## Elihu Asks Job to Hear and Respond 

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"However now, Job, please hear my speech, And give ear to all my words. 

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Behold now, I open my mouth; My tongue in my mouth speaks. 

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My words are _from_ the uprightness of my heart, And my lips speak knowledge sincerely. 

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The Spirit of God has made me, And the breath of the Almighty gives me life. 

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Respond to me if you can; Arrange yourselves before me, take your stand. 

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Behold, I belong to God like you; I too have been formed out of the clay. 

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Behold, no dread of me should terrify you, Nor should my pressure weigh heavily on you. 

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"Surely you have spoken in my hearing, And I have heard the sound of _your_ speech: 

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'I am pure, without transgression; I am innocent, and there is no guilt in me. 

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Behold, He finds _reasons for_ opposition against me; He counts me as His enemy. 

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He puts my feet in the stocks; He keeps watch over all my paths.' 

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Behold, let me answer you; you are not right in this, For God is greater than mortal man. 

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"Why do you contend against Him? For He does not give an answer for all His doings. 

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Indeed God speaks once, Or twice, _yet_ no one perceives it. 

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In a dream, a vision of the night, When deep sleep falls on men, While they slumber in their beds, 

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Then He opens the ears of men, And seals in their discipline, 

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That He may turn man aside _from his_ conduct, And keep man from pride; 

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He holds back his soul from the pit, And his life from passing over _to death_ by a weapon. 

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"Man is also reproved with pain on his bed, And with unceasing contention in his bones, 

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So that his life loathes bread, And his soul favorite food. 

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His flesh wastes away from sight, And his bones which were not seen stick out. 

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Then his soul draws near to the pit, And his life to those who bring death. 

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"If there is an angel _as_ mediator for him, One out of a thousand, To declare to a man what is right for him, 

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Then let him be gracious to him, and say, 'Deliver him from going down to the pit; I have found atonement'; 

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Let his flesh become fresher than in youth, Let him return to the days of his youthful vigor; 

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Then he will entreat God, and He will accept him, And he will see His face with joyful shouts, And He may restore His righteousness to man. 

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He will sing to men and say, 'I have sinned and perverted what is right, But He has not done what is due to me. 

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He has redeemed my soul from passing into the pit, And my life shall see the light.' 

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"Behold, God does all these _things_ twice, three times with men, 

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To bring back his soul from the pit, That he may be enlightened with the light of life. 

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Pay attention, O Job, listen to me; Keep silent, and I will speak. 

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_Then_ if you have any speech, respond to me; Speak, for I desire to prove you righteous. 

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If not, listen to me; Keep silent, and I will teach you wisdom."