1 And now, O Job, give ear to my words, and take note of all I say.

2 See, now my mouth is open, my tongue gives out words.

3 My heart is overflowing with knowledge, my lips say what is true.

4 The spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Ruler of all gives me life.

5 If you are able, give me an answer; put your cause in order, and come forward.

6 See, I am the same as you are in the eyes of God; I was cut off from the same bit of wet earth.

7 Fear of me will not overcome you, and my hand will not be hard on you.

8 But you said in my hearing, and your voice came to my ears:

9 I am clean, without sin; I am washed, and there is no evil in me:

10 See, he is looking for something against me; in his eyes I am as one of his haters;

11 He puts chains on my feet; he is watching all my ways.

12 Truly, in saying this you are wrong; for God is greater than man.

13 Why do you put forward your cause against him, saying, He gives no answer to any of my words?

14 For God gives his word in one way, even in two, and man is not conscious of it:

15 In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep comes on men, while they take their rest on their beds;

16 Then he makes his secrets clear to men, so that they are full of fear at what they see;

17 In order that man may be turned from his evil works, and that pride may be taken away from him;

18 To keep back his soul from the underworld, and his life from destruction.

19 Pain is sent on him as a punishment, while he is on his bed; there is no end to the trouble in his bones;

20 He has no desire for food, and his soul is turned away from delicate meat;

21 His flesh is so wasted away, that it may not be seen, and his bones. ...

22 And his soul comes near to the underworld, and his life to the angels of death.

23 If now there may be an angel sent to him, one of the thousands which there are to be between him and God, and to make clear to man what is right for him;

24 And if he has mercy on him, and says, Let him not go down to the underworld, I have given the price for his life:

25 Then his flesh becomes young again, and he comes back to the days of his early strength;

26 He makes his prayer to God, and he has mercy on him; he sees God's face with cries of joy; he gives news of his righteousness to men;

27 He makes a song, saying, I did wrong, turning from the straight way, but he did not give me the reward of my sin.

28 He kept my soul from the underworld, and my life sees the light in full measure.

29 Truly, God does all these things to man, twice and three times,

30 Keeping back his soul from the underworld, so that he may see the light of life.

31 Take note O Job, give ear to me; keep quiet, while I say what is in my mind.

32 If you have anything to say, give me an answer; for it is my desire that you may be judged free from sin.

33 If not, give attention to me, and keep quiet, and I will give you wisdom.

1 Howbeit, Job, I pray thee, hear my speech,

And hearken to all my words.

2 Behold now, I have opened my mouth;

My tongue hath spoken in my mouth.

3 My words shall utter the uprightness of my heart;

And that which my lips know they shall speak sincerely.

4 The Spirit of God hath made me,

And the breath of the Almighty giveth me life.

5 If thou canst, answer thou me;

Set thy words in order before me, stand forth.

6 Behold, I am toward God even as thou art:

I also am formed out of the clay.

7 Behold, my terror shall not make thee afraid,

Neither shall my pressure be heavy upon thee.

8 Surely thou hast spoken in my hearing,

And I have heard the voice of thy words, saying,

9 I am clean, without transgression;

I am innocent, neither is there iniquity in me:

10 Behold, he findeth occasions against me,

He counteth me for his enemy;

11 He putteth my feet in the stocks,

He marketh all my paths.

12 Behold, I will answer thee, in this thou art not just;

For God is greater than man.

13 Why dost thou strive against him,

For that he giveth not account of any of his matters?

14 For God speaketh once,

Yea twice, though man regardeth it not.

15 In a dream, in a vision of the night,

When deep sleep falleth upon men,

In slumberings upon the bed;

16 Then he openeth the ears of men,

And sealeth their instruction,

17 That he may withdraw man from his purpose,

And hide pride from man;

18 He keepeth back his soul from the pit,

And his life from perishing by the sword.

19 He is chastened also with pain upon his bed,

And with continual strife in his bones;

20 So that his life abhorreth bread,

And his soul dainty food.

21 His flesh is consumed away, that it cannot be seen;

And his bones that were not seen stick out.

22 Yea, his soul draweth near unto the pit,

And his life to the destroyers.

23 If there be with him an angel,

An interpreter, one among a thousand,

To show unto man what is right for him;

24 Then God is gracious unto him, and saith,

Deliver him from going down to the pit,

I have found a ransom.

25 His flesh shall be fresher than a child’s;

He returneth to the days of his youth.

26 He prayeth unto God, and he is favorable unto him,

So that he seeth his face with joy:

And he restoreth unto man his righteousness.

27 He singeth before men, and saith,

I have sinned, and perverted that which was right,

And it profited me not:

28 He hath redeemed my soul from going into the pit,

And my life shall behold the light.

29 Lo, all these things doth God work,

Twice, yea thrice, with a man,

30 To bring back his soul from the pit,

That he may be enlightened with the light of the living.

31 Mark well, O Job, hearken unto me:

Hold thy peace, and I will speak.

32 If thou hast anything to say, answer me:

Speak, for I desire to justify thee.

33 If not, hearken thou unto me:

Hold thy peace, and I will teach thee wisdom.