1Therefore do thou but hear, O Job, my speeches, and give ear to all my words.
2Behold now, I have opened my mouth, my tongue speaketh in my mouth.
3Out of my straightforward heart [come] my sayings, and my lips utter knowledge clearly.
4The spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty giveth me life.
5If thou canst, answer me, array thyself before me, stand forward.
6Behold, I am in the same relation as thyself toward God: I myself also am cut out of the clay.
7Behold, dread of me cannot terrify thee, and my pressure will not be too heavy upon thee.
8But thou hast said before my ears, and the sound of the words I still hear,
9“I am pure without transgression, I am quite clean; and there is no iniquity in me:
10Yet, behold, he findeth hateful backsliding on me, he regardeth me as an enemy unto him;
11He putteth my feet in the stocks, he watcheth all my paths.”
12Behold, In this thou art not just: I will answer thee; for God is far greater than a mortal.
13Why dost thou contend against him? for with all his words will he not give an answer.
14For God speaketh once, yea twice: [yet man] regardeth it not.
15In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumbers upon the couch:
16Then doth he lay open the ear of men, and sealeth it with their warning;
17To remove the son of earth [from his intended] deed and he covereth up pride from man;
18He withholdeth his soul from the pit, and his life from passing away by the sword.
19And so is he admonished by pain upon his couch, and all his bones with violent [aches].
20So that his inclination abhorreth bread, and his soul, the most agreeable food.
21His flesh is consumed away, that it cannot be seen, and his bones that were not seen stick out.
22Yea, his soul draweth near unto the pit, and his life to those that slay.
23If there be now about him one single angel, as defender, one out of a thousand, to tell for man his uprightness:
24Then is he gracious unto him, and saith, Release him from going down to the pit, I have found an atonement.
25His flesh becometh full again as in youth: he returneth to the days of his boyhood.
26He will offer his entreaty unto God, and he will receive him in favor, that he may see his face with joy: so doth He recompense unto the mortal his righteousness.
27He then should assemble men around, and say, “I had sinned, and perverted what is right, yet have I not received a like return.”
28Thus he redeemeth his soul from passing into the pit, and his life will look joyously on the light.
29Lo, all these things doth God two or three times with man;
30To bring back his soul from the pit, that she may shine in the light of life.
31Listen well, O Job, hearken unto me: keep silence, and I will truly speak.
32If thou hast any words, answer me: speak, for I wish to justify thee.
33If not, hearken thou unto me: keep silence, and I will teach thee wisdom.