1 "But please, Job, hear my speech, And listen to all my words. |
2 Now, I open my mouth; My tongue speaks in my mouth. |
3 My words come from my upright heart; My lips utter pure knowledge. |
4 The Spirit of God has made me, And the breath of the Almighty gives me life. |
5 If you can answer me, Set your words in order before me; Take your stand. |
6 Truly I am as your spokesman before God; I also have been formed out of clay. |
7 Surely no fear of me will terrify you, Nor will my hand be heavy on you. |
8 "Surely you have spoken in my hearing, And I have heard the sound of your words, saying, |
9 'I am pure, without transgression; I am innocent, and there is no iniquity in me. |
10 Yet He finds occasions against me, He counts me as His enemy; |
11 He puts my feet in the stocks, He watches all my paths.' |
12 "Look, in this you are not righteous. I will answer you, For God is greater than man. |
13 Why do you contend with Him? For He does not give an accounting of any of His words. |
14 For God may speak in one way, or in another, Yet man does not perceive it. |
15 In a dream, in a vision of the night, When deep sleep falls upon men, While slumbering on their beds, |
16 Then He opens the ears of men, And seals their instruction. |
17 In order to turn man from his deed, And conceal pride from man, |
18 He keeps back his soul from the Pit, And his life from perishing by the sword. |
19 "Man is also chastened with pain on his bed, And with strong pain in many of his bones, |
20 So that his life abhors bread, And his soul succulent food. |
21 His flesh wastes away from sight, And his bones stick out which once were not seen. |
22 Yes, his soul draws near the Pit, And his life to the executioners. |
23 "If there is a messenger for him, A mediator, one among a thousand, To show man His uprightness, |
24 Then He is gracious to him, and says, 'Deliver him from going down to the Pit; I have found a ransom'; |
25 His flesh shall be young like a child's, He shall return to the days of his youth. |
26 He shall pray to God, and He will delight in him, He shall see His face with joy, For He restores to man His righteousness. |
27 Then he looks at men and says, 'I have sinned, and perverted what was right, And it did not profit me.' |
28 He will redeem his soul from going down to the Pit, And his life shall see the light. |
29 "Behold, God works all these things, Twice, in fact, three times with a man, |
30 To bring back his soul from the Pit, That he may be enlightened with the light of life. |
31 "Give ear, Job, listen to me; Hold your peace, and I will speak. |
32 If you have anything to say, answer me; Speak, for I desire to justify you. |
33 If not, listen to me; Hold your peace, and I will teach you wisdom." |