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

Be that as it may, Job, I beg of you to hear what I have to say and give heed to all my words.

2 S ee now, I have opened my mouth. My tongue has spoken in my mouth.

Behold, here I am with open mouth; here is my tongue talking.

3 M y words shall utter the uprightness of my heart. That which my lips know they shall speak sincerely.

My words shall express the uprightness of my heart, and my lips shall speak what they know with utter sincerity.

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

the Spirit of God that made me, and the breath of the Almighty that gives me life.

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

Answer me now, if you can; set your words in order before me; take your stand.

6 B ehold, I am toward God even as you are. I am also formed out of the clay.

Behold, I am toward God and before Him even as you are; I also am formed out of the clay.

7 B ehold, my terror shall not make you afraid, neither shall my pressure be heavy on you.

See my terror; I shall not make you afraid, neither shall my pressure be heavy upon you.

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

Surely you have spoken in my hearing, and I have heard the voice of your words, saying,

9 ‘ I am clean, without disobedience. I am innocent, neither is there iniquity in me.

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

10 B ehold, he finds occasions against me. He counts me for his enemy.

But behold, God finds occasions against me and causes of alienation and indifference; He counts me as His enemy.

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

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

12 “ Behold, I will answer you. In this you are not just, for God is greater than man.

I reply to you, Behold, in this you are not just; God is superior to man.

13 W hy do you strive against him, because he doesn’t give account of any of his matters?

Why do you contend against Him? For He does not give account of any of His actions.

14 F or God speaks once, yes twice, though man pays no attention.

For God speaks not only once, but more than once, even though men do not regard it.

15 I n a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on men, in slumbering on the bed;

in a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on men while slumbering upon the bed,

16 T hen he opens the ears of men, and seals their instruction,

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

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

That He may withdraw man from his purpose and cut off pride from him.

18 H e keeps back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword.

He holds him back from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword.

19 H e is chastened also with pain on his bed, with continual strife in his bones;

he is chastened with pain upon his bed and with continual strife in his bones or while all his bones are firmly set,

20 S o that his life abhors bread, and his soul dainty food.

So that his desire makes him loathe food, and even dainty dishes.

21 H is flesh is so consumed away, that it can’t be seen. His bones that were not seen stick out.

His flesh is so wasted away that it cannot be seen, and his bones that were not seen stick out.

22 Y es, his soul draws near to the pit, and his life to the destroyers.

Yes, his soul draws near to corruption, and his life to the inflicters of death (the destroyers).

23 “ If there is beside him an angel, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to show to man what is right for him;

if there is for the hearer a messenger or an angel, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to show to man what is right for him,

24 t hen God is gracious to him, and says, ‘Deliver him from going down to the pit, I have found a ransom.’

Then is gracious to him and says, Deliver him from going down into the pit; I have found a ransom (a price of redemption, an atonement)!

25 H is flesh shall be fresher than a child’s. He returns to the days of his youth.

flesh shall be restored; it becomes fresher and more tender than a child’s; he returns to the days of his youth.

26 H e prays to God, and he is favorable to him, so that he sees his face with joy. He restores to man his righteousness.

He prays to God, and He is favorable to him, so that he sees His face with joy; for restores to him his righteousness (his uprightness and right standing with God—with its joys).

27 H e sings before men, and says, ‘I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it didn’t profit me.

He looks upon other men or sings out to them, I have sinned and perverted that which was right, and it did not profit me, or He did not requite me!

28 H e has redeemed my soul from going into the pit. My life shall see the light.’

has redeemed my life from going down to the pit, and my life shall see the light!

29 “ Behold, God does all these things, twice, yes three times, with a man,

Behold, God does all these things twice, yes, three times, with a 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 life from the pit, that he may be enlightened with the light of the living.

31 M ark well, Job, and listen to me. Hold your peace, and I will speak.

Give heed, O 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.

If 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.”

If not, listen to me; hold your peace, and I will teach you wisdom.