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.

“But please, Job, hear my speech, And listen to all my words.

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

Now, I open my mouth; My tongue speaks 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 come from my upright heart; My lips utter pure knowledge.

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

The Spirit of God has made me, And the breath of the Almighty gives me life.

5 A nswer me now, if you can; 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.

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

Truly I am as your spokesman before God; I also have been formed out of clay.

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

Surely no fear of me will terrify you, Nor will my hand be heavy on you.

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

“Surely you have spoken in my hearing, And I have heard the sound of your words, saying,

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

‘I am pure, without transgression; I am innocent, and there is no iniquity in me.

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

Yet He finds occasions against me, He counts me as His enemy;

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

He puts my feet in the stocks, He watches all my paths.’

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

“Look, in this you are not righteous. I will answer you, 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 do you contend with Him? For He does not give an accounting of any of His words.

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

For God may speak in one way, or in another, Yet man does not perceive it.

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 falls upon men, While slumbering on their beds,

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

Then He opens the ears of men, And seals their instruction.

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

In order to turn man from his deed, And conceal pride from man,

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

He keeps 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,

“ Man is also chastened with pain on his bed, And with strong pain in many of his bones,

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

So that his life abhors bread, And his soul succulent 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 wastes away from sight, And his bones stick out which once were not seen.

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

Yes, his soul draws near the Pit, And his life to the executioners.

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 is a messenger for him, A mediator, one among a thousand, To show man His uprightness,

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 He is gracious to him, and says, ‘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 young like a child’s, He shall return 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 shall pray to God, and He will delight in him, He shall see His face with joy, For He restores to 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!

Then he looks at men and says, ‘I have sinned, and perverted what was right, And it did not profit me.’

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

He will redeem his soul from going down to the Pit, And his life shall see the light.

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

“Behold, God works all these things, Twice, in fact, three times 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 life.

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

“Give ear, Job, listen to me; Hold your peace, and I will speak.

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

If you have anything to say, answer me; Speak, for I desire to justify you.

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

If not, listen to me; Hold your peace, and I will teach you wisdom.”