1:
Hear therefore, O Job, my speeches, and hearken to all my words.
2:
Behold now I have opened my mouth, let my tongue speak within my jaws.
3:
My words are from my upright heart, and my lips shall speak a pure sentence.
4:
The spirit of God made me, and the breath of the Almighty gave me life.
5:
If thou canst, answer me, and stand up against my face.
6:
Behold God hath made me as well as thee, and of the same clay I also was formed.
7:
But yet let not my wonder terrify thee, and let not my eloquence be burdensome to thee.
8:
Now thou has said in my hearing, and I have heard the voice of thy words :
9:
I am clean, and without sin : I am unspotted, and there is no iniquity in me.
10:
Because he hath found complaints against me, therefore he hath counted me for his enemy.
11:
He hath put my feet in the stocks, he hath observed all my paths.
12:
Now this is the thing in which thou art not justified : I will answer thee, that God is greater than man.
13:
Dost thou strive against him, because he hath not answered thee to all words?
14:
God speaketh once, and repeateth not the selfsame thing the second time.
15:
By a dream in a vision by night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, and they are sleeping in their beds :
16:
Then he openeth the ears of men, and teaching instructeth them in what they are to learn.
17:
That he may withdraw a man from the things he is doing, and may deliver him from pride.
18:
Rescuing his soul from corruption : and his life from passing to the sword.
19:
He rebuketh also by sorrow in the bed, and he maketh all his bones to wither.
20:
Bread becometh abominable to him in his life, and to his soul the meat which before he desired.
21:
His flesh shall be consumed away, and his bones that were covered shall be made bare.
22:
His soul hath drawn near to corruption, and his life to the destroyers.
23:
If there shall be an angel speaking for him, one among thousands, to declare man's uprightness,
24:
He shall have mercy on him, and shall say : Deliver him, that he may not go down to corruption : I have found wherein I may be merciful to him.
25:
His flesh is consumed with punishment, let him return to the days of his youth.
26:
He shall pray to God, and he will be gracious to him : and he shall see his face with joy, and he will render to man his justice.
27:
He shall look upon men, and shall say : I have sinned, and indeed I have offended, and I have not received what I have deserved.
28:
He hath delivered his soul from going into destruction, that it may live and see the light.
29:
Behold, all these things God worketh three times within every one.
30:
That he may withdraw their souls from corruption, and enlighten them with the light of the living.
31:
Attend, Job, and hearken to me : and hold thy peace, whilst I speak.
32:
But if thou hast any thing to say, answer me, speak : for I would have thee to appear just.
33:
And if thou have not, hear me : hold thy peace, and I will teach thee wisdom.