You will have to work hard and sweat to make the soil produce anything, until you go back to the soil from which you were formed. You were made from soil, and you will become soil again."

he cannot take it with him when he dies; his wealth will not go with him to the grave.

We leave this world just as we entered it---with nothing. In spite of all our work there is nothing we can take with us.

Our bodies will return to the dust of the earth, and the breath of life will go back to God, who gave it to us.

What did we bring into the world? Nothing! What can we take out of the world? Nothing!

Job answered, "You are talking nonsense! When God sends us something good, we welcome it. How can we complain when he sends us trouble?" Even in all this suffering Job said nothing against God.

Jacob became angry with Rachel and said, "I can't take the place of God. He is the one who keeps you from having children."

If God gives us wealth and property and lets us enjoy them, we should be grateful and enjoy what we have worked for. It is a gift from God.

Good and evil alike take place at his command.

Every good gift and every perfect present comes from heaven; it comes down from God, the Creator of the heavenly lights, who does not change or cause darkness by turning.

Now do not be upset or blame yourselves because you sold me here. It was really God who sent me ahead of you to save people's lives.

Perhaps the LORD will notice my misery and give me some blessings to take the place of his curse."

It was the will of the LORD to bring about what he had spoken to Jeroboam son of Nebat through the prophet Ahijah from Shiloh. This is why the king did not pay any attention to the people.

I will keep quiet, I will not say a word, for you are the one who made me suffer like this.

Who gave Israel up to the looters? It was the LORD himself, against whom we sinned! We would not live as he wanted us to live or obey the teachings he gave us.

I create both light and darkness; I bring both blessing and disaster. I, the LORD, do all these things.

Does the war trumpet sound in a city without making the people afraid? Does disaster strike a city unless the LORD sends it?

Don't I have the right to do as I wish with my own money? Or are you jealous because I am generous?' "

They gathered to do everything that you by your power and will had already decided would happen.

But now suppose you take away everything he has---he will curse you to your face!"

So Samuel told him everything; he did not keep anything back. Eli said, "He is the LORD; he will do whatever seems best to him."

King Hezekiah understood this to mean that there would be peace and security during his lifetime, so he replied, "The message you have given me from the LORD is good."

I will always thank the LORD; I will never stop praising him.

But you are angry with your chosen king; you have deserted and rejected him.

You have torn down the walls of his city and left his forts in ruins.

You have given the victory to his enemies; you have made them all happy.

You have taken away his royal scepter and knocked his throne to the ground.

LORD, will you hide yourself forever? How long will your anger burn like fire?

Who can live and never die? How can we humans keep ourselves from the grave?

Don't forget how I, your servant, am insulted, how I endure all the curses of the heathen.

Praise the LORD forever! Amen! Amen!

and those in the East will praise him. The people who live along the sea will praise the LORD, the God of Israel.

In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, always give thanks for everything to God the Father.

be thankful in all circumstances. This is what God wants from you in your life in union with Christ Jesus.