Old Testament (NKJV)

The Book of Job Chapter 9:1-35

Then Job answered and said:

"Truly I know it is so,
But how can a man be righteous before God?

If one wished to contend with Him,
He could not answer Him one time out of a thousand.

God is wise in heart and mighty in strength.
Who has hardened himself against Him and prospered?

He removes the mountains, and they do not know
When He overturns them in His anger;

He shakes the earth out of its place,
And its pillars tremble;

He commands the sun, and it does not rise;
He seals off the stars;

He alone spreads out the heavens,
And treads on the waves of the sea;

He made the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades,
And the chambers of the south;

He does great things past finding out,
Yes, wonders without number.

If He goes by me, I do not see Him;
If He moves past, I do not perceive Him;

If He takes away, who can hinder Him?
Who can say to Him, 'What are You doing?'

God will not withdraw His anger,
The allies of the proud lie prostrate beneath Him.

"How then can I answer Him,
And choose my words to reason with Him?

For though I were righteous,
I could not answer Him;
I would beg mercy of my Judge.

If I called and He answered me,
I would not believe that He was listening to my voice.

For He crushes me with a tempest,
And multiplies my wounds without cause.

He will not allow me to catch my breath,
But fills me with bitterness.

If it is a matter of strength, indeed He is strong;
And if of justice, who will appoint my day in court?

Though I were righteous, my own mouth would condemn me;
Though I were blameless, it would prove me perverse.

"I am blameless, yet I do not know myself;
I despise my life.

It is all one thing;
Therefore I say, 'He destroys the blameless and the wicked.'

If the scourge slays suddenly,
He laughs at the plight of the innocent.

The earth is given into the hand of the wicked.
He covers the faces of its judges.
If it is not He, who else could it be?

"Now my days are swifter than a runner;
They flee away, they see no good.

They pass by like swift ships,
Like an eagle swooping on its prey.

If I say, 'I will forget my complaint,
I will put off my sad face and wear a smile,'

I am afraid of all my sufferings;
I know that You will not hold me innocent.

If I am condemned,
Why then do I labor in vain?

If I wash myself with snow water,
And cleanse my hands with soap,

Yet You will plunge me into the pit,
And my own clothes will abhor me.

"For He is not a man, as I am,
That I may answer Him,
And that we should go to court together.

Nor is there any mediator between us,
Who may lay his hand on us both.

Let Him take His rod away from me,
And do not let dread of Him terrify me.

Then I would speak and not fear Him,
But it is not so with me.

New Testament (NKJV)

The Gospel According to Luke Chapter 21:1-5-7-19

And He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury, and He saw also a certain poor widow putting in two mites. So He said, "Truly I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all; for all these out of their abundance have put in offerings for God, but she out of her poverty put in all the livelihood that she had."

Then, as some spoke of the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and donations, He said, "These things which you see--the days will come in which not one stone shall be left upon another that shall not be thrown down."

So they asked Him, saying, "Teacher, but when will these things be? And what sign will there be when these things are about to take place?" And He said: "Take heed that you not be deceived. For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am He,' and, 'The time has drawn near.' Therefore do not go after them. But when you hear of wars and commotions, do not be terrified; for these things must come to pass first, but the end will not come immediately." Then He said to them, "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be great earthquakes in various places, and famines and pestilences; and there will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven. But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons. You will be brought before kings and rulers for My name's sake. But it will turn out for you as an occasion for testimony. Therefore settle it in your hearts not to meditate beforehand on what you will answer; for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist. You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death. And you will be hated by all for My name's sake. But not a hair of your head shall be lost. By your patience possess your souls.