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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“Behold, I belong to God like you; I too have been 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, no fear of me should terrify you, Nor should my pressure weigh heavily on you.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

12 S ee, I tell you, in this you are not right. For God is greater than man.

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

13 “ Why do you complain against Him? He does not give a reason for all He does.

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

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

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

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, 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. He teaches them and makes them afraid telling them of danger,

Then He opens the ears of men, And seals their instruction,

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

That He may turn man aside from his conduct, And keep man from pride;

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

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

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

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

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

21 H is flesh is so wasted away that it cannot be seen. His bones which were not seen stick out.

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

22 H is soul comes close to the grave, and his life to those who bring death.

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

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 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 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 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 young again. Let him return to the days when he was young and strong.’

Let 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 God will be pleased with him. He will see His face with joy. And God will make man right with Him again.

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 will sing to men and say, ‘I have sinned and have not done what is right, but He did not punish me.

“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 has kept my soul from going to the grave. And my life will see the light.’

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

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

“Behold, God does all these oftentimes with men,

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, That he may be enlightened with the light of life.

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

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

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

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

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

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