English Standard Version ESV
The Message Bible MSG
1 And the LORD said to Job:
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God then confronted Job directly:
2 "Shall a faultfinder contend with the Almighty? He who argues with God, let him answer it."
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"Now what do you have to say for yourself? Are you going to haul me, the Mighty One, into court and press charges?" Job Answers God I'm Ready to Shut Up and Listen
3 Then Job answered the LORD and said:
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Job answered:
4 "Behold, I am of small account; what shall I answer you? I lay my hand on my mouth.
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"I'm speechless, in awe - words fail me. I should never have opened my mouth!
5 I have spoken once, and I will not answer; twice, but I will proceed no further."
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I've talked too much, way too much. I'm ready to shut up and listen." God's Second Set of Questions I Want Straight Answers
6 Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind and said:
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God addressed Job next from the eye of the storm, and this is what he said:
7 "Dress for action like a man; I will question you, and you make it known to me.
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"I have some more questions for you, and I want straight answers.
8 Will you even put me in the wrong? Will you condemn me that you may be in the right?
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"Do you presume to tell me what I'm doing wrong? Are you calling me a sinner so you can be a saint?
9 Have you an arm like God, and can you thunder with a voice like his?
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Do you have an arm like my arm? Can you shout in thunder the way I can?
10 "Adorn yourself with majesty and dignity; clothe yourself with glory and splendor.
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Go ahead, show your stuff. Let's see what you're made of, what you can do.
11 Pour out the overflowings of your anger, and look on everyone who is proud and abase him.
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Unleash your outrage. Target the arrogant and lay them flat.
12 Look on everyone who is proud and bring him low and tread down the wicked where they stand.
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Target the arrogant and bring them to their knees. Stop the wicked in their tracks - make mincemeat of them!
13 Hide them all in the dust together; bind their faces in the world below.
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Dig a mass grave and dump them in it - faceless corpses in an unmarked grave.
14 Then will I also acknowledge to you that your own right hand can save you.
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I'll gladly step aside and hand things over to you - you can surely save yourself with no help from me!
15 "Behold, Behemoth, which I made as I made you; he eats grass like an ox.
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"Look at the land beast, Behemoth. I created him as well as you. Grazing on grass, docile as a cow -
16 Behold, his strength in his loins, and his power in the muscles of his belly.
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Just look at the strength of his back, the powerful muscles of his belly.
17 He makes his tail stiff like a cedar; the sinews of his thighs are knit together.
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His tail sways like a cedar in the wind; his huge legs are like beech trees.
18 His bones are tubes of bronze, his limbs like bars of iron.
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His skeleton is made of steel, every bone in his body hard as steel.
19 "He is the first of the works of God; let him who made him bring near his sword!
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Most magnificent of all my creatures, but I still lead him around like a lamb!
20 For the mountains yield food for him where all the wild beasts play.
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The grass-covered hills serve him meals, while field mice frolic in his shadow.
21 Under the lotus plants he lies, in the shelter of the reeds and in the marsh.
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He takes afternoon naps under shade trees, cools himself in the reedy swamps,
22 For his shade the lotus trees cover him; the willows of the brook surround him.
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Lazily cool in the leafy shadows as the breeze moves through the willows.
23 Behold, if the river is turbulent he is not frightened; he is confident though Jordan rushes against his mouth.
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And when the river rages he doesn't budge, stolid and unperturbed even when the Jordan goes wild.
24 Can one take him by his eyes, or pierce his nose with a snare?
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But you'd never want him for a pet - you'd never be able to housebreak him!
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.
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.