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New International Version (NIV) |
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1 Then Job answered:
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1 Then Job replied:
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2 "O that my vexation were weighed, and all my calamity laid in the balances!
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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 For then it would be heavier than the sand of the sea; therefore my words have been rash.
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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 For the arrows of the Almighty are in me; my spirit drinks their poison; the terrors of God are arrayed 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 the wild ass bray when he has grass, or the ox low over his fodder?
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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 Can that which is tasteless be eaten without salt, or is there any taste in the slime of the purslane?
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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 My appetite refuses to touch them; they are as food that is loathsome to me.
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7 I refuse to touch it; such food makes me ill.
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8 "O that I might have my request, and that God would grant my desire;
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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 it would please God to crush me, that he would let loose his hand and 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 This would be my consolation; I would even exult in pain unsparing; for I have not denied 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 is my strength, that I should wait? And what is my end, that I should be patient?
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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 Is my strength the strength of stones, or is my flesh bronze?
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12 Do I have the strength of stone? Is my flesh bronze?
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13 In truth I have no help in me, and any resource is driven 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 "He who withholds kindness from a friend forsakes 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 brethren are treacherous as a torrent-bed, as freshets that pass away,
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15 But my brothers are as undependable as intermittent streams, as the streams that overflow
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16 which are dark with ice, and where the snow hides itself.
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16 when darkened by thawing ice and swollen with melting snow,
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17 In time of heat they disappear; when it is hot, they vanish from their place.
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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 The caravans turn aside from their course; they go up into the waste, and perish.
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18 Caravans turn aside from their routes; they go up into the wasteland and perish.
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19 The caravans of Tema look, the travelers of Sheba hope.
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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 disappointed because they were confident; they come thither and are confounded.
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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 Such you have now become to me; you see my calamity, and 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 Have I said, 'Make me a gift'? Or, 'From your wealth offer a bribe for me'?
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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, 'Deliver me from the adversary's hand'? Or, 'Ransom me from the hand of oppressors'?
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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 will be silent; make me understand how I have erred.
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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 forceful are honest words! But what does reproof from you reprove?
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25 How painful are honest words! But what do your arguments prove?
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26 Do you think that you can reprove words, when the speech of a despairing man is 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 You would even cast lots over the fatherless, and bargain over 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, be pleased to look at me; for I will not 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 Turn, I pray, let no wrong be done. Turn now, my vindication is at stake.
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29 Relent, do not be unjust; reconsider, for my integrity is at stake.
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30 Is there any wrong on my tongue? Cannot my taste discern calamity?
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30 Is there any wickedness on my lips? Can my mouth not discern malice?
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| Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. (Revised Standard Version - Holy 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) |
