1Howbeit, Job, I pray thee, hear my speech,
2Behold now, I have opened my mouth; My tongue hath spoken in my mouth.
3My words [shall utter] the uprightness of my heart; And that which my lips know they shall speak sincerely.
4The Spirit of God hath made me,
5If thou canst, answer thou me; Set [thy words] in order before me, stand forth.
6Behold, I am toward God even as thou art:
7Behold, my terror shall not make thee afraid,
8Surely thou hast spoken in my hearing,
9I am clean, without transgression; I am innocent, neither is there iniquity in me:
10Behold, he findeth occasions against me,
11He putteth my feet in the stocks,
12Behold, I will answer thee, in this thou art not just; For God is greater than man.
13Why dost thou strive against him,
14For God speaketh once,
15In a dream, in a vision of the night,
16Then he openeth the ears of men,
17That he may withdraw man [from his] purpose,
18He keepeth back his soul from the pit,
19He is chastened also with pain upon his bed,
20So that his life abhorreth bread,
21His flesh is consumed away, that it cannot be seen; And his bones that were not seen stick out.
22Yea, his soul draweth near unto the pit,
23If there be with him an angel,
24Then [God] is gracious unto him, and saith,
25His flesh shall be fresher than a child's; He returneth to the days of his youth.
26He prayeth unto God, and he is favorable unto him,
27He singeth before men, and saith,
28He hath redeemed my soul from going into the pit,
29Lo, all these things doth God work,
30To bring back his soul from the pit,
31Mark well, O Job, hearken unto me:
32If thou hast anything to say, answer me:
33If not, hearken thou unto me: