God's Wisdom Displayed in Creation's Majesty

1. Then Yahweh answered Job out of the whirlwind, 2. “Who is this who darkens counsel by words without knowledge? 3. Brace yourself like a man, for I will question you, then you answer me! 4. “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Declare, if you have understanding. 5. Who determined its measures, if you know? Or who stretched the line on it? 6. Whereupon were its foundations fastened? Or who laid its cornerstone, 7. when the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy? 8. “Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it broke out of the womb, 9. when I made clouds its garment, and wrapped it in thick darkness, 10. marked out for it my bound, set bars and doors, 11. and said, ‘Here you may come, but no further. Here your proud waves shall be stayed?’ 12. “Have you commanded the morning in your days, and caused the dawn to know its place; 13. that it might take hold of the ends of the earth, and shake the wicked out of it? 14. It is changed as clay under the seal, and presented as a garment. 15. From the wicked, their light is withheld. The high arm is broken. 16. “Have you entered into the springs of the sea? Or have you walked in the recesses of the deep? 17. Have the gates of death been revealed to you? Or have you seen the gates of the shadow of death? 18. Have you comprehended the earth in its width? Declare, if you know it all. 19. “What is the way to the dwelling of light? As for darkness, where is its place, 20. that you should take it to its bound, that you should discern the paths to its house? 21. Surely you know, for you were born then, and the number of your days is great! 22. Have you entered the treasuries of the snow, or have you seen the treasures of the hail, 23. which I have reserved against the time of trouble, against the day of battle and war? 24. By what way is the lightning distributed, or the east wind scattered on the earth? 25. Who has cut a channel for the flood water, or the path for the thunderstorm; 26. To cause it to rain on a land where no man is; on the wilderness, in which there is no man; 27. to satisfy the waste and desolate ground, to cause the tender grass to grow? 28. Does the rain have a father? Or who fathers the drops of dew? 29. Out of whose womb came the ice? The gray frost of the sky, who has given birth to it? 30. The waters become hard like stone, when the surface of the deep is frozen. 31. “Can you bind the cluster of the Pleiades, or loosen the cords of Orion? 32. Can you lead the constellations out in their season? Or can you guide the Bear with her cubs? 33. Do you know the laws of the heavens? Can you establish its dominion over the earth? 34. “Can you lift up your voice to the clouds, That abundance of waters may cover you? 35. Can you send out lightnings, that they may go? Do they report to you, ‘Here we are?’ 36. Who has put wisdom in the inward parts? Or who has given understanding to the mind? 37. Who can count the clouds by wisdom? Or who can pour out the bottles of the sky, 38. when the dust runs into a mass, and the clods of earth stick together? 39. “Can you hunt the prey for the lioness, or satisfy the appetite of the young lions, 40. when they crouch in their dens, and lie in wait in the thicket? 41. Who provides for the raven his prey, when his young ones cry to God, and wander for lack of food? 1. “Do you know the time when the mountain goats give birth? Do you watch when the doe bears fawns? 2. Can you count the months that they fulfill? Or do you know the time when they give birth? 3. They bow themselves, they bear their young. They end their labor pains. 4. Their young ones become strong. They grow up in the open field. They go out, and don’t return again. 5. “Who has set the wild donkey free? Or who has loosened the bonds of the swift donkey, 6. Whose home I have made the wilderness, and the salt land his dwelling place? 7. He scorns the tumult of the city, neither does he hear the shouting of the driver. 8. The range of the mountains is his pasture, He searches after every green thing. 9. “Will the wild ox be content to serve you? Or will he stay by your feeding trough? 10. Can you hold the wild ox in the furrow with his harness? Or will he till the valleys after you? 11. Will you trust him, because his strength is great? Or will you leave to him your labor? 12. Will you confide in him, that he will bring home your seed, and gather the grain of your threshing floor? 13. “The wings of the ostrich wave proudly; but are they the feathers and plumage of love? 14. For she leaves her eggs on the earth, warms them in the dust, 15. and forgets that the foot may crush them, or that the wild animal may trample them. 16. She deals harshly with her young ones, as if they were not hers. Though her labor is in vain, she is without fear, 17. because God has deprived her of wisdom, neither has he imparted to her understanding. 18. When she lifts up herself on high, she scorns the horse and his rider. 19. “Have you given the horse might? Have you clothed his neck with a quivering mane? 20. Have you made him to leap as a locust? The glory of his snorting is awesome. 21. He paws in the valley, and rejoices in his strength. He goes out to meet the armed men. 22. He mocks at fear, and is not dismayed, neither does he turn back from the sword. 23. The quiver rattles against him, the flashing spear and the javelin. 24. He eats up the ground with fierceness and rage, neither does he stand still at the sound of the trumpet. 25. As often as the trumpet sounds he snorts, ‘Aha!’ He smells the battle afar off, the thunder of the captains, and the shouting. 26. “Is it by your wisdom that the hawk soars, and stretches her wings toward the south? 27. Is it at your command that the eagle mounts up, and makes his nest on high? 28. On the cliff he dwells, and makes his home, on the point of the cliff, and the stronghold. 29. From there he spies out the prey. His eyes see it afar off. 30. His young ones also suck up blood. Where the slain are, there he is.”

1. Therefore I urge you, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service. 2. Don’t be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what is the good, well-pleasing, and perfect will of God. 3. For I say, through the grace that was given me, to every man who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think reasonably, as God has apportioned to each person a measure of faith. 4. For even as we have many members in one body, and all the members don’t have the same function, 5. so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. 6. Having gifts differing according to the grace that was given to us, if prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of our faith; 7. or service, let us give ourselves to service; or he who teaches, to his teaching; 8. or he who exhorts, to his exhorting: he who gives, let him do it with generosity; he who rules, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness. 9. Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor that which is evil. Cling to that which is good. 10. In love of the brothers be tenderly affectionate to one another; in honor preferring one another; 11. not lagging in diligence; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; 12. rejoicing in hope; enduring in troubles; continuing steadfastly in prayer; 13. contributing to the needs of the saints; given to hospitality. 14. Bless those who persecute you; bless, and don’t curse. 15. Rejoice with those who rejoice. Weep with those who weep. 16. Be of the same mind one toward another. Don’t set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Don’t be wise in your own conceits. 17. Repay no one evil for evil. Respect what is honorable in the sight of all men. 18. If it is possible, as much as it is up to you, be at peace with all men. 19. Don’t seek revenge yourselves, beloved, but give place to God’s wrath. For it is written, “Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, says the Lord.” 20. Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in doing so, you will heap coals of fire on his head.” 21. Don’t be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. 1. Let every soul be in subjection to the higher authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and those who exist are ordained by God. 2. Therefore he who resists the authority, withstands the ordinance of God; and those who withstand will receive to themselves judgment. 3. For rulers are not a terror to the good work, but to the evil. Do you desire to have no fear of the authority? Do that which is good, and you will have praise from the same, 4. for he is a servant of God to you for good. But if you do that which is evil, be afraid, for he doesn’t bear the sword in vain; for he is a servant of God, an avenger for wrath to him who does evil. 5. Therefore you need to be in subjection, not only because of the wrath, but also for conscience’ sake. 6. For this reason you also pay taxes, for they are servants of God’s service, attending continually on this very thing. 7. Therefore give everyone what you owe: if you owe taxes, pay taxes; if customs, then customs; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor. 8. Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. 9. For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other commandments there are, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 10. Love doesn’t harm a neighbor. Love therefore is the fulfillment of the law. 11. Do this, knowing the time, that it is already time for you to awaken out of sleep, for salvation is now nearer to us than when we first believed. 12. The night is far gone, and the day is near. Let’s therefore throw off the deeds of darkness, and let’s put on the armor of light. 13. Let us walk properly, as in the day; not in reveling and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and lustful acts, and not in strife and jealousy. 14. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, for its lusts. 1. Now accept one who is weak in faith, but not for disputes over opinions. 2. One man has faith to eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables. 3. Don’t let him who eats despise him who doesn’t eat. Don’t let him who doesn’t eat judge him who eats, for God has accepted him. 4. Who are you who judge another’s servant? To his own lord he stands or falls. Yes, he will be made to stand, for God has power to make him stand. 5. One man esteems one day as more important. Another esteems every day alike. Let each man be fully assured in his own mind. 6. He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks. He who doesn’t eat, to the Lord he doesn’t eat, and gives God thanks. 7. For none of us lives to himself, and none dies to himself. 8. For if we live, we live to the Lord. Or if we die, we die to the Lord. If therefore we live or die, we are the Lord’s. 9. For to this end Christ died, rose, and lived again, that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living. 10. But you, why do you judge your brother? Or you again, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. 11. For it is written, “‘As I live,’ says the Lord, ‘to me every knee will bow. Every tongue will confess to God.’” 12. So then each one of us will give account of himself to God. 13. Therefore let’s not judge one another any more, but judge this rather, that no man put a stumbling block in his brother’s way, or an occasion for falling. 14. I know, and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean of itself; except that to him who considers anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean. 15. Yet if because of food your brother is grieved, you walk no longer in love. Don’t destroy with your food him for whom Christ died. 16. Then don’t let your good be slandered, 17. for God’s Kingdom is not eating and drinking, but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18. For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men. 19. So then, let us follow after things which make for peace, and things by which we may build one another up. 20. Don’t overthrow God’s work for food’s sake. All things indeed are clean, however it is evil for that man who creates a stumbling block by eating. 21. It is good to not eat meat, drink wine, nor do anything by which your brother stumbles, is offended, or is made weak. 22. Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God. Happy is he who doesn’t judge himself in that which he approves. 23. But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because it isn’t of faith; and whatever is not of faith is sin. 24. Now to him who is able to establish you according to my Good News and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept secret through long ages, 25. but now is revealed, and by the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal God, is made known for obedience of faith to all the nations; 26. to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever! Amen. 1. Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 2. Let each one of us please his neighbor for that which is good, to be building him up. 3. For even Christ didn’t please himself. But, as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me.” 4. For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that through perseverance and through encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. 5. Now the God of perseverance and of encouragement grant you to be of the same mind one with another according to Christ Jesus, 6. that with one accord you may with one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7. Therefore accept one another, even as Christ also accepted you, to the glory of God. 8. Now I say that Christ has been made a servant of the circumcision for the truth of God, that he might confirm the promises given to the fathers, 9. and that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, “Therefore will I give praise to you among the Gentiles, and sing to your name.” 10. Again he says, “Rejoice, you Gentiles, with his people.” 11. Again, “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles! Let all the peoples praise him.” 12. Again, Isaiah says, “There will be the root of Jesse, he who arises to rule over the Gentiles; in him the Gentiles will hope.” 13. Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope, in the power of the Holy Spirit. 14. I myself am also persuaded about you, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish others. 15. But I write the more boldly to you in part, as reminding you, because of the grace that was given to me by God, 16. that I should be a servant of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles, serving as a priest of the Good News of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be made acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. 17. I have therefore my boasting in Christ Jesus in things pertaining to God. 18. For I will not dare to speak of any things except those which Christ worked through me, for the obedience of the Gentiles, by word and deed, 19. in the power of signs and wonders, in the power of God’s Spirit; so that from Jerusalem, and around as far as to Illyricum, I have fully preached the Good News of Christ; 20. yes, making it my aim to preach the Good News, not where Christ was already named, that I might not build on another’s foundation. 21. But, as it is written, “They will see, to whom no news of him came. They who haven’t heard will understand.” 22. Therefore also I was hindered these many times from coming to you, 23. but now, no longer having any place in these regions, and having these many years a longing to come to you, 24. whenever I travel to Spain, I will come to you. For I hope to see you on my journey, and to be helped on my way there by you, if first I may enjoy your company for a while. 25. But now, I say, I am going to Jerusalem, serving the saints. 26. For it has been the good pleasure of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor among the saints who are at Jerusalem. 27. Yes, it has been their good pleasure, and they are their debtors. For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, they owe it to them also to serve them in fleshly things. 28. When therefore I have accomplished this, and have sealed to them this fruit, I will go on by way of you to Spain. 29. I know that, when I come to you, I will come in the fullness of the blessing of the Good News of Christ. 30. Now I beg you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ, and by the love of the Spirit, that you strive together with me in your prayers to God for me, 31. that I may be delivered from those who are disobedient in Judea, and that my service which I have for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints; 32. that I may come to you in joy through the will of God, and together with you, find rest. 33. Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen. 1. I commend to you Phoebe, our sister, who is a servant of the assembly that is at Cenchreae, 2. that you receive her in the Lord, in a way worthy of the saints, and that you assist her in whatever matter she may need from you, for she herself also has been a helper of many, and of my own self. 3. Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, 4. who for my life, laid down their own necks; to whom not only I give thanks, but also all the assemblies of the Gentiles. 5. Greet the assembly that is in their house. Greet Epaenetus, my beloved, who is the first fruits of Achaia to Christ. 6. Greet Mary, who labored much for us. 7. Greet Andronicus and Junia, my relatives and my fellow prisoners, who are notable among the apostles, who were also in Christ before me. 8. Greet Amplias, my beloved in the Lord. 9. Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and Stachys, my beloved. 10. Greet Apelles, the approved in Christ. Greet those who are of the household of Aristobulus. 11. Greet Herodion, my kinsman. Greet them of the household of Narcissus, who are in the Lord. 12. Greet Tryphaena and Tryphosa, who labor in the Lord. Greet Persis, the beloved, who labored much in the Lord. 13. Greet Rufus, the chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine. 14. Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the brothers who are with them. 15. Greet Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them. 16. Greet one another with a holy kiss. The assemblies of Christ greet you. 17. Now I beg you, brothers, look out for those who are causing the divisions and occasions of stumbling, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and turn away from them. 18. For those who are such don’t serve our Lord, Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by their smooth and flattering speech, they deceive the hearts of the innocent. 19. For your obedience has become known to all. I rejoice therefore over you. But I desire to have you wise in that which is good, but innocent in that which is evil. 20. And the God of peace will quickly crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. 21. Timothy, my fellow worker, greets you, as do Lucius, Jason, and Sosipater, my relatives. 22. I, Tertius, who write the letter, greet you in the Lord. 23. Gaius, my host and host of the whole assembly, greets you. Erastus, the treasurer of the city, greets you, as does Quartus, the brother. 24. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all! Amen. 25.

1. My son, don’t forget my teaching; but let your heart keep my commandments: 2. for length of days, and years of life, and peace, will they add to you. 3. Don’t let kindness and truth forsake you. Bind them around your neck. Write them on the tablet of your heart. 4. So you will find favor, and good understanding in the sight of God and man. 5. Trust in Yahweh with all your heart, and don’t lean on your own understanding. 6. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. 7. Don’t be wise in your own eyes. Fear Yahweh, and depart from evil. 8. It will be health to your body, and nourishment to your bones. 9. Honor Yahweh with your substance, with the first fruits of all your increase: 10. so your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine. 11. My son, don’t despise Yahweh’s discipline, neither be weary of his reproof: 12. for whom Yahweh loves, he reproves; even as a father reproves the son in whom he delights. 13. Happy is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gets understanding. 14. For her good profit is better than getting silver, and her return is better than fine gold. 15. She is more precious than rubies. None of the things you can desire are to be compared to her. 16. Length of days is in her right hand. In her left hand are riches and honor. 17. Her ways are ways of pleasantness. All her paths are peace. 18. She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her. Happy is everyone who retains her. 19. By wisdom Yahweh founded the earth. By understanding, he established the heavens. 20. By his knowledge, the depths were broken up, and the skies drop down the dew. 21. My son, let them not depart from your eyes. Keep sound wisdom and discretion: 22. so they will be life to your soul, and grace for your neck. 23. Then you shall walk in your way securely. Your foot won’t stumble. 24. When you lie down, you will not be afraid. Yes, you will lie down, and your sleep will be sweet. 25. Don’t be afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it comes: 26. for Yahweh will be your confidence, and will keep your foot from being taken. 27. Don’t withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in the power of your hand to do it. 28. Don’t say to your neighbor, “Go, and come again; tomorrow I will give it to you,” when you have it by you. 29. Don’t devise evil against your neighbor, since he dwells securely by you. 30. Don’t strive with a man without cause, if he has done you no harm. 31. Don’t envy the man of violence. Choose none of his ways. 32. For the perverse is an abomination to Yahweh, but his friendship is with the upright. 33. Yahweh’s curse is in the house of the wicked, but he blesses the habitation of the righteous. 34. Surely he mocks the mockers, but he gives grace to the humble. 35. The wise will inherit glory, but shame will be the promotion of fools.