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"Hear my words, you wise men, and give ear to me, you who know;
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for the ear tests words as the palate tastes food.
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Let us choose what is right; let us determine among ourselves what is good.
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For Job has said, 'I am innocent, and God has taken away my right;
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in spite of my right I am counted a liar; my wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.'
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What man is like Job, who drinks up scoffing like water,
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who goes in company with evildoers and walks with wicked men?
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For he has said, 'It profits a man nothing that he should take delight in God.'
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"Therefore, hear me, you men of understanding, far be it from God that he should do wickedness, and from the Almighty that he should do wrong.
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For according to the work of a man he will requite him, and according to his ways he will make it befall him.
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Of a truth, God will not do wickedly, and the Almighty will not pervert justice.
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Who gave him charge over the earth and who laid on him the whole world?
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If he should take back his spirit to himself, and gather to himself his breath,
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all flesh would perish together, and man would return to dust.