One Story That Leads to Jesus, Day 147
Job 29
29Job continued speaking.H347H3254H5375H4912H5592"I long for the years gone by when God took care of me,H5414H3391H6924H3117H433H81043when he lit up the way before me and I walked safely through the darkness.H5216H1984H7218H216H3212H28224When I was in my prime, God's friendship was felt in my home.H3117H2779H5475H433H1685The Almighty was still with me, and my children were around me.H7706H5288H54396My cows produced milk in abundance, and my groves poured out streams of olive oil.H7364H1978H2529H6697H6694H6388H80817"Those were the days when I went to the city gate and took my place among the honored leaders.H3318H8179H7176H3559H4186H73398The young stepped aside when they saw me, and even the aged rose in respect at my coming.H5288H7200H2244H3453H6965H59759The princes stood in silence and put their hands over their mouths.H8269H6113H4405H7760H3709H631010The highest officials of the city stood quietly, holding their tongues in respect.H5057H2244H6963H3956H1692H244111"All who heard me praised me. All who saw me spoke well of me.H241H8085H833H5869H7200H574912For I assisted the poor in their need and the orphans who required help.H4422H6041H7768H3490H582613I helped those without hope, and they blessed me. And I caused the widows' hearts to sing for joy.H1293H6H935H490H3820H744214Everything I did was honest. Righteousness covered me like a robe, and I wore justice like a turban.H3847H6664H3847H4941H4598H679715I served as eyes for the blind and feet for the lame.H5869H5787H7272H645516I was a father to the poor and assisted strangers who needed help.H1H34H7379H3045H271317I broke the jaws of godless oppressors and plucked their victims from their teeth.H7665H4973H5767H7993H2964H812718"I thought, 'Surely I will die surrounded by my family after a long, good life.H559H1478H7064H7235H3117H234419For I am like a tree whose roots reach the water, whose branches are refreshed with the dew.H8328H6605H4325H2919H3885H710520New honors are constantly bestowed on me, and my strength is continually renewed.'H3519H2319H5978H7198H2498H302721"Everyone listened to my advice. They were silent as they waited for me to speak.H8085H3176H1826H3926H609822And after I spoke, they had nothing to add, for my counsel satisfied them.H310H1697H8138H4405H519723They longed for me to speak as people long for rain. They drank my words like a refreshing spring rain.H3176H4306H6473H6310H445624When they were discouraged, I smiled at them. My look of approval was precious to them.H7832H539H216H6440H530725Like a chief, I told them what to do. I lived like a king among his troops and comforted those who mourned.H977H1870H3427H7218H7931H4428H1416H5162H57
Job 30
30"But now I am mocked by people younger than I, by young men whose fathers are not worthy to run with my sheepdogs.H6810H3117H7832H1H3988H7896H3611H66292A lot of good they are to me—those worn-out wretches!H4100H3581H3027H3624H63They are gaunt with hunger and flee to the deserts, to desolate and gloomy wastelands.H2639H3720H1565H6207H6723H570H7722H48754They pluck wild greens from among the bushes and eat from the roots of broom trees.H6998H4408H7880H7574H8328H38995They are driven from human society, and people shout at them as if they were thieves.H1644H1460H7321H15906So now they live in frightening ravines, in caves and among the rocks.H7931H6178H5158H2356H6083H37107They sound like animals howling among the bushes, huddled together beneath the nettles.H7880H5101H2738H55968They are nameless fools, outcasts from society.H1121H5036H1121H8034H5217H7769"And now they mock me with vulgar songs! They taunt me!H5058H440510They despise me and won't come near me, except to spit in my face.H8581H7368H2820H7536H644011For God has cut my bowstring. He has humbled me, so they have thrown off all restraint.H6605H3499H6031H7971H7448H644012These outcasts oppose me to my face. They send me sprawling and lay traps in my path.H3225H6965H6526H7971H7272H5549H734H34313They block my road and do everything they can to destroy me. They know I have no one to help me.H5420H5410H3276H1942H1962H582614They come at me from all directions. They jump on me when I am down.H857H7342H6556H8478H7722H155615I live in terror now. My honor has blown away in the wind, and my prosperity has vanished like a cloud.H1091H2015H7291H5082H7307H3444H5674H564516"And now my life seeps away. Depression haunts my days.H5315H8210H3117H6040H27017At night my bones are filled with pain, which gnaws at me relentlessly.H6106H5365H3915H6207H790118With a strong hand, God grabs my shirt. He grips me by the collar of my coat.H7230H3581H3830H2664H247H6310H380119He has thrown me into the mud. I'm nothing more than dust and ashes.H3384H2563H4911H6083H66520"I cry to you, O God, but you don't answer. I stand before you, but you don't even look.H7768H6030H5975H99521You have become cruel toward me. You use your power to persecute me.H2015H393H6108H3027H785222You throw me into the whirlwind and destroy me in the storm.H5375H7307H7392H4127H8454H773823And I know you are sending me to my death—the destination of all who live.H3045H7725H4194H1004H4150H241624"Surely no one would turn against the needy when they cry for help in their trouble.H7971H3027H1164H7769H636525Did I not weep for those in trouble? Was I not deeply grieved for the needy?H1058H7186H3117H5315H5701H3426So I looked for good, but evil came instead. I waited for the light, but darkness fell.H6960H2896H7451H935H3176H216H935H65227My heart is troubled and restless. Days of suffering torment me.H4578H7570H1826H3117H6040H692328I walk in gloom, without sunlight. I stand in the public square and cry for help.H1980H6937H2535H6965H7768H695129Instead, I am considered a brother to jackals and a companion to owls.H251H8577H7453H1323H328430My skin has turned dark, and my bones burn with fever.H5785H7835H6106H2787H272131My harp plays sad music, and my flute accompanies those who weep.H3658H60H5748H6963H1058
Job 31
31"I made a covenant with my eyes not to look with lust at a young woman.H3772H1285H5869H995H13302For what has God above chosen for us? What is our inheritance from the Almighty on high?H2506H433H4605H5159H7706H47913Isn't it calamity for the wicked and misfortune for those who do evil?H343H5767H5235H6466H2054Doesn't he see everything I do and every step I take?H7200H1870H5608H68065"Have I lied to anyone or deceived anyone?H1980H7723H7272H2363H48206Let God weigh me on the scales of justice, for he knows my integrity.H8254H6664H3976H433H3045H85387If I have strayed from his pathway, or if my heart has lusted for what my eyes have seen, or if I am guilty of any other sin,H838H5186H1870H3820H1980H310H5869H3971H1692H37098then let someone else eat the crops I have planted. Let all that I have planted be uprooted.H2232H312H398H6631H83279"If my heart has been seduced by a woman, or if I have lusted for my neighbor's wife,H3820H6601H802H693H7453H660710then let my wife belong to another man; let other men sleep with her.H802H2912H312H312H376611For lust is a shameful sin, a crime that should be punished.H2154H5771H641412It is a fire that burns all the way to hell. It would wipe out everything I own.H784H398H11H8327H839313"If I have been unfair to my male or female servants when they brought their complaints to me,H3988H4941H5650H519H737914how could I face God? What could I say when he questioned me?H6213H410H6965H6485H772515For God created both me and my servants. He created us both in the womb.H6213H990H6213H259H3559H735816"Have I refused to help the poor, or crushed the hopes of widows?H4513H1800H2656H5869H490H361517Have I been stingy with my food and refused to share it with orphans?H398H6595H3490H39818No, from childhood I have cared for orphans like a father, and all my life I have cared for widows.H5271H1431H1H5148H517H99019Whenever I saw the homeless without clothes and the needy with nothing to wear,H7200H6H3830H34H368220did they not praise me for providing wool clothing to keep them warm?H2504H1288H2552H1488H353221"If I raised my hand against an orphan, knowing the judges would take my side,H5130H3027H3490H7200H5833H817922then let my shoulder be wrenched out of place! Let my arm be torn from its socket!H3802H5307H7929H248H7665H707023That would be better than facing God's judgment. For if the majesty of God opposes me, what hope is there?H343H410H6343H7613H320124"Have I put my trust in money or felt secure because of my gold?H7760H2091H3689H559H3800H400925Have I gloated about my wealth and all that I own?H8055H2428H7227H3027H4672H352426"Have I looked at the sun shining in the skies, or the moon walking down its silver pathway,H7200H216H1984H3394H1980H336827and been secretly enticed in my heart to throw kisses at them in worship?H3820H5643H6601H6310H5401H302728If so, I should be punished by the judges, for it would mean I had denied the God of heaven.H5771H6416H3584H410H460529"Have I ever rejoiced when disaster struck my enemies, or become excited when harm came their way?H8055H6365H8130H5782H7451H467230No, I have never sinned by cursing anyone or by asking for revenge.H5414H2441H2398H7592H423H531531"My servants have never said, 'He let others go hungry.'H4962H168H559H5414H1320H764632I have never turned away a stranger but have opened my doors to everyone.H1616H3885H2351H6605H1817H73433"Have I tried to hide my sins like other people do, concealing my guilt in my heart?H3680H6588H121H2934H5771H224334Have I feared the crowd or the contempt of the masses, so that I kept quiet and stayed indoors?H6206H7227H1995H937H4940H2865H1826H3318H660735"If only someone would listen to me! Look, I will sign my name to my defense. Let the Almighty answer me. Let my accuser write out the charges against me.H5414H8085H8420H7706H6030H376H7379H3789H561236I would face the accusation proudly. I would wear it like a crown.H5375H7926H6029H585037For I would tell him exactly what I have done. I would come before him like a prince.H5046H4557H6806H5057H712638"If my land accuses me and all its furrows cry out together,H127H2199H8525H3162H105839or if I have stolen its crops or murdered its owners,H398H3581H3701H1167H5301H531540then let thistles grow on that land instead of wheat, and weeds instead of barley." Job's words are ended.H2336H3318H2406H890H8184H1697H347H8552
Psalms 142
142[A psalm of David, regarding his experience in the cave. A prayer.] I cry out to the Lord; I plead for the Lord’s mercy.H4905H1732H8605H4631H2199H3068H6963H6963H3068H2603 2I pour out my complaints before him and tell him all my troubles.H8210H7879H6440H5046H6440H6869 3When I am overwhelmed, you alone know the way I should turn. Wherever I go, my enemies have set traps for me.H7307H5848H3045H5410H734H2098H1980H2934H6341 4I look for someone to come and help me, but no one gives me a passing thought! No one will help me; no one cares a bit what happens to me.H5027H3225H7200H5234H4498H6H1875H5315 5Then I pray to you, O Lord. I say, “You are my place of refuge. You are all I really want in life.H2199H3068H559H4268H2506H776H2416 6Hear my cry, for I am very low. Rescue me from my persecutors, for they are too strong for me.H7181H7440H1809H3966H1809H5337H7291H553 7Bring me out of prison so I can thank you. The godly will crowd around me, for you are good to me.”H3318H5315H4525H3034H8034H6662H3803H1580
Dublin, OH
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