51 "Call now , is there anyone who will answer you? And to which of the holy ones will you turn ? 2 "For anger slays the foolish man , And jealousy kills the simple . 3 "I have seen the foolish taking root , And I cursed his abode immediately . 4 "His sons are far from safety , They are even oppressed in the gate , And there is no deliverer . 5 "His harvest the hungry devour And take it to a place of thorns , And the schemer is eager for their wealth .
6 "For affliction does not come from the dust , Nor does trouble sprout from the ground , 7 For man is born for trouble , As sparks e fly upward . 8 "But as for me, I would seek God , And I would place my cause before God ; 9 Who does great and unsearchable e things , Wonders without e number . 10 "He gives rain on the earth And sends water on the fields , 11 So that He sets on high those who are lowly , And those who mourn are lifted to safety . 12 "He frustrates the plotting of the shrewd , So that their hands cannot attain success . 13 "He captures the wise by their own shrewdness , And the advice of the cunning is quickly thwarted . 14 "By day they meet with darkness , And grope at noon as in the night . 15 "But He saves from the sword of their mouth , And the poor from the hand of the mighty . 16 "So the helpless has hope , And unrighteousness must shut its mouth .
17 "Behold , how happy is the man whom God reproves , So do not despise the discipline of the Almighty . 18 "For He inflicts pain , and gives relief ; He wounds , and His hands also heal . 19 "From six troubles He will deliver you, Even in seven evil will not touch you. 20 "In famine He will redeem you from death , And in war from the power of the sword . 21 "You will be hidden from the scourge of the tongue , And you will not be afraid of violence when it comes . 22 "You will laugh at violence and famine , And you will not be afraid of wild beasts . 23 "For you will be in league with the stones of the field , And the beasts of the field will be at peace with you. 24 "You will know that your tent is secure , For you will visit your abode and fear no loss . 25 "You will know also that your descendants will be many , And your offspring as the grass of the earth . 26 "You will come to the grave in full vigor , Like the stacking of grain in its season . 27 "Behold this ; we have investigated it, and so it is. Hear it, and know for yourself."
61 Then Job answered , 2 " Oh that my grief were actually weighed And laid in the balances together with my calamity ! 3 "For then it would be heavier than the sand of the seas ; Therefore e my words have been rash . 4 "For the arrows of the Almighty are within me, Their poison my spirit drinks ; The terrors of God are arrayed against me. 5 "Does the wild donkey bray over his grass , Or does the ox low over his fodder ? 6 "Can something tasteless be eaten without salt , Or is there any taste in the white of an egg ? 7 "My soul refuses to touch them; They are like loathsome food to me.
8 "Oh e that my request might come to pass , And that God would grant my longing ! 9 "Would that God were willing to crush me, That He would loose His hand and cut me off ! 10 "But it is still my consolation , And I rejoice in unsparing e pain , That I have not denied the words of the Holy One . 11 "What is my strength , that I should wait ? And what is my end , that I should endure e ? 12 "Is my strength the strength of stones , Or is my flesh bronze ? 13 "Is it that my help is not within me, And that deliverance is driven from me?
14 "For the despairing man there should be kindness from his friend ; So that he does not forsake the fear of the Almighty . 15 "My brothers have acted deceitfully like a wadi , Like the torrents of wadis which vanish , 16 Which are turbid because of ice And into which the snow melts . 17 "When they become waterless , they are silent , When it is hot , they vanish from their place . 18 "The paths of their course wind along , They go up into nothing and perish . 19 "The caravans of Tema looked , The travelers of Sheba hoped for them. 20 "They were disappointed for they had trusted , They came there and were confounded . 21 "Indeed , you have now become such , You see a terror and are afraid .
22 "Have I said , 'Give me something,' Or, 'Offer a bribe for me from your wealth ,' 23 Or, 'Deliver me from the hand of the adversary ,' Or, 'Redeem me from the hand of the tyrants '? 24 "Teach me, and I will be silent ; And show me how I have erred . 25 "How painful are honest words ! But what does your argument prove ? 26 "Do you intend to reprove my words , When the words of one in despair belong to the wind ? 27 "You would even cast lots for the orphans And barter over your friend . 28 "Now please look at me, And see if I lie to your face . 29 "Desist now , let there be no injustice ; Even desist , my righteousness is yet in it. 30 "Is there injustice on my tongue ? Cannot my palate discern calamities ?
71 "Is not man forced to labor on earth , And are not his days like the days of a hired man ? 2 "As a slave who pants for the shade , And as a hired man who eagerly waits for his wages , 3 So am I allotted months of vanity , And nights of trouble are appointed me. 4 "When I lie down I say , 'When shall I arise ?' But the night continues , And I am continually tossing until dawn . 5 "My flesh is clothed with worms and a crust of dirt , My skin hardens and runs . 6 "My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle , And come to an end without hope .
7 "Remember that my life is but breath ; My eye will not again see good . 8 "The eye of him who sees me will behold me no longer; Your eyes will be on me, but I will not be. 9 "When a cloud vanishes , it is gone , So he who goes down to Sheol does not come up. 10 "He will not return again to his house , Nor will his place know him anymore . 11 "Therefore I will not restrain my mouth ; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit , I will complain in the bitterness of my soul . 12 "Am I the sea , or the sea monster , That You set a guard over me? 13 "If I say , ' My bed will comfort me, My couch will ease my complaint ,' 14 Then You frighten me with dreams And terrify me by visions ; 15 So that my soul would choose suffocation , Death rather than my pains . 16 "I waste away ; I will not live forever . Leave me alone , for my days are but a breath .
17 " What is man that You magnify him, And that You are concerned e about him, 18 That You examine him every morning And try him every moment ? 19 " Will You never turn Your gaze away from me, Nor let me alone until I swallow my spittle ? 20 " Have I sinned ? What have I done to You, O watcher of men ? Why have You set me as Your target , So that I am a burden to myself? 21 "Why then do You not pardon my transgression And take away my iniquity ? For now I will lie down in the dust ; And You will seek me, but I will not be."
81 Saul was in hearty agreement with putting him to death . And on that day a great persecution began against the church in Jerusalem , and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria , except the apostles . 2 Some devout men buried Stephen , and made loud lamentation over him. 3 But Saul began ravaging the church , entering house after house , and dragging off men and women , he would put them in prison .
4 Therefore , those who had been scattered went about preaching the word . 5 Philip went down to the city of Samaria and began proclaiming Christ to them. 6 The crowds with one accord were giving attention to what was said by Philip , as they heard and saw the signs which he was performing . 7 For in the case of many who had unclean spirits , they were coming out of them shouting with a loud voice ; and many who had been paralyzed and lame were healed . 8 So there was much rejoicing in that city . 9 Now there was a man named Simon , who formerly was practicing magic in the city and astonishing the people of Samaria , claiming to be someone great ; 10 and they all , from smallest to greatest , were giving attention to him, saying , " This man is what is called the Great Power of God ." 11 And they were giving him attention because he had for a long time astonished them with his magic arts . 12 But when they believed Philip preaching the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ , they were being baptized , men and women alike . 13 Even Simon himself believed ; and after being baptized , he continued on with Philip , and as he observed signs and great miracles taking place , he was constantly amazed .
14 Now when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God , they sent them Peter and John , 15 who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit . 16 For He had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus . 17 Then they began laying their hands on them, and they were receiving the Holy Spirit . 18 Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was bestowed through the laying on of the apostles' hands , he offered them money , 19 saying , "Give this authority to me as well , so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit ." 20 But Peter said to him, "May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money ! 21 "You have no part or portion in this matter , for your heart is not right before God . 22 "Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours , and pray the Lord that, if possible , the intention of your heart may be forgiven you. 23 "For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bondage of iniquity ." 24 But Simon answered and said , " Pray to the Lord for me yourselves , so that nothing of what you have said may come upon me." 25 So , when they had solemnly testified and spoken the word of the Lord , they started back to Jerusalem , and were preaching the gospel to many villages of the Samaritans .
(Read Acts 8:1-4)
Though persecution must not drive us from our work, yet it may send us to work elsewhere. Wherever the established believer is driven, he carries the knowledge of the gospel, and makes known the preciousness of Christ in every place. Where a simple desire of doing good influences the heart, it will be found impossible to shut a man out from all opportunities of usefulness.
(Read Acts 8:5-13)
As far as the gospel prevails, evil spirits are dislodged, particularly unclean spirits. All inclinations to the lusts of the flesh which war against the soul are such. Distempers are here named, the most difficult to be cured by the course of nature, and most expressive of the disease of sin. Pride, ambition, and desire after grandeur have always caused abundance of mischief, both to the world and to the church. The people said of Simon, This man is the great power of God. See how ignorant and thoughtless people mistake. But how strong is the power of Divine grace, by which they were brought to Christ, who is Truth itself! The people not only gave heed to what Philip said, but were fully convinced that it was of God, and not of men, and gave up themselves to be directed thereby. Even bad men, and those whose hearts still go after covetousness, may come before God as his people come, and for a time continue with them. And many wonder at the proofs of Divine truths, who never experience their power. The gospel preached may have a common operation upon a soul, where it never produced inward holiness. All are not savingly converted who profess to believe the gospel.
(Read Acts 8:14-25)
The Holy Ghost was as yet fallen upon none of these coverts, in the extraordinary powers conveyed by the descent of the Spirit upon the day of Pentecost. We may take encouragement from this example, in praying to God to give the renewing graces of the Holy Ghost to all for whose spiritual welfare we are concerned; for that includes all blessings. No man can give the Holy Spirit by the laying on of his hands; but we should use our best endeavours to instruct those for whom we pray. Simon Magus was ambitious to have the honour of an apostle, but cared not at all to have the spirit and disposition of a Christian. He was more desirous to gain honour to himself, than to do good to others. Peter shows him his crime. He esteemed the wealth of this world, as if it would answer for things relating to the other life, and would purchase the pardon of sin, the gift of the Holy Ghost, and eternal life. This was such a condemning error as could by no means consist with a state of grace. Our hearts are what they are in the sight of God, who cannot be deceived. And if they are not right in his sight, our religion is vain, and will stand us in no stead. A proud and covetous heart cannot be right with God. It is possible for a man to continue under the power of sin, yet to put on a form of godliness. When tempted with money to do evil, see what a perishing thing money is, and scorn it. Think not that Christianity is a trade to live by in this world. There is much wickedness in the thought of the heart, its false notions, and corrupt affections, and wicked projects, which must be repented of, or we are undone. But it shall be forgiven, upon our repentance. The doubt here is of the sincerity of Simon's repentance, not of his pardon, if his repentance was sincere. Grant us, Lord, another sort of faith than that which made Simon wonder only, and did not sanctify his heart. May we abhor all thoughts of making religion serve the purposes of pride or ambition. And keep us from that subtle poison of spiritual pride, which seeks glory to itself even from humility. May we seek only the honour which cometh from God.
