The Message Bible MSG
New Living Translation NLT
1 God then confronted Job directly:
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Then the LORD said to Job,
2 "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
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“Do you still want to argue with the Almighty? You are God’s critic, but do you have the answers?”
3 Job answered:
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Then Job replied to the LORD,
4 "I'm speechless, in awe - words fail me. I should never have opened my mouth!
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“I am nothing—how could I ever find the answers? I will cover my mouth with my hand.
5 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
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I have said too much already. I have nothing more to say.”
6 God addressed Job next from the eye of the storm, and this is what he said:
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Then the LORD answered Job from the whirlwind:
7 "I have some more questions for you, and I want straight answers.
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“Brace yourself like a man, because I have some questions for you, and you must answer them.
8 "Do you presume to tell me what I'm doing wrong? Are you calling me a sinner so you can be a saint?
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“Will you discredit my justice and condemn me just to prove you are right?
9 Do you have an arm like my arm? Can you shout in thunder the way I can?
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Are you as strong as God? Can you thunder with a voice like his?
10 Go ahead, show your stuff. Let's see what you're made of, what you can do.
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All right, put on your glory and splendor, your honor and majesty.
11 Unleash your outrage. Target the arrogant and lay them flat.
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Give vent to your anger. Let it overflow against the proud.
12 Target the arrogant and bring them to their knees. Stop the wicked in their tracks - make mincemeat of them!
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Humiliate the proud with a glance; walk on the wicked where they stand.
13 Dig a mass grave and dump them in it - faceless corpses in an unmarked grave.
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Bury them in the dust. Imprison them in the world of the dead.
14 I'll gladly step aside and hand things over to you - you can surely save yourself with no help from me!
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Then even I would praise you, for your own strength would save you.
15 "Look at the land beast, Behemoth. I created him as well as you. Grazing on grass, docile as a cow -
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“Take a look at Behemoth, which I made, just as I made you. It eats grass like an ox.
16 Just look at the strength of his back, the powerful muscles of his belly.
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See its powerful loins and the muscles of its belly.
17 His tail sways like a cedar in the wind; his huge legs are like beech trees.
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Its tail is as strong as a cedar. The sinews of its thighs are knit tightly together.
18 His skeleton is made of steel, every bone in his body hard as steel.
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Its bones are tubes of bronze. Its limbs are bars of iron.
19 Most magnificent of all my creatures, but I still lead him around like a lamb!
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It is a prime example of God’s handiwork, and only its Creator can threaten it.
20 The grass-covered hills serve him meals, while field mice frolic in his shadow.
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The mountains offer it their best food, where all the wild animals play.
21 He takes afternoon naps under shade trees, cools himself in the reedy swamps,
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It lies under the lotus plants, hidden by the reeds in the marsh.
22 Lazily cool in the leafy shadows as the breeze moves through the willows.
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The lotus plants give it shade among the willows beside the stream.
23 And when the river rages he doesn't budge, stolid and unperturbed even when the Jordan goes wild.
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It is not disturbed by the raging river, not concerned when the swelling Jordan rushes around it.
24 But you'd never want him for a pet - you'd never be able to housebreak him!
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No one can catch it off guard or put a ring in its nose and lead it away.
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.
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.