January 7 - Morning
"The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you:
“I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” - Genesis 12:1-3
“I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” - Genesis 12:1-3
The Call of Abram to Separate and Be Blessed
The separation of Israel from the other nations begins in Genesis 12:1. Abram is to be the first of the nation of Israel so he is told to leave his country (the region of Ur and that of Haran), his people (his ethnic group) and his father’s household (his extended family identified in the genealogy of chapter 11). Abram is isolated so that he can develop and be unique free from residence and oppression from his culture.
Abram’s wife’s name, Sarai, was the name of the moon god’s consort, and it means “princess” in Hebrew and “queen” in Akkadian. Lot’s sister’s name (the wife of Abram’s brother, Nahor) was Milcah and it means “queen, the title of the moon god’s daughter.’ Joshua 24:2 and 24:15 clearly says Abram’s father, Terah, was a worshipper of the moon god. If Abraham had stayed in his region among the ethnic group he would have been expected to continue participation with this father’s household in the community’s worship of the moon god. If Abram had refrained because of his allegiance to the Lord, any disaster or hardship that the people of Haran or in his father’s household faced would have been traced back to Abram’s lack of devotion to the moon god. Abram had to leave; there could be no mixing of the past with the future.
Not only did God call Abram, but he also gave Abram his Word. God made promises to Abram that would extend through Abram’s life and far into the distant future. And, these promises were not merely words of blessing to Abram and curses on the idol worshiping nations. These were blessing to Abram with the purpose of blessing the other nations with redemption and restoration. The phrase “All peoples on earth will be blessed through you,” means the people of the nations will “find or obtain blessing” through Abram and the promises God has made to the one he called out from the nations.
'amal (Hb) - Labor (Eng) - 'amal is the Hebrew verb translated “ to toil,” “to labor,” “to work,” “to make.” In Psalms 127:1 ‘amal is the labor of the construction of a building or the labor involved with agriculture in Jonah 4:10 and Proverbs 16:26. In Ecclesiastes 5:18-19 ‘amal is fruitful labor that is productive and good. But, in Jeremiah 20:18 ‘amal is trouble and burdensome.
Are there things and people I need to separate from so that I can fully follow God?
I will take steps to insure that I will not hesitate to do what is right.
I will take steps to insure that I will not hesitate to do what is right.
Bible Reading Descriptions Here
Personal
Family friends and their children
Church
Health of leadership
Nation
Foreign policy
World
Water supply
The remains of the Canaanite Temple/Palace that Joshua burnedin 1400 BC according to Joshua 11:13:
"Yet Israel did not burn any of the cities built on their mounds—except Hazor, which Joshua burned."
The combination of oil, timber and wind created the very hot fire of 1300 C (2372 F) degrees. The burnt ash layer reached 3 feet and the basalt stones (as seen in photo above) cracked in the heat. Inside the burtn Canaanite palace archeologists found ivory plaques, cylinder seals, figurines, jewelry, and a large basalt stone statue standing over three feet tall.
"Yet Israel did not burn any of the cities built on their mounds—except Hazor, which Joshua burned."
The combination of oil, timber and wind created the very hot fire of 1300 C (2372 F) degrees. The burnt ash layer reached 3 feet and the basalt stones (as seen in photo above) cracked in the heat. Inside the burtn Canaanite palace archeologists found ivory plaques, cylinder seals, figurines, jewelry, and a large basalt stone statue standing over three feet tall.
Someone to Quote
"If Jesus, the sinless and perfect Son of God, limited Himself to speaking nothing during His incarnation except the truth He received from His Father, how much more should those who have been called into ministry speak only on the authority of divine Scripture." - John MacArthur
Something to Ponder
Atheism rejects the existence of God (or, theism) because it is felt there is no enough evidence to prove God exists. But, this erroneously leaves the impression that there is proof that God does NOT exist. Saying, “No one can prove God exists!” is not the same thing as saying, “We can prove God does NOT exist.” It is logically impossible to say, “It has been proven that God does not exist,” because not every option has been examined and not everything thing is known. It is more reasonable and the evidence is manageable to show the existence of God. First, life does exist. Second, life must originate from God’s special creation or by chance life emerged out of the chaos. Does life exist because of God or chance, or is there a third option? It is provable that life does not come from chance, so the only option is that it comes from God since there is not third alternative. Atheism is illogical, while theism is based in logic.
Here’s a Fact
The Garden Tomb, also known as Gordon's Calvary, on the north side of Jerusalem outside the Damascus Gate is often considered to be a possible location for the burial and resurrection of Jesus. It is not. Archaeology has shown that this tomb is one of several tombs cut in this area during 600-800 BC. It was not a new tomb even in Jeremiah’s later years, so it could not have been a freshly cut tomb in Jesus day. (John 19:41) The tombs in the church of the Holy Sepulcher were new tombs in Jesus day.
(Garden Tomb; Church of Holy Sepulcher)
Proverb
"My son, keep my words and store up my commands within you. Keep my commands and you will live; guard my teachings as the apple of your eye. Bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart." - Proverbs 7:1-3
Coach’s Corner
Your inner character is real; your reputation is an opinion. Yet, what you are and what people see are both important.
Ecclesiastes 5:18-19
New International Version (NIV)
18 This is what I have observed to be good: that it is appropriate for a person to eat, to drink and to find satisfaction in their toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given them—for this is their lot. 19 Moreover, when God gives someone wealth and possessions, and the ability to enjoy them, to accept their lot and be happy in their toil—this is a gift of God.
New International Version (NIV)
18 This is what I have observed to be good: that it is appropriate for a person to eat, to drink and to find satisfaction in their toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given them—for this is their lot. 19 Moreover, when God gives someone wealth and possessions, and the ability to enjoy them, to accept their lot and be happy in their toil—this is a gift of God.
Genesis 11
New International Version (NIV)
The Tower of Babel
11 Now the whole world had one language and a common speech. 2 As people moved eastward, they found a plain in Shinar and settled there.
3 They said to each other, “Come, let’s make bricks and bake them thoroughly.” They used brick instead of stone, and tar for mortar. 4 Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves; otherwise we will be scattered over the face of the whole earth.”
5 But the Lord came down to see the city and the tower the people were building. 6 The Lord said, “If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them. 7 Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other.”
8 So the Lord scattered them from there over all the earth, and they stopped building the city. 9 That is why it was called Babel—because there the Lord confused the language of the whole world. From there the Lord scattered them over the face of the whole earth.
From Shem to Abram
10 This is the account of Shem’s family line.
Two years after the flood, when Shem was 100 years old, he became the father of Arphaxad. 11 And after he became the father of Arphaxad, Shem lived 500 years and had other sons and daughters.
12 When Arphaxad had lived 35 years, he became the father of Shelah. 13 And after he became the father of Shelah, Arphaxad lived 403 years and had other sons and daughters.
14 When Shelah had lived 30 years, he became the father of Eber. 15 And after he became the father of Eber, Shelah lived 403 years and had other sons and daughters.
16 When Eber had lived 34 years, he became the father of Peleg. 17 And after he became the father of Peleg, Eber lived 430 years and had other sons and daughters.
18 When Peleg had lived 30 years, he became the father of Reu. 19 And after he became the father of Reu, Peleg lived 209 years and had other sons and daughters.
20 When Reu had lived 32 years, he became the father of Serug. 21 And after he became the father of Serug, Reu lived 207 years and had other sons and daughters.
22 When Serug had lived 30 years, he became the father of Nahor. 23 And after he became the father of Nahor, Serug lived 200 years and had other sons and daughters.
24 When Nahor had lived 29 years, he became the father of Terah. 25 And after he became the father of Terah, Nahor lived 119 years and had other sons and daughters.
26 After Terah had lived 70 years, he became the father of Abram, Nahor and Haran.
Abram’s Family
27 This is the account of Terah’s family line.
Terah became the father of Abram, Nahor and Haran. And Haran became the father of Lot. 28 While his father Terah was still alive, Haran died in Ur of the Chaldeans, in the land of his birth. 29 Abram and Nahor both married. The name of Abram’s wife was Sarai, and the name of Nahor’s wife was Milkah; she was the daughter of Haran, the father of both Milkah and Iskah. 30 Now Sarai was childless because she was not able to conceive.
31 Terah took his son Abram, his grandson Lot son of Haran, and his daughter-in-law Sarai, the wife of his son Abram, and together they set out from Ur of the Chaldeans to go to Canaan. But when they came to Harran, they settled there.
32 Terah lived 205 years, and he died in Harran.
New International Version (NIV)
The Tower of Babel
11 Now the whole world had one language and a common speech. 2 As people moved eastward, they found a plain in Shinar and settled there.
3 They said to each other, “Come, let’s make bricks and bake them thoroughly.” They used brick instead of stone, and tar for mortar. 4 Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves; otherwise we will be scattered over the face of the whole earth.”
5 But the Lord came down to see the city and the tower the people were building. 6 The Lord said, “If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them. 7 Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other.”
8 So the Lord scattered them from there over all the earth, and they stopped building the city. 9 That is why it was called Babel—because there the Lord confused the language of the whole world. From there the Lord scattered them over the face of the whole earth.
From Shem to Abram
10 This is the account of Shem’s family line.
Two years after the flood, when Shem was 100 years old, he became the father of Arphaxad. 11 And after he became the father of Arphaxad, Shem lived 500 years and had other sons and daughters.
12 When Arphaxad had lived 35 years, he became the father of Shelah. 13 And after he became the father of Shelah, Arphaxad lived 403 years and had other sons and daughters.
14 When Shelah had lived 30 years, he became the father of Eber. 15 And after he became the father of Eber, Shelah lived 403 years and had other sons and daughters.
16 When Eber had lived 34 years, he became the father of Peleg. 17 And after he became the father of Peleg, Eber lived 430 years and had other sons and daughters.
18 When Peleg had lived 30 years, he became the father of Reu. 19 And after he became the father of Reu, Peleg lived 209 years and had other sons and daughters.
20 When Reu had lived 32 years, he became the father of Serug. 21 And after he became the father of Serug, Reu lived 207 years and had other sons and daughters.
22 When Serug had lived 30 years, he became the father of Nahor. 23 And after he became the father of Nahor, Serug lived 200 years and had other sons and daughters.
24 When Nahor had lived 29 years, he became the father of Terah. 25 And after he became the father of Terah, Nahor lived 119 years and had other sons and daughters.
26 After Terah had lived 70 years, he became the father of Abram, Nahor and Haran.
Abram’s Family
27 This is the account of Terah’s family line.
Terah became the father of Abram, Nahor and Haran. And Haran became the father of Lot. 28 While his father Terah was still alive, Haran died in Ur of the Chaldeans, in the land of his birth. 29 Abram and Nahor both married. The name of Abram’s wife was Sarai, and the name of Nahor’s wife was Milkah; she was the daughter of Haran, the father of both Milkah and Iskah. 30 Now Sarai was childless because she was not able to conceive.
31 Terah took his son Abram, his grandson Lot son of Haran, and his daughter-in-law Sarai, the wife of his son Abram, and together they set out from Ur of the Chaldeans to go to Canaan. But when they came to Harran, they settled there.
32 Terah lived 205 years, and he died in Harran.
Joshua 24:15
New International Version (NIV)
15 But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”
New International Version (NIV)
15 But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”
Genesis 8
New International Version (NIV)
8 But God remembered Noah and all the wild animals and the livestock that were with him in the ark, and he sent a wind over the earth, and the waters receded. 2 Now the springs of the deep and the floodgates of the heavens had been closed, and the rain had stopped falling from the sky. 3 The water receded steadily from the earth. At the end of the hundred and fifty days the water had gone down, 4 and on the seventeenth day of the seventh month the ark came to rest on the mountains of Ararat. 5 The waters continued to recede until the tenth month, and on the first day of the tenth month the tops of the mountains became visible.
6 After forty days Noah opened a window he had made in the ark 7 and sent out a raven, and it kept flying back and forth until the water had dried up from the earth. 8 Then he sent out a dove to see if the water had receded from the surface of the ground. 9 But the dove could find nowhere to perch because there was water over all the surface of the earth; so it returned to Noah in the ark. He reached out his hand and took the dove and brought it back to himself in the ark. 10 He waited seven more days and again sent out the dove from the ark. 11 When the dove returned to him in the evening, there in its beak was a freshly plucked olive leaf! Then Noah knew that the water had receded from the earth. 12 He waited seven more days and sent the dove out again, but this time it did not return to him.
13 By the first day of the first month of Noah’s six hundred and first year, the water had dried up from the earth. Noah then removed the covering from the ark and saw that the surface of the ground was dry. 14 By the twenty-seventh day of the second month the earth was completely dry.
15 Then God said to Noah, 16 “Come out of the ark, you and your wife and your sons and their wives. 17 Bring out every kind of living creature that is with you—the birds, the animals, and all the creatures that move along the ground—so they can multiply on the earth and be fruitful and increase in number on it.”
18 So Noah came out, together with his sons and his wife and his sons’ wives. 19 All the animals and all the creatures that move along the ground and all the birds—everything that moves on land—came out of the ark, one kind after another.
20 Then Noah built an altar to the Lord and, taking some of all the clean animals and clean birds, he sacrificed burnt offerings on it. 21 The Lord smelled the pleasing aroma and said in his heart: “Never again will I curse the ground because of humans, even though every inclination of the human heart is evil from childhood. And never again will I destroy all living creatures, as I have done.
22
“As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease.”
New International Version (NIV)
8 But God remembered Noah and all the wild animals and the livestock that were with him in the ark, and he sent a wind over the earth, and the waters receded. 2 Now the springs of the deep and the floodgates of the heavens had been closed, and the rain had stopped falling from the sky. 3 The water receded steadily from the earth. At the end of the hundred and fifty days the water had gone down, 4 and on the seventeenth day of the seventh month the ark came to rest on the mountains of Ararat. 5 The waters continued to recede until the tenth month, and on the first day of the tenth month the tops of the mountains became visible.
6 After forty days Noah opened a window he had made in the ark 7 and sent out a raven, and it kept flying back and forth until the water had dried up from the earth. 8 Then he sent out a dove to see if the water had receded from the surface of the ground. 9 But the dove could find nowhere to perch because there was water over all the surface of the earth; so it returned to Noah in the ark. He reached out his hand and took the dove and brought it back to himself in the ark. 10 He waited seven more days and again sent out the dove from the ark. 11 When the dove returned to him in the evening, there in its beak was a freshly plucked olive leaf! Then Noah knew that the water had receded from the earth. 12 He waited seven more days and sent the dove out again, but this time it did not return to him.
13 By the first day of the first month of Noah’s six hundred and first year, the water had dried up from the earth. Noah then removed the covering from the ark and saw that the surface of the ground was dry. 14 By the twenty-seventh day of the second month the earth was completely dry.
15 Then God said to Noah, 16 “Come out of the ark, you and your wife and your sons and their wives. 17 Bring out every kind of living creature that is with you—the birds, the animals, and all the creatures that move along the ground—so they can multiply on the earth and be fruitful and increase in number on it.”
18 So Noah came out, together with his sons and his wife and his sons’ wives. 19 All the animals and all the creatures that move along the ground and all the birds—everything that moves on land—came out of the ark, one kind after another.
20 Then Noah built an altar to the Lord and, taking some of all the clean animals and clean birds, he sacrificed burnt offerings on it. 21 The Lord smelled the pleasing aroma and said in his heart: “Never again will I curse the ground because of humans, even though every inclination of the human heart is evil from childhood. And never again will I destroy all living creatures, as I have done.
22
“As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease.”
Genesis 13
New International Version (NIV)
Abram and Lot Separate
13 So Abram went up from Egypt to the Negev, with his wife and everything he had, and Lot went with him. 2 Abram had become very wealthy in livestock and in silver and gold.
3 From the Negev he went from place to place until he came to Bethel, to the place between Bethel and Ai where his tent had been earlier 4 and where he had first built an altar. There Abram called on the name of the Lord.
5 Now Lot, who was moving about with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents. 6 But the land could not support them while they stayed together, for their possessions were so great that they were not able to stay together. 7 And quarreling arose between Abram’s herders and Lot’s. The Canaanites and Perizzites were also living in the land at that time.
8 So Abram said to Lot, “Let’s not have any quarreling between you and me, or between your herders and mine, for we are close relatives. 9 Is not the whole land before you? Let’s part company. If you go to the left, I’ll go to the right; if you go to the right, I’ll go to the left.”
10 Lot looked around and saw that the whole plain of the Jordan toward Zoar was well watered, like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt. (This was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.) 11 So Lot chose for himself the whole plain of the Jordan and set out toward the east. The two men parted company: 12 Abram lived in the land of Canaan, while Lot lived among the cities of the plain and pitched his tents near Sodom. 13 Now the people of Sodom were wicked and were sinning greatly against the Lord.
14 The Lord said to Abram after Lot had parted from him, “Look around from where you are, to the north and south, to the east and west. 15 All the land that you see I will give to you and your offspring forever. 16 I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth, so that if anyone could count the dust, then your offspring could be counted. 17 Go, walk through the length and breadth of the land, for I am giving it to you.”
18 So Abram went to live near the great trees of Mamre at Hebron, where he pitched his tents. There he built an altar to the Lord.
New International Version (NIV)
Abram and Lot Separate
13 So Abram went up from Egypt to the Negev, with his wife and everything he had, and Lot went with him. 2 Abram had become very wealthy in livestock and in silver and gold.
3 From the Negev he went from place to place until he came to Bethel, to the place between Bethel and Ai where his tent had been earlier 4 and where he had first built an altar. There Abram called on the name of the Lord.
5 Now Lot, who was moving about with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents. 6 But the land could not support them while they stayed together, for their possessions were so great that they were not able to stay together. 7 And quarreling arose between Abram’s herders and Lot’s. The Canaanites and Perizzites were also living in the land at that time.
8 So Abram said to Lot, “Let’s not have any quarreling between you and me, or between your herders and mine, for we are close relatives. 9 Is not the whole land before you? Let’s part company. If you go to the left, I’ll go to the right; if you go to the right, I’ll go to the left.”
10 Lot looked around and saw that the whole plain of the Jordan toward Zoar was well watered, like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt. (This was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.) 11 So Lot chose for himself the whole plain of the Jordan and set out toward the east. The two men parted company: 12 Abram lived in the land of Canaan, while Lot lived among the cities of the plain and pitched his tents near Sodom. 13 Now the people of Sodom were wicked and were sinning greatly against the Lord.
14 The Lord said to Abram after Lot had parted from him, “Look around from where you are, to the north and south, to the east and west. 15 All the land that you see I will give to you and your offspring forever. 16 I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth, so that if anyone could count the dust, then your offspring could be counted. 17 Go, walk through the length and breadth of the land, for I am giving it to you.”
18 So Abram went to live near the great trees of Mamre at Hebron, where he pitched his tents. There he built an altar to the Lord.
Job 14-15
New International Version (NIV)
14
“Mortals, born of woman, are of few days and full of trouble.
2
They spring up like flowers and wither away; like fleeting shadows, they do not endure.
3
Do you fix your eye on them? Will you bring them before you for judgment?
4
Who can bring what is pure from the impure? No one!
5
A person’s days are determined; you have decreed the number of his months and have set limits he cannot exceed.
6
So look away from him and let him alone, till he has put in his time like a hired laborer.
7
“At least there is hope for a tree: If it is cut down, it will sprout again, and its new shoots will not fail.
8
Its roots may grow old in the ground and its stump die in the soil,
9
yet at the scent of water it will bud and put forth shoots like a plant.
10
But a man dies and is laid low; he breathes his last and is no more.
11
As the water of a lake dries up or a riverbed becomes parched and dry,
12
so he lies down and does not rise; till the heavens are no more, people will not awake or be roused from their sleep.
13
“If only you would hide me in the grave and conceal me till your anger has passed! If only you would set me a time and then remember me!
14
If someone dies, will they live again? All the days of my hard service I will wait for my renewal to come.
15
You will call and I will answer you; you will long for the creature your hands have made.
16
Surely then you will count my steps but not keep track of my sin.
17
My offenses will be sealed up in a bag; you will cover over my sin.
18
“But as a mountain erodes and crumbles and as a rock is moved from its place,
19
as water wears away stones and torrents wash away the soil, so you destroy a person’s hope.
20
You overpower them once for all, and they are gone; you change their countenance and send them away.
21
If their children are honored, they do not know it; if their offspring are brought low, they do not see it.
22
They feel but the pain of their own bodies and mourn only for themselves.”
Eliphaz
15 Then Eliphaz the Temanite replied:
2
“Would a wise person answer with empty notions or fill their belly with the hot east wind?
3
Would they argue with useless words, with speeches that have no value?
4
But you even undermine piety and hinder devotion to God.
5
Your sin prompts your mouth; you adopt the tongue of the crafty.
6
Your own mouth condemns you, not mine; your own lips testify against you.
7
“Are you the first man ever born? Were you brought forth before the hills?
8
Do you listen in on God’s council? Do you have a monopoly on wisdom?
9
What do you know that we do not know? What insights do you have that we do not have?
10
The gray-haired and the aged are on our side, men even older than your father.
11
Are God’s consolations not enough for you, words spoken gently to you?
12
Why has your heart carried you away, and why do your eyes flash,
13
so that you vent your rage against God and pour out such words from your mouth?
14
“What are mortals, that they could be pure, or those born of woman, that they could be righteous?
15
If God places no trust in his holy ones, if even the heavens are not pure in his eyes,
16
how much less mortals, who are vile and corrupt, who drink up evil like water!
17
“Listen to me and I will explain to you; let me tell you what I have seen,
18
what the wise have declared, hiding nothing received from their ancestors
19
(to whom alone the land was given when no foreigners moved among them):
20
All his days the wicked man suffers torment, the ruthless man through all the years stored up for him.
21
Terrifying sounds fill his ears; when all seems well, marauders attack him.
22
He despairs of escaping the realm of darkness; he is marked for the sword.
23
He wanders about for food like a vulture; he knows the day of darkness is at hand.
24
Distress and anguish fill him with terror; troubles overwhelm him, like a king poised to attack,
25
because he shakes his fist at God and vaunts himself against the Almighty,
26
defiantly charging against him with a thick, strong shield.
27
“Though his face is covered with fat and his waist bulges with flesh,
28
he will inhabit ruined towns and houses where no one lives, houses crumbling to rubble.
29
He will no longer be rich and his wealth will not endure, nor will his possessions spread over the land.
30
He will not escape the darkness; a flame will wither his shoots, and the breath of God’s mouth will carry him away.
31
Let him not deceive himself by trusting what is worthless, for he will get nothing in return.
32
Before his time he will wither, and his branches will not flourish.
33
He will be like a vine stripped of its unripe grapes, like an olive tree shedding its blossoms.
34
For the company of the godless will be barren, and fire will consume the tents of those who love bribes.
35
They conceive trouble and give birth to evil; their womb fashions deceit.”
New International Version (NIV)
14
“Mortals, born of woman, are of few days and full of trouble.
2
They spring up like flowers and wither away; like fleeting shadows, they do not endure.
3
Do you fix your eye on them? Will you bring them before you for judgment?
4
Who can bring what is pure from the impure? No one!
5
A person’s days are determined; you have decreed the number of his months and have set limits he cannot exceed.
6
So look away from him and let him alone, till he has put in his time like a hired laborer.
7
“At least there is hope for a tree: If it is cut down, it will sprout again, and its new shoots will not fail.
8
Its roots may grow old in the ground and its stump die in the soil,
9
yet at the scent of water it will bud and put forth shoots like a plant.
10
But a man dies and is laid low; he breathes his last and is no more.
11
As the water of a lake dries up or a riverbed becomes parched and dry,
12
so he lies down and does not rise; till the heavens are no more, people will not awake or be roused from their sleep.
13
“If only you would hide me in the grave and conceal me till your anger has passed! If only you would set me a time and then remember me!
14
If someone dies, will they live again? All the days of my hard service I will wait for my renewal to come.
15
You will call and I will answer you; you will long for the creature your hands have made.
16
Surely then you will count my steps but not keep track of my sin.
17
My offenses will be sealed up in a bag; you will cover over my sin.
18
“But as a mountain erodes and crumbles and as a rock is moved from its place,
19
as water wears away stones and torrents wash away the soil, so you destroy a person’s hope.
20
You overpower them once for all, and they are gone; you change their countenance and send them away.
21
If their children are honored, they do not know it; if their offspring are brought low, they do not see it.
22
They feel but the pain of their own bodies and mourn only for themselves.”
Eliphaz
15 Then Eliphaz the Temanite replied:
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“Would a wise person answer with empty notions or fill their belly with the hot east wind?
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Would they argue with useless words, with speeches that have no value?
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But you even undermine piety and hinder devotion to God.
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Your sin prompts your mouth; you adopt the tongue of the crafty.
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Your own mouth condemns you, not mine; your own lips testify against you.
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“Are you the first man ever born? Were you brought forth before the hills?
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Do you listen in on God’s council? Do you have a monopoly on wisdom?
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What do you know that we do not know? What insights do you have that we do not have?
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The gray-haired and the aged are on our side, men even older than your father.
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Are God’s consolations not enough for you, words spoken gently to you?
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Why has your heart carried you away, and why do your eyes flash,
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so that you vent your rage against God and pour out such words from your mouth?
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“What are mortals, that they could be pure, or those born of woman, that they could be righteous?
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If God places no trust in his holy ones, if even the heavens are not pure in his eyes,
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how much less mortals, who are vile and corrupt, who drink up evil like water!
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“Listen to me and I will explain to you; let me tell you what I have seen,
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what the wise have declared, hiding nothing received from their ancestors
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(to whom alone the land was given when no foreigners moved among them):
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All his days the wicked man suffers torment, the ruthless man through all the years stored up for him.
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Terrifying sounds fill his ears; when all seems well, marauders attack him.
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He despairs of escaping the realm of darkness; he is marked for the sword.
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He wanders about for food like a vulture; he knows the day of darkness is at hand.
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Distress and anguish fill him with terror; troubles overwhelm him, like a king poised to attack,
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because he shakes his fist at God and vaunts himself against the Almighty,
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defiantly charging against him with a thick, strong shield.
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“Though his face is covered with fat and his waist bulges with flesh,
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he will inhabit ruined towns and houses where no one lives, houses crumbling to rubble.
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He will no longer be rich and his wealth will not endure, nor will his possessions spread over the land.
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He will not escape the darkness; a flame will wither his shoots, and the breath of God’s mouth will carry him away.
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Let him not deceive himself by trusting what is worthless, for he will get nothing in return.
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Before his time he will wither, and his branches will not flourish.
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He will be like a vine stripped of its unripe grapes, like an olive tree shedding its blossoms.
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For the company of the godless will be barren, and fire will consume the tents of those who love bribes.
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They conceive trouble and give birth to evil; their womb fashions deceit.”