Common English Bible CEB
New Revised Standard NRS
1 Then Job answered:
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Then Job answered:
2 I've heard many things like these. All of you are sorry comforters.
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"I have heard many such things; miserable comforters are you all.
3 Will windy talk ever cease; what bothers you that you must argue?
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Have windy words no limit? Or what provokes you that you keep on talking?
4 In your situation I could speak like you; I could put words together to oppose you, shake my head over you.
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I also could talk as you do, if you were in my place; I could join words together against you, and shake my head at you.
5 I could heap up words, strengthen you with my speech; my trembling lips would be held in check.
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I could encourage you with my mouth, and the solace of my lips would assuage your pain.
6 If I speak, my pain is not eased; if I hold back, what have I lost?
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"If I speak, my pain is not assuaged, and if I forbear, how much of it leaves me?
7 Now God has surely worn me out. You have destroyed my entire group,
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Surely now God has worn me out; he has made desolate all my company.
8 seized me, which became grounds for an accusation. My leanness rises to bear witness against me.
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And he has shriveled me up, which is a witness against me; my leanness has risen up against me, and it testifies to my face.
9 His anger tears me and afflicts me; he slashes at me with his teeth. My enemy pierces me with his eyes.
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He has torn me in his wrath, and hated me; he has gnashed his teeth at me; my adversary sharpens his eyes against me.
10 They open their mouths at me and strike my cheek in a taunt; they gang up on me.
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They have gaped at me with their mouths; they have struck me insolently on the cheek; they mass themselves together against me.
11 God delivers me to a criminal and forces me into the hands of the wicked.
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God gives me up to the ungodly, and casts me into the hands of the wicked.
12 I was at rest, but he shattered me, seized me by the back of my neck, dashed me into pieces; he raised me up for his target.
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I was at ease, and he broke me in two; he seized me by the neck and dashed me to pieces; he set me up as his target;
13 His archers surround me; he cuts my kidneys open without pity and doesn't care, pours my gall on the ground,
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his archers surround me. He slashes open my kidneys, and shows no mercy; he pours out my gall on the ground.
14 bursts me open over and over, runs against me like a strong man.
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He bursts upon me again and again; he rushes at me like a warrior.
15 I've sewed rough cloth over my skin and buried my dignity in the dust.
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I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin, and have laid my strength in the dust.
16 My face is red from crying, and dark gloom hangs on my eyelids.
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My face is red with weeping, and deep darkness is on my eyelids,
17 But there is no violence in my hands, and my prayer is pure.
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though there is no violence in my hands, and my prayer is pure.
18 Earth, don't cover my blood; let my outcry never cease.
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"O earth, do not cover my blood; let my outcry find no resting place.
19 Surely now my witness stands in heaven; my advocate is on high;
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Even now, in fact, my witness is in heaven, and he that vouches for me is on high.
20 my go-between, my friend. While my eyes drip tears to God,
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My friends scorn me; my eye pours out tears to God,
21 let him plead with God for a human being, like a person pleads for a friend.
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that he would maintain the right of a mortal with God, as one does for a neighbor.
22 A number of years will surely pass, and then I'll walk a path that I won't return.
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For when a few years have come, I shall go the way from which I shall not return.
Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, 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.