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1. "But now, Job, hear what I say. Listen to all my words.
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1.
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2. See, I open my mouth. My tongue in my mouth wants to speak.
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2.
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3. My words come from my heart that is right. My lips speak in truth what I know.
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3.
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4. The Spirit of God has made me. And the breath of the All-powerful gives me life.
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4.
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5. Prove me wrong if you can. Get ready to answer me, and take your stand.
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5.
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6. See, I belong to God like you. I also have been made from the clay.
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6.
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7. See, you have no reason to be afraid of me. I should not make it hard for you.
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7.
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8. "For sure you have spoken in my hearing. I have heard all you have said.
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8.
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9. You said, 'I am pure and without sin. I am not guilty, and there is no sin in me.
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9.
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10. But see, God finds things against me. He thinks of me as someone who hates Him.
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10.
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11. He puts my feet in chains, and watches all my paths.'
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11.
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12. See, I tell you, in this you are not right. For God is greater than man.
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12.
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13. "Why do you complain against Him? He does not give a reason for all He does.
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13.
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14. For God speaks once, or twice, and yet no one listens.
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14.
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15. In a dream, a special dream of the night, when deep sleep comes upon men, while they sleep in their beds,
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15.
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16. then He opens the ears of men. He teaches them and makes them afraid telling them of danger,
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16.
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17. that He may turn man away from wrong-doing and keep him from pride.
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17.
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18. He keeps his soul from going to the place of the dead. And He keeps his life from being destroyed by the sword.
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18.
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19. "Man is also punished with pain on his bed and has pain all the time in his bones.
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19.
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20. So he hates bread, and has no desire for fine foods.
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20.
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21. His flesh is so wasted away that it cannot be seen. His bones which were not seen stick out.
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21.
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22. His soul comes close to the grave, and his life to those who bring death.
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22.
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23. "If there is an angel, one out of a thousand, to speak with God for him, and to show a man what is right for him,
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23.
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24. then let him be kind to him, and say, 'Save him from going down to the grave. I have found someone to pay the price to make him free.
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24.
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25. Let his flesh become young again. Let him return to the days when he was young and strong.'
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25.
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26. Then he will pray to God, and God will be pleased with him. He will see His face with joy. And God will make man right with Him again.
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26.
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27. He will sing to men and say, 'I have sinned and have not done what is right, but He did not punish me.
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27.
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28. He has kept my soul from going to the grave. And my life will see the light.'
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28.
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29. "See, God does all these things twice, even three times, to a man,
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29.
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30. to turn back his soul from the grave, that he may see the light of life.
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30.
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31. Hear what I say, O Job, listen to me. Be quiet and let me speak.
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31.
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32. If you have anything to say, answer me. Speak, for I want to make you right with God.
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32.
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33. If not, listen to me. Be quiet, and I will teach you wisdom."
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33.
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