1 ¶ Therefore, Job, I urge you, to listen to what I have to say, and give heed to all my words.

2 Behold, I have opened my mouth, my tongue is speaking in it.

3 My words will express the uprightness of my heart: and my lips will speak clearly what my heart knows.

4 The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty has given me life.

5 If you can refute me, prepare your case against me, take your stand.

6 Look, I am just like you before God: I have also been formed from the clay.

7 I will not terrify you, nor will my hand be heavy upon you.

8 ¶ But I heard you speak, and listened when you said,

9 I am clean without transgression, I am innocent; nor is there iniquity in me.

10 He finds occasions against me, he regards me as his enemy,

11 He puts my feet in the stocks, he watches all my ways.

12 Behold, in this you are not right: I tell you, that God is greater than man.

13 Why do you quarrel with him? for he does not account to anyone for what he does.

14 ¶ For God speaks time and again, yet man does not notice.

15 In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls upon men, while slumbering upon the bed;

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

17 In order to turn a person from his actions, and suppress his pride.

18 He keeps back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword.

19 ¶ He is also chastened with pain on his bed, and constant distress in his bones:

20 So that he loathes bread, and has no appetite for delicious food.

21 His flesh wastes away to nothing; and his bones that could not be seen before stick out.

22 Yea, his soul draws near to the grave, and his life to those already dead.

23 If there is a messenger with him, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to show to man his righteousness:

24 Then God is gracious to him, and says, Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom.

25 His flesh will be fresher than a child’s: he will return to the days of his youth:

26 He will pray to God, and he will be favorable to him: and he will see his face with joy: for he will render to man his righteousness.

27 He looks upon men, and if any say, I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and did not receive the punishment I deserved;

28 God will deliver him from the grave, and his life will see the light.

29 ¶ Lo, God often does all this with a man,

30 To bring back his soul from the pit, that he may be enlightened with the light of the living.

31 Give heed, O Job, listen to me: keep silent, and I will speak.

32 If you have any thing to say, answer me: speak, for I want to justify you.

33 If not, listen to me: hold your peace, and I will teach you wisdom.