Wednesday in Season after Pentecost

1Verse 1. Again the word of the LORD of Hosts came to me, saying: 2Verse 2. This is what the LORD of Hosts says: “I am jealous for Zion with great zeal; I am jealous for her with great fervor.” 3Verse 3. This is what the LORD says: “I will return to Zion and dwell in Jerusalem. Then Jerusalem will be called the City of Truth, and the mountain of the LORD of Hosts will be called the Holy Mountain.” 4Verse 4. This is what the LORD of Hosts says: “Old men and old women will again sit along the streets of Jerusalem, each with a staff in hand because of great age. 5Verse 5. And the streets of the city will be filled with boys and girls playing there.” 6Verse 6. This is what the LORD of Hosts says: “If this is impossible in the eyes of the remnant of this people in these days, should it also be impossible in My eyes?” declares the LORD of Hosts. 7Verse 7. This is what the LORD of Hosts says: “I will save My people from the land of the east and from the land of the west. 8Verse 8. I will bring them back to dwell in Jerusalem, where they will be My people, and I will be their faithful and righteous God.” 9Verse 9. This is what the LORD of Hosts says: “Let your hands be strong, you who now hear these words spoken by the prophets who were present when the foundations were laid to rebuild the temple, the house of the LORD of Hosts. 10Verse 10. For before those days neither man nor beast received wages, nor was there safety from the enemy for anyone who came or went, for I had turned every man against his neighbor. 11Verse 11. But now I will not treat the remnant of this people as I did in the past,” declares the LORD of Hosts. 12Verse 12. “For the seed will be prosperous, the vine will yield its fruit, the ground will yield its produce, and the skies will give their dew. To the remnant of this people I will give all these things as an inheritance. 13Verse 13. As you have been a curse among the nations, O house of Judah and house of Israel, so I will save you, and you will be a blessing. Do not be afraid; let your hands be strong.” 14Verse 14. For this is what the LORD of Hosts says: “Just as I resolved to bring disaster upon you when your fathers provoked Me to anger, and I did not relent,” says the LORD of Hosts, 15Verse 15. “so now I have resolved to do good again to Jerusalem and Judah. Do not be afraid. 16Verse 16. These are the things you must do: Speak truth to one another, render true and sound judgments in your gates, 17Verse 17. do not plot evil in your hearts against your neighbor, and do not love to swear falsely, for I hate all these things,” declares the LORD.

1Verse 1. Then Bildad the Shuhite replied: 2Verse 2. “Dominion and awe belong to God; He establishes harmony in the heights of heaven. 3Verse 3. Can His troops be numbered? On whom does His light not rise? 4Verse 4. How then can a man be just before God? How can one born of woman be pure? 5Verse 5. If even the moon does not shine, and the stars are not pure in His sight, 6Verse 6. how much less man, who is but a maggot, and the son of man, who is but a worm!” 1Verse 1. Then Job answered: 2Verse 2. “How you have helped the powerless and saved the arm that is feeble! 3Verse 3. How you have counseled the unwise and provided fully sound insight! 4Verse 4. To whom have you uttered these words? And whose spirit spoke through you? 5Verse 5. The dead tremble — those beneath the waters and those who dwell in them. 6Verse 6. Sheol is naked before God, and Abaddon has no covering. 7Verse 7. He stretches out the north over empty space; He hangs the earth upon nothing. 8Verse 8. He wraps up the waters in His clouds, yet the clouds do not burst under their own weight. 9Verse 9. He covers the face of the full moon, spreading over it His cloud. 10Verse 10. He has inscribed a horizon on the face of the waters at the boundary between light and darkness. 11Verse 11. The foundations of heaven quake, astounded at His rebuke. 12Verse 12. By His power He stirred the sea; by His understanding He shattered Rahab. 13Verse 13. By His breath the skies were cleared; His hand pierced the fleeing serpent. 14Verse 14. Indeed, these are but the fringes of His ways; how faint is the whisper we hear of Him! Who then can understand the thunder of His power?”