Job

¹ honor me by listening to me.

² has been carefully thought out.

³ I'm speaking honestly from my heart.

⁴ the breath of God Almighty gave me life!

⁵ Lay out your arguments. Stand up for yourself!

⁶ we're both made of the same kind of mud.

⁷ don't let my aggressiveness overwhelm you.

⁸ I heard you say it with my own ears.

⁹ Believe me, I'm clean—my conscience is clear.

¹⁰ he treats me like I'm his enemy.

¹¹ he keeps me under constant surveillance.'

¹² God is far greater than any human.

¹³ and then complain that he won't answer your charges?

¹⁴ even when people don't recognize his presence.

¹⁵ when men and women are deep in sleep, fast asleep in their beds—

¹⁶ and impresses them with warnings

¹⁷ from some reckless choice,

¹⁸ from the river of no return.

¹⁹ by throwing them on a bed of suffering,

²⁰ have no appetite for their favorite treats.

²¹ reduced to a bag of bones.

²² knowing the next breath may be their last.

²³ a champion—there are thousands of them!— to take up your cause,

²⁴ canceling the death sentence with the words: 'I've come up with the ransom!'

²⁵ the very picture of health!

²⁶ You'll see God's smile and celebrate, finding yourself set right with God.

²⁷ testifying, 'I messed up my life— and let me tell you, it wasn't worth it.

²⁸ I'm alive again! Once more I see the light!'

²⁹ Over and over again

³⁰ so we'll see the light—and live in the light!

³¹ Don't interrupt—I'm not finished yet.

³² There's nothing I'd like better than to see your name cleared.

³³ I'm going to teach you the basics of wisdom."