1 H owbeit, Job, I pray thee, hear my speech, And hearken to all my words.

2 B ehold now, I have opened my mouth; My tongue hath spoken in my mouth.

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

4 T he Spirit of God hath made me, And the breath of the Almighty giveth me life.

5 I f thou canst, answer thou me; Set thy words in order before me, stand forth.

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

7 B ehold, my terror shall not make thee afraid, Neither shall my pressure be heavy upon thee.

8 S urely 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 B ehold, he findeth occasions against me, He counteth me for his enemy:

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

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

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

14 F or God speaketh once, Yea twice, though man regardeth it not.

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

16 T hen he openeth the ears of men, And sealeth their instruction,

17 T hat he may withdraw man from his purpose, And hide pride from man;

18 H e keepeth back his soul from the pit, And his life from perishing by the sword.

19 H e is chastened also with pain upon his bed, And with continual strife in his bones;

20 S o that his life abhorreth bread, And his soul dainty food.

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

22 Y ea, his soul draweth near unto the pit, And his life to the destroyers.

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

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

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

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

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

29 L o, all these things doth God work, Twice, yea thrice, with a man,

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

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

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

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