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‘Can a mortal be more righteous than God? Can a man be more pure than his Maker?
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Yield now, let there be no injustice! Yes, concede, my righteousness still stands!
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“Truly I know it is so, But how can a man be righteous before God?
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For though I were righteous, I could not answer Him; I would beg mercy of my Judge.
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Though I were righteous, my own mouth would condemn me; Though I were blameless, it would prove me perverse.
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If I am wicked, woe to me; Even if I am righteous, I cannot lift up my head. I am full of disgrace; See my misery!
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“What is man, that he could be pure? And he who is born of a woman, that he could be righteous?
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Yet the righteous will hold to his way, And he who has clean hands will be stronger and stronger.
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Is it any pleasure to the Almighty that you are righteous? Or is it gain to Him that you make your ways blameless?
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“The righteous see it and are glad, And the innocent laugh at them:
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Job Proclaims God’s Righteous Judgments
Then Job answered and said:
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Bildad: How Can Man Be Righteous?
Then Bildad the Shuhite answered and said:
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How then can man be righteous before God? Or how can he be pure who is born of a woman?
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My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go; My heart shall not reproach me as long as I live.
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I put on righteousness, and it clothed me; My justice was like a robe and a turban.
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Job Defends His Righteousness
“I have made a covenant with my eyes; Why then should I look upon a young woman?
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Elihu Contradicts Job’s Friends
So these three men ceased answering Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes.
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“Look, in this you are not righteous. I will answer you, For God is greater than man.
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He shall pray to God, and He will delight in him, He shall see His face with joy, For He restores to man His righteousness.
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“For Job has said, ‘I am righteous, But God has taken away my justice;
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Elihu Condemns Self-Righteousness
Moreover Elihu answered and said:
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“Do you think this is right? Do you say, ‘My righteousness is more than God’s’?
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If you are righteous, what do you give Him? Or what does He receive from your hand?
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Your wickedness affects a man such as you, And your righteousness a son of man.
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I will fetch my knowledge from afar; I will ascribe righteousness to my Maker.
