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Nehemiah 13

Amplified Bible, 2015 (AMP)

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Esther

¹ He holds back his soul from the pit [of destruction], And his life from passing over into Sheol (the nether world, the place of the dead).

² "Man is also disciplined with pain on his bed, And with unceasing complaint in his bones,

³ So that his life makes him loathe food, And his soul [loathe] even his favorite dishes.

⁴ "His flesh is so wasted away that it cannot be seen, And his bones which were not seen now stick out.

⁵ "Then his soul draws near to the pit [of destruction], And his life to those who bring death (the destroyers).

⁶ "If there is an angel as a mediator for him, One out of a thousand, To explain to a man what is right for him [that is, how to be in right standing with God],

⁷ Then[2] the angel is gracious to him, and says, 'Spare him from going down to the pit [of destruction]; I have found a ransom [a consideration, or reason for redemption, an atonement]!'

⁸ "Let his flesh be restored and become fresher than in youth; Let him return to the days of his youthful strength.

⁹ "He will pray to God, and He shall be favorable to him, So that he looks at His face with joy; For God restores to man His righteousness [that is, his right standing with God—with its joys].

¹⁰ "He sings out to other men, 'I have sinned and perverted that which was right, And it was not proper for me!

¹¹ 'God has redeemed my life from going to the pit [of destruction], And my life shall see the light.'"

¹² [Elihu comments,] "Behold, God does all these things[3] twice, yes, three times, with a man,

¹³ To bring his life back from the pit [of destruction], That he may be enlightened with the light of the living.

¹⁴ "Pay attention, Job, listen to me; Keep silent, and I will speak.

¹⁵ "If you have anything to say, answer me; Speak, for I desire to justify you.

¹⁶ "If not [and you have nothing to say], listen to me; Keep silent, and I will teach you wisdom."

¹⁷ Elihu continued his discourse and said,

¹⁸ "Hear my words, you wise men, And listen to me, you who have [so much] knowledge.

¹⁹ "For the ear puts words to the test As the palate tastes food.

²⁰ "Let us choose for ourselves that which is right; Let us know among ourselves what is good.

²¹ "For Job has said, 'I am righteous [and innocent], But God has taken away my right;

²² Although I am right, I am accounted a liar. My wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.'

²³ "What man is like Job, Who drinks up derision like water,

²⁴ Who goes in company with those who do evil And walks with wicked men?

²⁵ "For he has said, 'It profits a man nothing When he takes delight and is pleased with God and obeys Him.'

²⁶ "Therefore hear me, you men of understanding. Far be it from God that He would do wickedness, And from the Almighty to do wrong.

²⁷ "For God pays a man according to his work, And He will make every man find [appropriate] compensation according to his way.

²⁸ "Surely God will not act wickedly, Nor will the Almighty pervert justice.

²⁹ "Who put God in charge over the earth? And who has laid on Him the whole world?

³⁰ "If God should determine to do so, If He should gather to Himself [that is, withdraw from man] His [life-giving] spirit and His breath,

³¹ All flesh would perish together, And man would return to dust.

#	AMP
1	He holds back his soul from the pit [of destruction], And his life from passing over into Sheol (the nether world, the place of the dead).
2	"Man is also disciplined with pain on his bed, And with unceasing complaint in his bones,
3	So that his life makes him loathe food, And his soul [loathe] even his favorite dishes.
4	"His flesh is so wasted away that it cannot be seen, And his bones which were not seen now stick out.
5	"Then his soul draws near to the pit [of destruction], And his life to those who bring death (the destroyers).
6	"If there is an angel as a mediator for him, One out of a thousand, To explain to a man what is right for him [that is, how to be in right standing with God],
7	Then[2] the angel is gracious to him, and says, 'Spare him from going down to the pit [of destruction]; I have found a ransom [a consideration, or reason for redemption, an atonement]!'
8	"Let his flesh be restored and become fresher than in youth; Let him return to the days of his youthful strength.
9	"He will pray to God, and He shall be favorable to him, So that he looks at His face with joy; For God restores to man His righteousness [that is, his right standing with God—with its joys].
10	"He sings out to other men, 'I have sinned and perverted that which was right, And it was not proper for me!
11	'God has redeemed my life from going to the pit [of destruction], And my life shall see the light.'"
12	[Elihu comments,] "Behold, God does all these things[3] twice, yes, three times, with a man,
13	To bring his life back from the pit [of destruction], That he may be enlightened with the light of the living.
14	"Pay attention, Job, listen to me; Keep silent, and I will speak.
15	"If you have anything to say, answer me; Speak, for I desire to justify you.
16	"If not [and you have nothing to say], listen to me; Keep silent, and I will teach you wisdom."
17	Elihu continued his discourse and said,
18	"Hear my words, you wise men, And listen to me, you who have [so much] knowledge.
19	"For the ear puts words to the test As the palate tastes food.
20	"Let us choose for ourselves that which is right; Let us know among ourselves what is good.
21	"For Job has said, 'I am righteous [and innocent], But God has taken away my right;
22	Although I am right, I am accounted a liar. My wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.'
23	"What man is like Job, Who drinks up derision like water,
24	Who goes in company with those who do evil And walks with wicked men?
25	"For he has said, 'It profits a man nothing When he takes delight and is pleased with God and obeys Him.'
26	"Therefore hear me, you men of understanding. Far be it from God that He would do wickedness, And from the Almighty to do wrong.
27	"For God pays a man according to his work, And He will make every man find [appropriate] compensation according to his way.
28	"Surely God will not act wickedly, Nor will the Almighty pervert justice.
29	"Who put God in charge over the earth? And who has laid on Him the whole world?
30	"If God should determine to do so, If He should gather to Himself [that is, withdraw from man] His [life-giving] spirit and His breath,
31	All flesh would perish together, And man would return to dust.

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Nehemiah 13

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