1"Wherefore, Job, please hear my speech, and hearken to all my words.

2Behold, now I have opened my mouth, my tongue has spoken in my mouth,

3My words shall be from the uprightness of my heart, and my lips will clearly speak knowledge.

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

5If you can, answer me; set yourself in order before me, stand up.

6Behold, I am according to your wish in God's stead; I also am formed out of the clay.

7Behold, my terror shall not make you afraid, and my burden shall not be heavy upon you.

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

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

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

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

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

13Why do you fight against Him? For He does not give account for any of His matters.

14For God speaks once, yea, twice, yet man does not perceive it.

15In a dream, a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls upon men; while they slumber upon the bed;

16Then He opens the ear of men and seals their instruction,

17So that He may turn man away from his own purpose, that He may keep man from pride.

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

19He also chastened man with pain upon his bed, and with strong pain in his bones;

20So that his life abhors bread, and his soul detests desirable food.

21His flesh visibly consumes away; and his bones that were not seen stick out.

22Yea, his soul draws near to the pit, and his life to the destroyers.

23If there is a messenger for him, a mediator, one among a thousand, to vouch for a man's uprightness,

24Then He is gracious to him and says, 'Deliver him from going down to the pit; for I have found a ransom. '

25His flesh shall be fresher than a child's; he shall return to the days of his youth;

26He shall pray to God, and He will be gracious to him; and he shall see His face with joy, for He will restore to man his righteousness.

27He will observe men, and if any says, 'I have sinned and perverted what is right; and it profited me nothing,'

28He will rescue his soul from going into the pit, and his life shall see the light.

29Lo, all these things God does twice, yea, three times with a man,

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

31Hear this, Job, hearken unto me; be silent and I will speak.

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

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