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Howbeit hear, Job, my words, And hearken to my speech.
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For behold, I have opened my mouth, And my tongue has spoken.
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My heart shall be found pure by my words; And the understanding of my lips shall meditate purity.
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The Divine Spirit is that which formed me, And the breath of the Almighty that which teaches me.
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If thou canst, give me an answer: Wait therefore; stand against me, and I will stand against thee.
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Thou art formed out of the clay as also I: We have been formed out of the same substance.
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My fear shall not terrify thee, Neither shall my hand be heavy upon thee.
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But thou hast said in mine ears (I have heard the voice of thy words); Because thou sayest, I am pure, not having sinned;
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I am blameless, for I have not transgressed.
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Yet he has discovered a charge against me, And he has reckoned me as an adversary.
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And he has put my foot in the stocks, And has watched all my ways.
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For how sayest thou, I am righteous, yet he has not hearkened to me? For he that is above mortals is eternal.
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But thou sayest, Why has he not heard every word of my cause?
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For when the Lord speaks once, Or a second time,
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sending a dream, Or in the meditation of the night (As when a dreadful alarm happens to fall upon men, In slumberings on the bed):
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Then opens he the understanding of men: He scares them with such fearful visions:
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To turn a man from unrighteousness, And he delivers his body from a fall.
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He spares also his soul from death, And suffers him not to fall in war.
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And again, he chastens him with sickness on his bed, And the multitude of his bones is benumbed.
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And he shall not be able to take any food, Though his soul shall desire meat;
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Until his flesh shall be consumed, And he shall show his bones bare.
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His soul also draws nigh to death, And his life is in Hades.
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Though there should be a thousand messengers of death, Not one of them shall wound him: If he should purpose in his heart to turn to the Lord, And declare to man his fault, And show his folly;
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He will support him, that he should not perish, And will restore his body as fresh plaster upon a wall; And he will fill his bones with marrow.
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And he will make his flesh tender as that of a babe, And he will restore him among men in his full strength.
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And he shall pray to the Lord, and his prayer shall be accepted of him; He shall enter with a cheerful countenance, with a full expression of praise: For he will render to men their due.
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Even then a man shall blame himself, saying, What kind of things have I done? and he has not punished me according to the full amount of my sins.
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Deliver my soul, that it may not go to destruction, And my life shall see the light.
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Behold, all these things the Mighty One works In a threefold manner with a man.
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And he has delivered my soul from death, That my life may praise him in the light.
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Hearken, Job, and hear me: Be silent, and I will speak.
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If thou hast words, answer me: Speak, for I desire thee to be justified.
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If not, do thou hear me: Be silent, and I will teach thee.