Job:31-33
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I made a covenant with mine eyes ;
why then should I think upon a maid ?
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For what portion of God is there from above ?
and what inheritance of the Almighty from on high ?
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Is not destruction to the wicked ?
and a strange punishment to the workers of iniquity ?
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Doth not he see my ways ,
and count all my steps ?
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If I have walked with vanity ,
or if my foot hath hasted to deceit ;
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Let me be weighed in an even balance ,
that God may know mine integrity .
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If my step hath turned out of the way ,
and mine heart walked after mine eyes ,
and if any blot hath cleaved to mine hands ;
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Then let me sow ,
and let another eat ;
yea ,
let my offspring be rooted out .
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If mine heart have been deceived by a woman ,
or if I have laid wait at my neighbour '
s door ;
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Then let my wife grind unto another ,
and let others bow down upon her .
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For this is an heinous crime ;
yea ,
it is an iniquity to be punished by the judges .
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For it is a fire that consumeth to destruction ,
and would root out all mine increase .
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If I did despise the cause of my manservant or of my maidservant ,
when they contended with me ;
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What then shall I do when God riseth up ?
and when he visiteth ,
what shall I answer him ?
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Did not he that made me in the womb make him ?
and did not one fashion us in the womb ?
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If I have withheld the poor from their desire ,
or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail ;
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Or have eaten my morsel myself alone ,
and the fatherless hath not eaten thereof ;
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For from my youth he was brought up with me ,
as with a father ,
and I have guided her from my mother '
s womb ;)
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If I have seen any perish for want of clothing ,
or any poor without covering ;
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If his loins have not blessed me ,
and if he were not warmed with the fleece of my sheep ;
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If I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless ,
when I saw my help in the gate :
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Then let mine arm fall from my shoulder blade ,
and mine arm be broken from the bone .
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For destruction from God was a terror to me ,
and by reason of his highness I could not endure .
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If I have made gold my hope ,
or have said to the fine gold ,
Thou art my confidence ;
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If I rejoiced because my wealth was great ,
and because mine hand had gotten much ;
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If I beheld the sun when it shined ,
or the moon walking in brightness ;
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And my heart hath been secretly enticed ,
or my mouth hath kissed my hand :
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This also were an iniquity to be punished by the judge :
for I should have denied the God that is above .
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If I rejoiced at the destruction of him that hated me ,
or lifted up myself when evil found him :
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Neither have I suffered my mouth to sin by wishing a curse to his soul .
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If the men of my tabernacle said not ,
Oh that we had of his flesh !
we cannot be satisfied .
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The stranger did not lodge in the street :
but I opened my doors to the traveller .
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If I covered my transgressions as Adam ,
by hiding mine iniquity in my bosom :
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Did I fear a great multitude ,
or did the contempt of families terrify me ,
that I kept silence ,
and went not out of the door ?
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Oh that one would hear me !
behold ,
my desire is ,
that the Almighty would answer me ,
and that mine adversary had written a book .
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Surely I would take it upon my shoulder ,
and bind it as a crown to me .
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I would declare unto him the number of my steps ;
as a prince would I go near unto him .
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If my land cry against me ,
or that the furrows likewise thereof complain ;
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If I have eaten the fruits thereof without money ,
or have caused the owners thereof to lose their life :
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Let thistles grow instead of wheat ,
and cockle instead of barley .
The words of Job are ended .
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So these three men ceased to answer Job ,
because he was righteous in his own eyes .
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Then was kindled the wrath of Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite ,
of the kindred of Ram :
against Job was his wrath kindled ,
because he justified himself rather than God .
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Also against his three friends was his wrath kindled ,
because they had found no answer ,
and yet had condemned Job .
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Now Elihu had waited till Job had spoken ,
because they were elder than he .
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When Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men ,
then his wrath was kindled .
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And Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered and said ,
I am young ,
and ye are very old ;
wherefore I was afraid ,
and durst not shew you mine opinion .
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I said ,
Days should speak ,
and multitude of years should teach wisdom .
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But there is a spirit in man :
and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding .
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Great men are not always wise :
neither do the aged understand judgment .
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Therefore I said ,
Hearken to me ;
I also will shew mine opinion .
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Behold ,
I waited for your words ;
I gave ear to your reasons ,
whilst ye searched out what to say .
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Yea ,
I attended unto you ,
and ,
behold ,
there was none of you that convinced Job ,
or that answered his words :
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Lest ye should say ,
We have found out wisdom :
God thrusteth him down ,
not man .
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Now he hath not directed his words against me :
neither will I answer him with your speeches .
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They were amazed ,
they answered no more :
they left off speaking .
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When I had waited , (
for they spake not ,
but stood still ,
and answered no more ;)
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I said ,
I will answer also my part ,
I also will shew mine opinion .
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For I am full of matter ,
the spirit within me constraineth me .
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Behold ,
my belly is as wine which hath no vent ;
it is ready to burst like new bottles .
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I will speak ,
that I may be refreshed :
I will open my lips and answer .
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Let me not ,
I pray you ,
accept any man '
s person ,
neither let me give flattering titles unto man .
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For I know not to give flattering titles ;
in so doing my maker would soon take me away .
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Wherefore ,
Job ,
I pray thee ,
hear my speeches ,
and hearken to all my words .
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Behold ,
now I have opened my mouth ,
my tongue hath spoken in my mouth .
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My words shall be of the uprightness of my heart :
and my lips shall utter knowledge clearly .
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The Spirit of God hath made me ,
and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life .
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If thou canst answer me ,
set thy words in order before me ,
stand up .
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Behold ,
I am according to thy wish in God '
s stead :
I also am formed out of the clay .
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Behold ,
my terror shall not make thee afraid ,
neither shall my hand be heavy upon thee .
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Surely thou hast spoken in mine hearing ,
and I have heard the voice of thy words ,
saying ,
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I am clean without transgression ,
I am innocent ;
neither is there iniquity in me .
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Behold ,
he findeth occasions against me ,
he counteth me for his enemy ,
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He putteth my feet in the stocks ,
he marketh all my paths .
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Behold ,
in this thou art not just :
I will answer thee ,
that God is greater than man .
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Why dost thou strive against him ?
for he giveth not account of any of his matters .
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For God speaketh once ,
yea twice ,
yet man perceiveth it not .
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In a dream ,
in a vision of the night ,
when deep sleep falleth upon men ,
in slumberings upon the bed ;
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Then he openeth the ears of men ,
and sealeth their instruction ,
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That he may withdraw man from his purpose ,
and hide pride from man .
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He keepeth back his soul from the pit ,
and his life from perishing by the sword .
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He is chastened also with pain upon his bed ,
and the multitude of his bones with strong pain :
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So that his life abhorreth bread ,
and his soul dainty meat .
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His flesh is consumed away ,
that it cannot be seen ;
and his bones that were not seen stick out .
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Yea ,
his soul draweth near unto the grave ,
and his life to the destroyers .
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If there be a messenger with him ,
an interpreter ,
one among a thousand ,
to shew unto man his uprightness :
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Then he is gracious unto him ,
and saith ,
Deliver him from going down to the pit :
I have found a ransom .
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His flesh shall be fresher than a child '
s :
he shall return to the days of his youth :
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He shall pray unto God ,
and he will be favourable unto him :
and he shall see his face with joy :
for he will render unto man his righteousness .
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He looketh upon men ,
and if any say ,
I have sinned ,
and perverted that which was right ,
and it profited me not ;
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He will deliver his soul from going into the pit ,
and his life shall see the light .
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Lo ,
all these things worketh God oftentimes with man ,
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To bring back his soul from the pit ,
to be enlightened with the light of the living .
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Mark well ,
O Job ,
hearken unto me :
hold thy peace ,
and I will speak .
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If thou hast any thing to say ,
answer me :
speak ,
for I desire to justify thee .
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If not ,
hearken unto me :
hold thy peace ,
and I shall teach thee wisdom .
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Furthermore Elihu answered and said ,
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