1 WHEREFORE, hear my speech, O Job, and hearken to all my sayings.

2 Behold, now I have opened my mouth, my tongue speaks in my mouth.

3 The words of my mouth are upright, and the utterances of my lips are pure.

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

5 If you can answer me, then prepare yourself and stand up before me.

6 For I am also like you before God; I also am formed out of clay.

7 Therefore my admonishings will not make you to tremble, neither will my rebuke be heavy upon you.

8 Surely you have spoken in my hearing, and I have heard the voice of your words, saying,

9 I am blameless without transgressions, I am righteous; and there is no iniquity in me, and I am far removed from wickedness.

10 Behold, he finds occasions against me, he counts me as his enemy.

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

12 Behold, in this you cannot justify yourself; I will answer you, that God is greater than man.

13 Why do you strive with him, seeing that he does not give an account of any of his matters?

14 For God speaks once; he does not speak a second time;

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 humbles them according to their rebelliousness.

17 That he may cause man to depart from his evil-doings, and remove pride from him;

18 He spares his soul from corruption, and his life from perdition.

19 Man is chastened also with pain upon his bed, and the multitude of his bones with strong pain;

20 So that his flesh fails because of his fear, and his soul is not satisfied with bread, and covets food.

21 His flesh is wasted away because of his fear, so that a greater part of his bones can he seen.

22 Yea, his soul draws near to corruption, and his life to death.

23 If a man have an angel to whom one would listen once in a thousand times, the angel would show him the way of uprightness

24 And be gracious to him and say, Deliver this man lest he go down to corruption; he has found salvation;

25 Then his flesh will change to that of his childhood; and he shall return to the days of his youth;

26 And he shall pray to God, and he will hear him and be pleased with him, and God shall appear before him with glory; for he will render to men his righteousness.

27 Then the uprightness will bear witness concerning the man; and he shall say, I have truly sinned and I am at fault; and it profiteth me not;

28 Deliver my soul from perdition, and my life shall see the light.

29 Lo, all these things God does three times with a man,

30 To bring back his soul from corruption, to see the light of the living.

31 Incline your ear, O Job, hearken to me; be silent, and I will speak.

32 If you have anything to say, answer me; for I desire that you may be justified.

33 But if you will not listen, then be silent, and I shall teach you wisdom.