Read the Bible

¹ Howbeit, Job, I pray thee, hear mine utterances, and hearken to all my words.

² Behold now, I have opened my mouth, my tongue speaketh in my palate,

³ My words shall be of the uprightness of my heart, and my lips shall utter knowledge purely.

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

⁵ If thou canst, answer me; array [thy words] before me: take thy stand.

⁶ Behold, before God I am as thou; I also am formed out of the clay.

⁷ Behold, my terror shall not make thee afraid, nor my burden be heavy upon thee.

⁸ Surely thou hast spoken in my hearing, and I have heard the voice of [thy] words:—

⁹ I am clean without transgression; I am pure, and there is no iniquity in me;

¹⁰ Lo, he findeth occasions of hostility against me, he counteth me for his enemy;

¹¹ He putteth my feet in the stocks, he marketh all my paths.

¹² Behold, I will answer thee in this, thou art not right; for +God is greater than man.

¹³ Why dost thou strive against him? for he giveth not account of any of his matters.

¹⁴ For God speaketh once, and twice,—[and man] perceiveth it not—

¹⁵ In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed;

¹⁶ Then he openeth men's ears, and sealeth their instruction,

¹⁷ That he may withdraw man [from his] work, and hide pride from man.

¹⁸ He keepeth back his soul from the pit, and his life from passing away by the sword.

¹⁹ He is chastened also with pain upon his bed, and with constant strife in his bones;

²⁰ And his life abhorreth bread, and his soul dainty food;

²¹ His flesh is consumed away from view, and his bones that were not seen stick out;

²² And his soul draweth near to the pit, and his life to the destroyers.

²³ If there be a messenger with him, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to shew unto man his duty;

²⁴ Then he will be gracious unto him, and say, Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom.

²⁵ His flesh shall be fresher than in childhood; he shall return to the days of his youth.

²⁶ He shall pray unto +God, and he will receive him with favour; and he shall see his face with shoutings, and he will render unto man his righteousness.

²⁷ He will sing before men, and say, I have sinned, and perverted what was right, and it hath not been requited to me;

²⁸ He hath delivered my soul from going into the pit, and my life shall see the light.

²⁹ Lo, all these [things] worketh God twice, thrice, with man,

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

³¹ Mark well, Job, hearken unto me; be silent, and I will speak.

³² If thou hast anything to say, answer me; speak, for I desire to justify thee.

³³ If not, hearken thou unto me; be silent, and I will teach thee wisdom.