New Living Translation NLT
Common English Bible CEB
1 “Listen to my words, Job; pay attention to what I have to say.
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But now, listen to me, Job; pay attention to all my words.
2 Now that I have begun to speak, let me continue.
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Notice that I am opening my mouth; my tongue is speaking in my mouth.
3 I speak with all sincerity; I speak the truth.
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My words come from a virtuous heart; my lips speak knowledge clearly.
4 For the Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.
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God's spirit made me; the Almighty's breath enlivens me.
5 Answer me, if you can; make your case and take your stand.
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If you are able, answer me; lay out your case before me and take a stand.
6 Look, you and I both belong to God. I, too, was formed from clay.
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Notice that I'm just like you to God; I also was pinched from clay.
7 So you don’t need to be afraid of me. I won’t come down hard on you.
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Surely fear of me shouldn't scare you; my pressure on you shouldn't be heavy.
8 “You have spoken in my hearing, and I have heard your very words.
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You certainly said in my hearing; I heard the sound of your words:
9 You said, ‘I am pure; I am without sin; I am innocent; I have no guilt.
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"I'm pure, without sin; I'm innocent, without offense.
10 God is picking a quarrel with me, and he considers me his enemy.
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Notice that he invents arguments against me; he considers me his enemy,
11 He puts my feet in the stocks and watches my every move.’
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ties up my feet, watches all my paths."
12 “But you are wrong, and I will show you why. For God is greater than any human being.
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Now you're wrong about this; I'll answer you, for God is greater than anybody.
13 So why are you bringing a charge against him? Why say he does not respond to people’s complaints?
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Why do you contend with him, saying that he doesn't answer all your words?
14 For God speaks again and again, though people do not recognize it.
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God speaks in one way, in two ways, but no one perceives it.
15 He speaks in dreams, in visions of the night, when deep sleep falls on people as they lie in their beds.
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In the dream, a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls upon humans, during their slumber on a bed,
16 He whispers in their ears and terrifies them with warnings.
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then he opens people's ears, scares them with warnings,
17 He makes them turn from doing wrong; he keeps them from pride.
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to turn them from a deed and to smother human pride.
18 He protects them from the grave, from crossing over the river of death.
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He keeps one from the pit, a life from perishing by the sword.
19 “Or God disciplines people with pain on their sickbeds, with ceaseless aching in their bones.
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Or a person may be disciplined by pain while in bed, bones ever aching
20 They lose their appetite for even the most delicious food.
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until a person loathes food, an appetite rejects a delicacy;
21 Their flesh wastes away, and their bones stick out.
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the flesh wastes away, no longer visible; the bones, once hidden, protrude.
22 They are at death’s door; the angels of death wait for them.
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A life approaches the pit; its very being draws near the death dealers.
23 “But if an angel from heaven appears— a special messenger to intercede for a person and declare that he is upright—
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Surely there's a messenger for this person, a mediator, one out of a thousand to declare one's integrity to another
24 he will be gracious and say, ‘Rescue him from the grave, for I have found a ransom for his life.’
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so that God has compassion on that person and says, "Rescue this one from going down to the pit; I have found a ransom."
25 Then his body will become as healthy as a child’s, firm and youthful again.
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That person's flesh is renewed like a child's; they regain their youth.
26 When he prays to God, he will be accepted. And God will receive him with joy and restore him to good standing.
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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.
27 He will declare to his friends, ‘I sinned and twisted the truth, but it was not worth it.
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They sing before people and say: "I have sinned, perverted justice, but didn't experience the consequences.
28 God rescued me from the grave, and now my life is filled with light.’
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He ransomed me from crossing into the pit; my life beholds light."
29 “Yes, God does these things again and again for people.
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Look, God does all this, twice, three times with persons
30 He rescues them from the grave so they may enjoy the light of life.
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to bring them back from the pit, to shine with life's light.
31 Mark this well, Job. Listen to me, for I have more to say.
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Listen, Job; hear me; be quiet, and I will speak.
32 But if you have anything to say, go ahead. Speak, for I am anxious to see you justified.
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If you have words, answer me; speak, for I want to be innocent.
33 But if not, then listen to me. Keep silent and I will teach you wisdom!”
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If not, you must hear me; be quiet, and I will teach you wisdom.
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright© 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by
Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible