Job

¹“However, Job, please hear my speech, and listen to all my words. ²See now, I have opened my mouth. My tongue has spoken in my mouth. ³My words will utter the uprightness of my heart. That which my lips know they will speak sincerely. ⁴The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life. ⁵If you can, answer me. Set your words in order before me, and stand up. ⁶Behold, I am toward God even as you are. I am also formed out of the clay. ⁷Behold, my terror will not make you afraid, neither will my pressure be heavy on you. ⁸“Surely you have spoken in my hearing, I have heard the voice of your words, saying, ⁹‘I am clean, without disobedience. I am innocent, neither is there iniquity in me. ¹⁰Behold, he finds occasions against me. He counts me for his enemy. ¹¹He puts my feet in the stocks. He marks all my paths.’ ¹²“Behold, I will answer you. In this you are not just, for God is greater than man. ¹³Why do you strive against him, because he doesn’t give account of any of his matters? ¹⁴For God speaks once, yes twice, though man pays no attention. ¹⁵In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on men, in slumbering on the bed, ¹⁶then he opens the ears of men, and seals their instruction, ¹⁷that he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man. ¹⁸He keeps back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword. ¹⁹“He is chastened also with pain on his bed, with continual strife in his bones, ²⁰so that his life abhors bread, and his soul dainty food. ²¹His flesh is so consumed away that it can’t be seen. His bones that were not seen stick out. ²²Yes, his soul draws near to the pit, and his life to the destroyers. ²³“If there is beside him an angel, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to show to man what is right for him, ²⁴then God is gracious to him, and says, ‘Deliver him from going down to the pit, I have found a ransom.’ ²⁵His flesh will be fresher than a child’s. He returns to the days of his youth. ²⁶He prays to God, and he is favorable to him, so that he sees his face with joy. He restores to man his righteousness. ²⁷He sings before men, and says, ‘I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it didn’t profit me. ²⁸He has redeemed my soul from going into the pit. My life will see the light.’ ²⁹“Behold, God does all these things, twice, yes three times, with a man, ³⁰to bring back his soul from the pit, that he may be enlightened with the light of the living. ³¹Mark well, Job, and listen to me. Hold your peace, and I will speak. ³²If you have anything to say, answer me. Speak, for I desire to justify you. ³³If not, listen to me. Hold your peace, and I will teach you wisdom.”