1 Nevertheless, Job, I pray you, hear my speech, And listen to all my words.
2 Look now, I have opened my mouth; My tongue has spoken in my mouth.
3 My words [will utter] the uprightness of my heart; And that which my lips know they will speak sincerely.
4 The Spirit of God has made me, And the breath of the Almighty gives me life.
5 If you can, answer me; Set [your words] in order before me, stand forth.
6 Look, I am toward God even as you are: I also am formed out of the clay.
7 Look, my terror will not make you afraid, Neither will my pressure be heavy on you.
8 Surely you have spoken in my hearing, And I have heard the voice of [your] words, [saying],
9 I am clean, without transgression; I am pure, neither is there iniquity in me:
10 Look, he finds occasions against me, He counts me for his enemy:
11 He puts my feet in the stocks, He marks all my paths.
12 Look, I will answer you, in this you are not just; For God is greater than common man.
13 Why do you strive against him Because he doesn't give account of any of his matters?
14 For God speaks once, Yes twice, [though man] does not regard it.
15 In a dream, in a vision of the night, When deep sleep falls on men, In slumberings on the bed;
16 Then he opens the ears of men, And seals their warning,
17 That he may withdraw man [from his] purpose, And hide pride from a [noble] man;
18 He keeps back his soul from the pit, And his life from perishing by the sword.
19 He is chastened also with pain on his bed, And with continual strife in his bones;
20 So that his life abhors bread, And his soul dainty food.
21 His flesh is consumed away, that it can't be seen; And his bones that were not seen stick out.
22 Yes, his soul draws near to the pit, And his life to the destroyers.
23 If there is with him an angel, An interpreter, one among a thousand, To show to man what is right for him;
24 Then [God] is gracious to him, and says, Protect him from going down to the pit, I have found a ransom.
25 His flesh becomes fresher than a child's; He returns to the days of his youth.
26 He prays to God, and he is favorable to him, So that he sees his face with joy: And he restores to common man his righteousness.
27 He sings before men, and says, I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, And it didn't profit me:
28 He has redeemed my soul from going into the pit, And my life will see the light.
29 Look, God works all these things, Twice, [yes] thrice, with a [noble] 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, listen to me: Hold your peace, and I will speak.
32 If you have anything to say, answer me: Speak, for I desire to justify you.
33 If not, listen to me: Hold your peace, and I will teach you wisdom.