Read the Bible

¹ And now, Job, listen carefully
    to all that I have to say.
² I am ready to say what's on my mind.
³ All my words are sincere,
    and I am speaking the truth.
⁴ God's spirit made me and gave me life.

⁵ Answer me if you can. Prepare your arguments.
⁶ You and I are the same in God's sight,
    both of us were formed from clay.
⁷ So you have no reason to fear me;
    I will not overpower you.

⁸ Now this is what I heard you say:
⁹ "I am not guilty; I have done nothing wrong.
    I am innocent and free from sin.
¹⁰ But God finds excuses for attacking me
    and treats me like an enemy.
^11 (a)He binds chains on my feet;
    he watches every move I make."

¹² But I tell you, Job, you are wrong.
    God is greater than any human being.
¹³ Why do you accuse God
    of never answering our complaints?
¹⁴ Although God speaks again and again,
    no one pays attention to what he says.
^15 (b)At night when people are asleep,
    God speaks in dreams and visions.
¹⁶ He makes them listen to what he says,
    and they are frightened at his warnings.
¹⁷ God speaks to make them stop their sinning
    and to save them from becoming proud.
¹⁸ He will not let them be destroyed;
    he saves them from death itself.
¹⁹ God corrects us by sending sickness
    and filling our bodies with pain.
²⁰ Those who are sick lose their appetites,
    and even the finest food looks revolting.
²¹ Their bodies waste away to nothing;
    you can see all their bones;
²²     they are about to go to the world of the dead.

²³ Perhaps an angel may come to their aid—
    one of God's thousands of angels,
    who remind us of our duty.
²⁴ In mercy the angel will say, "Release them!
    They are not to go down to the world of the dead.
    Here is the ransom to set them free."
²⁵ Their bodies will grow young and strong again;
²⁶     when they pray, God will answer;
    they will worship God with joy;
    God will set things right for them again.
²⁷ Each one will say in public, "I have sinned.
    I have not done right, but God spared me.
²⁸ He kept me from going to the world of the dead,
    and I am still alive."

²⁹ God does all this again and again;
³⁰     each one saves a person's life,
    and gives him the joy of living.

³¹ Now, Job, listen to what I am saying;
    be quiet and let me speak.
³² But if you have something to say, let me hear it;
    I would gladly admit you are in the right.
³³ But if not, be quiet and listen to me,
    and I will teach you how to be wise.