1 B e that as it may, Job, I beg of you to hear what I have to say and give heed to all my words.

Howbeit, Job, I pray thee, hear my speech, And hearken to all my words.

2 B ehold, here I am with open mouth; here is my tongue talking.

Behold now, I have opened my mouth; My tongue hath spoken in my mouth.

3 M y words shall express the uprightness of my heart, and my lips shall speak what they know with utter sincerity.

My words shall utter the uprightness of my heart; And that which my lips know they shall speak sincerely.

4 t he Spirit of God that made me, and the breath of the Almighty that gives me life.

The Spirit of God hath made me, And the breath of the Almighty giveth me life.

5 A nswer me now, if you can; set your words in order before me; take your stand.

If thou canst, answer thou me; Set thy words in order before me, stand forth.

6 B ehold, I am toward God and before Him even as you are; I also am formed out of the clay.

Behold, I am toward God even as thou art: I also am formed out of the clay.

7 S ee my terror; I shall not make you afraid, neither shall my pressure be heavy upon you.

Behold, my terror shall not make thee afraid, Neither shall my pressure be heavy upon thee.

8 S urely you have spoken in my hearing, and I have heard the voice of your words, saying,

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.

I am clean, without transgression; I am innocent, neither is there iniquity in me:

10 B ut behold, God finds occasions against me and causes of alienation and indifference; He counts me as His enemy.

Behold, he findeth occasions against me, He counteth me for his enemy:

11 H e puts my feet in the stocks; He watches all my paths.

He putteth my feet in the stocks, He marketh all my paths.

12 I reply to you, Behold, in this you are not just; God is superior to man.

Behold, I will answer thee, in this thou art not just; For God is greater than man.

13 W hy do you contend against Him? For He does not give account of any of His actions.

Why dost thou strive against him, For that he giveth not account of any of his matters?

14 F or God speaks not only once, but more than once, even though men do not regard it.

For God speaketh once, Yea twice, though man regardeth it not.

15 i n a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on men while slumbering upon the bed,

In a dream, in a vision of the night, When deep sleep falleth upon men, In slumberings upon the bed;

16 T hen He opens the ears of men and seals their instruction,

Then he openeth the ears of men, And sealeth their instruction,

17 T hat He may withdraw man from his purpose and cut off pride from him.

That he may withdraw man from his purpose, And hide pride from man;

18 H e holds him back from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword.

He keepeth back his soul from the pit, And his life from perishing by the sword.

19 h e is chastened with pain upon his bed and with continual strife in his bones or while all his bones are firmly set,

He is chastened also with pain upon his bed, And with continual strife in his bones;

20 S o that his desire makes him loathe food, and even dainty dishes.

So that his life abhorreth bread, And his soul dainty food.

21 H is flesh is so wasted away that it cannot be seen, and his bones that were not seen stick out.

His flesh is consumed away, that it cannot be seen; And his bones that were not seen stick out.

22 Y es, his soul draws near to corruption, and his life to the inflicters of death (the destroyers).

Yea, his soul draweth near unto the pit, And his life to the destroyers.

23 i f there is for the hearer a messenger or an angel, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to show to man what is right for him,

If there be with him an angel, An interpreter, one among a thousand, To show unto man what is right for him;

24 T hen is gracious to him and says, Deliver him from going down into the pit; I have found a ransom (a price of redemption, an atonement)!

Then God is gracious unto him, and saith, Deliver him from going down to the pit, I have found a ransom.

25 f lesh shall be restored; it becomes fresher and more tender than a child’s; he returns to the days of his youth.

His flesh shall be fresher than a child's; He returneth to the days of his youth.

26 H e prays to God, and He is favorable to him, so that he sees His face with joy; for restores to him his righteousness (his uprightness and right standing with God—with its joys).

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 H e looks upon other men or sings out to them, I have sinned and perverted that which was right, and it did not profit me, or He did not requite me!

He singeth before men, and saith, I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, And it profited me not:

28 h as redeemed my life from going down to the pit, and my life shall see the light!

He hath redeemed my soul from going into the pit, And my life shall behold the light.

29 B ehold, God does all these things twice, yes, three times, with a man,

Lo, all these things doth God work, Twice, yea thrice, with a man,

30 T o bring back his life from the pit, that he may be enlightened with the light of the living.

To bring back his soul from the pit, That he may be enlightened with the light of the living.

31 G ive heed, O Job, listen to me; hold your peace, and I will speak.

Mark well, O Job, hearken unto me: Hold thy peace, and I will speak.

32 I f you have anything to say, answer me; speak, for I desire to justify you.

If thou hast anything to say, answer me: Speak, for I desire to justify thee.

33 I f not, listen to me; hold your peace, and I will teach you wisdom.

If not, hearken thou unto me: Hold thy peace, and I will teach thee wisdom.