1But now, please hear my words, Job, and give ear to all my speech.
2Look now, I have opened my mouth; my tongue has spoken in my palate.
3My words are the uprightness of my heart, and my lips speak knowledge sincerely.
4The Spirit of God made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.
5If you can, answer me; set your words in order before me; take your stand.
6Look, I am toward God just as you are; I too was pinched off from clay.
7Look, no dread of me should terrify you, and my pressure upon you should not be heavy.
8Surely you have spoken in my ears, and I have heard the sound of your words.
9‘I am pure, without transgression; I am clean, and there is no iniquity in me.’
10‘Look, he finds occasions of opposition against me; he counts me as his enemy.’
11‘He puts my feet in the stocks; he watches all my paths.’
12Look, in this you are not right; I will answer you: that God is greater than mortal man.
13Why do you contend against him, that he does not answer any of his words?
14For God speaks in one way, and in two, though one does not perceive it.
15In a dream, a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls upon men, in slumbers upon the bed—
16then he uncovers the ear of men and seals their instruction,
17to turn a man aside from his deed and to conceal pride from a man,
18to hold back his life from the pit and his living from crossing over by the weapon.
19And he is chastened with pain upon his bed, and the strife of his bones is unceasing.
20So that his life loathes bread, and his appetite the food of desire.
21His flesh wastes away from sight, and his bones, once unseen, are laid bare.
22His life draws near to the pit, and his living to those who bring death.
23If there be for him a messenger, a mediator, one among a thousand, to declare to a man what is upright for him,
24then he is gracious to him and says, ‘Deliver him from going down to the pit; I have found a ransom.’
25His flesh grows fresher than in youth; he returns to the days of his youthful vigor.
26He prays to God, and he accepts him, and he sees his face with a shout of joy, and he restores to man his righteousness.
27He looks upon men and says, ‘I sinned and perverted what was right, yet it was not repaid to me.’
28He has redeemed my life from crossing into the pit, and my living will see the light.
29Look, all these things God does, two times, three, with a man.
30to bring back his life from the pit, to be enlightened with the light of life.
31Pay attention, Job, listen to me; be silent, and I myself will speak.
32If you have words, reply to me; speak, for I desire to justify you.
33If not, you—listen to me; be silent, and I will teach you wisdom.
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