1
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"Job, listen now to my words. Pay attention to everything I say. |
2
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I'm about to open my mouth. My words are on the tip of my tongue. |
3
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What I say comes from an honest heart. My lips speak only what I know is true. |
4
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The Spirit of God has made me. The breath of the Mighty One gives me life. |
5
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So answer me if you can. Prepare yourself to face me. |
6
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In God's sight I'm just like you. I too have been made out of clay. |
7
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You don't have to be afraid of me. My hand won't be too heavy on you. |
8
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"But I heard what you said. And here are the exact words I heard. |
9
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You said, 'I'm pure. I haven't sinned in the ways you have charged. I'm clean. I'm not guilty of doing anything wrong. |
10
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But God has found fault with me. He thinks I'm his enemy. |
11
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He puts my feet in chains. He watches every step I take.' |
12
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"But I'm telling you that you aren't right when you talk like that. After all, God is greater than a mere man. |
13
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Why do you claim that God never answers any of our questions? |
14
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He speaks in one way and then another. We might not even realize it. |
15
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He might speak in a dream or in a vision at night. That's when people are sound asleep in their beds. |
16
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He might speak in their ears. His warnings might terrify them. |
17
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He warns men in order to turn them away from sinning. He wants to keep them from being proud. |
18
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He wants to stop them from going down into the grave. He doesn't want them to be killed with swords. |
19
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Someone might be punished by suffering in bed. The pain in his bones might never go away. |
20
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He might feel so bad he can't eat anything. He might even hate the finest food. |
21
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His body might waste away to nothing. His bones might have been hidden. But now they stick out. |
22
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He might approach the very edge of the grave. The messengers of death might come for him. |
23
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"But suppose there is an angel who will speak up for him. The angel is very special. He's one out of a thousand. He will tell that person what is right for him. |
24
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He'll be gracious to him. He'll say to God, 'Spare him from going down into the grave. I know a way that can set him free.' |
25
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Then his body is made like new again. He becomes as strong and healthy as when he was young. |
26
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He prays to God and finds favor with him. He sees God's face and shouts with joy. God makes him right with himself again. |
27
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Then the person comes to others and says, 'I sinned. I made what was wrong appear to be right. But I wasn't punished as I should have been. |
28
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God set me free. He kept me from going down into the grave. So I'll live to enjoy the light that leads to life.' |
29
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"God does all of those things to people. In fact, he does them again and again. |
30
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He wants to stop people from going down into the grave. Then the light that leads to life will shine on them. |
31
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"Pay attention, Job! Listen to me! Be quiet so I can speak. |
32
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If you have anything to say, answer me. Speak up. I want to help you be cleared of all charges. |
33
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But if you don't have anything to say, listen to me. Be quiet so I can teach you how to be wise." |
Job 33:1 English Language Bible Words basic statistical display
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