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