| 1 | "However, Job, Please hear my speech, And listen to all my words.
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| 2 | See now, I have opened my mouth. My tongue has spoken in my mouth.
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| 3 | My words shall utter the uprightness of my heart; That which my lips know they shall speak sincerely.
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| 4 | The Spirit of God has made me, And the breath of the Almighty gives me life.
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| 5 | If you can, answer me; Set your words in order before me, and stand forth.
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| 6 | Behold, I am toward God even as you are: I am also formed out of the clay.
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| 7 | Behold, my terror shall not make you afraid, Neither shall my pressure be heavy on you.
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| 8 | "Surely you have spoken in my hearing, I have heard the voice of your words, saying,
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| 9 | 'I am clean, without disobedience. I am innocent, neither is there iniquity in me:
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| 10 | Behold, he finds occasions against me, He counts me for his enemy:
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| 11 | He puts my feet in the stocks, He marks all my paths.'
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| 12 | "Behold, I will answer you. In this you are not just; For God is greater than man.
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| 13 | Why do you strive against him, Because he doesn't give account of any of his matters?
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| 14 | For God speaks once, Yes twice, though man pays no attention.
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| 15 | In a dream, in a vision of the night, When deep sleep falls on men, In slumbering on the bed;
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| 16 | Then he opens the ears of men, And seals their instruction,
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| 17 | That he may withdraw man from his purpose, And hide pride from man.
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| 18 | He keeps back his soul from the pit, And his life from perishing by the sword.
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| 19 | He is chastened also with pain on his bed, With continual strife in his bones;
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| 20 | So that his life abhors bread, And his soul dainty food.
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| 21 | His flesh is so consumed away, that it can't be seen; His bones that were not seen stick out.
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| 22 | Yes, his soul draws near to the pit, And his life to the destroyers.
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| 23 | "If there is beside him an angel, An interpreter, one among a thousand, To show to man what is right for him;
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| 24 | Then God is gracious to him, and says, 'Deliver him from going down to the pit, I have found a ransom.'
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| 25 | His flesh shall be fresher than a child's; He returns to the days of his youth.
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| 26 | He prays to God, and he is favorable to him, So that he sees his face with joy: He restores to man his righteousness.
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| 27 | He sings before men, and says, 'I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, And it didn't profit me.
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| 28 | He has redeemed my soul from going into the pit, My life shall see the light.'
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| 29 | "Behold, God works all these things, Twice, yes three times, with a man,
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| 30 | To bring back his soul from the pit, That he may be enlightened with the light of the living.
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| 31 | Mark well, Job, and listen to me: Hold your peace, and I will speak.
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| 32 | If you have anything to say, answer me: Speak, for I desire to justify you.
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| 33 | If not, listen to me: Hold your peace, and I will teach you wisdom."
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