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1. "Now, Job, listen to me. Listen carefully to what I say.
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1. Wherefore H199 , Job H347 , I pray thee H4994 , hear H8085 my speeches H4405 , and hearken H238 to all H3605 my words H1697 .
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2. I am ready to speak.
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2. Behold H2009 , now H4994 I have opened H6605 my mouth H6310 , my tongue H3956 hath spoken H1696 in my mouth H2441 .
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3. My heart is honest, so my words are sincere. I will speak the truth about what I know.
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3. My words H561 shall be of the uprightness H3476 of my heart H3820 : and my lips H8193 shall utter H4448 knowledge H1847 clearly H1305 .
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4. God's Spirit made me. My life comes from God All-Powerful.
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4. The Spirit H7307 of God H410 hath made H6213 me , and the breath H5397 of the Almighty H7706 hath given me life H2421 .
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5. Listen to me and answer if you can. Get your arguments ready to face me.
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5. If H518 thou canst H3201 answer H7725 me , set thy words in order H6186 before H6440 me , stand up H3320 .
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6. You and I are the same before God. He used clay to make us both.
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6. Behold H2005 , I H589 am according to thy wish H6310 in God H410 's stead: I H589 also H1571 am formed H7169 out of the clay H4480 H2563 .
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7. Don't be afraid of me. I will not be hard on you.
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7. Behold H2009 , my terror H367 shall not H3808 make thee afraid H1204 , neither H3808 shall my hand H405 be heavy H3513 upon H5921 thee.
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8. "But, Job, I heard what you said. These were your very words:
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8. Surely H389 thou hast spoken H559 in mine hearing H241 , and I have heard H8085 the voice H6963 of thy words H4405 , saying ,
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9. 'I am pure and innocent; I did nothing wrong; I am not guilty!
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9. I H589 am clean H2134 without H1097 transgression H6588 , I H595 am innocent H2643 ; neither H3808 is there iniquity H5771 in me.
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10. But God found an excuse to attack me. He treats me like an enemy.
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10. Behold H2005 , he findeth H4672 occasions H8569 against H5921 me , he counteth H2803 me for his enemy H341 ,
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11. He put chains on my feet and watches everything I do.'
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11. He putteth H7760 my feet H7272 in the stocks H5465 , he marketh H8104 all H3605 my paths H734 .
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12. "But you are wrong about this, and I will prove it to you. God knows more than any of us.
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12. Behold H2005 , in this H2063 thou art not H3808 just H6663 : I will answer H6030 thee, that H3588 God H433 is greater H7235 than man H4480 H582 .
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13. You are arguing with God! Why do you think he should explain everything to you?
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13. Why H4069 dost thou strive H7378 against H413 him? for H3588 he giveth not H3808 account H6030 of any H3605 of his matters H1697 .
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14. But maybe God does explain what he does but speaks in ways that people don't understand.
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14. For H3588 God H410 speaketh H1696 once H259 , yea twice H8147 , yet man perceiveth H7789 it not H3808 .
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15. He may speak in a dream, or in a vision at night, when people are in a deep sleep lying in their beds.
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15. In a dream H2472 , in a vision H2384 of the night H3915 , when deep sleep H8639 falleth H5307 upon H5921 men H376 , in slumberings H8572 upon H5921 the bed H4904 ;
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16. He may whisper something in their ear, and they are frightened when they hear his warnings.
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16. Then H227 he openeth H1540 the ears H241 of men H376 , and sealeth H2856 their instruction H4561 ,
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17. God warns people to stop them from doing wrong and to keep them from becoming proud.
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17. That he may withdraw H5493 man H120 from his purpose H4639 , and hide H3680 pride H1466 from man H4480 H1397 .
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18. He does this to save them from death. He wants to keep them from being destroyed.
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18. He keepeth back H2820 his soul H5315 from H4480 the pit H7845 , and his life H2416 from perishing H4480 H5674 by the sword H7973 .
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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.
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19. He is chastened H3198 also with pain H4341 upon H5921 his bed H4904 , and the multitude H7230 of his bones H6106 with strong H386 pain :
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20. They feel so bad they cannot eat. Even the best food makes them sick.
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20. So that his life H2416 abhorreth H2092 bread H3899 , and his soul H5315 dainty H8378 meat H3978 .
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21. Their bodies might waste away until they becomes thin and all their bones stick out.
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21. His flesh H1320 is consumed away H3615 , that it cannot be seen H4480 H7210 ; and his bones H6106 that were not H3808 seen H7200 stick out H8192 .
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22. They might be close to death, their lives about to end.
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22. Yea , his soul H5315 draweth near H7126 unto the grave H7845 , and his life H2416 to the destroyers H4191 .
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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.
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23. If H518 there be H3426 a messenger H4397 with H5921 him , an interpreter H3887 , one H259 among H4480 a thousand H505 , to show H5046 unto man H120 his uprightness H3476 :
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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.'
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24. Then he is gracious H2603 unto him , and saith H559 , Deliver H6308 him from going down H4480 H3381 to the pit H7845 : I have found H4672 a ransom H3724 .
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25. Then that person's body will become young and strong again. He will be as he was when he was young.
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25. His flesh H1320 shall be fresher H7375 than a child H4480 H5290 's : he shall return H7725 to the days H3117 of his youth H5934 :
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26. He will pray and God will answer. He will worship God and shout with joy. He will again stand as right before God.
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26. He shall pray H6279 unto H413 God H433 , and he will be favorable H7521 unto him : and he shall see H7200 his face H6440 with joy H8643 : for he will render H7725 unto man H582 his righteousness H6666 .
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27. He will tell everyone, 'I sinned. I changed good into bad, but God didn't give me the punishment I deserved!
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27. He looketh H7789 upon H5921 men H376 , and if any say H559 , I have sinned H2398 , and perverted H5753 that which was right H3477 , and it profited H7737 me not H3808 ;
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28. God saved me from going down to the place of death. Now I can enjoy life again.'
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28. He will deliver H6299 his soul H5315 from going H4480 H5674 into the pit H7845 , and his life H2416 shall see H7200 the light H216 .
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29. "God does all these things for people again and again.
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29. Lo H2005 , all H3605 these H428 things worketh H6466 God H410 oftentimes H6471 H7969 with H5973 man H1397 ,
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30. He wants them to be saved from death so that they can enjoy life.
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30. To bring back H7725 his soul H5315 from H4480 the pit H7845 , to be enlightened H215 with the light H216 of the living H2416 .
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31. "Job, pay attention and listen to me. Be quiet and let me talk.
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31. Mark well H7181 , O Job H347 , hearken H8085 unto me : hold thy peace H2790 , and I H595 will speak H1696 .
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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!
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32. If H518 thou hast H3426 any thing to say H4405 , answer H7725 me: speak H1696 , for H3588 I desire H2654 to justify H6663 thee.
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33. But if you have nothing to say, then listen to me. Be quiet, and I will teach you wisdom."
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33. If H518 not H369 , hearken H8085 unto me : hold thy peace H2790 , and I shall teach H502 thee wisdom H2451 .
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