Job
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English: New American Standard Bible |
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Job 21 [Commentary]
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Then Job answered, |
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"Listen carefully to my speech, And let this be your way of consolation.
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"Bear with me that I may speak; Then after I have spoken, you may mock.
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"As for me, is my complaint to man? And why should I not be impatient?
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"Look at me, and be astonished, And put your hand over your mouth.
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"Even when I remember, I am disturbed, And horror takes hold of my flesh.
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"Why do the wicked still live, Continue on, also become very powerful?
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"Their descendants are established with them in their sight, And their offspring before their eyes,
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Their houses are safe from fear, And the rod of God is not on them.
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"His ox mates without fail; His cow calves and does not abort.
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"They send forth their little ones like the flock, And their children skip about.
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"They sing to the timbrel and harp And rejoice at the sound of the flute.
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"They spend their days in prosperity, And suddenly they go down to Sheol.
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"They say to God, `Depart from us! We do not even desire the knowledge of Your ways.
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`Who is the Almighty, that we should serve Him, And what would we gain if we entreat Him?'
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"Behold, their prosperity is not in their hand; The counsel of the wicked is far from me.
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"How often is the lamp of the wicked put out, Or does their calamity fall on them? Does God apportion destruction in His anger?
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"Are they as straw before the wind, And like chaff which the storm carries away?
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"You say, `God stores away a man's iniquity for his sons.' Let God repay him so that he may know it.
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"Let his own eyes see his decay, And let him drink of the wrath of the Almighty.
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"For what does he care for his household after him, When the number of his months is cut off?
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"Can anyone teach God knowledge, In that He judges those on high?
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"One dies in his full strength, Being wholly at ease and satisfied;
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His sides are filled out with fat, And the marrow of his bones is moist,
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While another dies with a bitter soul, Never even tasting anything good.
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"Together they lie down in the dust, And worms cover them.
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"Behold, I know your thoughts, And the plans by which you would wrong me.
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"For you say, `Where is the house of the nobleman, And where is the tent, the dwelling places of the wicked?'
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"Have you not asked wayfaring men, And do you not recognize their witness?
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"For the wicked is reserved for the day of calamity; They will be led forth at the day of fury.
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"Who will confront him with his actions, And who will repay him for what he has done?
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"While he is carried to the grave, Men will keep watch over his tomb.
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"The clods of the valley will gently cover him; Moreover, all men will follow after him, While countless ones go before him.
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"How then will you vainly comfort me, For your answers remain full of falsehood?"
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Job 22 [Commentary] [Map]
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Then Eliphaz the Temanite responded, |
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"Can a vigorous man be of use to God, Or a wise man be useful to himself?
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"Is there any pleasure to the Almighty if you are righteous, Or profit if you make your ways perfect?
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"Is it because of your reverence that He reproves you, That He enters into judgment against you?
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"Is not your wickedness great, And your iniquities without end?
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"For you have taken pledges of your brothers without cause, And stripped men naked.
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"To the weary you have given no water to drink, And from the hungry you have withheld bread.
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"But the earth belongs to the mighty man, And the honorable man dwells in it.
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"You have sent widows away empty, And the strength of the orphans has been crushed.
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"Therefore snares surround you, And sudden dread terrifies you,
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Or darkness, so that you cannot see, And an abundance of water covers you.
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"Is not God in the height of heaven? Look also at the distant stars, how high they are!
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"You say, `What does God know? Can He judge through the thick darkness?
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`Clouds are a hiding place for Him, so that He cannot see; And He walks on the vault of heaven.'
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"Will you keep to the ancient path Which wicked men have trod,
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Who were snatched away before their time, Whose foundations were washed away by a river?
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"They said to God, `Depart from us!' And `What can the Almighty do to them?'
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"Yet He filled their houses with good things; But the counsel of the wicked is far from me.
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"The righteous see and are glad, And the innocent mock them,
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Saying, `Truly our adversaries are cut off, And their abundance the fire has consumed.'
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"Yield now and be at peace with Him; Thereby good will come to you.
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"Please receive instruction from His mouth And establish His words in your heart.
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"If you return to the Almighty, you will be restored; If you remove unrighteousness far from your tent,
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And place your gold in the dust, And the gold of Ophir among the stones of the brooks,
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Then the Almighty will be your gold And choice silver to you.
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"For then you will delight in the Almighty And lift up your face to God.
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"You will pray to Him, and He will hear you; And you will pay your vows.
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"You will also decree a thing, and it will be established for you; And light will shine on your ways.
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"When you are cast down, you will speak with confidence, And the humble person He will save.
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"He will deliver one who is not innocent, And he will be delivered through the cleanness of your hands."
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Job 23 [Commentary]
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Then Job replied, |
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"Even today my complaint is rebellion; His hand is heavy despite my groaning.
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"Oh that I knew where I might find Him, That I might come to His seat!
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"I would present my case before Him And fill my mouth with arguments.
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"I would learn the words which He would answer, And perceive what He would say to me.
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"Would He contend with me by the greatness of His power? No, surely He would pay attention to me.
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"There the upright would reason with Him; And I would be delivered forever from my Judge.
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"Behold, I go forward but He is not there, And backward, but I cannot perceive Him;
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When He acts on the left, I cannot behold Him; He turns on the right, I cannot see Him.
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"But He knows the way I take; When He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold.
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"My foot has held fast to His path; I have kept His way and not turned aside.
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"I have not departed from the command of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food.
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"But He is unique and who can turn Him? And what His soul desires, that He does.
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"For He performs what is appointed for me, And many such decrees are with Him.
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"Therefore, I would be dismayed at His presence; When I consider, I am terrified of Him.
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"It is God who has made my heart faint, And the Almighty who has dismayed me,
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But I am not silenced by the darkness, Nor deep gloom which covers me.
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NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE
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