141 “Man, who is born of a woman,
is of few days, and full of trouble. 2 He comes forth like a flower, and is cut down.
He also flees like a shadow, and doesn’t continue. 3 Do you open your eyes on such a one,
and bring me into judgment with you? 4 Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean?
Not one. 5 Seeing his days are determined,
the number of his months is with you,
and you have appointed his bounds that he can’t pass; 6 Look away from him, that he may rest,
until he shall accomplish, as a hireling, his day.
7 “For there is hope for a tree,
If it is cut down, that it will sprout again,
that the tender branch of it will not cease. 8 Though its root grows old in the earth,
and its stock dies in the ground, 9 yet through the scent of water it will bud,
and put forth boughs like a plant. 10 But man dies, and is laid low.
Yes, man gives up the spirit, and where is he? 11 As the waters fail from the sea,
and the river wastes and dries up, 12 so man lies down and doesn’t rise.
Until the heavens are no more, they shall not awake,
nor be roused out of their sleep. 13 “Oh that you would hide me in Sheol,
that you would keep me secret, until your wrath is past,
that you would appoint me a set time, and remember me! 14 If a man dies, shall he live again?
All the days of my warfare would I wait,
until my release should come. 15 You would call, and I would answer you.
You would have a desire to the work of your hands.
16 But now you number my steps.
Don’t you watch over my sin? 17 My disobedience is sealed up in a bag.
You fasten up my iniquity. 18 “But the mountain falling comes to nothing.
The rock is removed out of its place; 19 The waters wear the stones.
The torrents of it wash away the dust of the earth.
So you destroy the hope of man. 20 You forever prevail against him, and he departs.
You change his face, and send him away. 21 His sons come to honor, and he doesn’t know it.
They are brought low, but he doesn’t perceive it of them. 22 But his flesh on him has pain,
and his soul within him mourns.”
151 Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered, 2 “Should a wise man answer with vain knowledge,
and fill himself with the east wind? 3 Should he reason with unprofitable talk,
or with speeches with which he can do no good? 4 Yes, you do away with fear,
and hinder devotion before God. 5 For your iniquity teaches your mouth,
and you choose the language of the crafty. 6 Your own mouth condemns you, and not I.
Yes, your own lips testify against you. 7 “Are you the first man who was born?
Or were you brought forth before the hills? 8 Have you heard the secret counsel of God?
Do you limit wisdom to yourself? 9 What do you know, that we don’t know?
What do you understand, which is not in us? 10 With us are both the gray-headed and the very aged men,
much elder than your father. 11 Are the consolations of God too small for you,
even the word that is gentle toward you? 12 Why does your heart carry you away?
Why do your eyes flash, 13 That you turn your spirit against God,
and let such words go out of your mouth? 14 What is man, that he should be clean?
What is he who is born of a woman, that he should be righteous? 15 Behold, he puts no trust in his holy ones.
Yes, the heavens are not clean in his sight; 16 how much less one who is abominable and corrupt,
a man who drinks iniquity like water!
17 “I will show you, listen to me;
that which I have seen I will declare: 18 (Which wise men have told by their fathers,
and have not hidden it; 19 to whom alone the land was given,
and no stranger passed among them): 20 the wicked man writhes in pain all his days,
even the number of years that are laid up for the oppressor. 21 A sound of terrors is in his ears.
In prosperity the destroyer shall come on him. 22 He doesn’t believe that he shall return out of darkness.
He is waited for by the sword. 23 He wanders abroad for bread, saying, ‘Where is it?’
He knows that the day of darkness is ready at his hand. 24 Distress and anguish make him afraid.
They prevail against him, as a king ready to the battle. 25 Because he has stretched out his hand against God,
and behaves himself proudly against the Almighty; 26 he runs at him with a stiff neck,
with the thick shields of his bucklers; 27 because he has covered his face with his fatness,
and gathered fat on his thighs. 28 He has lived in desolate cities,
in houses which no one inhabited,
which were ready to become heaps. 29 He shall not be rich, neither shall his substance continue,
neither shall their possessions be extended on the earth. 30 He shall not depart out of darkness.
The flame shall dry up his branches.
By the breath of God’s mouth shall he go away. 31 Let him not trust in emptiness, deceiving himself;
for emptiness shall be his reward. 32 It shall be accomplished before his time.
His branch shall not be green. 33 He shall shake off his unripe grape as the vine,
and shall cast off his flower as the olive tree. 34 For the company of the godless shall be barren,
and fire shall consume the tents of bribery. 35 They conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity.
Their heart prepares deceit.”
161 Then Job answered, 2 “I have heard many such things.
You are all miserable comforters! 3 Shall vain words have an end?
Or what provokes you that you answer? 4 I also could speak as you do.
If your soul were in my soul’s place,
I could join words together against you,
and shake my head at you, 5 but I would strengthen you with my mouth.
The solace of my lips would relieve you.
6 “Though I speak, my grief is not subsided.
Though I forbear, what am I eased? 7 But now, God, you have surely worn me out.
You have made desolate all my company. 8 You have shriveled me up. This is a witness against me.
My leanness rises up against me.
It testifies to my face. 9 He has torn me in his wrath, and persecuted me.
He has gnashed on me with his teeth.
My adversary sharpens his eyes on me. 10 They have gaped on me with their mouth.
They have struck me on the cheek reproachfully.
They gather themselves together against me. 11 God delivers me to the ungodly,
and casts me into the hands of the wicked. 12 I was at ease, and he broke me apart.
Yes, he has taken me by the neck, and dashed me to pieces.
He has also set me up for his target. 13 His archers surround me.
He splits my kidneys apart, and does not spare.
He pours out my gall on the ground. 14 He breaks me with breach on breach.
He runs on me like a giant. 15 I have sewed sackcloth on my skin,
and have thrust my horn in the dust. 16 My face is red with weeping.
Deep darkness is on my eyelids.
17 Although there is no violence in my hands,
and my prayer is pure. 18 “Earth, don’t cover my blood.
Let my cry have no place to rest. 19 Even now, behold, my witness is in heaven.
He who vouches for me is on high. 20 My friends scoff at me.
My eyes pour out tears to God, 21 that he would maintain the right of a man with God,
of a son of man with his neighbor! 22 For when a few years are come,
I shall go the way from whence I shall not return.
22 But Saul increased more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived at Damascus, proving that this is the Christ.
23 When many days were fulfilled, the Jews conspired together to kill him, 24 but their plot became known to Saul. They watched the gates both day and night that they might kill him, 25 but his disciples took him by night, and let him down through the wall, lowering him in a basket.
26 When Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join himself to the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared to them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus. 28 He was with them entering into [1] Jerusalem, 29 preaching boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus. [2] He spoke and disputed against the Hellenists, [3] but they were seeking to kill him. 30 When the brothers [4] knew it, they brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him off to Tarsus. 31 So the assemblies throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace, and were built up. They were multiplied, walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit.
32 It happened, as Peter went throughout all those parts, he came down also to the saints who lived at Lydda. 33 There he found a certain man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden for eight years, because he was paralyzed. 34 Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and make your bed!” Immediately he arose. 35 All who lived at Lydda and in Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord.
36 Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which when translated, means Dorcas. [5] This woman was full of good works and acts of mercy which she did. 37 It happened in those days that she fell sick, and died. When they had washed her, they laid her in an upper chamber. 38 As Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men [6] to him, imploring him not to delay in coming to them. 39 Peter got up and went with them. When he had come, they brought him into the upper chamber. All the widows stood by him weeping, and showing the coats and garments which Dorcas had made while she was with them. 40 Peter put them all out, and kneeled down and prayed. Turning to the body, he said, “Tabitha, get up!” She opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter, she sat up. 41 He gave her his hand, and raised her up. Calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive. 42 And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. 43 It happened, that he stayed many days in Joppa with one Simon, a tanner.
(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.
