1 But these three men ceased to answer Job, because he considered himself justified.
2 And Eliu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the kindred of Ram, was angry and indignant. But he was angry against Job because he described himself to be just in the presence of God.
3 Moreover, he was indignant with his friends because they had not found a reasonable response, except in so far as they condemned Job.
4 Therefore, Eliu waited while Job was talking, for these were his elders that were speaking.
5 But when he saw that these three were not able to respond, he was extremely angry.
6 And so Eliu the son of Barachel the Buzite responded by saying: I am younger in years, and you are more ancient; therefore, I kept my head low, for I was afraid to reveal to you my opinion.
7 For I had hoped that greater age would speak, and that a multitude of years would teach wisdom.
8 But I see now that there is only breath in men, and that it is the inspiration of the Almighty that gives understanding.
9 The wise are not the aged, nor do the elders understand judgment.
10 Therefore, I will speak. Listen to me, and so I will show you my wisdom.
11 For I have endured your words; I have paid attention to your deliberations, while you were being argumentative with words.
12 And as long as I supposed that you were saying something, I considered; but now I see that there is none of you that is able to argue with Job and to respond to his words.
13 So that you will not say, “We have found wisdom,” God has thrown him down, not man.
14 He has said nothing to me, and I will not respond to him according to your words.
15 Then they were filled with dread, and so they no longer responded, and they withdrew from their speechmaking.
16 Therefore, because I have waited and they have not been speaking, for they stood firm and did not respond at all,
17 I also will answer in my turn, and I will reveal my knowledge.
18 For I am full of words, and the feeling in my gut inspires me.
19 Yes, my stomach is like fermenting wine without a vent, which bursts the new containers.
20 I should speak, but I will also breathe a little; I will open my lips, and I will answer.
21 I will not esteem the reputation of a man, and I will not equate God with man.
22 For I do not know how long I will continue, and whether, after a while, my Maker might take me away.
&
1 In those days, there rose up Mattathias, the son of John, the son of Simeon, a priest of the sons of Joarib from Jerusalem, and he settled on the mountain of Modin.
2 And he had five sons: John, who was surnamed Gaddi,
3 and Simon, who was surnamed Thassi,
4 and Judas, who was called Maccabeus,
5 and Eleazar, who was surnamed Avaran, and Jonathan, who was surnamed Apphus.
6 These saw the evils that were done among the people of Judah and in Jerusalem.
7 And Mattathias said: “Woe to me, for why was I born to see the grief of my people and the grief of the holy city, and to sit there, while it is given into the hands of the enemies?
8 The holy places have fallen into the hands of outsiders. Her temple is like a man without honor.
9 The vessels of her glory have been taken away captive. Her old men have been butchered in the streets, and her young men have fallen by the sword of the enemies.
10 What nation has not inherited her kingdom and taken from her spoils?
11 All her beauty has been taken away. She who was free, has become a slave.
12 And behold, our sanctuary, and our beauty, and our splendor has been desolated, and the Gentiles have defiled them.
13 Therefore, what is it to us that we still live?”
14 And Mattathias and his sons tore their garments, and they covered themselves with haircloth, and they lamented greatly.
15 And those who had been sent from king Antiochus came to that place, to compel those who fled into the city of Modin to immolate, and to burn frankincense, and to depart from the law of God.
16 And many of the people of Israel consented and came to them. But Mattathias and his sons stood firm.
17 And those who had been sent from Antiochus, responding, said to Mattathias: “You are a ruler, and very splendid and great in this city, and you are adorned with sons and brothers.
18 Therefore, approach first, and carryout the order of the king, as all the nations have done, and the men of Judah, and those who remained in Jerusalem. And you and your sons will be among the friends of the king, and enriched with gold and silver and many gifts.”
19 And Mattathias responded, and he said with a loud voice: “Even if all nations obey king Antiochus, so that each one departs from the service of the law of his fathers and consents to his commandments,
20 I and my sons and my brothers will obey the law of our fathers.
21 May God be forgiving to us. It is not useful for us to abandon the law and the justices of God.
22 We will not listen to the words of king Antiochus, nor will we sacrifice, transgressing the commandments of our law, so as to set out on another way.”
23 And, as he ceased speaking these words, a certain Jew approached in the sight of all to sacrifice to the idols upon the altar in the city of Modin, according to the order of the king.
24 And Mattathias saw, and he grieved, and his temperament trembled, and his fury was enkindled according to the judgment of the law, and leaping up, he slaughtered him on the altar.
25 Moreover, the man whom king Antiochus had sent, who compelled them to immolate, he killed at the same time, and he destroyed the altar,
32 I have run the way of thy commandments, when thou didst enlarge my heart.
33 HE. Set before me for a law the way of thy justifications, O Lord: and I will always seek after it.
34 Give me understanding, and I will search thy law; and I will keep it with my whole heart.
35 Lead me into the path of thy commandments; for this same I have desired.
36 Incline my heart into thy testimonies and not to covetousness.
37 Turn away my eyes that they may not behold vanity: quicken me in thy way.
38 Establish thy word to thy servant, in thy fear.
1 For you yourselves know, brothers, that our acceptance among you was not empty.
2 Instead, having previously suffered and been treated shamefully, as you know, at Philippi, we had confidence in our God, so as to speak the Gospel of God to you with much solicitude.
3 For our exhortation was not in error, nor from impurity, nor with deception.
4 But, just as we have been tested by God, so that the Gospel would be entrusted to us, so also did we speak, not so as to please men, but rather to please God, who tests our hearts.
5 And neither did we, at any time, become flattering in speech, as you know, nor did we seek an opportunity for avarice, as God is witness.
6 Nor did we seek the glory of men, neither from you, nor from others.
7 And although we could have been a burden to you, as Apostles of Christ, instead we became like little ones in your midst, like a nurse cherishing her children.
8 So desirous were we for you that we were willing to hand over to you, not only the Gospel of God, but even our own souls. For you have become most beloved to us.
9 For you remember, brothers, our hardship and weariness. We preached the Gospel of God among you, working night and day, so that we would not be burdensome to any of you.
10 You are witnesses, as is God, of how holy and just and blameless we were with you who have believed.
11 And you know the manner, with each one of you, like a father with his sons,
12 in which we were pleading with you and consoling you, bearing witness, so that you would walk in a manner worthy of God, who has called you into his kingdom and glory.
13 For this reason also, we give thanks to God without ceasing: because, when you had accepted from us the Word of the hearing of God, you accepted it not as the word of men, but (as it truly is) as the Word of God, who is working in you who have believed.
14 For you, brothers, have become imitators of the churches of God which are at Judea, in Christ Jesus. For you, too, have suffered the same things from your fellow countrymen as they have suffered from the Jews,
15 who also killed both the Lord Jesus, and the Prophets, and who have persecuted us. But they do not please God, and so they are adversaries to all men.
16 They prohibit us to speak to the Gentiles, so that they may be saved, and thus do they continually add to their own sins. But the wrath of God will overtake them in the very end.
17 And we, brothers, having been deprived of you for a short time, in sight, but not in heart, have hurried all the more to see your face, with a great desire.
18 For we wanted to come to you, (indeed, I, Paul, attempted to do so once, and then again,) but Satan impeded us.
19 For what is our hope, and our joy, and our crown of glory? Is it not you, before our Lord Jesus Christ at his return?
20 For you are our glory and our joy.
1 Because of this, willing to wait no longer, it was pleasing to us to remain at Athens, alone.
2 And we sent Timothy, our brother and a minister of God in the Gospel of Christ, to confirm you and to exhort you, on behalf of your faith,
3 so that no one would be disturbed during these tribulations. For you yourselves know that we have been appointed to this.
4 For even while we were with you, we predicted to you that we would suffer tribulations, even as it has happened, and as you know.
5 For this reason also, I was not willing to wait any longer, and I sent to find out about your faith, lest perhaps he who tempts may have tempted you, and our labor might have been in vain.
6 But then, when Timothy arrived to us from you, he reported to us your faith and charity, and that you keep a good remembrance of us always, desiring to see us, just as we likewise desire to see you.
7 As a result, we were consoled in you, brothers, in the midst of all our difficulties and tribulations, through your faith.
8 For we now live so that you may stand firm in the Lord.
9 For what thanks would we be able to repay to God because of you, for all the joy with which we rejoice over you before our God?
10 For night and day, ever more abundantly, we are praying that we may see your face, and that we may complete those things that are lacking in your faith.
11 But may God our Father himself, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way to you.
12 And may the Lord multiply you, and make you abound in your charity toward one another and toward all, just as we also do toward you,
13 in order to confirm your hearts without blame, in sanctity, before God our Father, unto the return of our Lord Jesus Christ, with all his saints. Amen.
