1
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“But now, O Job, hear my speech, and listen to all my words. |
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2
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Behold, I will open my mouth; my address is on the tip of my tongue. |
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3
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My words are from an upright heart, and my lips speak sincerely what I know. |
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4
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The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life. |
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5
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Refute me if you can; prepare your case and confront me. |
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6
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I am just like you before God; I was also formed from clay. |
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7
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Surely no fear of me should terrify you; nor will my hand be heavy upon you. |
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8
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Surely you have spoken in my hearing, and I have heard these very words: |
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9
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‘I am pure, without transgression; I am clean, with no iniquity in me. |
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10
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Yet God finds occasions against me; He counts me as His enemy. |
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11
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He puts my feet in the stocks; He watches over all my paths.’ |
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12
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Behold, you are not right in this matter. I will answer you, for God is greater than man. |
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13
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Why do you complain to Him that He answers nothing a man asks? |
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14
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For God speaks in one way and in another, yet no one notices. |
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15
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In a dream, in a vision in the night, when deep sleep falls upon men as they slumber on their beds, |
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16
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He opens their ears and terrifies them with warnings |
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17
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to turn a man from wrongdoing and keep him from pride, |
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18
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to preserve his soul from the Pit and his life from perishing by the sword. |
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19
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A man is also chastened on his bed with pain and constant distress in his bones, |
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20
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so that he detests his bread, and his soul loathes his favorite food. |
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21
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His flesh wastes away from sight, and his hidden bones protrude. |
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22
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He draws near to the Pit, and his life to the messengers of death. |
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23
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Yet if there is a messenger on his side, one mediator in a thousand, to tell a man what is right for him, |
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24
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to be gracious to him and say, ‘Spare him from going down to the Pit; I have found his ransom,’ |
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25
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then his flesh is refreshed like a child’s; he returns to the days of his youth. |
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26
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He prays to God and finds favor; he sees God’s face and shouts for joy, and God restores His righteousness to that man. |
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27
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Then he sings before men with these words: ‘I have sinned and perverted what was right; yet I did not get what I deserved. |
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28
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He redeemed my soul from going down to the Pit, and I will live to see the light.’ |
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29
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Behold, all these things God does to a man, two or even three times, |
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30
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to bring back his soul from the Pit, that he may be enlightened with the light of life. |
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31
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Pay attention, Job, and listen to me; be silent, and I will speak. |
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32
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But if you have something to say, answer me; speak up, for I would like to vindicate you. |
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33
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But if not, then listen to me; be quiet, and I will teach you wisdom.” |
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