1: Howbeit, Job, I pray thee, hear mine utterances, and hearken to all my words. 2: Behold now, I have opened my mouth, my tongue speaketh in my palate, 3: My words shall be of the uprightness of my heart, and my lips shall utter knowledge purely. 4: The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life. 5: If thou canst, answer me; array [thy words] before me: take thy stand. 6: Behold, before God I am as thou; I also am formed out of the clay. 7: Behold, my terror shall not make thee afraid, nor my burden 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 pure, and there is no iniquity in me; 10: Lo, he findeth occasions of hostility against me, he counteth me for his enemy; 11: He putteth my feet in the stocks, he marketh all my paths. 12: Behold, I will answer thee in this, thou art not right; for God is greater than man. 13: Why dost thou strive against him? for he giveth not account of any of his matters. 14: For God speaketh once, and twice, -- [and 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 men's ears, and sealeth their instruction, 17: That he may withdraw man [from his] work, and hide pride from man. 18: He keepeth back his soul from the pit, and his life from passing away by the sword. 19: He is chastened also with pain upon his bed, and with constant strife in his bones; 20: And his life abhorreth bread, and his soul dainty food; 21: His flesh is consumed away from view, and his bones that were not seen stick out; 22: And his soul draweth near to the pit, and his life to the destroyers. 23: If there be a messenger with him, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to shew unto man his duty; 24: Then he will be gracious unto him, and say, Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom. 25: His flesh shall be fresher than in childhood; he shall return to the days of his youth. 26: He 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. 27: He will sing before men, and say, I have sinned, and perverted what was right, and it hath not been requited to me; 28: He hath delivered my soul from going into the pit, and my life shall see the light. 29: Lo, all these [things] worketh God twice, thrice, with man, 30: To bring back his soul from the pit, that he may be enlightened with the light of the living. 31: Mark well, Job, hearken unto me; be silent, and I will speak. 32: If thou hast anything to say, answer me; speak, for I desire to justify thee. 33: If not, hearken thou unto me; be silent, and I will teach thee wisdom.
