1. |
Howbeit, Job, I pray thee, hear my speech, And hearken to all my words. |
2. |
Behold now, I have opened my mouth; My tongue hath spoken in my mouth. |
3. |
My words `shall utter' the uprightness of my heart; And that which my lips know they shall speak sincerely. |
4. |
The Spirit of God hath made me, And the breath of the Almighty giveth me life. |
5. |
If thou canst, answer thou me; Set `thy words' in order before me, stand forth. |
6. |
Behold, I am toward God even as thou art: I also am formed out of the clay. |
7. |
Behold, my terror shall not make thee afraid, Neither shall my pressure 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 transgression; I am innocent, neither is there iniquity in me: |
10. |
Behold, he findeth occasions 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 just; For God is greater than man. |
13. |
Why dost thou strive against him, For that he giveth not account of any of his matters? |
14. |
For God speaketh once, Yea twice, `though man' regardeth 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 the ears of men, And sealeth their instruction, |
17. |
That he may withdraw man `from his' purpose, And hide pride from man; |
18. |
He keepeth back his soul from the pit, And his life from perishing by the sword. |
19. |
He is chastened also with pain upon his bed, And with continual strife in his bones; |
20. |
So that his life abhorreth bread, And his soul dainty food. |
21. |
His flesh is consumed away, that it cannot be seen; And his bones that were not seen stick out. |
22. |
Yea, his soul draweth near unto the pit, And his life to the destroyers. |
23. |
If there be with him an angel, An interpreter, one among a thousand, To show unto man what is right for him; |
24. |
Then `God' is gracious unto him, and saith, Deliver him from going down to the pit, I have found a ransom. |
25. |
His flesh shall be fresher than a child's; He returneth to the days of his youth. |
26. |
He prayeth unto God, and he is favorable unto him, So that he seeth his face with joy: And he restoreth unto man his righteousness. |
27. |
He singeth before men, and saith, I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, And it profited me not: |
28. |
He hath redeemed my soul from going into the pit, And my life shall behold the light. |
29. |
Lo, all these things doth God work, Twice, `yea' thrice, with a man, |
30. |
To bring back his soul from the pit, That he may be enlightened with the light of the living. |
31. |
Mark well, O Job, hearken unto me: Hold thy peace, 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: Hold thy peace, and I will teach thee wisdom. |