"Whyare timesnot storedup by the Almighty,And why do those who knowHim not seeHis days?
The LORDsaid,"Shall I hidefrom AbrahamwhatI am about to do,
"For after sevenmoredays,I will sendrainon the earthfortydaysand fortynights;and I will blotout from the faceof the landeverylivingthingthat I have made."
"The wickedmanwrithesin painall[his] days,And numberedare the yearsstoredup for the ruthless.
My timesare in Your hand;Deliverme from the handof my enemiesand from those who persecuteme.
O continueYour lovingkindnessto those who knowYou, And Your righteousnessto the uprightin heart.
And those who knowYour namewill puttheir trustin You, For You, O LORD,have not forsakenthose who seekYou.
I saidto myself,"Godwill judgeboth the righteousmanand the wickedman,"for a timefor everymatterand for everydeedis there.
For the LORDof hostswill have a day[of reckoning] Againsteveryonewhois proudand loftyAnd againsteveryonewho is liftedup, That he may be abased.
"The smallestonewill becomea clan,And the leastonea mightynation.I, the LORD,will hastenit in its time."
For that daybelongs to the LordGODof hosts,A dayof vengeance,so as to avengeHimself on His foes;And the swordwill devourand be satiatedAnd drinkits fillof their blood;For there will be a slaughterfor the LordGODof hosts,In the landof the northby the riverEuphrates.
"It is He who changesthe timesand the epochs;He removeskingsand establisheskings;He giveswisdomto wisemenAnd knowledgeto men of understanding.
"For the dayof the LORDdrawsnearon allthe nations.As you have done,it will be doneto you. Your dealingswill returnon your own head.
Be silentbeforethe LordGOD!For the dayof the LORDis near,For the LORDhas prepareda sacrifice,He has consecratedHis guests.
"For as in thosedaysbeforethe floodthey were eatingand drinking,marryingand giving in marriage,untilthe daythat Noahenteredthe ark,
"Thisis eternallife,that they may knowYou, the onlytrue God,and JesusChristwhomYou have sent.
He saidto them, "It is not for you to knowtimesorepochswhichthe Fatherhas fixedby His ownauthority;
and He madefrom one[man] everynationof mankindto liveon allthe faceof the earth,having determined[their] appointedtimesand the boundariesof their habitation,
But becauseof your stubbornnessand unrepentantheartyou are storingup wrathfor yourselfin the dayof wrathand revelationof the righteous judgmentof God,
Nowas to the timesand the epochs,brethren,you havenoneedof anything to be writtento you.
But the Spiritexplicitlysaysthat in latertimessomewill fall awayfrom the faith,paying attentionto deceitfulspiritsand doctrinesof demons,
whichHe will bringabout at the propertime--He who is the blessedand onlySovereign,the Kingof kingsand Lordof lords,
and in [their] greedthey will exploityou with false words;their judgmentfrom long agois not idle,and their destructionis not asleep.
