New International Version NIV
The Message Bible MSG
1 The LORD said to Job:
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God then confronted Job directly:
2 “Will the one who contends with the Almighty correct him? Let him who accuses God answer him!”
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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:
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Job answered:
4 “I am unworthy—how can I reply to you? I put my hand over my mouth.
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"I'm speechless, in awe - words fail me. I should never have opened my mouth!
5 I spoke once, but I have no answer— twice, but I will say no more.”
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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 spoke to Job out of the storm:
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God addressed Job next from the eye of the storm, and this is what he said:
7 “Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me.
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"I have some more questions for you, and I want straight answers.
8 “Would you discredit my justice? Would you condemn me to justify yourself?
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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 Do you have an arm like God’s, and can your voice thunder like his?
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Do you have an arm like my arm? Can you shout in thunder the way I can?
10 Then adorn yourself with glory and splendor, and clothe yourself in honor and majesty.
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Go ahead, show your stuff. Let's see what you're made of, what you can do.
11 Unleash the fury of your wrath, look at all who are proud and bring them low,
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Unleash your outrage. Target the arrogant and lay them flat.
12 look at all who are proud and humble them, crush 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 Bury them all in the dust together; shroud their faces in the grave.
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Dig a mass grave and dump them in it - faceless corpses in an unmarked grave.
14 Then I myself will admit 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 “Look at Behemoth, which I made along with you and which feeds on 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 What strength it has in its loins, what power in the muscles of its belly!
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Just look at the strength of his back, the powerful muscles of his belly.
17 Its tail sways like a cedar; the sinews of its thighs are close-knit.
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His tail sways like a cedar in the wind; his huge legs are like beech trees.
18 Its bones are tubes of bronze, its limbs like rods of iron.
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His skeleton is made of steel, every bone in his body hard as steel.
19 It ranks first among the works of God, yet its Maker can approach it with his sword.
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Most magnificent of all my creatures, but I still lead him around like a lamb!
20 The hills bring it their produce, and all the wild animals play nearby.
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The grass-covered hills serve him meals, while field mice frolic in his shadow.
21 Under the lotus plants it lies, hidden among the reeds in the marsh.
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He takes afternoon naps under shade trees, cools himself in the reedy swamps,
22 The lotuses conceal it in their shadow; the poplars by the stream surround it.
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Lazily cool in the leafy shadows as the breeze moves through the willows.
23 A raging river does not alarm it; it is secure, though the Jordan should surge against its 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 anyone capture it by the eyes, or trap it and pierce its nose?
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But you'd never want him for a pet - you'd never be able to housebreak him!
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.