1 “ But now, Job, hear what I say. Listen to all my words.

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

2 S ee, I open my mouth. My tongue in my mouth wants to speak.

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

3 M y words come from my heart that is right. My lips speak in truth what I know.

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

4 T he Spirit of God has made me. And the breath of the All-powerful gives me life.

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

5 P rove me wrong if you can. Get ready to answer me, and take your stand.

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

6 S ee, I belong to God like you. I also have been made from the clay.

Behold, I am according to thy wish in God's stead: I also am formed out of the clay.

7 S ee, you have no reason to be afraid of me. I should not make it hard for you.

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

8 “ For sure you have spoken in my hearing. I have heard all you have said.

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

9 Y ou said, ‘I am pure and without sin. I am not guilty, and there is no sin in me.

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

10 B ut see, God finds things against me. He thinks of me as someone who hates Him.

Behold, he findeth occasions against me, he counteth me for his enemy,

11 H e puts my feet in chains, and watches all my paths.’

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

12 S ee, I tell you, in this you are 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 “ Why do you complain against Him? He does not give a reason for all He does.

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

14 F or God speaks once, or twice, and yet no one listens.

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

15 I n a dream, a special dream of the night, when deep sleep comes upon men, while they sleep in their beds,

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

16 t hen He opens the ears of men. He teaches them and makes them afraid telling them of danger,

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

17 t hat He may turn man away from wrong-doing and keep him from pride.

That he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man.

18 H e keeps his soul from going to the place of the dead. And He keeps his life from being destroyed by the sword.

He keepeth back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword.

19 “ Man is also punished with pain on his bed and has pain all the time in his bones.

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

20 S o he hates bread, and has no desire for fine foods.

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

21 H is flesh is so wasted away that it cannot be seen. His bones which 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 H is soul comes close to the grave, and his life to those who bring death.

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

23 “ If there is an angel, one out of a thousand, to speak with God for him, and to show a man what is right for him,

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

24 t hen let him be kind to him, and say, ‘Save him from going down to the grave. I have found someone to pay the price to make him free.

Then he is gracious unto him, and saith, Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom.

25 L et his flesh become young again. Let him return to the days when he was young and strong.’

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

26 T hen he will pray to God, and God will be pleased with him. He will see His face with joy. And God will make man right with Him again.

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 to men and say, ‘I have sinned and have not done what is right, but He did not punish 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 has kept my soul from going to the grave. And my life will see the light.’

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

29 “ See, God does all these things twice, even three times, to a man,

Lo, all these things worketh God oftentimes with man,

30 t o turn back his soul from the grave, that he may see the light of life.

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

31 H ear what I say, O Job, listen to me. Be quiet and let me speak.

Mark well, O Job, hearken unto me: hold thy peace, and I will speak.

32 I f you have anything to say, answer me. Speak, for I want to make you right with God.

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

33 I f not, listen to me. Be quiet, and I will teach you wisdom.”

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