201 Then Zophar the Naamathite answered , 2 "Therefore my disquieting thoughts make me respond , Even because of my inward agitation . 3 "I listened to the reproof which insults me, And the spirit of my understanding makes me answer . 4 "Do you know this from of old , From the establishment of man on earth , 5 That the triumphing of the wicked is short , And the joy of the godless momentary e ? 6 "Though his loftiness reaches the heavens , And his head touches the clouds , 7 He perishes forever like his refuse ; Those who have seen him will say , 'Where is he?' 8 "He flies away like a dream , and they cannot find him; Even like a vision of the night he is chased away . 9 "The eye which saw him sees him no longer, And his place no longer beholds him.
10 "His sons favor the poor , And his hands give back his wealth . 11 "His bones are full of his youthful vigor , But it lies down with him in the dust . 12 "Though evil is sweet in his mouth And he hides it under his tongue , 13 Though he desires it and will not let it go , But holds it in his mouth , 14 Yet his food in his stomach is changed To the venom of cobras within him. 15 "He swallows riches , But will vomit them up; God will expel them from his belly . 16 "He sucks the poison of cobras ; The viper's tongue slays him. 17 "He does not look at the streams , The rivers flowing with honey and curds . 18 "He returns what he has attained And cannot swallow it; As to the riches of his trading , He cannot even enjoy them. 19 "For he has oppressed and forsaken the poor ; He has seized a house which he has not built . 20 "Because he knew no quiet within him, He does not retain anything he desires . 21 "Nothing remains for him to devour , Therefore e his prosperity does not endure . 22 "In the fullness of his plenty he will be cramped ; The hand of everyone who suffers will come against him.
23 "When he fills his belly , God will send His fierce anger on him And will rain it on him while he is eating . 24 "He may flee from the iron weapon , But the bronze bow will pierce him. 25 "It is drawn forth and comes out of his back , Even the glittering point from his gall . Terrors come upon him, 26 Complete darkness is held in reserve for his treasures , And unfanned fire will devour him; It will consume the survivor in his tent . 27 "The heavens will reveal his iniquity , And the earth will rise up against him. 28 "The increase of his house will depart ; His possessions will flow away in the day of His anger . 29 "This is the wicked man's portion from God , Even the heritage decreed to him by God ."
211 Then Job answered , 2 "Listen carefully to my speech , And let this be your way of consolation . 3 "Bear with me that I may speak ; Then after I have spoken , you may mock . 4 "As for me, is my complaint to man ? And why should I not be impatient ? 5 "Look at me, and be astonished , And put your hand over your mouth . 6 "Even when I remember , I am disturbed , And horror takes hold of my flesh .
7 "Why do the wicked still live , Continue on, also become very powerful ? 8 "Their descendants are established with them in their sight , And their offspring before their eyes , 9 Their houses are safe from fear , And the rod of God is not on them. 10 "His ox mates without fail ; His cow calves and does not abort . 11 "They send forth their little ones like the flock , And their children skip about . 12 "They sing to the timbrel and harp And rejoice at the sound of the flute . 13 "They spend their days in prosperity , And suddenly they go down to Sheol . 14 "They say to God , ' Depart from us! We do not even desire the knowledge of Your ways . 15 'Who is the Almighty , that we should serve Him, And what would we gain if we entreat Him?' 16 "Behold , their prosperity is not in their hand ; The counsel of the wicked is far from me.
17 "How often is the lamp of the wicked put out, Or does their calamity fall on them? Does God apportion destruction in His anger ? 18 "Are they as straw before the wind , And like chaff which the storm carries away ? 19 "You say, ' God stores away a man's iniquity for his sons .' Let God repay him so that he may know it. 20 "Let his own eyes see his decay , And let him drink of the wrath of the Almighty . 21 "For what does he care for his household after him, When the number of his months is cut off ? 22 "Can anyone teach God knowledge , In that He judges those on high ? 23 "One dies in his full strength , Being wholly at ease and satisfied ; 24 His sides are filled out with fat , And the marrow of his bones is moist , 25 While another dies with a bitter soul , Never even tasting anything good . 26 "Together they lie down in the dust , And worms cover them.
27 "Behold , I know your thoughts , And the plans by which you would wrong me. 28 "For you say , 'Where is the house of the nobleman , And where is the tent , the dwelling places of the wicked ?' 29 "Have you not asked wayfaring men, And do you not recognize their witness ? 30 "For the wicked is reserved for the day of calamity ; They will be led forth at the day of fury . 31 "Who will confront e e him with his actions , And who will repay him for what he has done ? 32 "While he is carried to the grave , Men will keep watch over his tomb . 33 "The clods of the valley will gently cover him; Moreover, all men will follow after him, While countless e ones go before him. 34 "How then will you vainly comfort me, For your answers remain full of falsehood ?"
24 On the following day he entered Caesarea . Now Cornelius was waiting for them and had called together his relatives and close friends . 25 When Peter entered , Cornelius met him, and fell at his feet and worshiped him. 26 But Peter raised him up, saying , " Stand up; I too am just a man ." 27 As he talked with him, he entered and found many people assembled . 28 And he said to them, "You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a man who is a Jew to associate with a foreigner or to visit him; and yet God has shown me that I should not call any man unholy or unclean . 29 "That is why I came without even raising any objection when I was sent for. So I ask for what reason you have sent for me." 30 Cornelius said , " Four days ago to this hour , I was praying in my house during the ninth hour ; and behold , a man stood before me in shining garments , 31 and he said , 'Cornelius , your prayer has been heard and your alms have been remembered before God . 32 'Therefore send to Joppa and invite Simon , who is also called Peter , to come to you; he is staying at the house of Simon the tanner by the sea .' 33 "So I sent for you immediately , and you have been kind enough to come . Now then , we are all here present before God to hear all that you have been commanded by the Lord ."
34 Opening his mouth , Peter said : "I most certainly e understand now that God is not one to show partiality , 35 but in every nation the man who fears Him and does what is right is welcome to Him. 36 "The word which He sent to the sons of Israel , preaching peace through Jesus Christ (He is Lord of all )- 37 you yourselves know the thing which took place throughout all Judea , starting from Galilee , after the baptism which John proclaimed . 38 "You know of Jesus of Nazareth , how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power , and how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil , for God was with Him. 39 "We are witnesses of all the things He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem . They also put Him to death by hanging Him on a cross . 40 " God raised Him up on the third day and granted that He become visible , 41 not to all the people , but to witnesses who were chosen beforehand by God , that is, to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead . 42 "And He ordered us to preach to the people , and solemnly to testify that this is the One who has been appointed by God as Judge of the living and the dead . 43 "Of Him all the prophets bear witness that through His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins ."
44 While Peter was still speaking these words , the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who were listening to the message . 45 All the circumcised believers who came with Peter were amazed , because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also . 46 For they were hearing them speaking with tongues and exalting God . Then Peter answered , 47 " Surely no one can refuse the water for these to be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we did, can he?" 48 And he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ . Then they asked him to stay on for a few days .
(Read Acts 10:19-33)
When we see our call clear to any service, we should not be perplexed with doubts and scruples arising from prejudices or former ideas. Cornelius had called together his friends, to partake with him of the heavenly wisdom he expected from Peter. We should not covet to eat our spiritual morsels alone. It ought to be both given and taken as kindness and respect to our kindred and friends, to invite them to join us in religious exercises. Cornelius declared the direction God gave him to send for Peter. We are right in our aims in attending a gospel ministry, when we do it with regard to the Divine appointment requiring us to make use of that ordinance. How seldom ministers are called to speak to such companies, however small, in which it may be said that they are all present in the sight of God, to hear all things that are commanded of God! But these were ready to hear what Peter was commanded of God to say.
(Read Acts 10:34-43)
Acceptance cannot be obtained on any other ground than that of the covenant of mercy, through the atonement of Christ; but wherever true religion is found, God will accept it without regarding names or sects. The fear of God and works of righteousness are the substance of true religion, the effects of special grace. Though these are not the cause of a man's acceptance, yet they show it; and whatever may be wanting in knowledge or faith, will in due time be given by Him who has begun it. They knew in general the word, that is, the gospel, which God sent to the children of Israel. The purport of this word was, that God by it published the good tidings of peace by Jesus Christ. They knew the several matters of fact relating to the gospel. They knew the baptism of repentance which John preached. Let them know that this Jesus Christ, by whom peace is made between God and man, is Lord of all; not only as over all, God blessed for evermore, but as Mediator. All power, both in heaven and in earth, is put into his hand, and all judgment committed to him. God will go with those whom he anoints; he will be with those to whom he has given his Spirit. Peter then declares Christ's resurrection from the dead, and the proofs of it. Faith has reference to a testimony, and the Christian faith is built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, on the testimony given by them. See what must be believed concerning him. That we are all accountable to Christ as our Judge; so every one must seek his favour, and to have him as our Friend. And if we believe in him, we shall all be justified by him as our Righteousness. The remission of sins lays a foundation for all other favours and blessings, by taking that out of the way which hinders the bestowing of them. If sin be pardoned, all is well, and shall end well for ever.
(Read Acts 10:44-48)
The Holy Ghost fell upon others after they were baptized, to confirm them in the faith; but upon these Gentiles before they were baptized, to show that God does not confine himself to outward signs. The Holy Ghost fell upon those who were neither circumcised nor baptized; it is the Spirit that quickeneth, the flesh profiteth nothing. They magnified God, and spake of Christ and the benefits of redemption. Whatever gift we are endued with, we ought to honour God with it. The believing Jews who were present, were astonished that the gift of the Holy Ghost was poured out upon the Gentiles also. By mistaken notions of things, we make difficult for ourselves as to the methods of Divine providence and grace. As they were undeniably baptized with the Holy Ghost, Peter concluded they were not to be refused the baptism of water, and the ordinance was administered. The argument is conclusive; can we deny the sign to those who have received the things signified? Those who have some acquaintance with Christ, cannot but desire more. Even those who have received the Holy Ghost, must see their need of daily learning more of the truth.
