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

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

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

“Behold now, I open my mouth, My tongue in my mouth speaks.

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

“My words are from the uprightness of my heart, And my lips speak knowledge sincerely.

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

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

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

“ Refute me if you can; Array yourselves before me, take your stand.

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

“Behold, I belong to God like you; I too have been formed out of the clay.

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

“Behold, no fear of me should terrify you, Nor should my pressure weigh heavily on you.

8 S urely thou hast spoken in my hearing, And I have heard the voice of thy words, saying,

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

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 guilt in me.

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

‘Behold, He invents pretexts against me; He counts me as His enemy.

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

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

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

“Behold, let me tell you, you are not right in this, 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?

“Why do you complain against Him That He does not give an account of all His doings?

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

“Indeed God speaks once, Or twice, yet no one notices it.

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, a vision of the night, When sound sleep falls on men, While they slumber in their beds,

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 turn man aside from his conduct, And keep man from pride;

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

He keeps back his soul from the pit, And his life from passing over into Sheol.

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

“ Man is also chastened with pain on his bed, And with unceasing complaint in his bones;

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

So that his life loathes bread, And his soul favorite food.

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

“His flesh wastes away from sight, And his bones which were not seen stick out.

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

“Then his soul draws near to the pit, And his life to those who bring death.

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 an angel as mediator for him, One out of a thousand, To remind a 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.

Then let him be gracious to him, and say, ‘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.

Let his flesh become fresher than in youth, Let him return to the days of his youthful vigor;

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.

Then he will pray to God, and He will accept him, That he may see His face with joy, And He may restore His righteousness to man.

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

“He will sing to men and say, ‘I have sinned and perverted what is right, And it is not proper for me.

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

‘He has redeemed my soul from going to the pit, And my 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 oftentimes with men,

30 T o bring back his soul 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 M ark well, O Job, hearken unto me: Hold thy peace, and I will speak.

“Pay attention, O Job, listen to me; Keep silent, and let me speak.

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

“ Then if you have anything to say, answer me; Speak, for I desire to justify you.

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

“If not, listen to me; Keep silent, and I will teach you wisdom.”