Old/New Testament
20 1 Zophar showeth, that the wicked and the covetous shall have a short end, 22 though for a time they flourish.
1 Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said,
2 Doubtless my thoughts cause me to answer, and therefore I make haste.
3 I have heard [a]the correction of my reproach: therefore the spirit of mine understanding causeth me to answer.
4 Knowest thou not this of old? and since God placed man upon the earth,
5 That the rejoicing of the wicked is short, and that the joy of the hypocrites is but a moment?
6 Though [b]his excellency mount up to the heaven, and his head reach unto the clouds,
7 Yet shall he perish forever like his dung, and they which have seen him, shall say, Where is he?
8 He shall flee away as a dream, and they shall not find him, and shall pass away as a vision of the night.
9 So that the eye which had seen him, shall do so no more, and his place shall see him no more.
10 His children shall [c]flatter the poor, and his hands shall [d]restore his substance.
11 His bones are full of the sin of his youth, and [e]it shall lie down with him in the dust.
12 When wickedness was [f]sweet in his mouth, and he hid it under his tongue,
13 And favored it, and would not forsake it, but kept it close in his mouth,
14 Then his meat in his bowels was turned: the gall of Asps was in the midst of him.
15 He hath devoured substance, and he shall vomit it: for God shall draw it out of his belly.
16 He shall suck the [g]gall of Asps, and the viper’s tongue shall slay him.
17 He shall not see the [h]rivers, nor the floods and streams of honey and butter.
18 He shall restore the labor, and shall devour no more: even according to the substance shall be his exchange, [i]and he shall enjoy it no more.
19 For he hath undone many: he hath forsaken the poor, and hath spoiled houses which he built not.
20 Surely he shall feel no quietness in his body, neither shall he reserve of that which he desired.
21 There shall none of his [j]meat be left: therefore none shall hope for his goods.
22 When he shall be filled with his abundance, he shall be in pain, and the hand [k]of all the wicked shall assail him.
23 He shall be about to fill his belly, but God shall send upon him his fierce wrath, [l]and shall cause to rain upon him, even upon his meat.
24 He shall flee from the iron weapons, and the bow of steel shall strike him through.
25 The arrow is drawn out, and cometh forth of the [m]body, and shineth of his gall, so fear cometh upon him.
26 [n]All darkness shall be hid in his secret places: the fire that is not [o]blown shall devour him, and that which remaineth in his tabernacle shall be destroyed.
27 The heaven shall declare his wickedness, and the earth shall rise up against him.
28 The [p]increase of his house shall go away: it shall flow away in the day of his wrath.
29 This is the portion of the wicked man from [q]God, and the heritage that he shall have of God, for his [r]words.
21 7 Job declareth how the prosperity of the wicked maketh them proud. 15 Insomuch that they blaspheme God. 16 Their destruction is at hand. 23 None ought to be judged wicked for affliction, neither good for prosperity.
1 But Job answered, and said,
2 Hear diligently my words, and this [s]shall be instead of your consolations.
3 Suffer me that I may speak, and when I have spoken, mock on.
4 Do I direct my talk to man? If it [t]were so, how should not my spirit be troubled?
5 Mark me, and be abashed, and lay your hand upon your [u]mouth.
6 Even when I remember, I am afraid, and fear taketh hold on my flesh.
7 Wherefore do the wicked [v]live, and wax old, and grow in wealth?
8 Their seed is established in their sight with them, and their generation before their eyes.
9 Their houses are peaceable without fear, and the rod of God is not upon them.
10 Their bullock gendereth, and faileth not: their cow calveth, and casteth not her calf.
11 They send forth their children [w]like sheep, and their sons dance.
12 They take the tambourine and harp, and rejoice in the sound of the organs.
13 They spend their days in wealth, and suddenly [x]they go down to the grave.
14 They say also unto God, Depart from us: for we desire not the [y]knowledge of thy ways.
15 Who is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we should pray unto him?
16 Lo, their wealth is not in their [z]hand: therefore let the counsel of the wicked [aa]be far from me.
17 How oft shall the candle of the wicked be put out and their destruction come upon them? he will divide their lives in his wrath.
18 They shall be as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carrieth away.
19 God will lay up the sorrow of the father for his children: when he rewardeth him, he shall know it.
20 [ab]His eyes shall see his destruction, and he shall drink of the wrath of the Almighty.
21 For what pleasure hath he in his house after him, when the number of his months is cut off?
22 Shall any teach [ac]God knowledge, who judgeth the highest things?
23 One [ad]dieth in his full strength, being in all ease and prosperity.
24 His breasts are full of milk, and his bones run full of marrow.
25 And another [ae]dieth in the bitterness of his soul, and never eateth with pleasure.
26 They shall sleep both in [af]the dust, and the worms shall cover them.
27 Behold, I know your thoughts, and the enterprises wherewith ye do me wrong.
28 For ye say, Where is the prince’s [ag]house? and where is the tabernacle of the wicked’s dwelling?
29 May ye [ah]not ask them that go by the way? and ye cannot deny their signs.
30 But the wicked is kept unto the day of [ai]destruction, and they shall be brought forth to the day of wrath.
31 Who shall declare his way [aj]to his face? and who shall reward him for that he hath done?
32 Yet shall he be brought to the grave, and remain in the heap.
33 The [ak]slimy valley shall be sweet unto him, and every man shall draw after him, as before him there were innumerable.
34 How then comfort [al]ye me in vain, seeing in your answer there remain but lies?
24 ¶ And the day after, they entered into Caesarea. Now Cornelius waited for them, and had called together his kinsmen, and special friends.
25 [a]And it came to pass as Peter came in, that Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him.
26 But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up: for even I myself am a man.
27 And as he talked with him, he came in, and found many that were come together.
28 And he said unto them, Ye know that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew, to company, or come unto one of another nation: but God hath showed me, that I should not call any man polluted, or unclean.
29 Therefore came I unto you without saying nay, when I was sent for. I ask therefore, for what intent have ye sent for me?
30 Then Cornelius said, Four days ago, about [b]this hour, I fasted, and at the ninth hour I prayed in mine house, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing,
31 [c]And said, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God.
32 [d]Send therefore to Joppa, and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter (he is lodged in the house of Simon a Tanner by the Seaside) who when he cometh, shall speak unto thee.
33 Then sent I for thee immediately, and thou hast well done to come. Now therefore are we all here present before God to hear all things that are commanded thee of God.
34 [e]Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive, that (A)[f]God is no [respecter] of persons.
35 But in every nation he that [g]feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.
36 Ye [h]know the word which God hath sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ, which is Lord of all:
37 [i]Even the word which came through all Judea, (B)beginning in Galilee, after the Baptism which John preached:
38 To wit, how God [j]anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the holy Ghost, and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil: for God was with him.
39 And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem, whom they slew, hanging him on a tree.
40 Him God raised up the third day, and caused that he was showed openly:
41 Not to all the people, but unto the witnesses [k]chosen before of God, even to us which did eat and drink with him, after he arose from the dead.
42 And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify, that it is he that is ordained of God a judge of quick and dead.
43 To him also give all the (C)Prophets witness, that through his Name all that believe in him, shall receive remission of sins.
44 [l]While Peter yet spake these words, the holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.
45 So they of the circumcision, which believed, were astonied, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the holy Ghost.
46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,
47 [m]Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the holy Ghost, as well as we?
48 So he commanded them to be baptized in the Name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.
Geneva Bible, 1599 Edition. Published by Tolle Lege Press. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations in articles, reviews, and broadcasts.