New King James Version

New American Standard Bible 1995

1“But please, Job, hear my speech, And listen to all my words.

1"However now, Job, please hear my speech, And listen to all my words.

2Now, I open my mouth; My tongue speaks in my mouth.

2"Behold now, I open my mouth, My tongue in my mouth speaks.

3My words come from my upright heart; My lips utter pure knowledge.

3"My words are from the uprightness of my heart, And my lips speak knowledge sincerely.

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

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

5If you can answer me, Set your words in order before me; Take your stand.

5"Refute me if you can; Array yourselves before me, take your stand.

6Truly I am as your spokesman before God; I also have been formed out of clay.

6"Behold, I belong to God like you; I too have been formed out of the clay.

7Surely no fear of me will terrify you, Nor will my hand be heavy on you.

7"Behold, no fear of me should terrify you, Nor should my pressure weigh heavily on you.

8“Surely you have spoken in my hearing, And I have heard the sound of your words, saying,

8"Surely you have spoken in my hearing, And I have heard the sound of your words:

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

9'I am pure, without transgression; I am innocent and there is no guilt in me.

10Yet He finds occasions against me, He counts me as His enemy;

10'Behold, He invents pretexts against me; He counts me as His enemy.

11He puts my feet in the stocks, He watches all my paths.’

11'He puts my feet in the stocks; He watches all my paths.'

12“Look, in this you are not righteous. I will answer you, For God is greater than man.

12"Behold, let me tell you, you are not right in this, For God is greater than man.

13Why do you contend with Him? For He does not give an accounting of any of His words.

13"Why do you complain against Him That He does not give an account of all His doings?

14For God may speak in one way, or in another, Yet man does not perceive it.

14"Indeed God speaks once, Or twice, yet no one notices it.

15In a dream, in a vision of the night, When deep sleep falls upon men, While slumbering on their beds,

15"In a dream, a vision of the night, When sound sleep falls on men, While they slumber in their beds,

16Then He opens the ears of men, And seals their instruction.

16Then He opens the ears of men, And seals their instruction,

17In order to turn man from his deed, And conceal pride from man,

17That He may turn man aside from his conduct, And keep man from pride;

18He keeps back his soul from the Pit, And his life from perishing by the sword.

18He keeps back his soul from the pit, And his life from passing over into Sheol.

19“Man is also chastened with pain on his bed, And with strong pain in many of his bones,

19"Man is also chastened with pain on his bed, And with unceasing complaint in his bones;

20So that his life abhors bread, And his soul succulent food.

20So that his life loathes bread, And his soul favorite food.

21His flesh wastes away from sight, And his bones stick out which once were not seen.

21"His flesh wastes away from sight, And his bones which were not seen stick out.

22Yes, his soul draws near the Pit, And his life to the executioners.

22"Then his soul draws near to the pit, And his life to those who bring death.

23“If there is a messenger for him, A mediator, one among a thousand, To show man His uprightness,

23"If there is an angel as mediator for him, One out of a thousand, To remind a man what is right for him,

24Then He is gracious to him, and says, ‘Deliver him from going down to the Pit; I have found a ransom’;

24Then let him be gracious to him, and say, 'Deliver him from going down to the pit, I have found a ransom';

25His flesh shall be young like a child’s, He shall return to the days of his youth.

25Let his flesh become fresher than in youth, Let him return to the days of his youthful vigor;

26He shall pray to God, and He will delight in him, He shall see His face with joy, For He restores to man His righteousness.

26Then he will pray to God, and He will accept him, That he may see His face with joy, And He may restore His righteousness to man.

27Then he looks at men and says, ‘I have sinned, and perverted what was right, And it did not profit me.’

27"He will sing to men and say, 'I have sinned and perverted what is right, And it is not proper for me.

28He will redeem his soul from going down to the Pit, And his life shall see the light.

28'He has redeemed my soul from going to the pit, And my life shall see the light.'

29“Behold, God works all these things, Twice, in fact, three times with a man,

29"Behold, God does all these oftentimes with men,

30To bring back his soul from the Pit, That he may be enlightened with the light of life.

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

31“Give ear, Job, listen to me; Hold your peace, and I will speak.

31"Pay attention, O Job, listen to me; Keep silent, and let me speak.

32If you have anything to say, answer me; Speak, for I desire to justify you.

32"Then if you have anything to say, answer me; Speak, for I desire to justify you.

33If not, listen to me; Hold your peace, and I will teach you wisdom.”

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

The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.

New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit //www.lockman.org