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

¶ Therefore, Job, hear now my reasons, and hearken to all my words.

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

Behold, now I shall open my mouth, my tongue shall speak in my mouth.

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

My reasons declare the uprightness of my heart; and my lips shall utter pure knowledge.

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

The Spirit of God made me, and the breath of the Almighty gave me life.

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

If thou canst answer me, set thy words in order before me, stand up.

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

Behold, I am according to thy wish in God’s stead; 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.

Behold, my terror shall not make thee afraid, neither shall my hand be heavy upon thee.

8 S urely thou hast spoken in my hearing, And I have heard the voice of thy 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 rebellion, I am innocent; neither is there iniquity in me.

10 B ehold, he findeth occasions against me, He counteth me for his enemy:

Behold, God sought occasions against me, he counts me for his enemy,

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

he put my feet in the stocks, he guards all my paths.

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

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

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

Why dost thou strive against him? For he will not answer all of thy words.

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

¶ Nevertheless, in one or two manners God speaks to the one who does not see.

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

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

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

then he opens the ears of men and seals their instruction,

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

that he may withdraw the man from his own work and cover the man from pride.

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

Thus he keeps 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;

¶ He is chastened also upon his bed with strong pain in all his bones,

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

so that his life abhors 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.

His 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.

His soul shall draw near to the grave, and his life to those that would bury him.

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

If there is a messenger with him, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to show unto man his uprightness;

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

to tell him that God had mercy on him, that he delivered him from going down to the pit; that he found a ransom;

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

his flesh shall become more tender than a child’s; and he shall return 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.

He shall pray unto God, and he will love him; and he shall see his face with shouts of joy; for he will render unto the man the recompense of his righteousness.

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

He looks upon men, and if any say, I have sinned and perverted that which was right, and it did not profit me;

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

God will ransom his soul from going into the pit, and his life shall see the light.

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

¶ Behold, God does all these things two and three times with man,

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

to turn back his soul from the pit, to be enlightened with the light of the living.

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

Hear me, O Job, hearken unto me; be silent, and I will speak.

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

If 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.

If not, hearken unto me; be silent, and I shall teach thee wisdom.