1. |
And yet, I pray thee, O Job, Hear my speech and `to' all my words give ear. |
2. |
Lo, I pray thee, I have opened my mouth, My tongue hath spoken in the palate. |
3. |
Of the uprightness of my heart `are' my sayings, And knowledge have my lips clearly spoken. |
4. |
The Spirit of God hath made me, And the breath of the Mighty doth quicken me. |
5. |
If thou art able -- answer me, Set in array before me -- station thyself. |
6. |
Lo, I `am', according to thy word, for God, From the clay I -- I also, have been formed. |
7. |
Lo, my terror doth not frighten thee, And my burden on thee is not heavy. |
8. |
Surely -- thou hast said in mine ears, And the sounds of words I hear: |
9. |
`Pure `am' I, without transgression, Innocent `am' I, and I have no iniquity. |
10. |
Lo, occasions against me He doth find, He doth reckon me for an enemy to Him, |
11. |
He doth put in the stocks my feet, He doth watch all my paths.' |
12. |
Lo, `in' this thou hast not been righteous, I answer thee, that greater is God than man. |
13. |
Wherefore against Him hast thou striven, When `for' all His matters He answereth not? |
14. |
For once doth God speak, and twice, (He doth not behold it.) |
15. |
In a dream -- a vision of night, In the falling of deep sleep on men, In slumberings on a bed. |
16. |
Then He uncovereth the ear of men, And for their instruction sealeth: |
17. |
To turn aside man `from' doing, And pride from man He concealeth. |
18. |
He keepeth back his soul from corruption, And his life from passing away by a dart. |
19. |
And he hath been reproved With pain on his bed, And the strife of his bones `is' enduring. |
20. |
And his life hath nauseated bread, And his soul desirable food. |
21. |
His flesh is consumed from being seen, And high are his bones, they were not seen! |
22. |
And draw near to the pit doth his soul, And his life to those causing death. |
23. |
If there is by him a messenger, An interpreter -- one of a thousand, To declare for man his uprightness: |
24. |
Then He doth favour him and saith, `Ransom him from going down to the pit, I have found an atonement.' |
25. |
Fresher `is' his flesh than a child's, He returneth to the days of his youth. |
26. |
He maketh supplication unto God, And He accepteth him. And he seeth His face with shouting, And He returneth to man His righteousness. |
27. |
He looketh on men, and saith, `I sinned, And uprightness I have perverted, And it hath not been profitable to me. |
28. |
He hath ransomed my soul From going over into the pit, And my life on the light looketh.' |
29. |
Lo, all these doth God work, Twice -- thrice with man, |
30. |
To bring back his soul from the pit, To be enlightened with the light of the living. |
31. |
Attend, O Job, hearken to me, Keep silent, and I -- I do speak. |
32. |
If there are words -- answer me, Speak, for I have a desire to justify thee. |
33. |
If there are not -- hearken thou to me, Keep silent, and I teach thee wisdom. |