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¹ Howbeit hear, Job, my words, and hearken to my speech. ² For behold, I have opened my mouth, and my tongue has spoken. ³ My heart shall be found pure by my words; and the understanding of my lips shall meditate purity. ⁴ The Divine Spirit is that which formed me, and the breath of the Almighty that which teaches me. ⁵ If thou canst, give me an answer: wait therefore; stand against me, and I will stand against thee. ⁶ Thou art formed out of the clay as also I: we have been formed out of the same substance. ⁷ My fear shall not terrify thee, neither shall my hand be heavy upon thee.

⁸ But thou hast said in mine ears, (I have heard the voice of thy words;)because thou sayest, I am pure, not having sinned; ⁹ I am blameless, for I have not transgressed. ¹⁰ Yet he has discovered a charge against me, and he has reckoned me as an adversary. ¹¹ And he has put my foot in the stocks, and has watched all my ways. ¹² For how sayest thou, I am righteous, yet he has not hearkened to me? for he that is above mortals is eternal. ¹³ But thou sayest, Why has he not heard every word of my cause?

¹⁴ For when the Lord speaks once, or a second time, ¹⁵ sending a dream, or in the meditation of the night; (as when a dreadful alarm happens to fall upon men, in slumberings on the bed:) ¹⁶ then opens he the understanding of men: he scares them with such fearful visions: ¹⁷ to turn a man from unrighteousness, and he delivers his body from a fall. ¹⁸ He spares also his soul from death, and suffers him not to fall in war.

¹⁹ And again, he chastens him with sickness on his bed, and the multitude of his bones is benumbed. ²⁰ And he shall not be able to take any food, though his soul shall desire meat; ²¹ until his flesh shall be consumed, and he shall shew his bones bare. ²² His soul also draws nigh to death, and his life is in Hades. ²³ Though there should be a thousand messengers of death, not one of them shall wound him: if he should purpose in his heart to turn to the Lord, and declare to man his fault, and shew his folly; ²⁴ he will support him, that he should not perish, and will restore his body as fresh plaster upon a wall; and he will fill his bones with morrow. ²⁵ And he will make his flesh tender as that of a babe, and he will restore him among men in his full strength. ²⁶ And he shall pray to the Lord, and his prayer shall be accepted of him; he shall enter with a cheerful countenance, with a full expression of praise: for he will render to men their due. ²⁷ Even then a man shall blame himself, saying, What kind of things have I done? and he has not punished me according to the full amount of my sins. ²⁸ Deliver my soul, that it may not go to destruction, and my life shall see the light.

²⁹ Behold, all these things, the Mighty One works in a threefold manner with a man. ³⁰ And he has delivered my soul from death, that my life may praise him in the light. ³¹ Hearken, Job, and hear me: be silent, and I will speak. ³² If thou hast words, answer me: speak, for I desire thee to be justified. ³³ If not, do thou hear me: be silent, and I will teach thee.