| 1 | Howbeit, Job, I pray thee, hear mine utterances, and hearken to all my words. |
| 2 | Behold now, I have opened my mouth, my tongue speaketh in my palate, |
| 3 | My words shall be of the uprightness of my heart, and my lips shall utter knowledge purely. |
| 4 | The Spirit of �God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life. |
| 5 | If thou canst, answer me; array [thy words] before me: take thy stand. |
| 6 | Behold, before �God I am as thou; I also am formed out of the clay. |
| 7 | Behold, my terror shall not make thee afraid, nor my burden be heavy upon thee. |
| 8 | Surely thou hast spoken in my hearing, and I have heard the voice of [thy] words: -- |
| 9 | I am clean without transgression; I am pure, and there is no iniquity in me; |
| 10 | Lo, he findeth occasions of hostility against me, he counteth me for his enemy; |
| 11 | He putteth my feet in the stocks, he marketh all my paths. |
| 12 | Behold, I will answer thee in this, thou art not right; for +God is greater than man. |
| 13 | Why dost thou strive against him? for he giveth not account of any of his matters. |
| 14 | For �God speaketh once, and twice,—[and man] perceiveth it not -- |
| 15 | In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed; |
| 16 | Then he openeth men's ears, and sealeth their instruction, |
| 17 | That he may withdraw man [from his] work, and hide pride from man. |
| 18 | He keepeth back his soul from the pit, and his life from passing away by the sword. |
| 19 | He is chastened also with pain upon his bed, and with constant strife in his bones; |
| 20 | And his life abhorreth bread, and his soul dainty food; |
| 21 | His flesh is consumed away from view, and his bones that were not seen stick out; |
| 22 | And his soul draweth near to the pit, and his life to the destroyers. |
| 23 | If there be a messenger with him, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to shew unto man his duty; |
| 24 | Then he will be gracious unto him, and say, Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom. |
| 25 | His flesh shall be fresher than in childhood; he shall return to the days of his youth. |
| 26 | He shall pray unto +God, and he will receive him with favour; and he shall see his face with shoutings, and he will render unto man his righteousness. |
| 27 | He will sing before men, and say, I have sinned, and perverted what was right, and it hath not been requited to me; |
| 28 | He hath delivered my soul from going into the pit, and my life shall see the light. |
| 29 | Lo, all these [things] worketh �God twice, thrice, with man, |
| 30 | To bring back his soul from the pit, that he may be enlightened with the light of the living. |
| 31 | Mark well, Job, hearken unto me; be silent, and I will speak. |
| 32 | If thou hast anything to say, answer me; speak, for I desire to justify thee. |
| 33 | If not, hearken thou unto me; be silent, and I will teach thee wisdom. |