1
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Hear therefore, O Job, my speeches, and hearken to all my words.
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2
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Behold now I have opened my mouth, let my tongue speak within my jaws.
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3
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My words are from my upright heart, and my lips shall speak a pure sentence.
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4
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The spirit of God made me, and the breath of the Almighty gave me life.
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5
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If thou canst, answer me, and stand up against my face.
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6
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Behold God hath made me as well as thee, and of the same clay I also was formed.
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7
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But yet let not my wonder terrify thee, and let not my eloquence be burdensome to thee.
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8
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Now thou hast said in my hearing, and I have heard the voice of thy words:
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9
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I am clean, and without sin: I am unspotted, and there is no iniquity in me.
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10
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Because he hath found complaints against me, therefore he hath counted me for his enemy.
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11
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He hath put my feet in the stocks, he hath observed all my paths.
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12
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Now this is the thing in which thou art not justified: I will answer thee, that God is greater than man.
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13
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Dost thou strive against him, because he hath not answered thee to all words?
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14
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God speaketh once, and repeateth not the selfsame thing the second time.
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15
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By a dream in a vision by night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, and they are sleeping in their beds:
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16
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Then he openeth the ears of men, and teaching instructeth them in what they are to learn.
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17
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That he may withdraw a man from the things he is doing, and may deliver him from pride.
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18
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Rescuing his soul from corruption: and his life from passing to the sword.
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19
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He rebuketh also by sorrow in the bed, and he maketh all his bones to wither.
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20
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Bread becometh abominable to him in his life, and to his soul the meat which before he desired.
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21
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His flesh shall be consumed away, and his bones that were covered shall be made bare.
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22
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His soul hath drawn near to corruption, and his life to the destroyers.
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23
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If there shall be an angel speaking for him, one among thousands, to declare man's uprightness,
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24
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He shall have mercy on him, and shall say: Deliver him, that he may not go down to corruption: I have found wherein I may be merciful to him.
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25
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His flesh is consumed with punishments, let him return to the days of his youth.
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26
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He shall pray to God, and he will be gracious to him: and he shall see his face with joy, and he will render to man his justice.
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27
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He shall look upon men, and shall say: I have sinned, and indeed I have offended, and I have not received what I have deserved.
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28
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He hath delivered his soul from going into destruction, that it may live and see the light.
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29
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Behold, all these things God worketh three times within every one.
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30
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That he may withdraw their souls from corruption, and enlighten them with the light of the living.
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31
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Attend, Job, and hearken to me, and hold thy peace, whilst I speak.
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32
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But if thou hast any thing to say, answer me, speak: for I would have thee to appear just.
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33
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And if thou have not, hear me: hold thy peace, and I will teach thee wisdom.
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