JOB 1

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Job’s Character and Wealth  1:1 There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job, and that man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil. 2 There were born to him seven sons and three daughters. 3 He possessed 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, and 500 female donkeys, and very many servants, so that this man was the greatest of all the people of the east. 4 His sons used to go and hold a feast in the house of each one on his day, and they would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. 5 And when the days of the feast had run their course, Job would send and consecrate them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, “It may be that my children have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts.” Thus Job did continually. Satan Allowed to Test Job6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them. 7 The Lord said to Satan, “From where have you come?” Satan answered the Lord and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.” 8 And the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?” 9 Then Satan answered the Lord and said, “Does Job fear God for no reason? 10 Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. 11 But stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face.” 12 And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand.” So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord. Satan Takes Job’s Property and Children13 Now there was a day when his sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, 14 and there came a messenger to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding beside them, 15 and the Sabeans fell upon them and took them and struck down the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” 16 While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, “The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants and consumed them, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” 17 While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, “The Chaldeans formed three groups and made a raid on the camels and took them and struck down the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” 18 While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, “Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, 19 and behold, a great wind came across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young people, and they are dead, and I alone have escaped to tell you.”
    20 Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped. 21 And he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”
    22 In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong.

PSALM 29

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Ascribe to the Lord GloryA Psalm of David.
29:1

Ascribe to the Lord, O heavenly beings,

ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. 2

Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;

worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness.
3

The voice of the Lord is over the waters;

the God of glory thunders,

the Lord, over many waters. 4

The voice of the Lord is powerful;

the voice of the Lord is full of majesty.
5

The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars;

the Lord breaks the cedars of Lebanon. 6

He makes Lebanon to skip like a calf,

and Sirion like a young wild ox.
7

The voice of the Lord flashes forth flames of fire. 8

The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness;

the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.
9

The voice of the Lord makes the deer give birth

and strips the forests bare,

and in his temple all cry, “Glory!”
10

The Lord sits enthroned over the flood;

the Lord sits enthroned as king forever. 11

May the Lord give strength to his people!

May the Lord bless his people with peace!

PSALM 30

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Joy Comes with the MorningA Psalm of David. A song at the dedication of the temple.
30:1

I will extol you, O Lord, for you have drawn me up

and have not let my foes rejoice over me. 2

O Lord my God, I cried to you for help,

and you have healed me. 3

O Lord, you have brought up my soul from Sheol;

you restored me to life from among those who go down to the pit.
4

Sing praises to the Lord, O you his saints,

and give thanks to his holy name. 5

For his anger is but for a moment,

and his favor is for a lifetime.

Weeping may tarry for the night,

but joy comes with the morning.
6

As for me, I said in my prosperity,

“I shall never be moved.” 7

By your favor, O Lord,

you made my mountain stand strong;

you hid your face;

I was dismayed.
8

To you, O Lord, I cry,

and to the Lord I plead for mercy: 9

“What profit is there in my death,

if I go down to the pit?

Will the dust praise you?

Will it tell of your faithfulness? 10

Hear, O Lord, and be merciful to me!

O Lord, be my helper!”
11

You have turned for me my mourning into dancing;

you have loosed my sackcloth

and clothed me with gladness, 12

that my glory may sing your praise and not be silent.

O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever!

PROVERBS 12

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12:1

Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge,

but he who hates reproof is stupid. 2

A good man obtains favor from the Lord,

but a man of evil devices he condemns. 3

No one is established by wickedness,

but the root of the righteous will never be moved. 4

An excellent wife is the crown of her husband,

but she who brings shame is like rottenness in his bones. 5

The thoughts of the righteous are just;

the counsels of the wicked are deceitful. 6

The words of the wicked lie in wait for blood,

but the mouth of the upright delivers them. 7

The wicked are overthrown and are no more,

but the house of the righteous will stand. 8

A man is commended according to his good sense,

but one of twisted mind is despised. 9

Better to be lowly and have a servant

than to play the great man and lack bread. 10

Whoever is righteous has regard for the life of his beast,

but the mercy of the wicked is cruel. 11

Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread,

but he who follows worthless pursuits lacks sense. 12

Whoever is wicked covets the spoil of evildoers,

but the root of the righteous bears fruit. 13

An evil man is ensnared by the transgression of his lips,

but the righteous escapes from trouble. 14

From the fruit of his mouth a man is satisfied with good,

and the work of a man’s hand comes back to him. 15

The way of a fool is right in his own eyes,

but a wise man listens to advice. 16

The vexation of a fool is known at once,

but the prudent ignores an insult. 17

Whoever speaks the truth gives honest evidence,

but a false witness utters deceit. 18

There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts,

but the tongue of the wise brings healing. 19

Truthful lips endure forever,

but a lying tongue is but for a moment. 20

Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil,

but those who plan peace have joy. 21

No ill befalls the righteous,

but the wicked are filled with trouble. 22

Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord,

but those who act faithfully are his delight. 23

A prudent man conceals knowledge,

but the heart of fools proclaims folly. 24

The hand of the diligent will rule,

while the slothful will be put to forced labor. 25

Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down,

but a good word makes him glad. 26

One who is righteous is a guide to his neighbor,

but the way of the wicked leads them astray. 27

Whoever is slothful will not roast his game,

but the diligent man will get precious wealth. 28

In the path of righteousness is life,

and in its pathway there is no death.