Suffering as a Means of Restoration

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"He is also warned by pain when in bed, when all his bones are hurting;

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so that he detests bread as well as richer food.

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His flesh wastes away, till one can't stand to look; his bones protrude and become unsightly.

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His soul comes close to the pit and his life to those who bring death.

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"If there is for him an angel, a mediator, one among a thousand, who can vouch for the man's uprightness;

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then [God] is gracious to him and says, 'Redeem him from going down to the pit; I have found a ransom.'

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His flesh becomes fresher than that of a child, he returns to the days of his youth.

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He prays to God and is accepted by him, so that he sees [God's] face with joy, and [God] repays the man for his righteousness.

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He declares before everyone, 'I sinned; I perverted what was right, and it gained me nothing.

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[God] redeemed me from going into the pit, and now my life sees light.'

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God will accomplish all these things twice, even three times, with a man,

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to bring him back from the pit, so that he can enjoy the light of the living.