| GOD'S WORD Translation (GW) |
New International Version (NIV) |
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1 Then Job replied [to his friends],
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1 Then Job replied:
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2 "If only my grief could be weighed, if only my misery could be laid on the scales with it,
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2 "If only my anguish could be weighed and all my misery be placed on the scales!
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3 then they would be heavier than the sand of the seas. I spoke carelessly
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3 It would surely outweigh the sand of the seas-- no wonder my words have been impetuous.
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4 because the arrows of the Almighty [have found their target] in me, and my spirit is drinking their poison. God's terrors line up in battle against me.
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4 The arrows of the Almighty are in me, my spirit drinks in their poison; God's terrors are marshaled against me.
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5 "Does a wild donkey bray when it's [eating] grass, or does an ox make a sound over its hay?
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5 Does a wild donkey bray when it has grass, or an ox bellow when it has fodder?
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6 Is tasteless food eaten without salt, or is there any flavor in the white of an egg?
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6 Is tasteless food eaten without salt, or is there flavor in the white of an egg ?
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7 I refuse to touch such things. They are disgusting to me.
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7 I refuse to touch it; such food makes me ill.
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8 "How I wish that my prayer would be answered-- that God would give me what I'm hoping for,
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8 "Oh, that I might have my request, that God would grant what I hope for,
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9 that God would [finally] be willing to crush me, that he would reach out to cut me off.
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9 that God would be willing to crush me, to let loose his hand and cut me off !
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10 Then I would still have comfort. I would be happy despite my endless pain, because I have not rejected the words of the Holy One.
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10 Then I would still have this consolation-- my joy in unrelenting pain-- that I had not denied the words of the Holy One.
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11 What strength do I have [left] that I can go on hoping? What goal do I have that I would want to prolong my life?
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11 "What strength do I have, that I should still hope? What prospects, that I should be patient?
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12 Do I have the strength of rocks? Does my body have the strength of bronze?
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12 Do I have the strength of stone? Is my flesh bronze?
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13 Am I not completely helpless? Haven't my skills been taken away from me?
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13 Do I have any power to help myself, now that success has been driven from me?
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14 "A friend should treat a troubled person kindly, even if he abandons the fear of the Almighty.
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14 "A despairing man should have the devotion of his friends, even though he forsakes the fear of the Almighty.
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15 My brothers have been as deceptive as seasonal rivers, like the seasonal riverbeds that flood.
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15 But my brothers are as undependable as intermittent streams, as the streams that overflow
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16 They are dark with ice. They are hidden by snow.
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16 when darkened by thawing ice and swollen with melting snow,
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17 They vanish during a scorching summer. In the heat their riverbeds dry up.
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17 but that cease to flow in the dry season, and in the heat vanish from their channels.
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18 They change their course. They go into a wasteland and disappear.
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18 Caravans turn aside from their routes; they go up into the wasteland and perish.
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19 Caravans from Tema look for them. Travelers from Sheba search for them.
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19 The caravans of Tema look for water, the traveling merchants of Sheba look in hope.
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20 They are ashamed because they relied on the streams. Arriving there, they are disappointed.
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20 They are distressed, because they had been confident; they arrive there, only to be disappointed.
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21 "So you are as unreliable to me [as they are]. You see something terrifying, and you are afraid.
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21 Now you too have proved to be of no help; you see something dreadful and are afraid.
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22 Did I ever say, 'Give me a gift,' or 'Offer me a bribe from your wealth,'
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22 Have I ever said, 'Give something on my behalf, pay a ransom for me from your wealth,
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23 or 'Rescue me from an enemy,' or 'Ransom me from a tyrant'?
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23 deliver me from the hand of the enemy, ransom me from the clutches of the ruthless'?
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24 Teach me, and I'll be silent. Show me where I've been wrong.
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24 "Teach me, and I will be quiet; show me where I have been wrong.
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25 How painful an honest discussion can be! In correcting me, you correct yourselves!
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25 How painful are honest words! But what do your arguments prove?
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26 Do you think my words need correction? Do you think they're what a desperate person says to the wind?
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26 Do you mean to correct what I say, and treat the words of a despairing man as wind?
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27 Would you also throw dice for an orphan? Would you buy and sell your friend?
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27 You would even cast lots for the fatherless and barter away your friend.
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28 "But now, if you're willing, look at me. I won't lie to your face.
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28 "But now be so kind as to look at me. Would I lie to your face?
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29 Please change your mind. Don't permit any injustice. Change your mind because I am still right about this!
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29 Relent, do not be unjust; reconsider, for my integrity is at stake.
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30 Is there injustice on my tongue, or is my mouth unable to tell the difference between right and wrong?
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30 Is there any wickedness on my lips? Can my mouth not discern malice?
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| GOD'S WORD® is a copyrighted work of God's Word to the Nations. Copyright © 1995 by God's Word to the Nations. All rights reserved. Used by permission. (God's Word Translation -Online Bible) |
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide. (New International Version Bible Online) |
