Common English Bible CEB
New Revised Standard NRS
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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See, 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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See, before God I am as you are; I too was formed 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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No fear of me need terrify you; my pressure will not be heavy on 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 hearing, 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 clean, without transgression; I am pure, and there is no iniquity in me.
10 Notice that he invents arguments against me; he considers me his enemy,
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Look, 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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"But in this you are not right. I will answer you: God is greater than any mortal.
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 my 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 people do 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 mortals, while they slumber on their beds,
16 then he opens people's ears, scares them with warnings,
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then he opens their ears, 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 them aside from their deeds, and keep them from pride,
18 He keeps one from the pit, a life from perishing by the sword.
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to spare their souls from the Pit, their lives from traversing the River.
19 Or a person may be disciplined by pain while in bed, bones ever aching
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They are also chastened with pain upon their beds, and with continual strife in their bones,
20 until a person loathes food, an appetite rejects a delicacy;
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so that their lives loathe bread, and their appetites dainty food.
21 the flesh wastes away, no longer visible; the bones, once hidden, protrude.
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Their flesh is so wasted away that it cannot be seen; and their bones, once invisible, now stick out.
22 A life approaches the pit; its very being draws near the death dealers.
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Their souls draw near the Pit, and their lives 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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Then, if there should be for one of them an angel, a mediator, one of a thousand, one who declares a person upright,
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 gracious to that person, 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 he prays to God, and is accepted by him, he comes into his presence with joy, and God repays him for his righteousness.
27 They sing before people and say: "I have sinned, perverted justice, but didn't experience the consequences.
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That person sings to others and says, "I sinned, and perverted what was right, and it was not paid back 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 to the Pit, and my life shall see the light.'
29 Look, God does all this, twice, three times with persons
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"God indeed does all these things, twice, three times, with mortals,
30 to bring them back from the pit, to shine with life's light.
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to bring back their souls from the Pit, so that they may see the light of life.
31 Listen, Job; hear me; be quiet, and I will speak.
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Pay heed, 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 anything to say, 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
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.