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

2 N ow, I open my mouth; My tongue speaks in my mouth.

3 M y words come from my upright heart; My lips utter pure knowledge.

4 T he Spirit of God has made me, And the breath of the Almighty gives me life.

5 I f you can answer me, Set your words in order before me; Take your stand.

6 T ruly I am as your spokesman before God; I also have been formed out of clay.

7 S urely no fear of me will terrify you, Nor will my hand be heavy on you.

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

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

10 Y et He finds occasions against me, He counts me as His enemy;

11 H e puts my feet in the stocks, He watches all my paths.’

12 “ Look, in this you are not righteous. I will answer you, For God is greater than man.

13 W hy do you contend with Him? For He does not give an accounting of any of His words.

14 F or God may speak in one way, or in another, Yet man does not perceive it.

15 I n a dream, in a vision of the night, When deep sleep falls upon men, While slumbering on their beds,

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

17 I n order to turn man from his deed, And conceal pride from man,

18 H e keeps back his soul from the Pit, And his life from perishing by the sword.

19 “ Man is also chastened with pain on his bed, And with strong pain in many of his bones,

20 S o that his life abhors bread, And his soul succulent food.

21 H is flesh wastes away from sight, And his bones stick out which once were not seen.

22 Y es, his soul draws near the Pit, And his life to the executioners.

23 “ If there is a messenger for him, A mediator, one among a thousand, To show man His uprightness,

24 T hen He is gracious to him, and says, ‘Deliver him from going down to the Pit; I have found a ransom’;

25 H is flesh shall be young like a child’s, He shall return to the days of his youth.

26 H e shall pray to God, and He will delight in him, He shall see His face with joy, For He restores to man His righteousness.

27 T hen he looks at men and says, ‘I have sinned, and perverted what was right, And it did not profit me.’

28 H e will redeem his soul from going down to the Pit, And his life shall see the light.

29 “ Behold, God works all these things, Twice, in fact, three times with a man,

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

31 “ Give ear, Job, listen to me; Hold your peace, and I will speak.

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

33 I f not, listen to me; Hold your peace, and I will teach you wisdom.”