The Complete Jewish Bible CJB
The Bible in Basic English BBE
1 Continuing to address Iyov, ADONAI said:
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...
2 "Does the critic still want to dispute Shaddai? Let him who wants to correct God give an answer!"
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Will he who is protesting give teaching to the Ruler of all? Let him who has arguments to put forward against God give an answer.
3 Then Iyov replied to ADONAI:
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And Job said in answer to the Lord,
4 "I am too ashamed; I have nothing to say. I lay my hand over my mouth.
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Truly, I am of no value; what answer may I give to you? I will put my hand on my mouth.
5 Yes, I spoke once, but I won't answer more; all right, twice, but I won't go on."
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I have said once, and even twice, what was in my mind, but I will not do so again.
6 ADONAI answered Iyov out of the storm:
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Then the Lord made answer to Job out of the storm-wind, and said,
7 "Stand up like a man, and brace yourself; I will ask questions; and you, give the answers!
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Get your strength together like a man of war: I will put questions to you, and you will give me the answers.
8 "Are you impugning my justice? Putting me in the wrong to prove yourself right?
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Will you even make my right of no value? will you say that I am wrong in order to make clear that you are right?
9 Do you have an arm like God's? Can you thunder with a voice like his?
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Have you an arm like God? have you a voice of thunder like his?
10 Come on, deck yourself with majesty and dignity, robe yourself in glory and splendor.
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Put on the ornaments of your pride; be clothed with glory and power:
11 Let loose your furious anger, look at all who are proud, and humble them.
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Let your wrath be overflowing; let your eyes see all the sons of pride, and make them low.
12 Look at all who are proud, and bring them down; tread down the wicked where they stand.
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Send destruction on all who are lifted up, pulling down the sinners from their places.
13 Bury them in the ground together, bind their faces in the hidden world.
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Let them be covered together in the dust; let their faces be dark in the secret place of the underworld.
14 If you do this, then I will confess to you that your own power can save you.
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Then I will give praise to you, saying that your right hand is able to give you salvation.
15 "Now consider Behemot, whom I made along with you. He eats grass like an ox.
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See now the Great Beast, whom I made, even as I made you; he takes grass for food, like the ox.
16 What strength he has in his loins! What power in his stomach muscles!
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His strength is in his body, and his force in the muscles of his stomach.
17 He can make his tail as stiff as a cedar, the muscles in his thighs are like cables,
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His tail is curving like a cedar; the muscles of his legs are joined together.
18 his bones are like bronze pipes, his limbs like iron bars.
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His bones are pipes of brass, his legs are like rods of iron.
19 "He ranks first among God's works. Only his maker can approach him with his sword.
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He is the chief of the ways of God, made by him for his pleasure.
20 The mountains produce food for him there, where all the wild animals play.
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He takes the produce of the mountains, where all the beasts of the field are at play.
21 He lies down under the thorny lotus bushes and is hidden by the reeds in the swamp;
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He takes his rest under the trees of the river, and in the pool, under the shade of the water-plants.
22 the lotus bushes cover him with their shade, and the willows by the stream surround him.
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He is covered by the branches of the trees; the grasses of the stream are round him.
23 If the river overflows, it doesn't worry him; he is confident even if the Yarden rushes by his mouth.
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Truly, if the river is overflowing, it gives him no cause for fear; he has no sense of danger, even if Jordan is rushing against his mouth.
24 Can anyone catch him by his eyes or pierce his nose with a hook?
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Will anyone take him when he is on the watch, or put metal teeth through his nose?
Complete Jewish Bible Copyright 1998 by David H. Stern. Published by Jewish New Testament Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
The Bible in Basic English is in the public domain.