1Howbeit, Job, I pray thee, hear mine utterances, and hearken to all my words.
2Behold now, I have opened my mouth, my tongue speaketh in my palate,
3My words shall be of the uprightness of my heart, and my lips shall utter knowledge purely.
4The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life.
5If thou canst, answer me; array [thy words] before me: take thy stand.
6Behold, before God I am as thou; I also am formed out of the clay.
7Behold, my terror shall not make thee afraid, nor my burden be heavy upon thee.
8Surely thou hast spoken in my hearing, and I have heard the voice of [thy] words: —
9I am clean without transgression; I am pure, and there is no iniquity in me;
10Lo, he findeth occasions of hostility against me, he counteth me for his enemy;
11He putteth my feet in the stocks, he marketh all my paths.
12Behold, I will answer thee in this, thou art not right; for God is greater than man.
13Why dost thou strive against him? for he giveth not account of any of his matters.
14For God speaketh once, and twice, — [and man] perceiveth it not —
15In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed;
16Then he openeth men's ears, and sealeth their instruction,
17That he may withdraw man [from his] work, and hide pride from man.
18He keepeth back his soul from the pit, and his life from passing away by the sword.
19He is chastened also with pain upon his bed, and with constant strife in his bones;
20And his life abhorreth bread, and his soul dainty food;
21His flesh is consumed away from view, and his bones that were not seen stick out;
22And his soul draweth near to the pit, and his life to the destroyers.
23If there be a messenger with him, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to shew unto man his duty;
24Then he will be gracious unto him, and say, Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom.
25His flesh shall be fresher than in childhood; he shall return to the days of his youth.
26He shall pray unto God, and he will receive him with favour; and he shall see his face with shoutings, and he will render unto man his righteousness.
27He will sing before men, and say, I have sinned, and perverted what was right, and it hath not been requited to me;
28He hath delivered my soul from going into the pit, and my life shall see the light.
29Lo, all these [things] worketh God twice, thrice, with man,
30To bring back his soul from the pit, that he may be enlightened with the light of the living.
31Mark well, Job, hearken unto me; be silent, and I will speak.
32If thou hast anything to say, answer me; speak, for I desire to justify thee.
33If not, hearken thou unto me; be silent, and I will teach thee wisdom.