[1]And yet, I pray thee, O Job, Hear my speech and [to] all my words give ear.
[2]Lo, I pray thee, I have opened my mouth, My tongue hath spoken in the palate.
[3]Of the uprightness of my heart [are] my sayings, And knowledge have my lips clearly spoken.
[4]The Spirit of God hath made me, And the breath of the Mighty doth quicken me.
[5]If thou art able -- answer me, Set in array before me -- station thyself.
[6]Lo, I [am], according to thy word, for God, From the clay I -- I also, have been formed.
[7]Lo, my terror doth not frighten thee, And my burden on thee is not heavy.
[8]Surely -- thou hast said in mine ears, And the sounds of words I hear:
[9]`Pure [am] I, without transgression, Innocent [am] I, and I have no iniquity.
[10]Lo, occasions against me He doth find, He doth reckon me for an enemy to Him,
[11]He doth put in the stocks my feet, He doth watch all my paths.'
[12]Lo, [in] this thou hast not been righteous, I answer thee, that greater is God than man.
[13]Wherefore against Him hast thou striven, When [for] all His matters He answereth not?
[14]For once doth God speak, and twice, (He doth not behold it.)
[15]In a dream -- a vision of night, In the falling of deep sleep on men, In slumberings on a bed.
[16]Then He uncovereth the ear of men, And for their instruction sealeth:
[17]To turn aside man [from] doing, And pride from man He concealeth.
[18]He keepeth back his soul from corruption, And his life from passing away by a dart.
[19]And he hath been reproved With pain on his bed, And the strife of his bones [is] enduring.
[20]And his life hath nauseated bread, And his soul desirable food.
[21]His flesh is consumed from being seen, And high are his bones, they were not seen!
[22]And draw near to the pit doth his soul, And his life to those causing death.
[23]If there is by him a messenger, An interpreter -- one of a thousand, To declare for man his uprightness:
[24]Then He doth favour him and saith, `Ransom him from going down to the pit, I have found an atonement.'
[25]Fresher [is] his flesh than a child's, He returneth to the days of his youth.
[26]He maketh supplication unto God, And He accepteth him. And he seeth His face with shouting, And He returneth to man His righteousness.
[27]He looketh on men, and saith, `I sinned, And uprightness I have perverted, And it hath not been profitable to me.
[28]He hath ransomed my soul From going over into the pit, And my life on the light looketh.'
[29]Lo, all these doth God work, Twice -- thrice with man,
[30]To bring back his soul from the pit, To be enlightened with the light of the living.
[31]Attend, O Job, hearken to me, Keep silent, and I -- I do speak.
[32]If there are words -- answer me, Speak, for I have a desire to justify thee.
[33]If there are not -- hearken thou to me, Keep silent, and I teach thee wisdom.
|