1
|
"Now, Job, listen to me. Listen carefully to what I say. |
3
|
My heart is honest, so my words are sincere. I will speak the truth about what I know. |
4
|
God's Spirit made me. My life comes from God All-Powerful. |
5
|
Listen to me and answer if you can. Get your arguments ready to face me. |
6
|
You and I are the same before God. He used clay to make us both. |
7
|
Don't be afraid of me. I will not be hard on you. |
8
|
"But, Job, I heard what you said. These were your very words: |
9
|
'I am pure and innocent; I did nothing wrong; I am not guilty! |
10
|
But God found an excuse to attack me. He treats me like an enemy. |
11
|
He put chains on my feet and watches everything I do.' |
12
|
"But you are wrong about this, and I will prove it to you. God knows more than any of us. |
13
|
You are arguing with God! Why do you think he should explain everything to you? |
14
|
But maybe God does explain what he does but speaks in ways that people don't understand. |
15
|
He may speak in a dream, or in a vision at night, when people are in a deep sleep lying in their beds. |
16
|
He may whisper something in their ear, and they are frightened when they hear his warnings. |
17
|
God warns people to stop them from doing wrong and to keep them from becoming proud. |
18
|
He does this to save them from death. He wants to keep them from being destroyed. |
19
|
"Or those who are sick in bed might be suffering punishment from God. The pain that makes their bones ache might be a warning from him. |
20
|
They feel so bad they cannot eat. Even the best food makes them sick. |
21
|
Their bodies might waste away until they becomes thin and all their bones stick out. |
22
|
They might be close to death, their lives about to end. |
23
|
But maybe one of God's thousands of angels is watching over them, to speak for them and tell about the good things they have done. |
24
|
Maybe the angel will be kind and say to God, 'Save this one from the place of death! I have found a way to pay for his life.' |
25
|
Then that person's body will become young and strong again. He will be as he was when he was young. |
26
|
He will pray and God will answer. He will worship God and shout with joy. He will again stand as right before God. |
27
|
He will tell everyone, 'I sinned. I changed good into bad, but God didn't give me the punishment I deserved! |
28
|
God saved me from going down to the place of death. Now I can enjoy life again.' |
29
|
"God does all these things for people again and again. |
30
|
He wants them to be saved from death so that they can enjoy life. |
31
|
"Job, pay attention and listen to me. Be quiet and let me talk. |
32
|
But if you have an answer, go ahead and speak. Tell me your argument. I would be happy to know that you are innocent! |
33
|
But if you have nothing to say, then listen to me. Be quiet, and I will teach you wisdom." |
Job 33:29 English Language Bible Words basic statistical display
COMING SOON ...