Common English Bible CEB
English Standard Version ESV
1 But now, listen to me, Job; pay attention to all my words.
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“But now, hear my speech, O Job, and listen to all my words.
2 Notice that I am opening my mouth; my tongue is speaking in my mouth.
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Behold, I open my mouth; the tongue in my mouth speaks.
3 My words come from a virtuous heart; my lips speak knowledge clearly.
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My words declare the uprightness of my heart, and what my lips know they speak sincerely.
4 God's spirit made me; the Almighty's breath enlivens me.
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The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.
5 If you are able, answer me; lay out your case before me and take a stand.
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Answer me, if you can; set your words in order before me; take your stand.
6 Notice that I'm just like you to God; I also was pinched from clay.
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Behold, I am toward God as you are; I too was pinched off from a piece of clay.
7 Surely fear of me shouldn't scare you; my pressure on you shouldn't be heavy.
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Behold, no fear of me need terrify you; my pressure will not be heavy upon you.
8 You certainly said in my hearing; I heard the sound of your words:
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“Surely you have spoken in my ears, and I have heard the sound of your words.
9 "I'm pure, without sin; I'm innocent, without offense.
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You say, ‘I am pure, without transgression; I am clean, and there is no iniquity in me.
10 Notice that he invents arguments against me; he considers me his enemy,
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Behold, he finds occasions against me, he counts me as his enemy,
11 ties up my feet, watches all my paths."
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he puts my feet in the stocks and watches all my paths. ’
12 Now you're wrong about this; I'll answer you, for God is greater than anybody.
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“Behold, in this you are not right. I will answer you, for God is greater than man.
13 Why do you contend with him, saying that he doesn't answer all your words?
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Why do you contend against him, saying, ‘He will answer none of man’s words’?
14 God speaks in one way, in two ways, but no one perceives it.
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For God speaks in one way, and in two, though man does not perceive it.
15 In the dream, a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls upon humans, during their slumber on a bed,
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In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on men, while they slumber on their beds,
16 then he opens people's ears, scares them with warnings,
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then he opens the ears of men and terrifies them with warnings,
17 to turn them from a deed and to smother human pride.
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that he may turn man aside from his deed and conceal pride from a man;
18 He keeps one from the pit, a life from perishing by the sword.
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he keeps back his soul from the pit, his life from perishing by the sword.
19 Or a person may be disciplined by pain while in bed, bones ever aching
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“Man is also rebuked with pain on his bed and with continual strife in his bones,
20 until a person loathes food, an appetite rejects a delicacy;
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so that his life loathes bread, and his appetite the choicest food.
21 the flesh wastes away, no longer visible; the bones, once hidden, protrude.
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His flesh is so wasted away that it cannot be seen, and his bones that were not seen stick out.
22 A life approaches the pit; its very being draws near the death dealers.
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His soul draws near the pit, and his life to those who bring death.
23 Surely there's a messenger for this person, a mediator, one out of a thousand to declare one's integrity to another
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If there be for him an angel, a mediator, one of the thousand, to declare to man what is right for him,
24 so that God has compassion on that person and says, "Rescue this one from going down to the pit; I have found a ransom."
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and he is merciful to him, and says, ‘Deliver him from going down into the pit; I have found a ransom;
25 That person's flesh is renewed like a child's; they regain their youth.
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let his flesh become fresh with youth; let him return to the days of his youthful vigor’;
26 They pray to God, and God is pleased with them; they behold God's presence with a joyful shout. God rewards a person's righteousness.
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then man prays to God, and he accepts him; he sees his face with a shout of joy, and he restores to man his righteousness.
27 They sing before people and say: "I have sinned, perverted justice, but didn't experience the consequences.
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He sings before men and says: ‘I sinned and perverted what was right, and it was not repaid to me.
28 He ransomed me from crossing into the pit; my life beholds light."
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He has redeemed my soul from going down into the pit, and my life shall look upon the light. ’
29 Look, God does all this, twice, three times with persons
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“Behold, God does all these things, twice, three times, with a man,
30 to bring them back from the pit, to shine with life's light.
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to bring back his soul from the pit, that he may be lighted with the light of life.
31 Listen, Job; hear me; be quiet, and I will speak.
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Pay attention, O Job, listen to me; be silent, and I will speak.
32 If you have words, answer me; speak, for I want to be innocent.
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If you have any words, answer me; speak, for I desire to justify you.
33 If not, you must hear me; be quiet, and I will teach you wisdom.
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If not, listen to me; be silent, and I will teach you wisdom. ”
Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®) © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved. ESV Text Edition: 2025