| 1 So now, O Job, hear my discourse, listen to everything I say. | |
| 2 My words are on the tip of my tongue, | |
| 3 words from an upright heart, words full of knowledge and sincerity. | |
| 4 The Spirit of God has made me; the breath of the Almighty keeps me alive. | |
| 5 Answer me if you can; draw up your arguments and take your stand. | |
| 6 Like yourself, I too have been taken by God from the same clay. | |
| 7 Thus no fear of me need alarm you, nor should my presence lie heavy on you. | |
| 8 But I heard what you said, none of your words escaped my hearing: | |
| 9 “I am clean and without sin; I am innocent, guiltless. | |
| 10 Yet God has found fault with me and considers me his enemy; | |
| 11 he shackles my feet, keeps watch of all my paths.” | |
| 12 I tell you, you are wrong in this, for greater than man is God. | |
| 13 Why then do you complain that he will answer none of your words? | |
| 14 See God gives a warning but does not repeat it a second time. | |
| 15 In a dream, in a night vision, when deep sleep falls on people, while they slumber in their beds, | |
| 16 it is then he opens their ears and gives warning by terrifying them. | |
| 17 So he turns man from wrongdoing and keeps him away from pride, | |
| 18 God preserves his soul from the pit, his life from perishing by the sword. | |
| 19 Man is also chastened on his bed by pain and constant distress upon his frame, | |
| 20 so that he finds food repulsive, even the choicest meal loathsome. | |
| 21 His flesh wastes away to naught; his bones, once unseen, now protrude. | |
| 22 His soul draws near to the pit, and his life to the place of death. | |
| 23 Yet if there is an angel by his side – a mediator, one in a thousand – to show him what is right for man, to give him justice once again, | |
| 24 God will have mercy on him and say, “Deliver him from going down to the pit; I have found for him a ransom.” | |
| 25 Then his flesh will be renewed as a child’s, restored as in the days of his youth. | |
| 26 He will pray and find favor with God; he will see God’s face and rejoice. | |
| 27 He will witness to men and say, “I sinned and perverted what was right, but I was not punished as I deserved. | |
| 28 He rescued my soul from going down into the pit, and gave me life to enjoy the light.” | |
| 29 God does all this to man – twice, even thrice – | |
| 30 to turn him back from the pit, to lead him with the light of life. | |
| 31 Pay attention, Job, listen to me; be silent, and I will continue to speak. | |
| 32 But if you have anything to say, say it then; speak up, for I wish to see you justified. | |
| 33 If not, then do listen; be silent as I teach you wisdom. | |
