1 | Howbeit, Job, I pray thee, hear my speech, And hearken to all my words. |
2 | Behold now, I have opened my mouth; My tongue hath spoken in my mouth. |
3 | My words [shall utter] the uprightness of my heart; And that which my lips know they shall speak sincerely. |
4 | The Spirit of God hath made me, And the breath of the Almighty giveth me life. |
5 | If thou canst, answer thou me; Set [thy words] in order before me, stand forth. |
6 | Behold, I am toward God even as thou art: I also am formed out of the clay. |
7 | Behold, my terror shall not make thee afraid, Neither shall my pressure be heavy upon thee. |
8 | Surely thou hast spoken in my hearing, And I have heard the voice of [thy] words, [saying], |
9 | I am clean, without transgression; I am innocent, neither is there iniquity in me: |
10 | Behold, he findeth occasions against me, He counteth me for his enemy: |
11 | He putteth my feet in the stocks, He marketh all my paths. |
12 | Behold, I will answer thee, in this thou art not just; For God is greater than man. |
13 | Why dost thou strive against him, For that he giveth not account of any of his matters? |
14 | For God speaketh once, Yea twice, [though man] regardeth it not. |
15 | In a dream, in a vision of the night, When deep sleep falleth upon men, In slumberings upon the bed; |
16 | Then he openeth the ears of men, And sealeth their instruction, |
17 | That he may withdraw man [from his] purpose, And hide pride from man; |
18 | He keepeth back his soul from the pit, And his life from perishing by the sword. |
19 | He is chastened also with pain upon his bed, And with continual strife in his bones; |
20 | So that his life abhorreth bread, And his soul dainty food. |
21 | His flesh is consumed away, that it cannot be seen; And his bones that were not seen stick out. |
22 | Yea, his soul draweth near unto the pit, And his life to the destroyers. |
23 | If there be with him an angel, An interpreter, one among a thousand, To show unto man what is right for him; |
24 | Then [God] is gracious unto him, and saith, Deliver him from going down to the pit, I have found a ransom. |
25 | His flesh shall be fresher than a child`s; He returneth to the days of his youth. |
26 | He prayeth unto God, and he is favorable unto him, So that he seeth his face with joy: And he restoreth unto man his righteousness. |
27 | He singeth before men, and saith, I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, And it profited me not: |
28 | He hath redeemed my soul from going into the pit, And my life shall behold the light. |
29 | Lo, all these things doth God work, Twice, [yea] thrice, with a man, |
30 | To bring back his soul from the pit, That he may be enlightened with the light of the living. |
31 | Mark well, O Job, hearken unto me: Hold thy peace, and I will speak. |
32 | If thou hast anything to say, answer me: Speak, for I desire to justify thee. |
33 | If not, hearken thou unto me: Hold thy peace, and I will teach thee wisdom. |