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¹ Wherefore, Iob, I pray thee, heare my speeches, and hearken to all my wordes. ² Behold, now I haue opened my mouth, my tongue hath spoken in my mouth. ³ My words shalbe of the vprightnesse of my heart: and my lippes shall vtter knowledge clearely. ⁴ The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almightie hath giuen me life. ⁵ If thou canst, answere me, set thy wordes in order before me, stand vp. ⁶ Behold, I am according to thy wish in Gods stead: I also am formed out of the clay. ⁷ Behold, my terrour shall not make thee afraid, neither shall my hand be heauie vpon thee.

⁸ Surely thou hast spoken in mine hearing, and I haue heard the voice of thy words, saying, ⁹ I am cleane without transgression, I am innocent; neither is there iniquitie in me. ¹⁰ Behold, hee findeth occasions against mee, hee counteth mee for his enemie. ¹¹ He putteth my feete in the stockes, he marketh all my pathes. ¹² Behold, in this thou art not iust: I will answere thee, That God is greater then man. ¹³ Why doest thou striue against him? for he giueth not account of any of his matters.

¹⁴ For God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiueth it not. ¹⁵ In a dreame, in a vision of the night, when deepe sleepe falleth vpon men, in slumbrings vpon the bed: ¹⁶ Then hee openeth the eares of men, and sealeth their instruction, ¹⁷ That hee may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man. ¹⁸ Hee keepeth backe his soule from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword.

¹⁹ Hee is chastened also with paine vpon his bed, and the multitude of his bones with strong paine. ²⁰ So that his life abhorreth bread, and his soule daintie meate. ²¹ His flesh is consumed away that it cannot be seene; and his bones that were not seene, sticke out. ²² His soule draweth neere vnto the graue, and his life to the destroyers. ²³ If there be a messenger with him, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to shew vnto man his vprightnesse: ²⁴ Then hee is gracious vnto him, and sayth, Deliuer him from going downe to the pit; I haue found a ransome. ²⁵ His flesh shall be fresher then a childes: he shall returne to the dayes of his youth. ²⁶ He shall pray vnto God, and hee will be fauourable vnto him, and hee shall see his face with ioy: for hee will render vnto man his righteousnesse. ²⁷ He looketh vpon men, and if any say, I haue sinned, and peruerted that which was right, and it profited mee not: ²⁸ Hee will deliuer his soule from going into the pit, and his life shall see the light.

²⁹ Loe, all these things worketh God oftentimes with man, ³⁰ To bring backe his soule from the pit, to be enlightened with the light of the liuing. ³¹ Marke well, O Iob, hearken vnto me, hold thy peace, and I wil speake. ³² If thou hast any thing to say, answere me: speake, for I desire to iustifie thee. ³³ If not, hearken vnto me: holde thy peace, and I shall teach thee wisedome.