WEBVTT 00:00:00.840 --> 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 --> 00:00:14.240 Job, chapters 32 through 37. Chapter 32. So these 00:00:14.240 --> 00:00:17.280 three men ceased answering Job, because he was 00:00:17.280 --> 00:00:19.940 righteous in his own eyes. Then the wrath of 00:00:19.940 --> 00:00:23.460 Elihu, the son of Barakel the Buzite, of the 00:00:23.460 --> 00:00:27.019 family of Ram, was aroused against Job. His wrath 00:00:27.019 --> 00:00:29.579 was aroused because he justified himself rather 00:00:29.579 --> 00:00:32.920 than God. Also against his three friends, his 00:00:32.920 --> 00:00:36.000 wrath was aroused because they had found no answer 00:00:36.000 --> 00:00:39.119 and yet had condemned Job. Now because they were 00:00:39.119 --> 00:00:42.200 years older than he, Elihu had waited to speak 00:00:42.200 --> 00:00:45.240 to Job. When Elihu saw that there was no answer 00:00:45.240 --> 00:00:48.240 in the mouth of these three men, his wrath was 00:00:48.240 --> 00:00:51.200 aroused. So Elihu, the son of Barakel the Buzite, 00:00:51.390 --> 00:00:54.390 answered and said i am young in years and you 00:00:54.390 --> 00:00:57.329 are very old therefore i was afraid and dared 00:00:57.329 --> 00:01:00.909 not declare my opinion to you i said age should 00:01:00.909 --> 00:01:03.810 speak and multitude of years should teach wisdom 00:01:03.810 --> 00:01:06.670 but there is a spirit in man and the breath of 00:01:06.670 --> 00:01:09.790 the almighty gives him understanding great men 00:01:09.790 --> 00:01:13.489 are not always wise nor do the aged always understand 00:01:13.489 --> 00:01:17.730 justice therefore i say listen to me i also will 00:01:17.730 --> 00:01:20.329 declare my opinion Indeed, I waited for your 00:01:20.329 --> 00:01:23.010 words. I listened to your reasonings while you 00:01:23.010 --> 00:01:25.829 searched out what to say. I paid close attention 00:01:25.829 --> 00:01:28.829 to you, and surely not one of you convinced Job 00:01:28.829 --> 00:01:32.390 or answered his words, lest you say, We have 00:01:32.390 --> 00:01:35.409 found wisdom. God will vanquish him, not man. 00:01:35.709 --> 00:01:38.709 Now he has not directed his words against me, 00:01:38.769 --> 00:01:42.209 so I will not answer him with your words. They 00:01:42.209 --> 00:01:45.390 are dismayed and answer no more. Words escape 00:01:45.390 --> 00:01:47.959 them. And I have waited because they did not 00:01:47.959 --> 00:01:50.519 speak, because they stood still and answered 00:01:50.519 --> 00:01:54.439 no more. I also will answer my part. I too will 00:01:54.439 --> 00:01:57.280 declare my opinion, for I am full of words. The 00:01:57.280 --> 00:02:00.159 spirit within me compels me. Indeed, my belly 00:02:00.159 --> 00:02:03.159 is like wine that has no vent. It is ready to 00:02:03.159 --> 00:02:06.359 burst like new wineskins. I will speak that I 00:02:06.359 --> 00:02:09.360 may find relief. I must open my lips and answer. 00:02:09.560 --> 00:02:12.520 Let me not, I pray, show partiality to anyone, 00:02:12.699 --> 00:02:16.020 nor let me flatter any man. for I do not know 00:02:16.020 --> 00:02:19.719 how to flatter, else my Maker would soon take 00:02:19.719 --> 00:02:26.159 me away. Chapter 33 But please, Job, hear my 00:02:26.159 --> 00:02:29.319 speech, and listen to all my words. Now I open 00:02:29.319 --> 00:02:32.460 my mouth, my tongue speaks in my mouth. My words 00:02:32.460 --> 00:02:35.560 come from my upright heart, my lips utter pure 00:02:35.560 --> 00:02:38.219 knowledge. The Spirit of God has made me, and 00:02:38.219 --> 00:02:41.039 the breath of the Almighty gives me life. If 00:02:41.039 --> 00:02:43.699 you can answer me, set your words in order before 00:02:43.699 --> 00:02:47.349 me. Take your stand. Truly I am as your spokesman 00:02:47.349 --> 00:02:50.409 before God. I also have been formed out of clay. 00:02:50.770 --> 00:02:54.289 Surely no fear of me will terrify you, nor will 00:02:54.289 --> 00:02:57.389 my hand be heavy on you. Surely you have spoken 00:02:57.389 --> 00:02:59.689 in my hearing, and I have heard the sound of 00:02:59.689 --> 00:03:02.729 your words, saying, I am pure without transgression. 00:03:02.909 --> 00:03:05.490 I am innocent, and there is no iniquity in me. 00:03:05.650 --> 00:03:08.669 Yet he finds occasions against me, he counts 00:03:08.669 --> 00:03:11.409 me as his enemy. He puts my feet in the stocks, 00:03:11.650 --> 00:03:15.569 he watches all my paths. Look, in this you are 00:03:15.569 --> 00:03:18.289 not righteous. I will answer you, for God is 00:03:18.289 --> 00:03:21.129 greater than man. Why do you contend with him? 00:03:21.229 --> 00:03:24.409 For he does not give an accounting of any of 00:03:24.409 --> 00:03:27.830 his words. For God may speak in one way or in 00:03:27.830 --> 00:03:31.169 another, yet man does not perceive it. In a dream, 00:03:31.229 --> 00:03:33.849 in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls 00:03:33.849 --> 00:03:36.969 upon men, while slumbering on their beds, then 00:03:36.969 --> 00:03:40.550 he opens the ears of men and seals their instruction. 00:03:41.229 --> 00:03:44.009 in order to turn man from his deed and conceal 00:03:44.009 --> 00:03:47.189 pride from man he keeps back his soul from the 00:03:47.189 --> 00:03:50.150 pit and his life from perishing by the sword 00:03:50.150 --> 00:03:54.050 man is also chastened with pain on his bed and 00:03:54.050 --> 00:03:56.650 with strong pain in many of his bones so that 00:03:56.650 --> 00:03:59.930 his life abhors bread and his soul succulent 00:03:59.930 --> 00:04:03.810 food his flesh wastes away from sight and his 00:04:03.810 --> 00:04:07.300 bones stick out which once were not seen Yes, 00:04:07.319 --> 00:04:10.599 his soul draws near the pit, and his life to 00:04:10.599 --> 00:04:13.379 the executioners. If there is a messenger for 00:04:13.379 --> 00:04:16.899 him, a mediator, one among a thousand, to show 00:04:16.899 --> 00:04:19.720 man his uprightness, then he is gracious to him 00:04:19.720 --> 00:04:22.220 and says, Deliver him from going down to the 00:04:22.220 --> 00:04:25.339 pit. I have found a ransom. His flesh shall be 00:04:25.339 --> 00:04:27.800 young like a child's. He shall return to the 00:04:27.800 --> 00:04:30.519 days of his youth. He shall pray to God, and 00:04:30.519 --> 00:04:32.959 he will delight in him. He shall see his face 00:04:32.959 --> 00:04:35.500 with joy, for he restores to man his righteousness. 00:04:36.199 --> 00:04:39.120 Then he looks at men and says, I have sinned 00:04:39.120 --> 00:04:41.740 and perverted what was right, and it did not 00:04:41.740 --> 00:04:44.259 profit me. He will redeem his soul from going 00:04:44.259 --> 00:04:46.860 down to the pit, and his life shall see the light. 00:04:47.480 --> 00:04:50.720 Behold, God works all these things, twice in 00:04:50.720 --> 00:04:53.959 fact, three times with a man, to bring back his 00:04:53.959 --> 00:04:56.500 soul from the pit, that he may be enlightened 00:04:56.500 --> 00:05:00.079 with the light of life. Give ear, Job, listen 00:05:00.079 --> 00:05:03.639 to me. Hold your peace, and I will speak. If 00:05:03.639 --> 00:05:06.720 you have anything to say, answer me. Speak, for 00:05:06.720 --> 00:05:10.139 I desire to justify you. If not, listen to me. 00:05:10.220 --> 00:05:12.959 Hold your peace, and I will teach you wisdom. 00:05:15.120 --> 00:05:19.779 Chapter 34 Elihu further answered and said, Hear 00:05:19.779 --> 00:05:22.959 my words, you wise men. Give ear to me, you who 00:05:22.959 --> 00:05:26.279 have knowledge. For the ear tests words, as the 00:05:26.279 --> 00:05:29.379 palate tastes food. Let us choose justice for 00:05:29.379 --> 00:05:32.040 ourselves. Let us know among ourselves what is 00:05:32.040 --> 00:05:35.180 good. For Job has said, I am righteous, but God 00:05:35.180 --> 00:05:38.259 has taken away my justice. Should I lie concerning 00:05:38.259 --> 00:05:42.139 my right? My wound is incurable, though I am 00:05:42.139 --> 00:05:44.639 without transgression. What man is like Job, 00:05:44.819 --> 00:05:47.920 who drinks scorn like water, who goes in company 00:05:47.920 --> 00:05:50.360 with the workers of iniquity, and walks with 00:05:50.360 --> 00:05:53.240 wicked men? For he has said, It profits a man 00:05:53.240 --> 00:05:56.819 nothing that he should delight in God. Therefore 00:05:56.819 --> 00:06:00.139 listen to me, you men of understanding. Far be 00:06:00.139 --> 00:06:03.199 it from God to do wickedness, and from the Almighty 00:06:03.199 --> 00:06:06.439 to commit iniquity. For he repays man according 00:06:06.439 --> 00:06:09.899 to his work, and makes man to find a reward according 00:06:09.899 --> 00:06:13.180 to his way. Surely God will never do wickedly, 00:06:13.199 --> 00:06:16.680 nor will the Almighty pervert justice. Who gave 00:06:16.680 --> 00:06:19.399 him charge over the earth, or who appointed him 00:06:19.399 --> 00:06:22.350 over the whole world? If he should set his heart 00:06:22.350 --> 00:06:25.269 on it, if he should gather to himself his spirit 00:06:25.269 --> 00:06:28.269 and his breath, all flesh would perish together, 00:06:28.449 --> 00:06:32.089 and man would return to dust. If you have understanding, 00:06:32.370 --> 00:06:35.689 hear this. Listen to the sound of my words. Should 00:06:35.689 --> 00:06:38.870 one who hates justice govern? Will you condemn 00:06:38.870 --> 00:06:42.670 him who is most just? Is it fitting to say to 00:06:42.670 --> 00:06:45.250 a king, you are worthless, and to nobles, you 00:06:45.250 --> 00:06:47.860 are wicked? Yet he is not partial to princes, 00:06:48.120 --> 00:06:50.920 nor does he regard the rich more than the poor, 00:06:51.100 --> 00:06:53.959 for they are all the work of his hands. In a 00:06:53.959 --> 00:06:55.819 moment they die, in the middle of the night. 00:06:56.019 --> 00:06:59.100 The people are shaken and pass away. The mighty 00:06:59.100 --> 00:07:02.240 are taken away without a hand, for his eyes are 00:07:02.240 --> 00:07:04.959 on the ways of man, and he sees all his steps. 00:07:05.660 --> 00:07:08.560 There is no darkness nor shadow of death, where 00:07:08.560 --> 00:07:10.660 the workers of iniquity may hide themselves, 00:07:11.060 --> 00:07:14.319 for he need not further consider a man that he 00:07:14.319 --> 00:07:17.199 should go before God. in judgment. He breaks 00:07:17.199 --> 00:07:19.959 in pieces mighty men without inquiry, and sets 00:07:19.959 --> 00:07:23.339 others in their place. Therefore he knows their 00:07:23.339 --> 00:07:26.300 works, he overthrows them in the night, and they 00:07:26.300 --> 00:07:29.759 are crushed. He strikes them as wicked men in 00:07:29.759 --> 00:07:32.399 the open sight of others, because they turn back 00:07:32.399 --> 00:07:34.879 from him, and would not consider any of his ways, 00:07:35.040 --> 00:07:37.480 so that they cause the cry of the poor to come 00:07:37.480 --> 00:07:40.240 to him. For he hears the cry of the afflicted. 00:07:40.360 --> 00:07:43.540 When he gives quietness, who then can make trouble? 00:07:44.000 --> 00:07:46.779 And when he hides his face, who then can see 00:07:46.779 --> 00:07:49.399 him, whether it is against the nation or a man 00:07:49.399 --> 00:07:52.500 alone? That the hypocrite should not reign, lest 00:07:52.500 --> 00:07:55.519 the people be ensnared. For has anyone said to 00:07:55.519 --> 00:07:58.579 God, I have borne chastening, I will offend no 00:07:58.579 --> 00:08:02.180 more, teach me what I do not see. If I have done 00:08:02.180 --> 00:08:04.899 iniquity, I will do no more. Should he repay 00:08:04.899 --> 00:08:07.360 it according to your terms, just because you 00:08:07.360 --> 00:08:11.120 disavow it? You must choose and not I. Therefore 00:08:11.120 --> 00:08:14.060 speak what you know. Men of understanding say 00:08:14.060 --> 00:08:17.160 to me, wise men who listen to me, Job speaks 00:08:17.160 --> 00:08:20.259 without knowledge. His words are without wisdom. 00:08:20.560 --> 00:08:23.839 O that Job were tried to the utmost, because 00:08:23.839 --> 00:08:26.759 his answers are like those of wicked men. For 00:08:26.759 --> 00:08:30.000 he adds rebellion to his sin. He claps his hands 00:08:30.000 --> 00:08:33.200 among us and multiplies his words against God. 00:08:35.460 --> 00:08:39.340 Chapter 35 Moreover Elihu answered and said, 00:08:39.639 --> 00:08:43.139 Do you think this is right? Do you say, My righteousness 00:08:43.139 --> 00:08:46.379 is more than God's? For you say, What advantage 00:08:46.379 --> 00:08:49.799 will it be to you? What profit shall I have more 00:08:49.799 --> 00:08:53.139 than if I had sinned? I will answer you and your 00:08:53.139 --> 00:08:55.539 companions with you. Look to the heavens and 00:08:55.539 --> 00:08:58.519 sea, and behold the clouds. They are higher than 00:08:58.519 --> 00:09:01.399 you. If you sin, what do you accomplish against 00:09:01.399 --> 00:09:03.799 them? Or if your transgressions are multiplied, 00:09:04.220 --> 00:09:07.220 what do you do to him? If you are righteous, 00:09:07.480 --> 00:09:10.389 what do you give him? or what does he receive 00:09:10.389 --> 00:09:13.549 from your hand? Your wickedness affects a man 00:09:13.549 --> 00:09:16.649 such as you, and your righteousness a son of 00:09:16.649 --> 00:09:19.549 man. Because of the multitude of oppressions, 00:09:19.549 --> 00:09:22.509 they cry out. They cry out for help because of 00:09:22.509 --> 00:09:25.429 the arm of the mighty. But no one says, Where 00:09:25.429 --> 00:09:28.330 is God my maker, who gives songs in the night, 00:09:28.509 --> 00:09:31.490 who teaches us more than the beasts of the earth, 00:09:31.669 --> 00:09:34.049 and makes us wiser than the birds of heaven? 00:09:34.450 --> 00:09:37.899 There they cry out. But he does not answer, because 00:09:37.899 --> 00:09:41.120 of the pride of evil men. Surely God will not 00:09:41.120 --> 00:09:44.039 listen to empty talk, nor will the Almighty regard 00:09:44.039 --> 00:09:47.240 it. Although you say you do not see him, yet 00:09:47.240 --> 00:09:49.860 justice is before him, and you must wait for 00:09:49.860 --> 00:09:52.860 him. And now, because he has not punished in 00:09:52.860 --> 00:09:56.539 his anger, nor taken much notice of folly, therefore 00:09:56.539 --> 00:10:00.200 Job opens his mouth in vain. He multiplies words 00:10:00.200 --> 00:10:07.669 without knowledge. Elihu also proceeded and said, 00:10:07.929 --> 00:10:30.429 He is mighty in strength of understanding. He 00:10:30.429 --> 00:10:32.950 does not preserve the life of the wicked, but 00:10:32.950 --> 00:10:36.039 gives justice to the oppressed. He does not withdraw 00:10:36.039 --> 00:10:39.159 his eyes from the righteous, but they are on 00:10:39.159 --> 00:10:42.240 the throne with kings. For he has seated them 00:10:42.240 --> 00:10:45.720 forever, and they are exalted. And if they are 00:10:45.720 --> 00:10:48.679 bound in fetters, held in the cords of affliction, 00:10:48.940 --> 00:10:52.179 then he tells them their work and their transgressions, 00:10:52.200 --> 00:10:55.940 that they have acted defiantly. He also opens 00:10:55.940 --> 00:10:58.960 their ear to instruction, and commands that they 00:10:58.960 --> 00:11:01.980 turn from iniquity. If they obey and serve him, 00:11:02.299 --> 00:11:04.919 They shall spend their days in prosperity, and 00:11:04.919 --> 00:11:07.179 their years in pleasures. But if they do not 00:11:07.179 --> 00:11:09.960 obey, they shall perish by the sword, and they 00:11:09.960 --> 00:11:12.840 shall die without knowledge. But the hypocrites 00:11:12.840 --> 00:11:16.059 in heart store up wrath. They do not cry for 00:11:16.059 --> 00:11:19.340 help when he binds them. They die in youth, and 00:11:19.340 --> 00:11:21.580 their life ends among the perverted persons. 00:11:21.980 --> 00:11:24.539 He delivers the poor in their affliction, and 00:11:24.539 --> 00:11:27.879 opens their ears in oppression. Indeed he would 00:11:27.879 --> 00:11:30.740 have brought you out of dire distress. into a 00:11:30.740 --> 00:11:33.519 broad place where there is no restraint, and 00:11:33.519 --> 00:11:36.460 what is set on your table would be full of richness. 00:11:36.840 --> 00:11:39.500 But you are filled with the judgment due the 00:11:39.500 --> 00:11:42.519 wicked. Judgment and justice take hold of you, 00:11:42.620 --> 00:11:45.919 because there is wrath. Beware lest he take you 00:11:45.919 --> 00:11:49.139 away with one blow, for a large ransom would 00:11:49.139 --> 00:11:52.379 not help you avoid it. Will your riches or all 00:11:52.379 --> 00:11:55.659 the mighty forces keep you from distress? Do 00:11:55.659 --> 00:11:58.159 not desire the night when people are cut off 00:11:58.159 --> 00:12:01.519 in their place. take heed do not turn to iniquity 00:12:01.519 --> 00:12:04.460 for you have chosen this rather than affliction 00:12:04.460 --> 00:12:08.360 behold god is exalted by his power who teaches 00:12:08.360 --> 00:12:11.720 like him who has assigned him his way or who 00:12:11.720 --> 00:12:15.679 has said you have done wrong remember to magnify 00:12:15.679 --> 00:12:18.679 his work of which men have sung everyone has 00:12:18.679 --> 00:12:23.120 seen it man looks on it from afar behold god 00:12:23.120 --> 00:12:26.580 is great and we do not know him nor can the number 00:12:26.580 --> 00:12:30.139 of his years be discovered. For he draws up drops 00:12:30.139 --> 00:12:33.399 of water, which distill as rain from the mist, 00:12:33.559 --> 00:12:36.399 which the clouds drop down and pour abundantly 00:12:36.399 --> 00:12:39.919 on man. Indeed, can anyone understand the spreading 00:12:39.919 --> 00:12:43.299 of clouds, the thunder from his canopy? Look, 00:12:43.500 --> 00:12:45.980 he scatters his light upon it and covers the 00:12:45.980 --> 00:12:49.279 depth of the sea. For by these he judges the 00:12:49.279 --> 00:12:52.320 peoples, he gives food in abundance. He covers 00:12:52.320 --> 00:12:55.460 his hands with lightning and commands it to strike. 00:12:56.009 --> 00:12:59.190 His thunder declares it, the cattle also concerning 00:12:59.190 --> 00:13:06.330 the rising storm. Chapter 37 At this also my 00:13:06.330 --> 00:13:09.970 heart trembles, and leaps from its place. Hear 00:13:09.970 --> 00:13:12.750 attentively the thunder of his voice, and the 00:13:12.750 --> 00:13:15.649 rumbling that comes from his mouth. He sends 00:13:15.649 --> 00:13:18.190 it forth under the whole heaven, his lightning 00:13:18.190 --> 00:13:21.370 to the ends of the earth. After it a voice roars. 00:13:21.690 --> 00:13:24.370 He thunders with his majestic voice, and he does 00:13:24.370 --> 00:13:27.509 not restrain them when his voice is heard. God 00:13:27.509 --> 00:13:30.769 thunders marvelously with his voice. He does 00:13:30.769 --> 00:13:33.870 great things which we cannot comprehend. For 00:13:33.870 --> 00:13:37.190 he says to the snow, Fall on the earth. Likewise 00:13:37.190 --> 00:13:40.230 to the gentle rain and the heavy rain of his 00:13:40.230 --> 00:13:43.750 strength. He seals the hand of every man, that 00:13:43.750 --> 00:13:47.610 all men may know his work. The beasts go into 00:13:47.610 --> 00:13:50.909 dens and remain in their layers. From the chamber 00:13:50.909 --> 00:13:53.909 of the south comes the whirlwind, and cold from 00:13:53.909 --> 00:13:56.629 the scattering winds of the north. By the breath 00:13:56.629 --> 00:13:59.669 of God ice is given, and the broad waters are 00:13:59.669 --> 00:14:03.009 frozen. Also with moisture he saturates the thick 00:14:03.009 --> 00:14:06.570 clouds. He scatters his bright clouds, and they 00:14:06.570 --> 00:14:09.970 swirl about, being turned by his guidance, that 00:14:09.970 --> 00:14:12.529 they may do whatever he commands them on the 00:14:12.529 --> 00:14:14.830 face of the whole earth. He causes it to come. 00:14:15.149 --> 00:14:18.090 whether for correction or for his land or for 00:14:18.090 --> 00:14:21.830 mercy. Listen to this, O Job. Stand still and 00:14:21.830 --> 00:14:24.809 consider the wondrous works of God. Do you know 00:14:24.809 --> 00:14:27.309 when God dispatches them and causes the light 00:14:27.309 --> 00:14:30.409 of his cloud to shine? Do you know how the clouds 00:14:30.409 --> 00:14:33.590 are balanced, those wondrous works of him who 00:14:33.590 --> 00:14:36.809 is perfect in knowledge? Why are your garments 00:14:36.809 --> 00:14:40.129 hot when he quiets the earth by the south wind? 00:14:40.620 --> 00:14:43.299 With him have you spread out the skies, strong 00:14:43.299 --> 00:14:47.179 as a cast metal mirror? Teach us what we should 00:14:47.179 --> 00:14:49.879 say to him, for we can prepare nothing because 00:14:49.879 --> 00:14:52.980 of the darkness. Should he be told that I wish 00:14:52.980 --> 00:14:56.039 to speak? If a man were to speak, surely he would 00:14:56.039 --> 00:14:59.820 be swallowed up. Even now men cannot look at 00:14:59.820 --> 00:15:02.700 the light when it is bright in the skies, when 00:15:02.700 --> 00:15:05.360 the wind has passed and cleared them. He comes 00:15:05.360 --> 00:15:08.879 from the north as golden splendor, with God his 00:15:08.879 --> 00:15:12.350 awesome majesty. As for the Almighty, we cannot 00:15:12.350 --> 00:15:15.850 find him. He is excellent in power, in judgment 00:15:15.850 --> 00:15:19.529 and abundant justice. He does not oppress. Therefore, 00:15:19.710 --> 00:15:23.470 men fear him. He shows no partiality to any who 00:15:23.470 --> 00:15:31.529 are wise of heart. I hope you enjoyed today's 00:15:31.529 --> 00:15:33.710 reading as much as I did, and I look forward 00:15:33.710 --> 00:15:35.769 to seeing you again tomorrow to continue on our 00:15:35.769 --> 00:15:37.870 journey. God bless you and have a great day.