Parallel Bible results for "Job 33"

Job 33

MSG

NIV

1 "So please, Job, hear me out, honor me by listening to me.
1 “But now, Job, listen to my words; pay attention to everything I say.
2 What I'm about to say has been carefully thought out.
2 I am about to open my mouth; my words are on the tip of my tongue.
3 I have no ulterior motives in this; I'm speaking honestly from my heart.
3 My words come from an upright heart; my lips sincerely speak what I know.
4 The Spirit of God made me what I am, the breath of God Almighty gave me life! God Always Answers, One Way or Another
4 The Spirit of God has made me; the breath of the Almighty gives me life.
5 "And if you think you can prove me wrong, do it. Lay out your arguments. Stand up for yourself!
5 Answer me then, if you can; stand up and argue your case before me.
6 Look, I'm human - no better than you; we're both made of the same kind of mud.
6 I am the same as you in God’s sight; I too am a piece of clay.
7 So let's work this through together; don't let my aggressiveness overwhelm you.
7 No fear of me should alarm you, nor should my hand be heavy on you.
8 "Here's what you said. I heard you say it with my own ears.
8 “But you have said in my hearing— I heard the very words—
9 You said, 'I'm pure - I've done nothing wrong. Believe me, I'm clean - my conscience is clear.
9 ‘I am pure, I have done no wrong; I am clean and free from sin.
10 But God keeps picking on me; he treats me like I'm his enemy.
10 Yet God has found fault with me; he considers me his enemy.
11 He's thrown me in jail; he keeps me under constant surveillance.'
11 He fastens my feet in shackles; he keeps close watch on all my paths.’
12 "But let me tell you, Job, you're wrong, dead wrong! God is far greater than any human.
12 “But I tell you, in this you are not right, for God is greater than any mortal.
13 So how dare you haul him into court, and then complain that he won't answer your charges?
13 Why do you complain to him that he responds to no one’s words ?
14 God always answers, one way or another, even when people don't recognize his presence.
14 For God does speak—now one way, now another— though no one perceives it.
15 "In a dream, for instance, a vision at night, when men and women are deep in sleep, fast asleep in their beds -
15 In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on people as they slumber in their beds,
16 God opens their ears and impresses them with warnings
16 he may speak in their ears and terrify them with warnings,
17 To turn them back from something bad they're planning, from some reckless choice,
17 to turn them from wrongdoing and keep them from pride,
18 And keep them from an early grave, from the river of no return.
18 to preserve them from the pit, their lives from perishing by the sword.
19 "Or, God might get their attention through pain, by throwing them on a bed of suffering,
19 “Or someone may be chastened on a bed of pain with constant distress in their bones,
20 So they can't stand the sight of food, have no appetite for their favorite treats.
20 so that their body finds food repulsive and their soul loathes the choicest meal.
21 They lose weight, wasting away to nothing, reduced to a bag of bones.
21 Their flesh wastes away to nothing, and their bones, once hidden, now stick out.
22 They hang on the cliff-edge of death, knowing the next breath may be their last.
22 They draw near to the pit, and their life to the messengers of death.
23 "But even then an angel could come, a champion - there are thousands of them! - to take up your cause,
23 Yet if there is an angel at their side, a messenger, one out of a thousand, sent to tell them how to be upright,
24 A messenger who would mercifully intervene, canceling the death sentence with the words: 'I've come up with the ransom!'
24 and he is gracious to that person and says to God, ‘Spare them from going down to the pit; I have found a ransom for them—
25 Before you know it, you're healed, the very picture of health!
25 let their flesh be renewed like a child’s; let them be restored as in the days of their youth’—
26 "Or, you may fall on your knees and pray - to God's delight! You'll see God's smile and celebrate, finding yourself set right with God.
26 then that person can pray to God and find favor with him, they will see God’s face and shout for joy; he will restore them to full well-being.
27 You'll sing God's praises to everyone you meet, testifying, 'I messed up my life - and let me tell you, it wasn't worth it.
27 And they will go to others and say, ‘I have sinned, I have perverted what is right, but I did not get what I deserved.
28 But God stepped in and saved me from certain death. I'm alive again! Once more I see the light!'
28 God has delivered me from going down to the pit, and I shall live to enjoy the light of life.’
29 "This is the way God works. Over and over again
29 “God does all these things to a person— twice, even three times—
30 He pulls our souls back from certain destruction so we'll see the light - and live in the light!
30 to turn them back from the pit, that the light of life may shine on them.
31 "Keep listening, Job. Don't interrupt - I'm not finished yet.
31 “Pay attention, Job, and listen to me; be silent, and I will speak.
32 But if you think of anything I should know, tell me. There's nothing I'd like better than to see your name cleared.
32 If you have anything to say, answer me; speak up, for I want to vindicate you.
33 Meanwhile, keep listening. Don't distract me with interruptions. I'm going to teach you the basics of wisdom."
33 But if not, then listen to me; be silent, and I will teach you wisdom.”
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.
Scripture quoted by permission.  Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®.  NIV®.  Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica.  All rights reserved worldwide.