Job

1Hear therefore, O Job, my speeches, and hearken to all my words.

2Behold now I have opened my mouth, let my tongue speak within my jaws.

3My words are from my upright heart, and my lips shall speak a pure sentence.

4The spirit of God made me, and the breath of the Almighty gave me life.

5If thou canst, answer me, and stand up against my face.

6Behold God hath made me as well as thee, and of the same clay I also was formed.

7But yet let not my wonder terrify thee, and let not my eloquence be burdensome to thee.

8Now thou has said in my hearing, and I have heard the voice of thy words:

9I am clean, and without sin: I am unspotted, and there is no iniquity in me.

10Because he hath found complaints against me, therefore he hath counted me for his enemy.

11He hath put my feet in the stocks, he hath observed all my paths.

12Now this is the thing in which thou art not justified: I will answer thee, that God is greater than man.

13Dost thou strive against him, because he hath not answered thee to all words?

14God speaketh once, and repeateth not the selfsame thing the second time.

15By a dream in a vision by night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, and they are sleeping in their beds:

16Then he openeth the ears of men, and teaching instructeth them in what they are to learn.

17That he may withdraw a man from the things he is doing, and may deliver him from pride.

18Rescuing his soul from corruption: and his life from passing to the sword.

19He rebuketh also by sorrow in the bed, and he maketh all his bones to wither.

20Bread becometh abominable to him in his life, and to his soul the meat which before he desired.

21His flesh shall be consumed away, and his bones that were covered shall be made bare.

22His soul hath drawn near to corruption, and his life to the destroyers.

23If there shall be an angel speaking for him, one among thousands, to declare man’s uprightness,

24He 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.

25His flesh is consumed with punishment, let him return to the days of his youth.

26He 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.

27He shall look upon men, and shall say: I have sinned, and indeed I have offended, and I have not received what I have deserved.

28He hath delivered his soul from going into destruction, that it may live and see the light.

29Behold, all these things God worketh three times within every one.

30That he may withdraw their souls from corruption, and enlighten them with the light of the living.

31Attend, Job, and hearken to me: and hold thy peace, whilst I speak.

32But if thou hast any thing to say, answer me, speak: for I would have thee to appear just.

33And if thou have not, hear me: hold thy peace, and I will teach thee wisdom.

Elihu Rebukes Job

1“But now, O Job, hear my speech,and listen to all my words.

2Behold, I will open my mouth;my address is on the tip of my tongue.

3My words are from an upright heart,and my lips speak sincerely what I know.

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

5Refute me if you can;prepare your case and confront me.

6I am just like you before God;I was also formed from clay.

7Surely no fear of me should terrify you;nor will my hand be heavy upon you.

8Surely you have spoken in my hearing,and I have heard these very words:

9‘I am pure, without transgression;I am clean, with no iniquity in me.

10Yet God finds occasions against me;He counts me as His enemy.

11He puts my feet in the stocks;He watches over all my paths.’

12Behold, you are not right in this matter.I will answer you, for God is greater than man.

13Why do you complain to Himthat He answers nothing a man asks?

14For God speaks in one way and in another,yet no one notices.

15In a dream,in a vision in the night,when deep sleep falls upon menas they slumber on their beds,

16He opens their earsand terrifies them with warnings

17to turn a man from wrongdoingand keep him from pride,

18to preserve his soul from the Pitand his life from perishing by the sword.

19A man is also chastened on his bedwith pain and constant distress in his bones,

20so that he detests his bread,and his soul loathes his favorite food.

21His flesh wastes away from sight,and his hidden bones protrude.

22He draws near to the Pit,and his life to the messengers of death.

23Yet if there is a messenger on his side,one mediator in a thousand,to tell a man what is right for him,

24to be gracious to him and say,‘Spare him from going down to the Pit;I have found his ransom,’

25then his flesh is refreshed like a child’s;he returns to the days of his youth.

26He prays to God and finds favor;he sees God’s face and shouts for joy,and God restores His righteousnessto that man.

27Then he sings beforemenwith these words:‘I have sinned and perverted what was right;yet I did not get what I deserved.

28He redeemed my soul from going down to the Pit,and I will live to see the light.’

29Behold, all these things God does to a man,two or even three times,

30to bring back his soul from the Pit,that he may be enlightened with the light of life.

31Pay attention, Job, and listen to me;be silent, and I will speak.

32But if you have something to say, answer me;speak up, for I would like to vindicate you.

33But if not, then listen to me;be quiet, and I will teach you wisdom.”