2
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"So, my fine friends--listen to me, and see what you think of this. |
3
|
Isn't it just common sense-- as common as the sense of taste-- |
4
|
To put our heads together and figure out what's going on here? |
5
|
"We've all heard Job say, 'I'm in the right, but God won't give me a fair trial. |
6
|
When I defend myself, I'm called a liar to my face. I've done nothing wrong, and I get punished anyway.' |
7
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Have you ever heard anything to beat this? Does nothing faze this man Job? |
8
|
Do you think he's spent too much time in bad company, hanging out with the wrong crowd, |
9
|
So that now he's parroting their line: 'It doesn't pay to try to please God'? |
10
|
"You're veterans in dealing with these matters; certainly we're of one mind on this. It's impossible for God to do anything evil; no way can the Mighty One do wrong. |
11
|
He makes us pay for exactly what we've done--no more, no less. Our chickens always come home to roost. |
12
|
It's impossible for God to do anything wicked, for the Mighty One to subvert justice. |
13
|
He's the one who runs the earth! He cradles the whole world in his hand! |
14
|
If he decided to hold his breath, |
15
|
every man, woman, and child would die for lack of air. |
16
|
"So, Job, use your head; this is all pretty obvious. |
17
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Can someone who hates order, keep order? Do you dare condemn the righteous, mighty God? |
18
|
Doesn't God always tell it like it is, exposing corrupt rulers as scoundrels and criminals? |
19
|
Does he play favorites with the rich and famous and slight the poor? Isn't he equally responsible to everybody? |
20
|
Don't people who deserve it die without notice? Don't wicked rulers tumble to their doom? When the so-called great ones are wiped out, we know God is working behind the scenes. |
21
|
"He has his eyes on every man and woman. He doesn't miss a trick. |
22
|
There is no night dark enough, no shadow deep enough, to hide those who do evil. |
23
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God doesn't need to gather any more evidence; their sin is an open-and-shut case. |
24
|
He deposes the so-called high and mighty without asking questions, and replaces them at once with others. |
25
|
Nobody gets by with anything; overnight, judgment is signed, sealed, and delivered. |
26
|
He punishes the wicked for their wickedness out in the open where everyone can see it, |
27
|
Because they quit following him, no longer even thought about him or his ways. |
28
|
Their apostasy was announced by the cry of the poor; the cry of the afflicted got God's attention. |
29
|
"If God is silent, what's that to you? If he turns his face away, what can you do about it? But whether silent or hidden, he's there, ruling, |
30
|
so that those who hate God won't take over and ruin people's lives. |
31
|
"So why don't you simply confess to God? Say, 'I sinned, but I'll sin no more. |
32
|
Teach me to see what I still don't see. Whatever evil I've done, I'll do it no more.' |
33
|
Just because you refuse to live on God's terms, do you think he should start living on yours? You choose. I can't do it for you. Tell me what you decide. |
34
|
"All right-thinking people say-- and the wise who have listened to me concur-- |
35
|
'Job is an ignoramus. He talks utter nonsense.' |
36
|
Job, you need to be pushed to the wall and called to account for wickedly talking back to God the way you have. |
37
|
You've compounded your original sin by rebelling against God's discipline, Defiantly shaking your fist at God, piling up indictments against the Almighty One." |
Job 34:1 English Language Bible Words basic statistical display
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