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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 "Truly I know that it is so: But how can a man be just before God?
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2 "Indeed, I know that this is true. But how can a mortal be righteous before God?
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3 If one wished to contend with him, one could not answer him once in a thousand times.
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3 Though one wished to dispute with him, he could not answer him one time out of a thousand.
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4 He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength--who has hardened himself against him, and succeeded? --
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4 His wisdom is profound, his power is vast. Who has resisted him and come out unscathed?
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5 he who removes mountains, and they know it not, when he overturns them in his anger;
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5 He moves mountains without their knowing it and overturns them in his anger.
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6 who shakes the earth out of its place, and its pillars tremble;
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6 He shakes the earth from its place and makes its pillars tremble.
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7 who commands the sun, and it does not rise; who seals up the stars;
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7 He speaks to the sun and it does not shine; he seals off the light of the stars.
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8 who alone stretched out the heavens, and trampled the waves of the sea;
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8 He alone stretches out the heavens and treads on the waves of the sea.
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9 who made the Bear and Orion, the Plei'ades and the chambers of the south;
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9 He is the Maker of the Bear and Orion, the Pleiades and the constellations of the south.
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10 who does great things beyond understanding, and marvelous things without number.
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10 He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted.
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11 Lo, he passes by me, and I see him not; he moves on, but I do not perceive him.
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11 When he passes me, I cannot see him; when he goes by, I cannot perceive him.
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12 Behold, he snatches away; who can hinder him? Who will say to him, 'What doest thou'?
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12 If he snatches away, who can stop him? Who can say to him, 'What are you doing?'
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13 "God will not turn back his anger; beneath him bowed the helpers of Rahab.
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13 God does not restrain his anger; even the cohorts of Rahab cowered at his feet.
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14 How then can I answer him, choosing my words with him?
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14 "How then can I dispute with him? How can I find words to argue with him?
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15 Though I am innocent, I cannot answer him; I must appeal for mercy to my accuser.
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15 Though I were innocent, I could not answer him; I could only plead with my Judge for mercy.
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16 If I summoned him and he answered me, I would not believe that he was listening to my voice.
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16 Even if I summoned him and he responded, I do not believe he would give me a hearing.
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17 For he crushes me with a tempest, and multiplies my wounds without cause;
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17 He would crush me with a storm and multiply my wounds for no reason.
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18 he will not let me get my breath, but fills me with bitterness.
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18 He would not let me regain my breath but would overwhelm me with misery.
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19 If it is a contest of strength, behold him! If it is a matter of justice, who can summon him?
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19 If it is a matter of strength, he is mighty! And if it is a matter of justice, who will summon him ?
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20 Though I am innocent, my own mouth would condemn me; though I am blameless, he would prove me perverse.
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20 Even if I were innocent, my mouth would condemn me; if I were blameless, it would pronounce me guilty.
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21 I am blameless; I regard not myself; I loathe my life.
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21 "Although I am blameless, I have no concern for myself; I despise my own life.
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22 It is all one; therefore I say, he destroys both the blameless and the wicked.
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22 It is all the same; that is why I say, 'He destroys both the blameless and the wicked.'
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23 When disaster brings sudden death, he mocks at the calamity of the innocent.
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23 When a scourge brings sudden death, he mocks the despair of the innocent.
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24 The earth is given into the hand of the wicked; he covers the faces of its judges--if it is not he, who then is it?
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24 When a land falls into the hands of the wicked, he blindfolds its judges. If it is not he, then who is it?
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25 "My days are swifter than a runner; they flee away, they see no good.
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25 "My days are swifter than a runner; they fly away without a glimpse of joy.
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26 They go by like skiffs of reed, like an eagle swooping on the prey.
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26 They skim past like boats of papyrus, like eagles swooping down on their prey.
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27 If I say, 'I will forget my complaint, I will put off my sad countenance, and be of good cheer,'
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27 If I say, 'I will forget my complaint, I will change my expression, and smile,'
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28 I become afraid of all my suffering, for I know thou wilt not hold me innocent.
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28 I still dread all my sufferings, for I know you will not hold me innocent.
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29 I shall be condemned; why then do I labor in vain?
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29 Since I am already found guilty, why should I struggle in vain?
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30 If I wash myself with snow, and cleanse my hands with lye,
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30 Even if I washed myself with soap and my hands with washing soda,
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31 yet thou wilt plunge me into a pit, and my own clothes will abhor me.
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31 you would plunge me into a slime pit so that even my clothes would detest me.
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32 For he is not a man, as I am, that I might answer him, that we should come to trial together.
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32 "He is not a man like me that I might answer him, that we might confront each other in court.
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33 There is no umpire between us, who might lay his hand upon us both.
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33 If only there were someone to arbitrate between us, to lay his hand upon us both,
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34 Let him take his rod away from me, and let not dread of him terrify me.
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34 someone to remove God's rod from me, so that his terror would frighten me no more.
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35 Then I would speak without fear of him, for I am not so in myself.
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35 Then I would speak up without fear of him, but as it now stands with me, I cannot.
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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) |
