The Message Bible MSG
World English Bible WEB
1 Then Job defended himself:
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Then Job answered,
2 "I've had all I can take of your talk. What a bunch of miserable comforters!
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"I have heard many such things. Miserable comforters are you all!
3 Is there no end to your windbag speeches? What's your problem that you go on and on like this?
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Shall vain words have an end? Or what provokes you that you answer?
4 If you were in my shoes, I could talk just like you. I could put together a terrific harangue and really let you have it.
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I also could speak as you do. If your soul were in my soul's place, I could join words together against you, And shake my head at you.
5 But I'd never do that. I'd console and comfort, make things better, not worse!
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But I would strengthen you with my mouth. The solace of my lips would relieve you.
6 "When I speak up, I feel no better; if I say nothing, that doesn't help either.
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"Though I speak, my grief is not subsided. Though I forbear, what am I eased?
7 I feel worn down. God, you have wasted me totally - me and my family!
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But now, God, you have surely worn me out. You have made desolate all my company.
8 You've shriveled me like a dried prune, showing the world that you're against me. My gaunt face stares back at me from the mirror, a mute witness to your treatment of me.
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You have shriveled me up. This is a witness against me. My leanness rises up against me, It testifies to my face.
9 Your anger tears at me, your teeth rip me to shreds, your eyes burn holes in me - God, my enemy!
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He has torn me in his wrath, and persecuted me; He has gnashed on me with his teeth: My adversary sharpens his eyes on me.
10 People take one look at me and gasp. Contemptuous, they slap me around and gang up against me.
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They have gaped on me with their mouth; They have struck me on the cheek reproachfully. They gather themselves together against me.
11 And God just stands there and lets them do it, lets wicked people do what they want with me.
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God delivers me to the ungodly, And casts me into the hands of the wicked.
12 I was contentedly minding my business when God beat me up. He grabbed me by the neck and threw me around. He set me up as his target,
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I was at ease, and he broke me apart. Yes, he has taken me by the neck, and dashed me to pieces. He has also set me up for his target.
13 then rounded up archers to shoot at me. Merciless, they shot me full of arrows; bitter bile poured from my gut to the ground.
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His archers surround me. He splits my kidneys apart, and does not spare. He pours out my gall on the ground.
14 He burst in on me, onslaught after onslaught, charging me like a mad bull.
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He breaks me with breach on breach. He runs on me like a giant.
15 "I sewed myself a shroud and wore it like a shirt; I lay face down in the dirt.
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I have sewed sackcloth on my skin, And have thrust my horn in the dust.
16 Now my face is blotched red from weeping; look at the dark shadows under my eyes,
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My face is red with weeping. Deep darkness is on my eyelids.
17 Even though I've never hurt a soul and my prayers are sincere! The One Who Represents Mortals Before God
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Although there is no violence in my hands, And my prayer is pure.
18 "O Earth, don't cover up the wrong done to me! Don't muffle my cry!
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"Earth, don't cover my blood, Let my cry have no place to rest.
19 There must be Someone in heaven who knows the truth about me, in highest heaven, some Attorney who can clear my name -
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Even now, behold, my witness is in heaven. He who vouches for me is on high.
20 My Champion, my Friend, while I'm weeping my eyes out before God.
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My friends scoff at me. My eyes pour out tears to God,
21 I appeal to the One who represents mortals before God as a neighbor stands up for a neighbor.
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That he would maintain the right of a man with God, Of a son of man with his neighbor!
22 "Only a few years are left before I set out on the road of no return.
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For when a few years are come, I shall go the way from whence I shall not return.
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.
The World English Bible is in the public domain.