177 lines
2.8 KiB
Markdown
177 lines
2.8 KiB
Markdown
Elihu Presents His Case against Job
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# Chapter 33
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1. "Listen to my words, Job;
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pay attention to what I have to say.
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2. Now that I have begun to speak,
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let me continue.
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3. I speak with all sincerity;
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I speak the truth.
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4. For the Spirit of God has made me,
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and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.
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5. Answer me, if you can;
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make your case and take your stand.
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6. Look, you and I both belong to God.
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I, too, was formed from clay.
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7. So you don't need to be afraid of me.
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I won't come down hard on you.
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8. "You have spoken in my hearing,
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and I have heard your very words.
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9. You said, 'I am pure; I am without sin;
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I am innocent; I have no guilt.
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10. God is picking a quarrel with me,
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and he considers me his enemy.
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11. He puts my feet in the stocks
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and watches my every move.'
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12. "But you are wrong, and I will show you why.
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For God is greater than any human being.
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13. So why are you bringing a charge against him?
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Why say he does not respond to people's complaints?
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14. For God speaks again and again,
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though people do not recognize it.
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15. He speaks in dreams, in visions of the night,
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when deep sleep falls on people
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as they lie in their beds.
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16. He whispers in their ears
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and terrifies them with warnings.
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17. He makes them turn from doing wrong;
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he keeps them from pride.
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18. He protects them from the grave,
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from crossing over the river of death.
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19. "Or God disciplines people with pain on their sickbeds,
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with ceaseless aching in their bones.
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20. They lose their appetite
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for even the most delicious food.
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21. Their flesh wastes away,
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and their bones stick out.
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22. They are at death's door;
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the angels of death wait for them.
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23. "But if an angel from heaven appears--
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a special messenger to intercede for a person
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and declare that he is upright--
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24. he will be gracious and say,
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'Rescue him from the grave,
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for I have found a ransom for his life.'
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25. Then his body will become as healthy as a child's,
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firm and youthful again.
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26. When he prays to God,
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he will be accepted.
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And God will receive him with joy
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and restore him to good standing.
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27. He will declare to his friends,
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'I sinned and twisted the truth,
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but it was not worth it.
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28. God rescued me from the grave,
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and now my life is filled with light.'
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29. "Yes, God does these things
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again and again for people.
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30. He rescues them from the grave
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so they may enjoy the light of life.
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31. Mark this well, Job. Listen to me,
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for I have more to say.
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32. But if you have anything to say, go ahead.
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Speak, for I am anxious to see you justified.
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33. But if not, then listen to me.
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Keep silent and I will teach you wisdom!"
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