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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

12 “ Behold, let me tell you, you are not right in this, For God is greater than man.

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

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

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

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

17 T hat He may turn man aside from his conduct, And keep man from pride;

18 H e keeps back his soul from the pit, And his life from passing over into Sheol.

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

20 S o that his life loathes bread, And his soul favorite food.

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

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

23 “ 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 let him be gracious to him, and say, ‘Deliver him from going down to the pit, I have found a ransom’;

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

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

28 ‘ He has redeemed my soul from going to the pit, And my life shall see the light.’

29 “ 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 life.

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

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

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