141 " Man , who is born of woman , Is short-lived e and full of turmoil . 2 " Like a flower he comes forth and withers . He also flees like a shadow and does not remain . 3 "You also open Your eyes on him And bring him into judgment with Yourself. 4 " Who can make the clean out of the unclean ? No one ! 5 "Since his days are determined , The number of his months is with You; And his limits You have set so that he cannot pass . 6 " Turn Your gaze from him that he may rest , Until he fulfills his day like a hired man .
7 "For there is hope for a tree , When it is cut down , that it will sprout again , And its shoots will not fail . 8 "Though its roots grow old in the ground And its stump dies in the dry soil , 9 At the scent of water it will flourish And put forth sprigs like a plant . 10 "But man dies and lies prostrate . Man expires , and where is he? 11 "As water evaporates from the sea , And a river becomes parched and dried up, 12 So man lies down and does not rise . Until the heavens are no longer , He will not awake nor be aroused out of his sleep . 13 "Oh e that You would hide me in Sheol , That You would conceal me until Your wrath returns to You, That You would set a limit for me and remember me! 14 "If a man dies , will he live again? All the days of my struggle I will wait Until my change comes . 15 "You will call , and I will answer You; You will long for the work of Your hands .
16 "For now You number my steps , You do not observe my sin . 17 "My transgression is sealed up in a bag , And You wrap up my iniquity . 18 "But the falling mountain crumbles away , And the rock moves from its place ; 19 Water wears away stones , Its torrents wash away the dust of the earth ; So You destroy man's hope . 20 "You forever overpower him and he departs ; You change his appearance and send him away . 21 "His sons achieve honor , but he does not know it; Or they become insignificant , but he does not perceive it. 22 "But his body pains him, And he mourns only for himself ."
151 Then Eliphaz the Temanite responded e , 2 "Should a wise man answer with windy knowledge And fill himself with the east wind ? 3 "Should he argue with useless talk , Or with words which are not profitable ? 4 "Indeed , you do away with reverence And hinder meditation before God . 5 "For your guilt teaches your mouth , And you choose the language of the crafty . 6 "Your own mouth condemns you, and not I; And your own lips testify against you. 7 "Were you the first man to be born , Or were you brought forth before the hills ? 8 "Do you hear the secret counsel of God , And limit wisdom to yourself? 9 " What do you know that we do not know ? What do you understand that we do not? 10 "Both the gray-haired and the aged are among us, Older e than your father . 11 "Are the consolations of God too small for you, Even the word spoken gently with you? 12 "Why does your heart carry you away? And why do your eyes flash , 13 That you should turn your spirit against God And allow such words to go out of your mouth ? 14 "What is man , that he should be pure , Or he who is born of a woman , that he should be righteous ? 15 "Behold , He puts no trust in His holy ones , And the heavens are not pure in His sight ; 16 How much e less one who is detestable and corrupt , Man , who drinks iniquity like water !
17 "I will tell you, listen to me; And what I have seen I will also declare ; 18 What wise men have told , And have not concealed from their fathers , 19 To whom alone the land was given , And no alien passed among them. 20 "The wicked man writhes in pain all his days , And numbered are the years stored up for the ruthless . 21 "Sounds of terror are in his ears ; While at peace the destroyer comes upon him. 22 "He does not believe that he will return from darkness , And he is destined for the sword . 23 "He wanders about for food , saying, 'Where is it?' He knows that a day of darkness is at hand . 24 "Distress and anguish terrify him, They overpower him like a king ready for the attack , 25 Because he has stretched out his hand against God And conducts himself arrogantly against the Almighty . 26 "He rushes headlong at Him With his massive e shield . 27 "For he has covered his face with his fat And made his thighs heavy with flesh . 28 "He has lived in desolate cities , In houses no one would inhabit , Which are destined to become ruins . 29 "He will not become rich , nor will his wealth endure ; And his grain will not bend down to the ground . 30 "He will not escape from darkness ; The flame will wither his shoots , And by the breath of His mouth he will go away . 31 "Let him not trust in emptiness , deceiving himself; For emptiness will be his reward . 32 "It will be accomplished before his time , And his palm branch will not be green . 33 "He will drop off his unripe grape like the vine , And will cast off his flower like the olive tree . 34 "For the company of the godless is barren , And fire consumes the tents of the corrupt . 35 "They conceive mischief and bring forth iniquity , And their mind prepares deception ."
161 Then Job answered , 2 "I have heard many such things ; Sorry comforters are you all . 3 "Is there no limit to windy words ? Or what plagues you that you answer ? 4 "I too could speak like you, If I were in your place . I could compose words against you And shake my head at you. 5 "I could strengthen you with my mouth , And the solace of my lips could lessen your pain.
6 "If I speak , my pain is not lessened , And if I hold back , what has left me? 7 "But now He has exhausted me; You have laid waste all my company . 8 "You have shriveled me up, It has become a witness ; And my leanness rises up against me, It testifies to my face . 9 "His anger has torn me and hunted me down , He has gnashed at me with His teeth ; My adversary glares e at me. 10 "They have gaped at me with their mouth , They have slapped me on the cheek with contempt ; They have massed themselves against me. 11 "God hands me over to ruffians And tosses me into the hands of the wicked . 12 "I was at ease , but He shattered me, And He has grasped me by the neck and shaken me to pieces ; He has also set me up as His target . 13 "His arrows surround me. Without mercy He splits my kidneys open ; He pours out my gall on the ground . 14 "He breaks through me with breach after e breach ; He runs at me like a warrior . 15 "I have sewed sackcloth over my skin And thrust my horn in the dust . 16 "My face is flushed from weeping , And deep darkness is on my eyelids ,
17 Although there is no violence in my hands , And my prayer is pure . 18 "O earth , do not cover my blood , And let there be no resting place for my cry . 19 "Even now , behold , my witness is in heaven , And my advocate is on high . 20 "My friends are my scoffers ; My eye weeps to God . 21 "O that a man might plead with God As a man e with his neighbor ! 22 "For when a few years are past , I shall go the way of no return .
22 But Saul kept increasing in strength and confounding the Jews who lived at Damascus by proving that this Jesus is the Christ .
23 When many days had elapsed , the Jews plotted together to do away with him, 24 but their plot became known to Saul . They were also watching the gates day and night so that they might put him to death ; 25 but his disciples took him by night and let him down through an opening in the wall , lowering e him in a large basket .
26 When he came to Jerusalem , he was trying to associate with the disciples ; but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple . 27 But Barnabas took hold of him and brought him to the apostles and described to them how he had seen the Lord on the road , and that He had talked to him, and how at Damascus he had spoken out boldly in the name of Jesus . 28 And he was with them, moving e e about e e freely e e in Jerusalem , speaking out boldly in the name of the Lord . 29 And he was talking and arguing with the Hellenistic Jews; but they were attempting to put him to death . 30 But when the brethren learned of it, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him away to Tarsus . 31 So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria enjoyed peace , being built up; and going on in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit , it continued to increase .
32 Now as Peter was traveling through all those regions, he came down also to the saints who lived at Lydda . 33 There he found a man named Aeneas , who had been bedridden e e eight years , for he was paralyzed . 34 Peter said to him, "Aeneas , Jesus Christ heals you; get up and make your bed ." Immediately he got up. 35 And all who lived at Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord .
36 Now in Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which translated in Greek is called Dorcas ); this woman was abounding with deeds of kindness and charity which she continually did . 37 And it happened at that time that she fell sick and died ; and when they had washed her body, they laid it in an upper room . 38 Since Lydda was near Joppa , the disciples , having heard that Peter was there e , sent two men to him, imploring him, "Do not delay in coming to us." 39 So Peter arose and went with them. When he arrived , they brought him into the upper room ; and all the widows stood beside him, weeping and showing all the tunics and garments that Dorcas used to make while she was with them. 40 But Peter sent them all out and knelt e down e and prayed , and turning to the body , he said , " Tabitha , arise ." And she opened her eyes , and when she saw Peter , she sat up. 41 And he gave her his hand and raised her up; and calling the saints and widows , he presented her alive . 42 It became known all over Joppa , and many believed in the Lord . 43 And Peter stayed many days in Joppa with a tanner named Simon .
(Read Acts 9:10-22)
A good work was begun in Saul, when he was brought to Christ's feet with those words, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And never did Christ leave any who were brought to that. Behold, the proud Pharisee, the unmerciful oppressor, the daring blasphemer, prayeth! And thus it is even now, and with the proud infidel, or the abandoned sinner. What happy tidings are these to all who understand the nature and power of prayer, of such prayer as the humbled sinner presents for the blessings of free salvation! Now he began to pray after another manner than he had done; before, he said his prayers, now, he prayed them. Regenerating grace sets people on praying; you may as well find a living man without breath, as a living Christian without prayer. Yet even eminent disciples, like Ananias, sometimes stagger at the commands of the Lord. But it is the Lord's glory to surpass our scanty expectations, and show that those are vessels of his mercy whom we are apt to consider as objects of his vengeance. The teaching of the Holy Spirit takes away the scales of ignorance and pride from the understanding; then the sinner becomes a new creature, and endeavours to recommend the anointed Saviour, the Son of God, to his former companions.
(Read Acts 9:23-31)
When we enter into the way of God, we must look for trials; but the Lord knows how to deliver the godly, and will, with the temptation, also make a way to escape. Though Saul's conversion was and is a proof of the truth of Christianity, yet it could not, of itself, convert one soul at enmity with the truth; for nothing can produce true faith, but that power which new-creates the heart. Believers are apt to be too suspicious of those against whom they have prejudices. The world is full of deceit, and it is necessary to be cautious, but we must exercise charity, 21. Christ's witnesses cannot be slain till they have finished their testimony. The persecutions were stayed. The professors of the gospel walked uprightly, and enjoyed much comfort from the Holy Ghost, in the hope and peace of the gospel, and others were won over to them. They lived upon the comfort of the Holy Ghost, not only in the days of trouble and affliction, but in days of rest and prosperity. Those are most likely to walk cheerfully, who walk circumspectly.
(Read Acts 9:32-35)
Christians are saints, or holy people; not only the eminent ones, as Saint Peter and Saint Paul, but every sincere professor of the faith of Christ. Christ chose patients whose diseases were incurable in the course of nature, to show how desperate was the case of fallen mankind. When we were wholly without strength, as this poor man, he sent his word to heal us. Peter does not pretend to heal by any power of his own, but directs Eneas to look up to Christ for help. Let none say, that because it is Christ, who, by the power of his grace, works all our works in us, therefore we have no work, no duty to do; for though Jesus Christ makes thee whole, yet thou must arise, and use the power he gives thee.
(Read Acts 9:36-43)
Many are full of good words, who are empty and barren in good works; but Tabitha was a great doer, no great talker. Christians who have not property to give in charity, may yet be able to do acts of charity, working with their hands, or walking with their feet, for the good of others. Those are certainly best praised whose own works praise them, whether the words of others do so or not. But such are ungrateful indeed, who have kindness shown them, and will not acknowledge it, by showing the kindness that is done them. While we live upon the fulness of Christ for our whole salvation, we should desire to be full of good works, for the honour of his name, and for the benefit of his saints. Such characters as Dorcas are useful where they dwell, as showing the excellency of the word of truth by their lives. How mean then the cares of the numerous females who seek no distinction but outward decoration, and who waste their lives in the trifling pursuits of dress and vanity! Power went along with the word, and Dorcas came to life. Thus in the raising of dead souls to spiritual life, the first sign of life is the opening of the eyes of the mind. Here we see that the Lord can make up every loss; that he overrules every event for the good of those who trust in him, and for the glory of his name.
