⁵ And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. Truly I tell you, they already have their full reward. ⁶ But when you pray, go into your inner room, shut your door, and pray to your Father, who is unseen. And your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

⁷ And when you pray, do not babble on like pagans, for they think that by their many words they will be heard. ⁸ Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.

⁹ To some who trusted in their own righteousness and viewed others with contempt, He also told this parable: ¹⁰ “Two men went up to the temple to pray. One was a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. ¹¹ The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like the other men—swindlers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. ¹² I fast twice a week and pay tithes of all that I acquire.’¹³ But the tax collector stood at a distance, unwilling even to lift up his eyes to heaven. Instead, he beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner!’ ¹⁴ I tell you, this man, rather than the Pharisee, went home justified. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

³² but no stranger had to lodge on the street, for my door has been open to the traveler—

³³ if I have covered my transgressions like Adam

by hiding my guilt in my heart,

³⁴ because I greatly feared the crowds

and the contempt of the clans terrified me,

so that I kept silent

and would not go outside—

³⁵ (Oh, that I had one to hear me!

Here is my signature.

Let the Almighty answer me;

let my accuser compose an indictment.

³⁶ Surely I would carry it on my shoulder

and wear it like a crown.

³⁷ I would give account of all my steps;

I would approach Him like a prince.)—

³⁸ if my land cries out against me

and its furrows weep together,

³⁹ if I have devoured its produce without payment

or broken the spirit of its tenants,

⁴⁰ then let briers grow instead of wheat

and stinkweed instead of barley.”

Thus conclude the words of Job.

Heavenly Father, Heavenly Father

Love us kindly

Love us gently

You love us as you weaved us

You weaned us to win us

May we read Job 31

Hear Job’s Final Appeal

Job 1 reads he was

In Psalm 24, The Psalmist speaks of ascension:-

Father God, this we ask of you:-

1. Clean Hands
2. Pure Heart
3. Un-Deceitful Heart
4. Soul un-lifted to idols
5. Spirit that seeks you

So that we may receive blessing from the Lord and Vindication from God.