.659 --> 00:02:01.900 and my sin. Why do you hide your face and regard 00:02:01.900 --> 00:02:05.180 me as your enemy? Will you frighten a leaf driven 00:02:05.180 --> 00:02:08.479 to and fro? And will you pursue dry stubble? 00:02:08.560 --> 00:02:11.400 For you write bitter things against me and make 00:02:11.400 --> 00:02:14.199 me inherit the iniquities of my youth. You put 00:02:14.199 --> 00:02:17.400 my feet in the stalks and watch closely all my 00:02:17.400 --> 00:02:20.659 paths. You set a limit for the soles of my feet. 00:02:21.129 --> 00:02:24.289 man decays like a rotten thing like a garment 00:02:24.289 --> 00:02:30.449 that is moth -eaten chapter fourteen man who 00:02:30.449 --> 00:02:34.210 is born of woman is a few days and full of trouble 00:02:34.210 --> 00:02:37.629 he comes forth like a flower and fades away he 00:02:37.629 --> 00:02:40.449 flees like a shadow and does not continue and 00:02:40.449 --> 00:02:43.370 do you open your eyes on such a one and bring 00:02:43.370 --> 00:02:46.310 me to judgment with yourself who can bring a 00:02:46.310 --> 00:02:50.280 clean thing out of an unclean no one since his 00:02:50.280 --> 00:02:53.199 days are determined the number of his month is 00:02:53.199 --> 00:02:55.979 with you you have appointed his limits so that 00:02:55.979 --> 00:02:58.719 he cannot pass look away from him that he may 00:02:58.719 --> 00:03:01.919 rest till like a hired man he finishes his day 00:03:01.919 --> 00:03:05.620 for there is hope for a tree if it is cut down 00:03:05.620 --> 00:03:08.770 that it will sprout again and that its tender 00:03:08.770 --> 00:03:11.870 shoots will not cease though its roots may grow 00:03:11.870 --> 00:03:14.770 old in the earth and its stump may die in the 00:03:14.770 --> 00:03:17.849 ground yet at the scent of water it will bud 00:03:17.849 --> 00:03:21.069 and bring forth branches like a plant but man 00:03:21.069 --> 00:03:24.590 dies and is laid away indeed he breathes his 00:03:24.590 --> 00:03:28.009 last and where is he as water disappears from 00:03:28.009 --> 00:03:30.870 the sea and a river becomes parched and dries 00:03:30.870 --> 00:03:34.479 up so man lies down and does not rise Till the 00:03:34.479 --> 00:03:37.500 heavens are no more, they will not awake, nor 00:03:37.500 --> 00:03:40.520 be roused from their sleep. O that you would 00:03:40.520 --> 00:03:42.919 hide me in the grave, that you would conceal 00:03:42.919 --> 00:03:46.259 me until your wrath is past, that you would appoint 00:03:46.259 --> 00:03:49.560 me a set time and remember me. If a man dies, 00:03:49.719 --> 00:03:52.719 shall he live again? All the days of my hard 00:03:52.719 --> 00:03:56.219 service I will wait, till my change comes. You 00:03:56.219 --> 00:03:58.439 shall call, and I will answer you. You shall 00:03:58.439 --> 00:04:01.599 desire the work of your hands. For now you number 00:04:01.599 --> 00:04:05.430 my steps. But do not watch over my sin. My transgression 00:04:05.430 --> 00:04:08.810 is sealed up in a bag, and you cover my iniquity. 00:04:09.009 --> 00:04:12.229 But as a mountain falls and crumbles away, and 00:04:12.229 --> 00:04:15.689 as a rock is moved from its place, as water wears 00:04:15.689 --> 00:04:18.769 away stones, and as torrents wash away the soil 00:04:18.769 --> 00:04:21.850 of the earth, so you destroy the hope of man. 00:04:22.110 --> 00:04:25.029 You prevail forever against him, and he passes 00:04:25.029 --> 00:04:28.149 on. You change his countenance and send him away. 00:04:28.649 --> 00:04:31.250 his sons come to honour and he does not know 00:04:31.250 --> 00:04:34.149 it they are brought low and he does not perceive 00:04:34.149 --> 00:04:37.769 it but his flesh will be in pain over it and 00:04:37.769 --> 00:04:43.829 his soul will mourn over it chapter fifteen then 00:04:43.829 --> 00:04:47.009 alifaz the temnite answered and said should a 00:04:47.009 --> 00:04:49.569 wise man answer with empty knowledge and fill 00:04:49.569 --> 00:04:52.709 himself with the east wind should he reason with 00:04:52.709 --> 00:04:56.129 unprofitable talk or by speeches with which he 00:04:56.129 --> 00:05:00.439 can do no good Yes, you cast off fear and restrain 00:05:00.439 --> 00:05:03.319 prayer before God, for your iniquity teaches 00:05:03.319 --> 00:05:05.899 your mouth, and you choose the tongue of the 00:05:05.899 --> 00:05:08.860 crafty. Your own mouth condemns you, and not 00:05:08.860 --> 00:05:13.079 I. Yes, your own lips testify against you. Are 00:05:13.079 --> 00:05:16.160 you the first man who was born? Or were you made 00:05:16.160 --> 00:05:18.600 before the hills? Have you heard the counsel 00:05:18.600 --> 00:05:22.339 of God? Do you limit wisdom to yourself? What 00:05:22.339 --> 00:05:24.860 do you know that we do not know? What do you 00:05:24.860 --> 00:05:28.100 understand that is not in us? Both the gray -haired 00:05:28.100 --> 00:05:31.000 and the aged are among us, much older than your 00:05:31.000 --> 00:05:34.379 father. Are the consolations of God too small 00:05:34.379 --> 00:05:37.279 for you, and the spoken word gently with you? 00:05:37.600 --> 00:05:40.500 Why does your heart carry you away? And what 00:05:40.500 --> 00:05:43.540 do your eyes wink at, that you turn your spirit 00:05:43.540 --> 00:05:46.699 against God, and let such words go out of your 00:05:46.699 --> 00:05:50.100 mouth? What is man that he could be pure, and 00:05:50.100 --> 00:05:52.600 he who is born of a woman that he could be righteous? 00:05:53.129 --> 00:05:56.250 If God puts no trust in his saints, and the heavens 00:05:56.250 --> 00:05:59.089 are not pure in his sight, how much less man 00:05:59.089 --> 00:06:02.389 who is abominable and filthy, who drinks iniquity 00:06:02.389 --> 00:06:06.089 like water. I will tell you, hear me. What I 00:06:06.089 --> 00:06:08.870 have seen I will declare, what wise men have 00:06:08.870 --> 00:06:11.990 told, not hiding anything received from the fathers, 00:06:12.149 --> 00:06:15.610 to whom alone the land was given, and no alien 00:06:15.610 --> 00:06:18.889 passed among them. The wicked man rides with 00:06:18.889 --> 00:06:21.790 pain all his days, and the number of years is 00:06:21.790 --> 00:06:24.850 hidden from the oppressor. Dreadful sounds are 00:06:24.850 --> 00:06:27.949 in his ears, in prosperity the destroyer comes 00:06:27.949 --> 00:06:30.790 upon him. He does not believe that he will return 00:06:30.790 --> 00:06:33.470 from darkness, for a sword is waiting for him. 00:06:33.629 --> 00:06:36.170 He wanders about for bread, saying, Where is 00:06:36.170 --> 00:06:39.230 it? He knows that a day of darkness is ready 00:06:39.230 --> 00:06:42.610 at his hand. Trouble and anguish make him afraid. 00:06:42.889 --> 00:06:45.649 They overpower him like a king ready for battle. 00:06:46.139 --> 00:06:48.879 For he stretches out his hand against God and 00:06:48.879 --> 00:06:51.959 acts defiantly against the Almighty, running 00:06:51.959 --> 00:06:55.120 stubbornly against Him with his strong embossed 00:06:55.120 --> 00:06:58.319 shield. Though he has covered his face with his 00:06:58.319 --> 00:07:01.720 fatness and made his waist heavy with fat, he 00:07:01.720 --> 00:07:04.720 dwells in desolate cities, in houses which no 00:07:04.720 --> 00:07:07.319 one inhabits, which are destined to become ruins. 00:07:07.420 --> 00:07:10.579 He will not be rich, nor will his wealth continue, 00:07:10.879 --> 00:07:13.579 nor will his possessions overspread the earth. 00:07:14.060 --> 00:07:16.839 He will not depart from darkness. The flame will 00:07:16.839 --> 00:07:19.579 dry out his branches, and by the breath of his 00:07:19.579 --> 00:07:23.199 mouth he will go away. Let him not trust in futile 00:07:23.199 --> 00:07:26.660 things, deceiving himself, for futility will 00:07:26.660 --> 00:07:29.519 be his reward. It will be accomplished before 00:07:29.519 --> 00:07:32.839 his time, and his branch will not be green. He 00:07:32.839 --> 00:07:35.519 will shake off his unripe grape like a vine, 00:07:35.620 --> 00:07:38.560 and cast off his blossom like an olive tree. 00:07:38.839 --> 00:07:41.500 For the company of hypocrites will be barren. 00:07:41.759 --> 00:07:44.680 and fire will consume the tents of bribery. They 00:07:44.680 --> 00:07:47.839 conceive trouble and bring forth futility. Their 00:07:47.839 --> 00:07:54.720 womb prepares deceit. Chapter 16 Then Job answered 00:07:54.720 --> 00:07:58.300 and said, I have heard many such things. Miserable 00:07:58.300 --> 00:08:01.920 comforters are you all! Shall words of wind have 00:08:01.920 --> 00:08:05.000 an end? Or what provokes you that you answer? 00:08:05.319 --> 00:08:08.370 I also could speak as you do. If your soul were 00:08:08.370 --> 00:08:11.389 in my soul's place, I could heap up words against 00:08:11.389 --> 00:08:14.490 you and shake my head at you. But I would strengthen 00:08:14.490 --> 00:08:17.209 you with my mouth, and the comfort of my lips 00:08:17.209 --> 00:08:20.589 would relieve your grief. Though I speak, my 00:08:20.589 --> 00:08:23.629 grief is not relieved. And if I remain silent, 00:08:23.889 --> 00:08:28.050 how am I eased? But now he has worn me out. You 00:08:28.050 --> 00:08:31.129 have made desolate all my company. You have shriveled 00:08:31.129 --> 00:08:34.690 me up, and it is a witness against me. My leanness 00:08:34.690 --> 00:08:37.909 rises up against me. and bears witness to my 00:08:37.909 --> 00:08:40.909 face. He tears me in his wrath and hates me. 00:08:41.009 --> 00:08:44.389 He gnashes at me with his teeth. My adversary 00:08:44.389 --> 00:08:48.169 sharpens his gaze on me. They gape at me with 00:08:48.169 --> 00:08:50.909 their mouth. They strike me reproachfully on 00:08:50.909 --> 00:08:54.129 the cheek. They gather together against me. God 00:08:54.129 --> 00:08:56.750 has delivered me to the ungodly and turned me 00:08:56.750 --> 00:08:59.669 over to the hands of the wicked. I was at ease, 00:08:59.809 --> 00:09:03.009 but he has shattered me. He also has taken me 00:09:03.009 --> 00:09:06.470 by my neck and shaken me to pieces. He has set 00:09:06.470 --> 00:09:09.629 me up for his target. His archers surround me. 00:09:09.750 --> 00:09:12.929 He pierces my heart and does not pity. He pours 00:09:12.929 --> 00:09:15.769 out my gall on the ground. He breaks me with 00:09:15.769 --> 00:09:19.190 wound upon wound. He runs at me like a warrior. 00:09:19.470 --> 00:09:23.429 I have sewn sackcloth over my skin and laid my 00:09:23.429 --> 00:09:26.490 head in the dust. My face is flushed with weeping, 00:09:26.509 --> 00:09:29.990 and on my eyelids is the shadow of death, although 00:09:29.990 --> 00:09:33.250 no violence is in my hands and my prayer is pure. 00:09:33.950 --> 00:09:37.330 O earth, do not cover my blood, and let my cry 00:09:37.330 --> 00:09:40.769 have no resting place. Surely even now my witness 00:09:40.769 --> 00:09:43.929 is in heaven, and my evidence is on high. My 00:09:43.929 --> 00:09:47.610 friends scorn me, my eyes pour out tears to God. 00:09:48.070 --> 00:09:51.330 O that one might plead for a man with God, as 00:09:51.330 --> 00:09:54.049 a man pleads for his neighbor. For when a few 00:09:54.049 --> 00:09:56.990 years are finished, I shall go the way of no 00:09:56.990 --> 00:10:03.830 return. Chapter 17 My spirit is broken. My days 00:10:03.830 --> 00:10:06.470 are extinguished. The grave is ready for me. 00:10:06.570 --> 00:10:09.789 Are not mockers with me? And does not my eye 00:10:09.789 --> 00:10:13.230 dwell on their provocation? Now put down a pledge 00:10:13.230 --> 00:10:17.029 for me with yourself. Who is he who will shake 00:10:17.029 --> 00:10:19.750 hands with me? For you have hidden their heart 00:10:19.750 --> 00:10:22.889 from understanding. Therefore you will not exalt 00:10:22.889 --> 00:10:25.370 them. He who speaks flattery to his friends, 00:10:25.549 --> 00:10:28.730 even the eyes of his children, will fail. But 00:10:28.730 --> 00:10:31.720 he has made me a byword of the people. and I 00:10:31.720 --> 00:10:35.799 have become one in whose face men spit. My eye 00:10:35.799 --> 00:10:38.500 has also grown dim because of sorrow, and all 00:10:38.500 --> 00:10:41.500 my members are like shadows. Upright men are 00:10:41.500 --> 00:10:44.440 astonished at this, and the innocent stirs himself 00:10:44.440 --> 00:10:47.379 up against the hypocrite. Yet the righteous will 00:10:47.379 --> 00:10:50.960 hold to his way, and he who has clean hands will 00:10:50.960 --> 00:10:54.220 be stronger and stronger. But please come back 00:10:54.220 --> 00:10:57.559 again, all of you, for I shall not find one wise 00:10:57.559 --> 00:11:00.970 man among you. My days are past, my purposes 00:11:00.970 --> 00:11:03.909 are broken off, even the thoughts of my heart. 00:11:04.210 --> 00:11:07.490 They change the night into day. The light is 00:11:07.490 --> 00:11:10.409 near, they say, in the face of darkness. If I 00:11:10.409 --> 00:11:13.389 wait for the grave as my house, if I make my 00:11:13.389 --> 00:11:15.649 bed in the darkness, if I say to corruption, 00:11:15.870 --> 00:11:18.570 you are my father, and to the worm, you are my 00:11:18.570 --> 00:11:21.549 mother and my sister. Where then is my hope? 00:11:21.889 --> 00:11:25.169 As for my hope, who can see it? Will they go 00:11:25.169 --> 00:11:27.809 down to the gates of Sheol? Shall we have rest 00:11:27.809 --> 00:11:36.039 together? In the dust? I hope you enjoyed today's 00:11:36.039 --> 00:11:38.240 reading as much as I did. And I look forward 00:11:38.240 --> 00:11:40.279 to seeing you again tomorrow to continue on our 00:11:40.279 --> 00:11:42.399 journey. God bless you and have a great day.