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[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 given 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;
[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 answer thee: In this thou art not right, that God is too great for man;
[13]Why hast thou striven against Him? seeing that He will not answer any of his words.
[14]For God speaketh in one way, yea in two, though man perceiveth 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 by their chastisement sealeth the decree,
[17]That men may put away their purpose, and that He may hide pride from man;
[18]That He may keep 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 all his bones grow stiff;
[20]So that his life maketh him to abhor bread, and his soul dainty food.
[21]His flesh is consumed away, that it cannot be seen; and his bones corrode to unsightliness.
[22]Yea, his soul draweth near unto the pit, and his life to the destroyers.
[23]If there be for him an angel, an intercessor, one among a thousand, to vouch for a man's uprightness;
[24]Then He is gracious unto him, and saith: 'Deliver him from going down to the pit, I have found a ransom.'
[25]His flesh is tenderer than a child's; he returneth to the days of his youth;
[26]He prayeth unto God, and He is favourable unto him; so that he seeth His face with joy; and He restoreth unto man his righteousness.
[27]He cometh before men, and saith: 'I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it profited me not.'
[28]So He redeemeth his soul from going into the pit, and his life beholdeth 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 any thing 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.
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