Job 42

Job’s Reply to the Lord

1 No One Can Oppose You Job said:

2 No one can oppose you, because you have the power
to do what you want.

3 t3You asked why I talk so much when I know so little.
I have talked about things
that are far beyond
my understanding.

4 t4You told me to listen and answer your questions. t

5 I heard about you from others; now I have seen you
with my own eyes.

6 That’s why I hate myself and sit here in dust and ashes
to show my sorrow.

The Lord Corrects Job’s Friends

7 The Lord said to Eliphaz: What my servant Job has said about me is true, but I am angry at you and your two friends for not telling the truth.

8 So I want you to go over to Job and offer seven bulls and seven goats on an altar as a sacrifice to please me.t After this, Job will pray, and I will agree not to punish you for your foolishness.
9 Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar obeyed the Lord, and he answered Job’s prayer.

A Happy Ending

10 t After Job had prayed for his three friends, the Lord made Job twice as rich as he had been before.

11 Then Job gave a feast for his brothers and sisters and for his old friends. They expressed their sorrow for the suffering the Lord had brought on him, and they each gave Job some silver and a gold ring.

12 The Lord now blessed Job more than ever; he gave him fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, a thousand pair of oxen, and a thousand donkeys.
13 In addition to seven sons, Job had three daughters,14 whose names were Jemimah, Keziah, and Keren Happuch.

15 They were the most beautiful women in that part of the world, and Job gave them shares of his property, along with their brothers.
16 Job lived for another one hundred forty years—long enough to see his great-grandchildren have children of their own—17 and when he finally died, he was very old.

Psalm 1

The Way to Happiness

1 1 God blesses those people
who refuse evil advice
and won’t follow sinners
or join in sneering at God.

2 Instead, the Law of the Lord makes them happy,
and they think about it
day and night.

3 t3 They are like trees growing beside a stream,
trees that produce
fruit in season
and always have leaves.
Those people succeed
in everything they do.

4 That isn’t true of those who are evil,
because they are like straw
blown by the wind.

5 Sinners won’t have an excuse on the day of judgment,
and they won’t have a place
with the people of God.

6 The Lord protects everyone who follows him,
but the wicked follow a road
that leads to ruin.

Psalm 2

The Lord’s Chosen King

1 t1 Why do the nations plot, t and why do their people
make useless plans? t

2 The kings of this earth have all joined together
to turn against the Lord and his chosen one.

3 They say, “Let’s cut the ropes and set ourselves free!”

4 In heaven the Lord laughs as he sits on his throne,
making fun of the nations.

5 The Lord becomes furious and threatens them.
His anger terrifies them
as he says,

6 “I’ve put my king on Zion, my sacred hill.”

7 t7 I will tell the promise that the Lord made to me: “You are my son, because today
I have become your father.

8 Ask me for the nations, and every nation on earth
will belong to you.

9 t9 You will smash them with an iron rod
and shatter them
like dishes of clay.”

10 Be smart, all you rulers, and pay close attention.

11 Serve and honor the Lord; be glad and tremble.

12 Show respect to his son because if you don’t,
the Lord might become furious and suddenly destroy you. t But he blesses and protects
everyone who runs to him.