New Revised Standard NRS
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? Anyone who argues with God must respond."
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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 "See, 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 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:
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God addressed Job next from the eye of the storm, and this is what he said:
7 "Gird up your loins like a man; I will question you, and you declare 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 justified?
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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 "Deck 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 all who are proud, and abase them.
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Unleash your outrage. Target the arrogant and lay them flat.
12 Look on all who are proud, and bring them low; 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 I will also acknowledge to you that your own right hand can give you victory.
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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 just as I made you; it 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 Its strength is in its loins, and its 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 It makes its tail stiff like a cedar; the sinews of its 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 Its bones are tubes of bronze, its limbs like bars of iron.
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His skeleton is made of steel, every bone in his body hard as steel.
19 "It is the first of the great acts of God— only its Maker can approach it with the 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 it where all the wild animals play.
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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, in the covert 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 The lotus trees cover it for shade; the willows of the wadi surround it.
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Lazily cool in the leafy shadows as the breeze moves through the willows.
23 Even if the river is turbulent, it is not frightened; it is confident though Jordan rushes 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 one take it with hooks or pierce its 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!
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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.