1 "But now, Job, listen to my words; pay attention to everything I say.
2 I am about to open my mouth; my words are on the tip of my tongue.
3 My words come from an upright heart; my lips sincerely speak what I know.
4 The Spirit of God has made me; the breath of the Almighty gives me life.
5 Answer me then, if you can; stand up and argue your case before me.
6 I am the same as you in God's sight; I too am a piece of clay.
7 No fear of me should alarm you, nor should my hand be heavy on you.
8 "But you have said in my hearing — I heard the very words —
9 'I am pure, I have done no wrong; I am clean and free from sin.
10 Yet God has found fault with me; he considers me his enemy.
11 He fastens my feet in shackles; he keeps close watch on all my paths.'
12 "But I tell you, in this you are not right, for God is greater than any mortal.
13 Why do you complain to him that he responds to no one's words "?
14 For God does speak —now one way, now another — though no one perceives it.
15 In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on people as they slumber in their beds,
16 he may speak in their ears and terrify them with warnings,
17 to turn them from wrongdoing and keep them from pride,
18 to preserve them from the pit, their lives from perishing by the sword. [^2]
19 "Or someone may be chastened on a bed of pain with constant distress in their bones,
20 so that their body finds food repulsive and their soul loathes the choicest meal.
21 Their flesh wastes away to nothing, and their bones, once hidden, now stick out.
22 They draw near to the pit, and their life to the messengers of death. [^3]
23 Yet if there is an angel at their side, a messenger, one out of a thousand, sent to tell them how to be upright,
24 and he is gracious to that person and says to God, 'Spare them from going down to the pit; I have found a ransom for them —
25 let their flesh be renewed like a child's; let them be restored as in the days of their youth' —
26 then that person can pray to God and find favor with him, they will see God's face and shout for joy; he will restore them to full well-being.
27 And they will go to others and say, 'I have sinned, I have perverted what is right, but I did not get what I deserved.
28 God has delivered me from going down to the pit, and I shall live to enjoy the light of life.'
29 "God does all these things to a person — twice, even three times —
30 to turn them back from the pit, that the light of life may shine on them.
31 "Pay attention, Job, and listen to me; be silent, and I will speak.
32 If you have anything to say, answer me; speak up, for I want to vindicate you.
33 But if not, then listen to me; be silent, and I will teach you wisdom."
1 Why, Job, I pray you, hear my speeches, and listen to all my words.
2 Behold, now I have opened my mouth, my tongue has spoken in my mouth.
3 My words shall be of the uprightness of my heart: and my lips shall utter knowledge clearly.
4 The spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty has given me life.
5 If you can answer me, set your words in order before me, stand up.
6 Behold, I am according to your wish in God' stead: I also am formed out of the clay.
7 Behold, my terror shall not make you afraid, neither shall my hand be heavy on you.
8 Surely you have spoken in my hearing, and I have heard the voice of your words, saying,
9 I am clean without transgression, I am innocent; neither is there iniquity in me.
10 Behold, he finds occasions against me, he counts me for his enemy,
11 He puts my feet in the stocks, he marks all my paths.
12 Behold, in this you are not just: I will answer you, that God is greater than man.
13 Why do you strive against him? for he gives not account of any of his matters.
14 For God speaks once, yes twice, yet man perceives it not.
15 In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on men, in slumberings on the bed;
16 Then he opens the ears of men, and seals their instruction,
17 That he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man.
18 He keeps back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword.
19 He is chastened also with pain on his bed, and the multitude of his bones with strong pain:
20 So that his life abhors bread, and his soul dainty meat.
21 His flesh is consumed away, that it cannot be seen; and his bones that were not seen stick out.
22 Yes, his soul draws near to the grave, and his life to the destroyers.
23 If there be a messenger with him, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to show to man his uprightness:
24 Then he is gracious to him, and said, Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom.
25 His flesh shall be fresher than a child': he shall return to the days of his youth:
26 He shall pray to God, and he will be favorable to him: and he shall see his face with joy: for he will render to man his righteousness.
27 He looks on men, and if any say, I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it profited me not;
28 He will deliver his soul from going into the pit, and his life shall see the light.
29 See, all these things works God oftentimes with man,
30 To bring back his soul from the pit, to be enlightened with the light of the living.
31 Mark well, O Job, listen to me: hold your peace, and I will speak.
32 If you have anything to say, answer me: speak, for I desire to justify you.
33 If not, listen to me: hold your peace, and I shall teach you wisdom.