1 ¶ Therefore, Job, hear now my reasons, and hearken to all my words.

2 B ehold, now I shall open my mouth, my tongue shall speak in my mouth.

3 M y reasons declare the uprightness of my heart; and my lips shall utter pure knowledge.

4 T he Spirit of God made me, and the breath of the Almighty gave me life.

5 I f thou canst answer me, set thy words in order before me, stand up.

6 B ehold, I am according to thy wish in God’s stead; I also am formed out of the clay.

7 B ehold, my terror shall not make thee afraid, neither shall my hand be heavy upon thee.

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

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

10 B ehold, God sought occasions against me, he counts me for his enemy,

11 h e put my feet in the stocks, he guards all my paths.

12 B ehold, in this thou art not just; I will answer thee, that God is greater than man.

13 W hy dost thou strive against him? For he will not answer all of thy words.

14 ¶ Nevertheless, in one or two manners God speaks to the one who does not see.

15 I n a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls upon men, in slumberings upon the bed;

16 t hen he opens the ears of men and seals their instruction,

17 t hat he may withdraw the man from his own work and cover the man from pride.

18 T hus he keeps back his soul from the pit and his life from perishing by the sword.

19 ¶ He is chastened also upon his bed with strong pain in all his bones,

20 s o that his life abhors bread and his soul dainty food.

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

22 H is soul shall draw near to the grave, and his life to those that would bury him.

23 I f there is a messenger with him, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to show unto man his uprightness;

24 t o tell him that God had mercy on him, that he delivered him from going down to the pit; that he found a ransom;

25 h is flesh shall become more tender than a child’s; and he shall return to the days of his youth.

26 H e shall pray unto God, and he will love him; and he shall see his face with shouts of joy; for he will render unto the man the recompense of his righteousness.

27 H e looks upon men, and if any say, I have sinned and perverted that which was right, and it did not profit me;

28 G od will ransom his soul from going into the pit, and his life shall see the light.

29 ¶ Behold, God does all these things two and three times with man,

30 t o turn back his soul from the pit, to be enlightened with the light of the living.

31 H ear me, O Job, hearken unto me; be silent, and I will speak.

32 I f thou hast anything to say, answer me; speak, for I desire to justify thee.

33 I f not, hearken unto me; be silent, and I shall teach thee wisdom.