Christian Standard Bible

English Standard Version

1But now, Job, pay attention to my speech, and listen to all my words.

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

2I am going to open my mouth; my tongue will form words on my palate.

2Behold, I open my mouth; the tongue in my mouth speaks.

3My words come from my upright heart, and my lips speak with sincerity what they know.

3My words declare the uprightness of my heart, and what my lips know they speak sincerely.

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

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

5Refute me if you can. Prepare your case against me; take your stand.

5Answer me, if you can; set your words in order before me; take your stand.

6I am just like you before God; I was also pinched off from a piece of clay.

6Behold, I am toward God as you are; I too was pinched off from a piece of clay.

7Fear of me should not terrify you; no pressure from me should weigh you down.

7Behold, no fear of me need terrify you; my pressure will not be heavy upon you.

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

8“Surely you have spoken in my ears, and I have heard the sound of your words.

9"I am pure, without transgression; I am clean and have no iniquity.

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

10But he finds reasons to oppose me; he regards me as his enemy.

10Behold, he finds occasions against me, he counts me as his enemy,

11He puts my feet in the stocks; he stands watch over all my paths."

11he puts my feet in the stocks and watches all my paths.’

12But I tell you that you are wrong in this matter, since God is greater than man.

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

13Why do you take him to court for not answering anything a person asks?

13Why do you contend against him, saying, ‘He will answer none of man’s words’?

14For God speaks time and again, but a person may not notice it.

14For God speaks in one way, and in two, though man does not perceive it.

15In a dream, a vision in the night, when deep sleep comes over people as they slumber on their beds,

15In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on men, while they slumber on their beds,

16he uncovers their ears and terrifies them with warnings,

16then he opens the ears of men and terrifies them with warnings,

17in order to turn a person from his actions and suppress the pride of a person.

17that he may turn man aside from his deed and conceal pride from a man;

18God spares his soul from the Pit, his life from crossing the river of death.

18he keeps back his soul from the pit, his life from perishing by the sword.

19A person may be disciplined on his bed with pain and constant distress in his bones,

19“Man is also rebuked with pain on his bed and with continual strife in his bones,

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

20so that his life loathes bread, and his appetite the choicest food.

21His flesh wastes away to nothing, and his unseen bones stick out.

21His flesh is so wasted away that it cannot be seen, and his bones that were not seen stick out.

22He draws near to the Pit, and his life to the executioners.

22His soul draws near the pit, and his life to those who bring death.

23If there is an angel on his side, one mediator out of a thousand, to tell a person what is right for him

23If there be for him an angel, a mediator, one of the thousand, to declare to man what is right for him,

24and to be gracious to him and say, "Spare him from going down to the Pit; I have found a ransom,"

24and he is merciful to him, and says, ‘Deliver him from going down into the pit; I have found a ransom;

25then his flesh will be healthier than in his youth, and he will return to the days of his youthful vigor.

25let his flesh become fresh with youth; let him return to the days of his youthful vigor’;

26He will pray to God, and God will delight in him. That person will see his face with a shout of joy, and God will restore his righteousness to him.

26then man prays to God, and he accepts him; he sees his face with a shout of joy, and he restores to man his righteousness.

27He will look at men and say, "I have sinned and perverted what was right; yet I did not get what I deserved.

27He sings before men and says: ‘I sinned and perverted what was right, and it was not repaid to me.

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

28He has redeemed my soul from going down into the pit, and my life shall look upon the light.’

29God certainly does all these things two or three times to a person

29“Behold, God does all these things, twice, three times, with a man,

30in order to turn him back from the Pit, so he may shine with the light of life.

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

31Pay attention, Job, and listen to me. Be quiet, and I will speak.

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

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

32If you have any words, answer me; speak, for I desire to justify you.

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

33If not, listen to me; be silent, and I will teach you wisdom.”

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.

ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.