JOB 11

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Zophar Speaks: You Deserve Worse  11:1 Then Zophar the Naamathite answered and said:
2

“Should a multitude of words go unanswered,

and a man full of talk be judged right? 3

Should your babble silence men,

and when you mock, shall no one shame you? 4

For you say, ‘My doctrine is pure,

and I am clean in God’s eyes.’ 5

But oh, that God would speak

and open his lips to you, 6

and that he would tell you the secrets of wisdom!

For he is manifold in understanding.

Know then that God exacts of you less than your guilt deserves.
7

“Can you find out the deep things of God?

Can you find out the limit of the Almighty? 8

It is higher than heaven—what can you do?

Deeper than Sheol—what can you know? 9

Its measure is longer than the earth

and broader than the sea. 10

If he passes through and imprisons

and summons the court, who can turn him back? 11

For he knows worthless men;

when he sees iniquity, will he not consider it? 12

But a stupid man will get understanding

when a wild donkey’s colt is born a man!
13

“If you prepare your heart,

you will stretch out your hands toward him. 14

If iniquity is in your hand, put it far away,

and let not injustice dwell in your tents. 15

Surely then you will lift up your face without blemish;

you will be secure and will not fear. 16

You will forget your misery;

you will remember it as waters that have passed away. 17

And your life will be brighter than the noonday;

its darkness will be like the morning. 18

And you will feel secure, because there is hope;

you will look around and take your rest in security. 19

You will lie down, and none will make you afraid;

many will court your favor. 20

But the eyes of the wicked will fail;

all way of escape will be lost to them,

and their hope is to breathe their last.”

JOB 12

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Job Replies: The Lord Has Done This  12:1 Then Job answered and said:
2

“No doubt you are the people,

and wisdom will die with you. 3

But I have understanding as well as you;

I am not inferior to you.

Who does not know such things as these? 4

I am a laughingstock to my friends;

I, who called to God and he answered me,

a just and blameless man, am a laughingstock. 5

In the thought of one who is at ease there is contempt for misfortune;

it is ready for those whose feet slip. 6

The tents of robbers are at peace,

and those who provoke God are secure,

who bring their god in their hand.
7

“But ask the beasts, and they will teach you;

the birds of the heavens, and they will tell you; 8

or the bushes of the earth, and they will teach you;

and the fish of the sea will declare to you. 9

Who among all these does not know

that the hand of the Lord has done this? 10

In his hand is the life of every living thing

and the breath of all mankind. 11

Does not the ear test words

as the palate tastes food? 12

Wisdom is with the aged,

and understanding in length of days.
13

“With God are wisdom and might;

he has counsel and understanding. 14

If he tears down, none can rebuild;

if he shuts a man in, none can open. 15

If he withholds the waters, they dry up;

if he sends them out, they overwhelm the land. 16

With him are strength and sound wisdom;

the deceived and the deceiver are his. 17

He leads counselors away stripped,

and judges he makes fools. 18

He looses the bonds of kings

and binds a waistcloth on their hips. 19

He leads priests away stripped

and overthrows the mighty. 20

He deprives of speech those who are trusted

and takes away the discernment of the elders. 21

He pours contempt on princes

and loosens the belt of the strong. 22

He uncovers the deeps out of darkness

and brings deep darkness to light. 23

He makes nations great, and he destroys them;

he enlarges nations, and leads them away. 24

He takes away understanding from the chiefs of the people of the earth

and makes them wander in a trackless waste. 25

They grope in the dark without light,

and he makes them stagger like a drunken man.

PROVERBS 10

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The Proverbs of Solomon  10:1 The proverbs of Solomon.

A wise son makes a glad father,

but a foolish son is a sorrow to his mother. 2

Treasures gained by wickedness do not profit,

but righteousness delivers from death. 3

The Lord does not let the righteous go hungry,

but he thwarts the craving of the wicked. 4

A slack hand causes poverty,

but the hand of the diligent makes rich. 5

He who gathers in summer is a prudent son,

but he who sleeps in harvest is a son who brings shame. 6

Blessings are on the head of the righteous,

but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence. 7

The memory of the righteous is a blessing,

but the name of the wicked will rot. 8

The wise of heart will receive commandments,

but a babbling fool will come to ruin. 9

Whoever walks in integrity walks securely,

but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out. 10

Whoever winks the eye causes trouble,

and a babbling fool will come to ruin. 11

The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life,

but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence. 12

Hatred stirs up strife,

but love covers all offenses. 13

On the lips of him who has understanding, wisdom is found,

but a rod is for the back of him who lacks sense. 14

The wise lay up knowledge,

but the mouth of a fool brings ruin near. 15

A rich man’s wealth is his strong city;

the poverty of the poor is their ruin. 16

The wage of the righteous leads to life,

the gain of the wicked to sin. 17

Whoever heeds instruction is on the path to life,

but he who rejects reproof leads others astray. 18

The one who conceals hatred has lying lips,

and whoever utters slander is a fool. 19

When words are many, transgression is not lacking,

but whoever restrains his lips is prudent. 20

The tongue of the righteous is choice silver;

the heart of the wicked is of little worth. 21

The lips of the righteous feed many,

but fools die for lack of sense. 22

The blessing of the Lord makes rich,

and he adds no sorrow with it. 23

Doing wrong is like a joke to a fool,

but wisdom is pleasure to a man of understanding. 24

What the wicked dreads will come upon him,

but the desire of the righteous will be granted. 25

When the tempest passes, the wicked is no more,

but the righteous is established forever. 26

Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes,

so is the sluggard to those who send him. 27

The fear of the Lord prolongs life,

but the years of the wicked will be short. 28

The hope of the righteous brings joy,

but the expectation of the wicked will perish. 29

The way of the Lord is a stronghold to the blameless,

but destruction to evildoers. 30

The righteous will never be removed,

but the wicked will not dwell in the land. 31

The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom,

but the perverse tongue will be cut off. 32

The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable,

but the mouth of the wicked, what is perverse.

PSALM 91

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My Refuge and My Fortress91:1

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High

will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. 2

I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress,

my God, in whom I trust.”
3

For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler

and from the deadly pestilence. 4

He will cover you with his pinions,

and under his wings you will find refuge;

his faithfulness is a shield and buckler. 5

You will not fear the terror of the night,

nor the arrow that flies by day, 6

nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness,

nor the destruction that wastes at noonday.
7

A thousand may fall at your side,

ten thousand at your right hand,

but it will not come near you. 8

You will only look with your eyes

and see the recompense of the wicked.
9

Because you have made the Lord your dwelling place—

the Most High, who is my refuge— 10

no evil shall be allowed to befall you,

no plague come near your tent.
11

For he will command his angels concerning you

to guard you in all your ways. 12

On their hands they will bear you up,

lest you strike your foot against a stone. 13

You will tread on the lion and the adder;

the young lion and the serpent you will trample underfoot.
14

“Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him;

I will protect him, because he knows my name. 15

When he calls to me, I will answer him;

I will be with him in trouble;

I will rescue him and honor him. 16

With long life I will satisfy him

and show him my salvation.”