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Howbeit, Job, I pray thee, hear my speech, and hearken to all my words.
2
Behold now, I have opened my mouth, my tongue hath spoken in my mouth.
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My words shall utter the uprightness of my heart;
and that which my lips know they shall speak sincerely.
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The spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty given me life.
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If thou canst, answer thou me, set thy words in order before me, stand forth.
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Behold, I am toward God even as thou art;
I also am formed out of the clay.
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Behold, my terror shall not make thee afraid, neither shall my pressure be heavy upon thee.
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Surely thou hast spoken in my hearing, and I have heard the voice of thy words;
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"I am clean, without transgression, I am innocent, neither is there iniquity in me;
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Behold, He findeth occasions against me, He counteth me for His enemy;
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He putteth my feet in the stocks, He marketh all my paths."
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Behold, I answer thee: In this thou art not right, that God is too great for man;
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Why hast thou striven against Him?
seeing that He will not answer any of his words.
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For God speaketh in one way, yea in two, though man perceiveth it not.
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In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed;
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Then He openeth the ears of men, and by their chastisement sealeth the decree,
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That men may put away their purpose, and that He may hide pride from man;
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That He may keep back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword.
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He is chastened also with pain upon his bed, and all his bones grow stiff;
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So that his life maketh him to abhor bread, and his soul dainty food.
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His flesh is consumed away, that it cannot be seen;
and his bones corrode to unsightliness.
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Yea, his soul draweth near unto the pit, and his life to the destroyers.
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If there be for him an angel, an intercessor, one among a thousand, to vouch for a man"s uprightness;
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Then He is gracious unto him, and saith: "Deliver him from going down to the pit, I have found a ransom."
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His flesh is tenderer than a child"s;
he returneth to the days of his youth;
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He prayeth unto God, and He is favourable unto him;
so that he seeth His face with joy;
and He restoreth unto man his righteousness.
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He cometh before men, and saith: "I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it profited me not."
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So He redeemeth his soul from going into the pit, and his life beholdeth the light.
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Lo, all these things doth God work, twice, yea thrice, with a man,
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To bring back his soul from the pit, that he may be enlightened with the light of the living.
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Mark well, O Job, hearken unto me;
hold thy peace, and I will speak.
32
If thou hast any thing to say, answer me;
speak, for I desire to justify thee.
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If not, hearken thou unto me;
hold thy peace, and I will teach thee wisdom.