John 9
English Standard Version
Jesus Heals a Man Born Blind
9 As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” 3 Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him. 4 We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. 5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” 6 Having said these things, he spit on the ground and made mud with the saliva. Then he anointed the man's eyes with the mud 7 and said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). So he went and washed and came back seeing.
8 The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar were saying, “Is this not the man who used to sit and beg?” 9 Some said, “It is he.” Others said, “No, but he is like him.” He kept saying, “I am the man.” 10 So they said to him, “Then how were your eyes opened?” 11 He answered, “The man called Jesus made mud and anointed my eyes and said to me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash.’ So I went and washed and received my sight.” 12 They said to him, “Where is he?” He said, “I do not know.”
13 They brought to the Pharisees the man who had formerly been blind. 14 Now it was a Sabbath day when Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes. 15 So the Pharisees again asked him how he had received his sight. And he said to them, “He put mud on my eyes, and I washed, and I see.” 16 Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath.” But others said, “How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?” And there was a division among them. 17 So they said again to the blind man, “What do you say about him, since he has opened your eyes?” He said, “He is a prophet.”
18 The Jews did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight, until they called the parents of the man who had received his sight 19 and asked them, “Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?” 20 His parents answered, “We know that this is our son and that he was born blind. 21 But how he now sees we do not know, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he is of age. He will speak for himself.” 22 (His parents said these things because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had already agreed that if anyone should confess Jesus to be Christ, he was to be put out of the synagogue.) 23 Therefore his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.”
24 So for the second time they called the man who had been blind and said to him, “Give glory to God. We know that this man is a sinner.” 25 He answered, “Whether he is a sinner I do not know. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.” 26 They said to him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?” 27 He answered them, “I have told you already, and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become his disciples?” 28 And they reviled him, saying, “You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. 29 We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from.” 30 The man answered, “Why, this is an amazing thing! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes. 31 We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does his will, God listens to him. 32 Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a man born blind. 33 If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.” 34 They answered him, “You were born in utter sin, and would you teach us?” And they cast him out.
35 Jesus heard that they had cast him out, and having found him he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” 36 He answered, “And who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?” 37 Jesus said to him, “You have seen him, and it is he who is speaking to you.” 38 He said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him. 39 Jesus said, “For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind.” 40 Some of the Pharisees near him heard these things, and said to him, “Are we also blind?” 41 Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no guilt; but now that you say, ‘We see,’ your guilt remains.
2 Kings 14
English Standard Version
Amaziah Reigns in Judah
14 In the second year of Joash the son of Joahaz, king of Israel, Amaziah the son of Joash, king of Judah, began to reign. 2 He was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jehoaddin of Jerusalem. 3 And he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, yet not like David his father. He did in all things as Joash his father had done. 4 But the high places were not removed; the people still sacrificed and made offerings on the high places. 5 And as soon as the royal power was firmly in his hand, he struck down his servants who had struck down the king his father. 6 But he did not put to death the children of the murderers, according to what is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, where the Lord commanded, “Fathers shall not be put to death because of their children, nor shall children be put to death because of their fathers. But each one shall die for his own sin.”
7 He struck down ten thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt and took Sela by storm, and called it Joktheel, which is its name to this day.
8 Then Amaziah sent messengers to Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz, son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, “Come, let us look one another in the face.” 9 And Jehoash king of Israel sent word to Amaziah king of Judah, “A thistle on Lebanon sent to a cedar on Lebanon, saying, ‘Give your daughter to my son for a wife,’ and a wild beast of Lebanon passed by and trampled down the thistle. 10 You have indeed struck down Edom, and your heart has lifted you up. Be content with your glory, and stay at home, for why should you provoke trouble so that you fall, you and Judah with you?”
11 But Amaziah would not listen. So Jehoash king of Israel went up, and he and Amaziah king of Judah faced one another in battle at Beth-shemesh, which belongs to Judah. 12 And Judah was defeated by Israel, and every man fled to his home. 13 And Jehoash king of Israel captured Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Jehoash, son of Ahaziah, at Beth-shemesh, and came to Jerusalem and broke down the wall of Jerusalem for four hundred cubits, from the Ephraim Gate to the Corner Gate. 14 And he seized all the gold and silver, and all the vessels that were found in the house of the Lord and in the treasuries of the king's house, also hostages, and he returned to Samaria.
15 Now the rest of the acts of Jehoash that he did, and his might, and how he fought with Amaziah king of Judah, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel? 16 And Jehoash slept with his fathers and was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel, and Jeroboam his son reigned in his place.
17 Amaziah the son of Joash, king of Judah, lived fifteen years after the death of Jehoash son of Jehoahaz, king of Israel. 18 Now the rest of the deeds of Amaziah, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah? 19 And they made a conspiracy against him in Jerusalem, and he fled to Lachish. But they sent after him to Lachish and put him to death there. 20 And they brought him on horses; and he was buried in Jerusalem with his fathers in the city of David. 21 And all the people of Judah took Azariah, who was sixteen years old, and made him king instead of his father Amaziah. 22 He built Elath and restored it to Judah, after the king slept with his fathers.
Jeroboam II Reigns in Israel
23 In the fifteenth year of Amaziah the son of Joash, king of Judah, Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel, began to reign in Samaria, and he reigned forty-one years. 24 And he did what was evil in the sight of the Lord. He did not depart from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which he made Israel to sin. 25 He restored the border of Israel from Lebo-hamath as far as the Sea of the Arabah, according to the word of the Lord, the God of Israel, which he spoke by his servant Jonah the son of Amittai, the prophet, who was from Gath-hepher. 26 For the Lord saw that the affliction of Israel was very bitter, for there was none left, bond or free, and there was none to help Israel. 27 But the Lord had not said that he would blot out the name of Israel from under heaven, so he saved them by the hand of Jeroboam the son of Joash.
28 Now the rest of the acts of Jeroboam and all that he did, and his might, how he fought, and how he restored Damascus and Hamath to Judah in Israel, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel? 29 And Jeroboam slept with his fathers, the kings of Israel, and Zechariah his son reigned in his place.
Job 21
English Standard Version
Job Replies: The Wicked Do Prosper
21 Then Job answered and said:
2 “Keep listening to my words, and let this be your comfort.3 Bear with me, and I will speak, and after I have spoken, mock on.4 As for me, is my complaint against man? Why should I not be impatient?5 Look at me and be appalled, and lay your hand over your mouth.6 When I remember, I am dismayed, and shuddering seizes my flesh.7 Why do the wicked live, reach old age, and grow mighty in power?8 Their offspring are established in their presence, and their descendants before their eyes.9 Their houses are safe from fear, and no rod of God is upon them.10 Their bull breeds without fail; their cow calves and does not miscarry.11 They send out their little boys like a flock, and their children dance.12 They sing to the tambourine and the lyre and rejoice to the sound of the pipe.13 They spend their days in prosperity, and in peace they go down to Sheol.14 They say to God, ‘Depart from us! We do not desire the knowledge of your ways.15 What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? And what profit do we get if we pray to him?’16 Behold, is not their prosperity in their hand? The counsel of the wicked is far from me.
17 “How often is it that the lamp of the wicked is put out? That their calamity comes upon them? That God distributes pains in his anger?18 That they are like straw before the wind, and like chaff that the storm carries away?19 You say, ‘God stores up their iniquity for their children.’ Let him pay it out to them, that they may know it.20 Let their own eyes see their destruction, and let them drink of the wrath of the Almighty.21 For what do they care for their houses after them, when the number of their months is cut off?22 Will any teach God knowledge, seeing that he judges those who are on high?23 One dies in his full vigor, being wholly at ease and secure,24 his pails full of milk and the marrow of his bones moist.25 Another dies in bitterness of soul, never having tasted of prosperity.26 They lie down alike in the dust, and the worms cover them.
27 “Behold, I know your thoughts and your schemes to wrong me.28 For you say, ‘Where is the house of the prince? Where is the tent in which the wicked lived?’29 Have you not asked those who travel the roads, and do you not accept their testimony30 that the evil man is spared in the day of calamity, that he is rescued in the day of wrath?31 Who declares his way to his face, and who repays him for what he has done?32 When he is carried to the grave, watch is kept over his tomb.33 The clods of the valley are sweet to him; all mankind follows after him, and those who go before him are innumerable.34 How then will you comfort me with empty nothings? There is nothing left of your answers but falsehood.”
Psalm 66
English Standard Version
How Awesome Are Your Deeds
To the choirmaster. A Song. A Psalm.
66 Shout for joy to God, all the earth;2 sing the glory of his name; give to him glorious praise!3 Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds! So great is your power that your enemies come cringing to you.4 All the earth worships you and sings praises to you; they sing praises to your name.” Selah
5 Come and see what God has done: he is awesome in his deeds toward the children of man.6 He turned the sea into dry land; they passed through the river on foot.There did we rejoice in him,7 who rules by his might forever,whose eyes keep watch on the nations— let not the rebellious exalt themselves. Selah
8 Bless our God, O peoples; let the sound of his praise be heard,9 who has kept our soul among the living and has not let our feet slip.10 For you, O God, have tested us; you have tried us as silver is tried.11 You brought us into the net; you laid a crushing burden on our backs;12 you let men ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water;yet you have brought us out to a place of abundance.
13 I will come into your house with burnt offerings; I will perform my vows to you,14 that which my lips uttered and my mouth promised when I was in trouble.15 I will offer to you burnt offerings of fattened animals, with the smoke of the sacrifice of rams;I will make an offering of bulls and goats. Selah
16 Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I will tell what he has done for my soul.17 I cried to him with my mouth, and high praise was on my tongue.18 If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.19 But truly God has listened; he has attended to the voice of my prayer.
20 Blessed be God, because he has not rejected my prayer or removed his steadfast love from me!
Proverbs 15
English Standard Version
15 A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.2 The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouths of fools pour out folly.3 The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good.4 A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.5 A fool despises his father's instruction, but whoever heeds reproof is prudent.6 In the house of the righteous there is much treasure, but trouble befalls the income of the wicked.7 The lips of the wise spread knowledge; not so the hearts of fools.8 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, but the prayer of the upright is acceptable to him.9 The way of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, but he loves him who pursues righteousness.10 There is severe discipline for him who forsakes the way; whoever hates reproof will die.11 Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the Lord; how much more the hearts of the children of man!12 A scoffer does not like to be reproved; he will not go to the wise.13 A glad heart makes a cheerful face, but by sorrow of heart the spirit is crushed.14 The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge, but the mouths of fools feed on folly.15 All the days of the afflicted are evil, but the cheerful of heart has a continual feast.16 Better is a little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble with it.17 Better is a dinner of herbs where love is than a fattened ox and hatred with it.18 A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger quiets contention.19 The way of a sluggard is like a hedge of thorns, but the path of the upright is a level highway.20 A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish man despises his mother.21 Folly is a joy to him who lacks sense, but a man of understanding walks straight ahead.22 Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed.23 To make an apt answer is a joy to a man, and a word in season, how good it is!24 The path of life leads upward for the prudent, that he may turn away from Sheol beneath.25 The Lord tears down the house of the proud but maintains the widow's boundaries.26 The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord, but gracious words are pure.27 Whoever is greedy for unjust gain troubles his own household, but he who hates bribes will live.28 The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.29 The Lord is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayer of the righteous.30 The light of the eyes rejoices the heart, and good news refreshes the bones.31 The ear that listens to life-giving reproof will dwell among the wise.32 Whoever ignores instruction despises himself, but he who listens to reproof gains intelligence.33 The fear of the Lord is instruction in wisdom, and humility comes before honor.