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Satan replied to the Lord, “Yes, but Job has good reason to fear God.
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But reach out and take away everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face!”
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“All right, you may test him,” the Lord said to Satan. “Do whatever you want with everything he possesses, but don’t harm him physically.” So Satan left the Lord’s presence.
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But reach out and take away his health, and he will surely curse you to your face!”
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“All right, do with him as you please,” the Lord said to Satan. “But spare his life.”
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But Job replied, “You talk like a foolish woman. Should we accept only good things from the hand of God and never anything bad?” So in all this, Job said nothing wrong.
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Let its morning stars remain dark. Let it hope for light, but in vain; may it never see the morning light.
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But now when trouble strikes, you lose heart. You are terrified when it touches you.
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The lion roars and the wildcat snarls, but the teeth of strong lions will be broken.
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The spirit stopped, but I couldn’t see its shape. There was a form before my eyes. In the silence I heard a voice say,
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They are alive in the morning but dead by evening, gone forever without a trace.
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Eliphaz’s Response Continues
“Cry for help, but will anyone answer you? Which of the angels will help you?
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I have seen that fools may be successful for the moment, but then comes sudden disaster.
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But evil does not spring from the soil, and trouble does not sprout from the earth.
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“But consider the joy of those corrected by God! Do not despise the discipline of the Almighty when you sin.
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For though he wounds, he also bandages. He strikes, but his hands also heal.
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But I don’t have the strength to endure. I have nothing to live for.
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“One should be kind to a fainting friend, but you accuse me without any fear of the Almighty.
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But when the hot weather arrives, the water disappears. The brook vanishes in the heat.
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The caravans turn aside to be refreshed, but there is nothing to drink, so they die.
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They count on it but are disappointed. When they arrive, their hopes are dashed.
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But why? Have I ever asked you for a gift? Have I begged for anything of yours for myself?
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Honest words can be painful, but what do your criticisms amount to?
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Lying in bed, I think, ‘When will it be morning?’ But the night drags on, and I toss till dawn.
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O God, remember that my life is but a breath, and I will never again feel happiness.
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You see me now, but not for long. You will look for me, but I will be gone.
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but then you shatter me with dreams and terrify me with visions.
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But if you pray to God and seek the favor of the Almighty,
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For we were born but yesterday and know nothing. Our days on earth are as fleeting as a shadow.
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But those who came before us will teach you. They will teach you the wisdom of old.
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They cling to their home for security, but it won’t last. They try to hold it tight, but it will not endure.
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But when it is uprooted, it’s as though it never existed!
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“But look, God will not reject a person of integrity, nor will he lend a hand to the wicked.
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“Yes, I know all this is true in principle. But how can a person be declared innocent in God’s sight?
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He will not let me catch my breath, but fills me instead with bitter sorrows.
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“I am innocent, but it makes no difference to me— I despise my life.
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Then I could speak to him without fear, but I cannot do that in my own strength.
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But the wicked will be blinded. They will have no escape. Their only hope is death.”
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But robbers are left in peace, and those who provoke God live in safety— though God keeps them in his power.
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“But true wisdom and power are found in God; counsel and understanding are his.
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God might kill me, but I have no other hope. I am going to argue my case with him.
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But this is what will save me—I am not godless. If I were, I could not stand before him.
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“But when people die, their strength is gone. They breathe their last, and then where are they?
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“I wish you would hide me in the grave and forget me there until your anger has passed. But mark your calendar to think of me again!
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“But instead, as mountains fall and crumble and as rocks fall from a cliff,
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“A wise man wouldn’t answer with such empty talk! You are nothing but a windbag.
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But their cities will be ruined. They will live in abandoned houses that are ready to tumble down.
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But if it were me, I would encourage you. I would try to take away your grief.
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My friends scorn me, but I pour out my tears to God.
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You have closed their minds to understanding, but do not let them triumph.
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My eyes are swollen with weeping, and I am but a shadow of my former self.
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You may tear out your hair in anger, but will that destroy the earth? Will it make the rocks tremble?
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But it is God who has wronged me, capturing me in his net.
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“I cry out, ‘Help!’ but no one answers me. I protest, but there is no justice.
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“But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and he will stand upon the earth at last.
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I’ve had to endure your insults, but now my spirit prompts me to reply.
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But suddenly the food in their bellies turns sour, a poisonous venom in their stomach.
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(They think their prosperity is of their own doing, but I will have nothing to do with that kind of thinking.)
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“‘Well,’ you say, ‘at least God will punish their children!’ But I say he should punish the ones who sin, so that they understand his judgment.
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“But who can teach a lesson to God, since he judges even the most powerful?
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But both are buried in the same dust, both eaten by the same maggots.
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But ask those who have been around, and they will tell you the truth.
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But you reply, ‘That’s why God can’t see what I am doing! How can he judge through the thick darkness?
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I go east, but he is not there. I go west, but I cannot find him.
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I do not see him in the north, for he is hidden. I look to the south, but he is concealed.
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“But he knows where I am going. And when he tests me, I will come out as pure as gold.
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I have not departed from his commands, but have treasured his words more than daily food.
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But once he has made his decision, who can change his mind? Whatever he wants to do, he does.
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“But they disappear like foam down a river. Everything they own is cursed, and they are afraid to enter their own vineyards.
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“God, in his power, drags away the rich. They may rise high, but they have no assurance of life.
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They may be allowed to live in security, but God is always watching them.
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But you have seen all this, yet you say all these useless things to me.
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They may have many children, but the children will die in war or starve to death.
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But the righteous will wear that clothing, and the innocent will divide that money.
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The wicked go to bed rich but wake to find that all their wealth is gone.
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But everyone jeers at them and mocks them.
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Food is grown on the earth above, but down below, the earth is melted as by fire.
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“But do people know where to find wisdom? Where can they find understanding?
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“But do people know where to find wisdom? Where can they find understanding?
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Job Speaks of His Anguish
“But now I am mocked by people younger than I, by young men whose fathers are not worthy to run with my sheepdogs.
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“I cry to you, O God, but you don’t answer. I stand before you, but you don’t even look.
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So I looked for good, but evil came instead. I waited for the light, but darkness fell.
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I have never turned away a stranger but have opened my doors to everyone.
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But when he saw that they had no further reply, he spoke out angrily.
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But there is a spirit within people, the breath of the Almighty within them, that makes them intelligent.
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I have listened, but not one of you has refuted Job or answered his arguments.
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“But you are wrong, and I will show you why. For God is greater than any human being.
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“But if an angel from heaven appears— a special messenger to intercede for a person and declare that he is upright—
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He will declare to his friends, ‘I sinned and twisted the truth, but it was not worth it.
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But if you have anything to say, go ahead. Speak, for I am anxious to see you justified.
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But if not, then listen to me. Keep silent and I will teach you wisdom!”
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For Job also said, ‘I am innocent, but God has taken away my rights.
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I am innocent, but they call me a liar. My suffering is incurable, though I have not sinned.’
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But if he chooses to remain quiet, who can criticize him? When he hides his face, no one can find him, whether an individual or a nation.
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“Why don’t people say to God, ‘I have sinned, but I will sin no more’?
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“Must God tailor his justice to your demands? But you have rejected him! The choice is yours, not mine. Go ahead, share your wisdom with us.
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But it is wrong to say God doesn’t listen, to say the Almighty isn’t concerned.
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You say you can’t see him, but he will bring justice if you will only wait.
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But you are talking nonsense, Job. You have spoken like a fool.”
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I am telling you nothing but the truth, for I am a man of great knowledge.
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“God is mighty, but he does not despise anyone! He is mighty in both power and understanding.
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He does not let the wicked live but gives justice to the afflicted.
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He never takes his eyes off the innocent, but he sets them on thrones with kings and exalts them forever.
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But if they refuse to listen to him, they will cross over the river of death, dying from lack of understanding.
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But by means of their suffering, he rescues those who suffer. For he gets their attention through adversity.
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But you are obsessed with whether the godless will be judged. Don’t worry, judgment and justice will be upheld.
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But watch out, or you may be seduced by wealth. Don’t let yourself be bribed into sin.
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We cannot imagine the power of the Almighty; but even though he is just and righteous, he does not destroy us.
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But of course you know all this! For you were born before it was all created, and you are so very experienced!
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“The ostrich flaps her wings grandly, but they are no match for the feathers of the stork.
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But whenever she jumps up to run, she passes the swiftest horse with its rider.
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“Do you still want to argue with the Almighty? You are God’s critic, but do you have the answers?”
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Iron is nothing but straw to that creature, and bronze is like rotten wood.
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I had only heard about you before, but now I have seen you with my own eyes.
