English Standard Version ESV
The Message Bible MSG
1 "Call now; is there anyone who will answer you? To which of the holy ones will you turn?
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"Call for help, Job, if you think anyone will answer! To which of the holy angels will you turn?
2 Surely vexation kills the fool, and jealousy slays the simple.
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The hot temper of a fool eventually kills him, the jealous anger of a simpleton does her in.
3 I have seen the fool taking root, but suddenly I cursed his dwelling.
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I've seen it myself - seen fools putting down roots, and then, suddenly, their houses are cursed.
4 His children are far from safety; they are crushed in the gate, and there is no one to deliver them.
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Their children out in the cold, abused and exploited, with no one to stick up for them.
5 The hungry eat his harvest, and he takes it even out of thorns, and the thirsty pant after his wealth.
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Hungry people off the street plunder their harvests, cleaning them out completely, taking thorns and all, insatiable for everything they have.
6 For affliction does not come from the dust, nor does trouble sprout from the ground,
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Don't blame fate when things go wrong - trouble doesn't come from nowhere.
7 but man is born to trouble as the sparks fly upward.
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It's human! Mortals are born and bred for trouble, as certainly as sparks fly upward. What a Blessing When God Corrects You!
8 "As for me, I would seek God, and to God would I commit my cause,
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"If I were in your shoes, I'd go straight to God, I'd throw myself on the mercy of God.
9 who does great things and unsearchable, marvelous things without number:
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After all, he's famous for great and unexpected acts; there's no end to his surprises.
10 he gives rain on the earth and sends waters on the fields;
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He gives rain, for instance, across the wide earth, sends water to irrigate the fields.
11 he sets on high those who are lowly, and those who mourn are lifted to safety.
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He raises up the down-and-out, gives firm footing to those sinking in grief.
12 He frustrates the devices of the crafty, so that their hands achieve no success.
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He aborts the schemes of conniving crooks, so that none of their plots come to term.
13 He catches the wise in their own craftiness, and the schemes of the wily are brought to a quick end.
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He catches the know-it-alls in their conspiracies - all that intricate intrigue swept out with the trash!
14 They meet with darkness in the daytime and grope at noonday as in the night.
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Suddenly they're disoriented, plunged into darkness; they can't see to put one foot in front of the other.
15 But he saves the needy from the sword of their mouth and from the hand of the mighty.
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But the downtrodden are saved by God, saved from the murderous plots, saved from the iron fist.
16 So the poor have hope, and injustice shuts her mouth.
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And so the poor continue to hope, while injustice is bound and gagged.
17 "Behold, blessed is the one whom God reproves; therefore despise not the discipline of the Almighty.
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"So, what a blessing when God steps in and corrects you! Mind you, don't despise the discipline of Almighty God!
18 For he wounds, but he binds up; he shatters, but his hands heal.
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True, he wounds, but he also dresses the wound; the same hand that hurts you, heals you.
19 He will deliver you from six troubles; in seven no evil shall touch you.
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From one disaster after another he delivers you; no matter what the calamity, the evil can't touch you -
20 In famine he will redeem you from death, and in war from the power of the sword.
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"In famine, he'll keep you from starving, in war, from being gutted by the sword.
21 You shall be hidden from the lash of the tongue, and shall not fear destruction when it comes.
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You'll be protected from vicious gossip and live fearless through any catastrophe.
22 At destruction and famine you shall laugh, and shall not fear the beasts of the earth.
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You'll shrug off disaster and famine, and stroll fearlessly among wild animals.
23 For you shall be in league with the stones of the field, and the beasts of the field shall be at peace with you.
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You'll be on good terms with rocks and mountains; wild animals will become your good friends.
24 You shall know that your tent is at peace, and you shall inspect your fold and miss nothing.
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You'll know that your place on earth is safe, you'll look over your goods and find nothing amiss.
25 You shall know also that your offspring shall be many, and your descendants as the grass of the earth.
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You'll see your children grow up, your family lovely and lissome as orchard grass.
26 You shall come to your grave in ripe old age, like a sheaf gathered up in its season.
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You'll arrive at your grave ripe with many good years, like sheaves of golden grain at harvest.
27 Behold, this we have searched out; it is true. Hear, and know it for your good."
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"Yes, this is the way things are - my word of honor! Take it to heart and you won't go wrong." Job Replies to Eliphaz
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.