1 H owbeit, Job, I pray thee, hear mine utterances, and hearken to all my words.

Wherefore, Job, I pray thee, hear my speeches, and hearken to all my words.

2 B ehold now, I have opened my mouth, my tongue speaketh in my palate,

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

3 M y words shall be of the uprightness of my heart, and my lips shall utter knowledge purely.

My words shall be of the uprightness of my heart: and my lips shall utter knowledge clearly.

4 T he Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life.

The spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life.

5 I f thou canst, answer me; array before me: take thy stand.

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

6 B ehold, before God I am as thou; 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, nor my burden 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 words:—

Surely thou hast spoken in mine hearing, and I have heard the voice of thy words, saying,

9 I am clean without transgression; I am pure, and there is no iniquity in me;

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

10 L o, he findeth occasions of hostility against me, he counteth me for his enemy;

Behold, 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.

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

12 B ehold, I will answer thee in this, thou art not right; 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 he giveth not account of any of his matters.

Why dost thou strive against him? for he giveth not account of any of his matters.

14 F or God speaketh once, and twice,— perceiveth it not—

For God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not.

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 falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed;

16 T hen he openeth men's ears, and sealeth their instruction,

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

17 T hat he may withdraw man work, and hide pride from man.

That 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 passing away by the sword.

He 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 constant strife in his bones;

He is chastened also with pain upon his bed, and the multitude of his bones with strong pain:

20 A nd his life abhorreth bread, and his soul dainty food;

So that his life abhorreth bread, and his soul dainty meat.

21 H is flesh is consumed away from view, 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 A nd his soul draweth near to the pit, and his life to the destroyers.

Yea, his soul draweth near unto the grave, and his life to the destroyers.

23 I f there be a messenger with him, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to shew unto man his duty;

If there be a messenger with him, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to shew unto man his uprightness:

24 T hen he will be gracious unto him, and say, Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom.

Then he 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 in childhood; he shall return to the days of his youth.

His flesh shall be fresher than a child's: he shall return to the days of his youth:

26 H e shall pray unto +God, and he will receive him with favour; and he shall see his face with shoutings, and he will render unto man his righteousness.

He shall pray unto God, and he will be favourable unto him: and he shall see his face with joy: for he will render unto man his righteousness.

27 H e will sing before men, and say, I have sinned, and perverted what was right, and it hath not been requited to me;

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

28 H e hath delivered my soul from going into the pit, and my life shall see the light.

He will deliver his soul from going into the pit, and his life shall see the light.

29 L o, all these worketh God twice, thrice, with man,

Lo, all these things worketh God oftentimes with man,

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, to be enlightened with the light of the living.

31 M ark well, Job, hearken unto me; be silent, and I will speak.

Mark 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.

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

33 I f not, hearken thou unto me; be silent, and I will teach thee wisdom.

If not, hearken unto me: hold thy peace, and I shall teach thee wisdom.