Lectionary Calendar
Thursday, August 28th, 2025
the Week of Proper 16 / Ordinary 21
the Week of Proper 16 / Ordinary 21
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Read the Bible
THE MESSAGE
Job 33:5
"And if you think you can prove me wrong, do it. Lay out your arguments. Stand up for yourself! Look, I'm human—no better than you; we're both made of the same kind of mud. So let's work this through together; don't let my aggressiveness overwhelm you.
Jump to:Bible Study Tools • Parallel Bible Verse • Bible Contextual Overview • Bible Cross-References • Gill's Bible Notes • Barnes' Bible Notes
Bible Study Resources
Concordances:
- TheDictionaries:
- HolmanEncyclopedias:
- InternationalParallel Translations
Christian Standard Bible®
Refute me if you can.Prepare your case against me; take your stand.
Refute me if you can.Prepare your case against me; take your stand.
Hebrew Names Version
If you can, answer me; Set your words in order before me, and stand forth.
If you can, answer me; Set your words in order before me, and stand forth.
King James Version
If thou canst answer me, set thy words in order before me, stand up.
If thou canst answer me, set thy words in order before me, stand up.
English Standard Version
Answer me, if you can; set your words in order before me; take your stand.
Answer me, if you can; set your words in order before me; take your stand.
New Century Version
Answer me if you can; get yourself ready and stand before me.
Answer me if you can; get yourself ready and stand before me.
New English Translation
Reply to me, if you can; set your arguments in order before me and take your stand!
Reply to me, if you can; set your arguments in order before me and take your stand!
Amplified Bible
"Answer me, if you can; Set yourselves before me, take your stand.
"Answer me, if you can; Set yourselves before me, take your stand.
New American Standard Bible
"Refute me if you can; Line up against me, take your stand.
"Refute me if you can; Line up against me, take your stand.
World English Bible
If you can, answer me; Set your words in order before me, and stand forth.
If you can, answer me; Set your words in order before me, and stand forth.
Geneva Bible (1587)
If thou canst giue me answere, prepare thy selfe and stand before me.
If thou canst giue me answere, prepare thy selfe and stand before me.
Legacy Standard Bible
Respond to me if you can;Arrange yourselves before me, take your stand.
Respond to me if you can;Arrange yourselves before me, take your stand.
Berean Standard Bible
Refute me if you can; prepare your case and confront me.
Refute me if you can; prepare your case and confront me.
Contemporary English Version
Now line up your arguments and prepare to face me.
Now line up your arguments and prepare to face me.
Complete Jewish Bible
So refute me, if you can; organize your words, take your stand!
So refute me, if you can; organize your words, take your stand!
Darby Translation
If thou canst, answer me; array [thy words] before me: take thy stand.
If thou canst, answer me; array [thy words] before me: take thy stand.
Easy-to-Read Version
Listen to me and answer if you can. Get your arguments ready to face me.
Listen to me and answer if you can. Get your arguments ready to face me.
George Lamsa Translation
If you can answer me, then prepare yourself and stand up before me.
If you can answer me, then prepare yourself and stand up before me.
Good News Translation
Answer me if you can. Prepare your arguments.
Answer me if you can. Prepare your arguments.
Lexham English Bible
"If you are able, answer me. Present your argument before me; take your stand.
"If you are able, answer me. Present your argument before me; take your stand.
Literal Translation
If you are able, answer me; set yourself in order before me. Stand up!
If you are able, answer me; set yourself in order before me. Stand up!
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Yf thou cast, then geue me answere: prepare thy self to stode before me face to face.
Yf thou cast, then geue me answere: prepare thy self to stode before me face to face.
American Standard Version
If thou canst, answer thou me; Set thy words in order before me, stand forth.
If thou canst, answer thou me; Set thy words in order before me, stand forth.
Bible in Basic English
If you are able, give me an answer; put your cause in order, and come forward.
If you are able, give me an answer; put your cause in order, and come forward.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
If thou canst, answer thou me, set thy words in order before me, stand forth.
If thou canst, answer thou me, set thy words in order before me, stand forth.
King James Version (1611)
If thou canst, answere me, set thy wordes in order before me, stand vp.
If thou canst, answere me, set thy wordes in order before me, stand vp.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
If thou canst then geue me aunswere, prepare thy selfe and stande before me face to face.
If thou canst then geue me aunswere, prepare thy selfe and stande before me face to face.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
If thou canst, give me an answer: wait therefore; stand against me, and I will stand against thee.
If thou canst, give me an answer: wait therefore; stand against me, and I will stand against thee.
English Revised Version
If thou canst, answer thou me; set thy words in order before me, stand forth.
If thou canst, answer thou me; set thy words in order before me, stand forth.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
If thou maist, answere thou to me, and stoonde thou ayens my face.
If thou maist, answere thou to me, and stoonde thou ayens my face.
Update Bible Version
If you can, answer me; Set [your words] in order before me, stand forth.
If you can, answer me; Set [your words] in order before me, stand forth.
Webster's Bible Translation
If thou canst answer me, set [thy words] in order before me, stand up.
If thou canst answer me, set [thy words] in order before me, stand up.
New King James Version
If you can answer me, Set your words in order before me; Take your stand.
If you can answer me, Set your words in order before me; Take your stand.
New Living Translation
Answer me, if you can; make your case and take your stand.
Answer me, if you can; make your case and take your stand.
New Life Bible
Prove me wrong if you can. Get ready to answer me, and take your stand.
Prove me wrong if you can. Get ready to answer me, and take your stand.
New Revised Standard
Answer me, if you can; set your words in order before me; take your stand.
Answer me, if you can; set your words in order before me; take your stand.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
If thou art able to answer me, Set in order before me - take thy stand!
If thou art able to answer me, Set in order before me - take thy stand!
Douay-Rheims Bible
If thou canst, answer me, and stand up against my face.
If thou canst, answer me, and stand up against my face.
Revised Standard Version
Answer me, if you can; set your words in order before me; take your stand.
Answer me, if you can; set your words in order before me; take your stand.
Young's Literal Translation
If thou art able -- answer me, Set in array before me -- station thyself.
If thou art able -- answer me, Set in array before me -- station thyself.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
"Refute me if you can; Array yourselves before me, take your stand.
"Refute me if you can; Array yourselves before me, take your stand.
Contextual Overview
1"So please, Job, hear me out, honor me by listening to me. What I'm about to say has been carefully thought out. I have no ulterior motives in this; I'm speaking honestly from my heart. The Spirit of God made me what I am, the breath of God Almighty gave me life! 5"And if you think you can prove me wrong, do it. Lay out your arguments. Stand up for yourself! Look, I'm human—no better than you; we're both made of the same kind of mud. So let's work this through together; don't let my aggressiveness overwhelm you.
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
If: Job 33:32, Job 33:33, Job 32:1, Job 32:12
set: Job 23:4, Job 23:5, Job 32:14, Psalms 50:21
stand: Acts 10:26
Reciprocal: Job 9:14 - choose Job 9:19 - who shall Job 13:19 - that will plead Job 34:33 - what
Cross-References
Genesis 30:2
Jacob got angry with Rachel and said, "Am I God? Am I the one who refused you babies?"
Jacob got angry with Rachel and said, "Am I God? Am I the one who refused you babies?"
Genesis 48:9
Joseph told his father, "They are my sons whom God gave to me in this place." "Bring them to me," he said, "so I can bless them." Israel's eyesight was poor from old age; he was nearly blind. So Joseph brought them up close. Old Israel kissed and embraced them and then said to Joseph, "I never expected to see your face again, and now God has let me see your children as well!"
Joseph told his father, "They are my sons whom God gave to me in this place." "Bring them to me," he said, "so I can bless them." Israel's eyesight was poor from old age; he was nearly blind. So Joseph brought them up close. Old Israel kissed and embraced them and then said to Joseph, "I never expected to see your face again, and now God has let me see your children as well!"
Ruth 4:13
Boaz married Ruth. She became his wife. Boaz slept with her. By God 's gracious gift she conceived and had a son.
Boaz married Ruth. She became his wife. Boaz slept with her. By God 's gracious gift she conceived and had a son.
1 Samuel 1:27
Hannah Pours Out Her Heart to God There once was a man who lived in Ramathaim. He was descended from the old Zuph family in the Ephraim hills. His name was Elkanah. (He was connected with the Zuphs from Ephraim through his father Jeroham, his grandfather Elihu, and his great-grandfather Tohu.) He had two wives. The first was Hannah; the second was Peninnah. Peninnah had children; Hannah did not. Every year this man went from his hometown up to Shiloh to worship and offer a sacrifice to God -of-the-Angel-Armies. Eli and his two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, served as the priests of God there. When Elkanah sacrificed, he passed helpings from the sacrificial meal around to his wife Peninnah and all her children, but he always gave an especially generous helping to Hannah because he loved her so much, and because God had not given her children. But her rival wife taunted her cruelly, rubbing it in and never letting her forget that God had not given her children. This went on year after year. Every time she went to the sanctuary of God she could expect to be taunted. Hannah was reduced to tears and had no appetite. Her husband Elkanah said, "Oh, Hannah, why are you crying? Why aren't you eating? And why are you so upset? Am I not of more worth to you than ten sons?" So Hannah ate. Then she pulled herself together, slipped away quietly, and entered the sanctuary. The priest Eli was on duty at the entrance to God 's Temple in the customary seat. Crushed in soul, Hannah prayed to God and cried and cried—inconsolably. Then she made a vow: Oh, God -of-the-Angel-Armies, If you'll take a good, hard look at my pain, If you'll quit neglecting me and go into action for me By giving me a son, I'll give him completely, unreservedly to you. I'll set him apart for a life of holy discipline. It so happened that as she continued in prayer before God , Eli was watching her closely. Hannah was praying in her heart, silently. Her lips moved, but no sound was heard. Eli jumped to the conclusion that she was drunk. He approached her and said, "You're drunk! How long do you plan to keep this up? Sober up, woman!" Hannah said, "Oh no, sir—please! I'm a woman hard used. I haven't been drinking. Not a drop of wine or beer. The only thing I've been pouring out is my heart, pouring it out to God . Don't for a minute think I'm a bad woman. It's because I'm so desperately unhappy and in such pain that I've stayed here so long." Eli answered her, "Go in peace. And may the God of Israel give you what you have asked of him." "Think well of me—and pray for me!" she said, and went her way. Then she ate heartily, her face radiant. Up before dawn, they worshiped God and returned home to Ramah. Elkanah slept with Hannah his wife, and God began making the necessary arrangements in response to what she had asked. Before the year was out, Hannah had conceived and given birth to a son. She named him Samuel, explaining, "I asked God for him." When Elkanah next took his family on their annual trip to Shiloh to worship God , offering sacrifices and keeping his vow, Hannah didn't go. She told her husband, "After the child is weaned, I'll bring him myself and present him before God —and that's where he'll stay, for good." Elkanah said to his wife, "Do what you think is best. Stay home until you have weaned him. Yes! Let God complete what he has begun!" So she did. She stayed home and nursed her son until she had weaned him. Then she took him up to Shiloh, bringing also the makings of a generous sacrificial meal—a prize bull, flour, and wine. The child was so young to be sent off! They first butchered the bull, then brought the child to Eli. Hannah said, "Excuse me, sir. Would you believe that I'm the very woman who was standing before you at this very spot, praying to God ? I prayed for this child, and God gave me what I asked for. And now I have dedicated him to God . He's dedicated to God for life." Then and there, they worshiped God .
Hannah Pours Out Her Heart to God There once was a man who lived in Ramathaim. He was descended from the old Zuph family in the Ephraim hills. His name was Elkanah. (He was connected with the Zuphs from Ephraim through his father Jeroham, his grandfather Elihu, and his great-grandfather Tohu.) He had two wives. The first was Hannah; the second was Peninnah. Peninnah had children; Hannah did not. Every year this man went from his hometown up to Shiloh to worship and offer a sacrifice to God -of-the-Angel-Armies. Eli and his two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, served as the priests of God there. When Elkanah sacrificed, he passed helpings from the sacrificial meal around to his wife Peninnah and all her children, but he always gave an especially generous helping to Hannah because he loved her so much, and because God had not given her children. But her rival wife taunted her cruelly, rubbing it in and never letting her forget that God had not given her children. This went on year after year. Every time she went to the sanctuary of God she could expect to be taunted. Hannah was reduced to tears and had no appetite. Her husband Elkanah said, "Oh, Hannah, why are you crying? Why aren't you eating? And why are you so upset? Am I not of more worth to you than ten sons?" So Hannah ate. Then she pulled herself together, slipped away quietly, and entered the sanctuary. The priest Eli was on duty at the entrance to God 's Temple in the customary seat. Crushed in soul, Hannah prayed to God and cried and cried—inconsolably. Then she made a vow: Oh, God -of-the-Angel-Armies, If you'll take a good, hard look at my pain, If you'll quit neglecting me and go into action for me By giving me a son, I'll give him completely, unreservedly to you. I'll set him apart for a life of holy discipline. It so happened that as she continued in prayer before God , Eli was watching her closely. Hannah was praying in her heart, silently. Her lips moved, but no sound was heard. Eli jumped to the conclusion that she was drunk. He approached her and said, "You're drunk! How long do you plan to keep this up? Sober up, woman!" Hannah said, "Oh no, sir—please! I'm a woman hard used. I haven't been drinking. Not a drop of wine or beer. The only thing I've been pouring out is my heart, pouring it out to God . Don't for a minute think I'm a bad woman. It's because I'm so desperately unhappy and in such pain that I've stayed here so long." Eli answered her, "Go in peace. And may the God of Israel give you what you have asked of him." "Think well of me—and pray for me!" she said, and went her way. Then she ate heartily, her face radiant. Up before dawn, they worshiped God and returned home to Ramah. Elkanah slept with Hannah his wife, and God began making the necessary arrangements in response to what she had asked. Before the year was out, Hannah had conceived and given birth to a son. She named him Samuel, explaining, "I asked God for him." When Elkanah next took his family on their annual trip to Shiloh to worship God , offering sacrifices and keeping his vow, Hannah didn't go. She told her husband, "After the child is weaned, I'll bring him myself and present him before God —and that's where he'll stay, for good." Elkanah said to his wife, "Do what you think is best. Stay home until you have weaned him. Yes! Let God complete what he has begun!" So she did. She stayed home and nursed her son until she had weaned him. Then she took him up to Shiloh, bringing also the makings of a generous sacrificial meal—a prize bull, flour, and wine. The child was so young to be sent off! They first butchered the bull, then brought the child to Eli. Hannah said, "Excuse me, sir. Would you believe that I'm the very woman who was standing before you at this very spot, praying to God ? I prayed for this child, and God gave me what I asked for. And now I have dedicated him to God . He's dedicated to God for life." Then and there, they worshiped God .
Gill's Notes on the Bible
If thou canst answer me,.... That is, when he had done speaking, after he had heard him out; if he thought he could make a reply to him, he gave him full liberty so to do, and tacitly suggests that he should give him an attentive and candid hearing, as he had requested of him:
set [thy words] in order before me; put them into the best form and order thou canst for thy self-defence, and level them at me; set them, as it were, in battle array against me; give them all the poignancy, strength, and three thou art capable of:
stand up; not out of veneration to him, but to denote freedom and boldness in himself; a presentation of himself with boldness, and standing and keeping his ground: the expressions are military; Mr. Broughton renders it, "stand to it".
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
If thou canst answer me - The meaning of this verse is this: “The controversy between you and me, if you choose to reply, shall be conducted in the most equitable manner, and on the most equal terms. I will not attempt, as your three friends have done, to overwhelm you with reproaches; nor will I attempt to overawe you as God would do, so that you could not reply. I am a man like yourself, and desire that if anything can be said against what I have to advance, it should be offered with the utmost fairness and freedom.”
Stand up - That is, “maintain your position, unless you are convinced by my arguments. I wish to carry nothing by mere authority or power.”
