201 And Zophar the Naamathite answereth and saith:— 2 Therefore my thoughts cause me to answer, And because of my sensations in me. 3 The chastisement of my shame I hear, And the spirit of mine understanding Doth cause me to answer: 4 This hast thou known from antiquity? Since the placing of man on earth? 5 That the singing of the wicked 'is' short, And the joy of the profane for a moment, 6 Though his excellency go up to the heavens, And his head against a cloud he strike— 7 As his own dung for ever he doth perish, His beholders say: 'Where 'is' he?' 8 As a dream he fleeth, and they find him not, And he is driven away as a vision of the night, 9 The eye hath not seen him, and addeth not. And not again doth his place behold him.
10 His sons do the poor oppress, And his hands give back his wealth. 11 His bones have been full of his youth, And with him on the dust it lieth down. 12 Though he doth sweeten evil in his mouth, Doth hide it under his tongue, 13 Hath pity on it, and doth not forsake it, And keep it back in the midst of his palate, 14 His food in his bowels is turned, The bitterness of asps 'is' in his heart. 15 Wealth he hath swallowed, and doth vomit it. From his belly God driveth it out. 16 Gall of asps he sucketh, Slay him doth the tongue of a viper. 17 He looketh not on rivulets, Flowing of brooks of honey and butter. 18 He is giving back 'what' he laboured for, And doth not consume 'it'; As a bulwark 'is' his exchange, and he exults not. 19 For he oppressed—he forsook the poor, A house he hath taken violently away, And he doth not build it. 20 For he hath not known ease in his belly. With his desirable thing he delivereth not himself. 21 There is not a remnant to his food, Therefore his good doth not stay. 22 In the fulness of his sufficiency he is straitened. Every perverse hand doth meet him.
23 It cometh to pass, at the filling of his belly, He sendeth forth against him The fierceness of His anger, Yea, He raineth on him in his eating. 24 He fleeth from an iron weapon, Pass through him doth a bow of brass. 25 One hath drawn, And it cometh out from the body, And a glittering weapon from his gall proceedeth. On him 'are' terrors. 26 All darkness is hid for his treasures, Consume him doth a fire not blown, Broken is the remnant in his tent. 27 Reveal do the heavens his iniquity, And earth is raising itself against him. 28 Remove doth the increase of his house, Poured forth in a day of His anger. 29 This 'is' the portion of a wicked man from God. And an inheritance appointed him by God.
211 And Job answereth and saith:— 2 Hear ye diligently my word, And this is your consolation. 3 Bear with me, and I speak, And after my speaking—ye may deride. 4 I—to man 'is' my complaint? and if 'so', wherefore May not my temper become short? 5 Turn unto me, and be astonished, And put hand to mouth. 6 Yea, if I have remembered, then I have been troubled. And my flesh hath taken fright.
7 Wherefore do the wicked live? They have become old, Yea, they have been mighty in wealth. 8 Their seed is established, Before their face with them, And their offspring before their eyes. 9 Their houses 'are' peace without fear, Nor 'is' a rod of God upon them. 10 His bullock hath eaten corn, and doth not loath. His cow bringeth forth safely, And doth not miscarry. 11 They send forth as a flock their sucklings, And their children skip, 12 They lift 'themselves' up at timbrel and harp, And rejoice at the sound of an organ. 13 They wear out in good their days, And in a moment 'to' Sheol go down. 14 And they say to God, 'Turn aside from us, And the knowledge of Thy ways We have not desired. 15 What 'is' the Mighty One that we serve Him? And what do we profit when we meet with Him?' 16 Lo, not in their hand 'is' their good, (The counsel of the wicked Hath been far from me.)
17 How oft is the lamp of the wicked extinguished, And come on them doth their calamity? Pangs He apportioneth in His anger. 18 They are as straw before wind, And as chaff a hurricane hath stolen away, 19 God layeth up for his sons his sorrow, He giveth recompense unto him—and he knoweth. 20 His own eyes see his destruction, And of the wrath of the Mighty he drinketh. 21 For what 'is' his delight in his house after him, And the number of his months cut off? 22 To God doth 'one' teach knowledge, And He the high doth judge? 23 This 'one' dieth in his perfect strength, Wholly at ease and quiet. 24 His breasts have been full of milk, And marrow his bones doth moisten. 25 And this 'one' dieth with a bitter soul, And have not eaten with gladness. 26 Together—on the dust they lie down, And the worm doth cover them over.
27 Lo, I have known your thoughts, And the devices against me ye do wrongfully. 28 For ye say, 'Where 'is' the house of the noble? And where the tent—The tabernacles of the wicked?' 29 Have ye not asked those passing by the way? And their signs do ye not know? 30 That to a day of calamity is the wicked spared. To a day of wrath they are brought. 31 Who doth declare to his face his way? And 'for' that which he hath done, Who doth give recompence to him? 32 And he—to the graves he is brought. And over the heap a watch is kept. 33 Sweet to him have been the clods of the valley, And after him every man he draweth, And before him there is no numbering. 34 And how do ye comfort me 'with' vanity, And in your answers hath been left trespass?
24 and on the morrow they did enter into Cesarea; and Cornelius was waiting for them, having called together his kindred and near friends, 25 and as it came that Peter entered in, Cornelius having met him, having fallen at 'his' feet, did bow before 'him'; 26 and Peter raised him, saying, 'Stand up; I also myself am a man;' 27 and talking with him he went in, and doth find many having come together. 28 And he said unto them, 'Ye know how it is unlawful for a man, a Jew, to keep company with, or to come unto, one of another race, but to me God did shew to call no man common or unclean; 29 therefore also without gainsaying I came, having been sent for; I ask, therefore, for what matter ye did send for me?' 30 And Cornelius said, 'Four days ago till this hour, I was fasting, and 'at' the ninth hour praying in my house, and, lo, a man stood before me in bright clothing, 31 and he said, Cornelius, thy prayer was heard, and thy kind acts were remembered before God; 32 send, therefore, to Joppa, and call for Simon, who is surnamed Peter; this one doth lodge in the house of Simon a tanner, by the sea, who having come, shall speak to thee; 33 at once, therefore, I sent to thee; thou also didst do well, having come; now, therefore, are we all before God present to hear all things that have been commanded thee by God.'
34 And Peter having opened his mouth, said, 'Of a truth, I perceive that God is no respecter of persons, 35 but in every nation he who is fearing Him, and is working righteousness, is acceptable to Him; 36 the word that he sent to the sons of Israel, proclaiming good news—peace through Jesus Christ (this one is Lord of all,) 37 ye—ye have known;—the word that came throughout all Judea, having begun from Galilee, after the baptism that John preached; 38 Jesus who 'is' from Nazareth—how God did anoint him with the Holy Spirit and power; who went through, doing good, and healing all those oppressed by the devil, because God was with him; 39 and we—we are witnesses of all things that he did, both in the country of the Jews, and in Jerusalem,—whom they did slay, having hanged upon a tree. 40 'This one God did raise up the third day, and gave him to become manifest, 41 not to all the people, but to witnesses, to those having been chosen before by God—to us who did eat with 'him', and did drink with him, after his rising out of the dead; 42 and he commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify fully that it is he who hath been ordained by God judge of living and dead— 43 to this one do all the prophets testify, that through his name every one that is believing in him doth receive remission of sins.'
44 While Peter is yet speaking these sayings, the Holy spirit fell upon all those hearing the word, 45 and those of the circumcision believing were astonished—as many as came with Peter—because also upon the nations the gift of the Holy Spirit hath been poured out, 46 for they were hearing them speaking with tongues and magnifying God. 47 Then answered Peter, 'The water is any one able to forbid, that these may not be baptized, who the Holy Spirit did receive—even as also we?' 48 he commanded them also to be baptized in the name of the Lord; then they besought him to remain certain 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.
