Job 36:4

Watch! Stand firm in the faith! Be courageous! Be strong!

When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I felt as a child, I thought as a child. Now that I have become a man, I have put away childish things.

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.

“For my people are foolish. They don’t know me. They are foolish children, and they have no understanding. They are skillful in doing evil, but they don’t know how to do good.”

But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by the manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.

The first book I wrote, Theophilus, concerned all that Jesus began both to do and to teach,

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.

that we may no longer be children, tossed back and forth and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in craftiness, after the wiles of error;

The proud have smeared a lie upon me. With my whole heart, I will keep your precepts.

But he said, “I am not crazy, most excellent Festus, but boldly declare words of truth and reasonableness.

For our exhortation is not of error, nor of uncleanness, nor in deception.

For everyone who lives on milk is not experienced in the word of righteousness, for he is a baby.

“I have heard many such things. You are all miserable comforters!

Do you know the workings of the clouds, the wondrous works of him who is perfect in knowledge?

Surely I have stilled and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with his mother, like a weaned child is my soul within me.

“Behold, I send you out as sheep among wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.

But Jesus said, “Allow the little children, and don’t forbid them to come to me; for the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to ones like these.”

“Claudius Lysias to the most excellent governor Felix: Greetings.

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,

even as you learned of Epaphras our beloved fellow servant, who is a faithful servant of Christ on your behalf,

Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you,

For the word of God is living and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and is able to discern the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

as newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the Word, that with it you may grow,

In covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words: whose sentence now from of old doesn’t linger, and their destruction will not slumber.

surely my lips will not speak unrighteousness, neither will my tongue utter deceit.

I have more understanding than all my teachers, for your testimonies are my meditation.

and said, “Most certainly I tell you, unless you turn, and become as little children, you will in no way enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.

But when Jesus saw it, he was moved with indignation, and said to them, “Allow the little children to come to me! Don’t forbid them, for God’s Kingdom belongs to such as these.

Jesus answered them, “Even if I testify about myself, my testimony is true, for I know where I came from, and where I am going; but you don’t know where I came from, or where I am going.

But Peter began, and explained to them in order, saying,

we accept it in all ways and in all places, most excellent Felix, with all thankfulness.

Brothers, I couldn’t speak to you as to spiritual, but as to fleshly, as to babies in Christ.

For our boasting is this: the testimony of our conscience, that in holiness and sincerity of God, not in fleshly wisdom but in the grace of God we behaved ourselves in the world, and more abundantly toward you.

Having regard for honorable things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.

but there isn’t another “good news.” Only there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the Good News of Christ.

Therefore putting away falsehood, speak truth each one with his neighbor. For we are members of one another.

This I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and all discernment,

for which I also labor, striving according to his working, which works in me mightily.

Let endurance have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

Putting away therefore all wickedness, all deceit, hypocrisies, envies, and all evil speaking,

Then I sent to him, saying, “There are no such things done as you say, but you imagine them out of your own heart.”

If not, listen to me. Hold your peace, and I will teach you wisdom.”

“Hear my words, you wise men. Give ear to me, you who have knowledge.

The mouth of the righteous talks of wisdom. His tongue speaks justice.

My heart overflows with a noble theme. I recite my verses for the king. My tongue is like the pen of a skillful writer.

for I give you sound learning. Don’t forsake my law.

For my mouth speaks truth. Wickedness is an abomination to my lips.

There is gold and abundance of rubies, but the lips of knowledge are a rare jewel.

Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then isn’t the health of the daughter of my people recovered?

Go up into Gilead, and take balm, virgin daughter of Egypt. You use many medicines in vain. There is no healing for you.

Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.

The enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels.

Jesus summoned them, saying, “Allow the little children to come to me, and don’t hinder them, for God’s Kingdom belongs to such as these.

About that time there arose no small disturbance concerning the Way.

“I will hear you fully when your accusers also arrive.” He commanded that he be kept in Herod’s palace.

We speak wisdom, however, among those who are full grown, yet a wisdom not of this world nor of the rulers of this world who are coming to nothing.

Brothers, don’t be children in thoughts, yet in malice be babies, but in thoughts be mature.

For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as Christ’s apostles.

until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a full grown man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,

Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, outcry, and slander be put away from you, with all malice.

Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, think this way. If in anything you think otherwise, God will also reveal that to you.

We proclaim him, admonishing every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus;

In all things be showing yourself an example of good works. In your teaching, be showing integrity, seriousness, incorruptibility,

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.

“You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.

“Remember, now, whoever perished, being innocent? Or where were the upright cut off?

For now you are nothing. You see a terror, and are afraid.

Now therefore be pleased to look at me, for surely I will not lie to your face.

But you are forgers of lies. You are all physicians of no value.

Will you speak unrighteously for God, and talk deceitfully for him?

that the triumphing of the wicked is short, the joy of the godless but for a moment?

This is the portion of a wicked man from God, the heritage appointed to him by God.”

“Behold, I know your thoughts, the plans with which you would wrong me.

So how can you comfort me with nonsense, because in your answers there remains only falsehood?”

Also his wrath was kindled against his three friends, because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job.

My words will utter the uprightness of my heart. That which my lips know they will speak sincerely.

Yes, can any understand the spreading of the clouds, and the thunderings of his pavilion?

My mouth will speak words of wisdom. My heart will utter understanding.

I have done no wrong, yet they are ready to attack me. Rise up, behold, and help me!

Yahweh, how many are your works! In wisdom, you have made them all. The earth is full of your riches.

All of your commandments are faithful. They persecute me wrongfully. Help me!

It is he who sits above the circle of the earth, and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers; who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, and spreads them out like a tent to dwell in,

They have healed also the hurt of my people superficially, saying, ‘Peace, peace!’ when there is no peace.

When Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are healthy have no need for a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

and had suffered many things by many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better, but rather grew worse,

it seemed good to me also, having traced the course of all things accurately from the first, to write to you in order, most excellent Theophilus;

But Jesus, perceiving their thoughts, answered them, “Why are you reasoning so in your hearts?

But Felix, having more exact knowledge concerning the Way, deferred them, saying, “When Lysias, the commanding officer, comes down, I will decide your case.”

For we are not as so many, peddling the word of God. But as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God, we speak in Christ.

Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, salutes you, always striving for you in his prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.

For it is commendable if someone endures pain, suffering unjustly, because of conscience toward God.