Wherefore, Job, I pray thee, hear my speeches, and hearken to all my words.

“But now, O Job, hear my speech, and listen to all my words.

Behold, now I have opened my mouth, my tongue hath spoken in my mouth.

Behold, I will open my mouth; my address is on the tip of my tongue.

My words shall be of the uprightness of my heart: and my lips shall utter knowledge clearly.

My words are from an upright heart, and my lips speak sincerely what I know.

The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life.

The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.

If thou canst answer me, set thy words in order before me, stand up.

Refute me if you can; prepare your case and confront me.

Behold, I am according to thy wish in God’s stead: I also am formed out of the clay.

I am just like you before God; I was also formed from clay.

Behold, my terror shall not make thee afraid, neither shall my hand be heavy upon thee.

Surely no fear of me should terrify you; nor will my hand be heavy upon you.

Surely thou hast spoken in mine hearing, and I have heard the voice of thy words, saying,

Surely you have spoken in my hearing, and I have heard these very words:

I am clean without transgression, I am innocent; neither is there iniquity in me.

‘I am pure, without transgression; I am clean, with no iniquity in me.

Behold, he findeth occasions against me, he counteth me for his enemy,

Yet God finds occasions against me; He counts me as His enemy.

He putteth my feet in the stocks, he marketh all my paths.

He puts my feet in the stocks; He watches over all my paths.’

Behold, in this thou art not just: I will answer thee, that God is greater than man.

Behold, you are not right in this matter. I will answer you, for God is greater than man.

Why dost thou strive against him? for he giveth not account of any of his matters.

Why do you complain to Him that He answers nothing a man asks?

For God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not.

For God speaks in one way and in another, yet no one notices.

In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed;

In a dream, in a vision in the night, when deep sleep falls upon men as they slumber on their beds,

Then he openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction,

He opens their ears and terrifies them with warnings

That he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man.

to turn a man from wrongdoing and keep him from pride,

He keepeth back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword.

to preserve his soul from the Pit and his life from perishing by the sword.

He is chastened also with pain upon his bed, and the multitude of his bones with strong pain:

A man is also chastened on his bed with pain and constant distress in his bones,

So that his life abhorreth bread, and his soul dainty meat.

so that he detests his bread, and his soul loathes his favorite food.

His flesh is consumed away, that it cannot be seen; and his bones that were not seen stick out.

His flesh wastes away from sight, and his hidden bones protrude.

Yea, his soul draweth near unto the grave, and his life to the destroyers.

He draws near to the Pit, and his life to the messengers of death.

If there be a messenger with him, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to shew unto man his uprightness:

Yet if there is a messenger on his side, one mediator in a thousand, to tell a man what is right for him,

Then he is gracious unto him, and saith, Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom.

to be gracious to him and say, ‘Spare him from going down to the Pit; I have found his ransom,’

His flesh shall be fresher than a child’s: he shall return to the days of his youth:

then his flesh is refreshed like a child’s; he returns to the days of his youth.

He shall pray unto God, and he will be favourable unto him: and he shall see his face with joy: for he will render unto man his righteousness.

He prays to God and finds favor; he sees God’s face and shouts for joy, and God restores His righteousness to that man.

He looketh upon men, and if any say, I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it profited me not;

Then he sings before men with these words: ‘I have sinned and perverted what was right; yet I did not get what I deserved.

He will deliver his soul from going into the pit, and his life shall see the light.

He redeemed my soul from going down to the Pit, and I will live to see the light.’

Lo, all these things worketh God oftentimes with man,

Behold, all these things God does to a man, two or even three times,

To bring back his soul from the pit, to be enlightened with the light of the living.

to bring back his soul from the Pit, that he may be enlightened with the light of life.

Mark well, O Job, hearken unto me: hold thy peace, and I will speak.

Pay attention, Job, and listen to me; be silent, and I will speak.

If thou hast any thing to say, answer me: speak, for I desire to justify thee.

But if you have something to say, answer me; speak up, for I would like to vindicate you.

If not, hearken unto me: hold thy peace, and I shall teach thee wisdom.

But if not, then listen to me; be quiet, and I will teach you wisdom.”