¹“However , Job, please hear my speech ,

and listen to all my words .

²See now , I have opened my mouth .

My tongue has spoken in my mouth .

³My words will utter the uprightness of my heart .

That which my lips know they will speak sincerely .

⁴The Spirit of God has made me ,

and the breath of the Almighty gives me life .

⁵If you can , answer me .

Set your words in order before me , and stand up .

⁶Behold , I am towards God even as you are .

I am also formed out of the clay .

⁷Behold , my terror will not make you afraid ,

neither will my pressure be heavy on you .

⁸“Surely you have spoken in my hearing ,

I have heard the voice of your words , saying ,

⁹‘I am clean , without disobedience.

I am innocent , neither is there iniquity in me .

¹⁰Behold , he finds occasions against me .

He counts me for his enemy.

¹¹He puts my feet in the stocks .

He marks all my paths.’

¹²“Behold , I will answer you . In this you are not just ,

for God is greater than man .

¹³Why do you strive against him ,

because he doesn’t give account of any of his matters ?

¹⁴For God speaks once,

yes twice , though man pays no attention.

¹⁵In a dream , in a vision of the night ,

when deep sleep falls on men,

in slumbering on the bed ,

¹⁶then he opens the ears of men,

and seals their instruction ,

¹⁷that he may withdraw man from his purpose ,

and hide pride from man .

¹⁸He 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 ,

with continual strife in his bones ,

²⁰so that his life abhors bread ,

and his soul dainty food .

²¹His flesh is so consumed away that it can ’t be seen .

His bones that were not seen stick out .

²²Yes, his soul draws near to the pit ,

and his life to the destroyers .

²³“If there is beside him an angel ,

an interpreter , one amongst a thousand,

to show to man what is right for him ,

²⁴then God is gracious to him , and says,

‘Deliver him from going down to the pit ,

I have found a ransom .’

²⁵His flesh will be fresher than a child ’s.

He returns to the days of his youth .

²⁶He prays to God, and he is favourable to him ,

so that he sees his face with joy .

He restores to man his righteousness .

²⁷He sings before men, and says,

‘I have sinned , and perverted that which was right ,

and it didn’t profit me .

²⁸He has redeemed my soul from going into the pit .

My life will see the light.’

²⁹“Behold , God does all these things ,

twice , yes three times , with a man ,

³⁰to bring back his soul from the pit ,

that he may be enlightened with the light of the living .

³¹Mark well , Job, and listen to me .

Hold your peace , and I will speak .

³²If you have anything to say , answer me .

Speak , for I desire to justify you .

³³If not , listen to me .

Hold your peace , and I will teach you wisdom .”