Job 33 / 42
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(Elihu Rebukes Job)
"But now, hear my speech, O Job,
and listen to all my words.
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Behold, I open my mouth;
the tongue in my mouth speaks.
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My words declare the uprightness of my heart,
and what my lips know they speak sincerely.
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The Spirit of God has made me,
and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.
- 5
Answer me, if you can;
set your words in order before me; take your stand.
- 6
Behold, I am toward God as you are;
I too was pinched off from a piece of clay.
- 7
Behold, no fear of me need terrify you;
my pressure will not be heavy upon you.
- 8
"Surely you have spoken in my ears,
and I have heard the sound of your words.
- 9
You say, 'I am pure, without transgression;
I am clean, and there is no iniquity in me.
- 10
Behold, he finds occasions against me,
he counts me as his enemy,
- 11
he puts my feet in the stocks
and watches all my paths.'
- 12
"Behold, in this you are not right. I will answer you,
for God is greater than man.
- 13
Why do you contend against him,
saying, 'He will answer none of man's words'?Or He will not answer for any of his own words
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For God speaks in one way,
and in two, though man does not perceive it.
- 15
In a dream, in a vision of the night,
when deep sleep falls on men,
while they slumber on their beds,
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then he opens the ears of men
and terrifies them with warnings,
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that he may turn man aside from his deed
and conceal pride from a man;
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he keeps back his soul from the pit,
his life from perishing by the sword.
- 19
"Man is also rebuked with pain on his bed
and with continual strife in his bones,
- 20
so that his life loathes bread,
and his appetite the choicest food.
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His flesh is so wasted away that it cannot be seen,
and his bones that were not seen stick out.
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His soul draws near the pit,
and his life to those who bring death.
- 23
If there be for him an angel,
a mediator, one of the thousand,
to declare to man what is right for him,
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and he is merciful to him, and says,
'Deliver him from going down into the pit;
I have found a ransom;
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let his flesh become fresh with youth;
let him return to the days of his youthful vigor';
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then man prays to God, and he accepts him;
he sees his face with a shout of joy,
and he restores to man his righteousness.
- 27
He sings before men and says:
'I sinned and perverted what was right,
and it was not repaid to me.
- 28
He has redeemed my soul from going down into the pit,
and my life shall look upon the light.'
- 29
"Behold, God does all these things,
twice, three times, with a man,
- 30
to bring back his soul from the pit,
that he may be lighted with the light of life.
- 31
Pay attention, O Job, listen to me;
be silent, and I will speak.
- 32
If you have any words, answer me;
speak, for I desire to justify you.
- 33
If not, listen to me;
be silent, and I will teach you wisdom."