Bible
- 1
- BE THAT as it may, Job, I beg of you to hear what I have to say and give heed to all my words.
- 2
- Behold, here I am with open mouth; here is my tongue talking.
- 3
- My words shall express the uprightness of my heart, and my lips shall speak what they know with utter sincerity.
- 4
- [It is] the Spirit of God that made me [which has stirred me up], and the breath of the Almighty that gives me life [which inspires me].
- 5
- Answer me now, if you can; set your words in order before me; take your stand.
- 6
- Behold, I am toward God and before Him even as you are; I also am formed out of the clay [though I speak with abnormal wisdom because of a divine illumination].
- 7
- See my terror [for I am only a fellow mortal, not God]; I shall not make you afraid, neither shall my pressure be heavy upon you.
- 8
- Surely you have spoken in my hearing, and I have heard the voice of your words, saying,
- 9
- I am clean, without transgression; I am innocent, neither is there iniquity in me.
- 10
- But behold, God finds occasions against me and causes of alienation and indifference; He counts me as His enemy.
- 11
- He puts my feet in the stocks; He [untrustingly] watches all my paths [you say].
- 12
- I reply to you, Behold, in this you are not just; God is superior to man.
- 13
- Why do you contend against Him? For He does not give account of any of His actions. [Sufficient for us it should be to know that it is He Who does them.]
- 14
- For God [does reveal His will; He] speaks not only once, but more than once, even though men do not regard it [including you, Job].
- 15
- [One may hear God's voice] in a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on men while slumbering upon the bed,
- 16
- Then He opens the ears of men and seals their instruction [terrifying them with warnings],
- 17
- That He may withdraw man from his purpose and cut off pride from him [disgusting him with his own disappointing self-sufficiency].
- 18
- He holds him back from the pit [of destruction], and his life from perishing by the sword [of God's destructive judgments].
- 19
- [God's voice may be heard by man when] he is chastened with pain upon his bed and with continual strife in his bones or while all his bones are firmly set,
- 20
- So that his desire makes him loathe food, and even dainty dishes [nauseate him].
- 21
- His flesh is so wasted away that it cannot be seen, and his bones that were not seen stick out.
- 22
- Yes, his soul draws near to corruption, and his life to the inflicters of death (the destroyers).
- 23
- [God's voice may be heard] if there is for the hearer a messenger or an angel, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to show to man what is right for him [how to be upright and in right standing with God],
- 24
- Then [God] is gracious to him and says, Deliver him from going down into the pit [of destruction]; I have found a ransom (a price of redemption, an atonement)!
- 25
- [Then the man's] flesh shall be restored; it becomes fresher and more tender than a child's; he returns to the days of his youth.
- 26
- He prays to God, and He is favorable to him, so that he sees His face with joy; for [God] restores to him his righteousness (his uprightness and right standing with God--with its joys).
- 27
- He looks upon other men or sings out to them, I have sinned and perverted that which was right, and it did not profit me, or He did not requite me [according to my iniquity]!
- 28
- [God] has redeemed my life from going down to the pit [of destruction], and my life shall see the light!
- 29
- [Elihu comments] Behold, God does all these things twice, yes, three times, with a man,
- 30
- To bring back his life from the pit [of destruction], that he may be enlightened with the light of the living.
- 31
- Give heed, O Job, listen to me; hold your peace, and I will speak.
- 32
- If you have anything to say, answer me; speak, for I desire to justify you.
- 33
- If [you do] not [have anything to say], listen to me; hold your peace, and I will teach you wisdom.
Copyright Information:
Amplified Bible Copyright (c) 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, CA 90631 All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org
