1"Please, Job, listen to my words and consider everything I say.

2I've opened my mouth. The words are on the tip of my tongue.

3My words are straight from the heart, and I sincerely speak the knowledge that is on my lips.

4"God's Spirit has made me. The breath of the Almighty gives me life.

5Answer me if you can. Present your case to me, and take your stand.

6Indeed, I stand in front of God as you do. I, too, was formed from a piece of clay.

7You certainly don't need to be terrified of me. I won't put too much pressure on you.

8"But you spoke directly to me, and I listened to your words.

9[You said,] 'I'm pure-without any rebellious acts [against God]. I'm clean; I have no sin.

10God is only looking for an excuse to attack me. He considers me his enemy.

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

12You aren't right about this! I've got an answer for you: God is greater than any mortal.

13Why do you quarrel with him since he doesn't answer any questions?

14"God speaks in one way, even in two ways without people noticing it:

15In a dream, a prophetic vision at night, when people fall into a deep sleep, when they sleep on their beds,

16he opens people's ears and terrifies them with warnings.

17[He warns them] to turn away from doing [wrong] and to stop being arrogant.

18He keeps their souls from the pit and their lives from crossing the River [of Death].

19In pain on their sickbeds, they are disciplined with endless aching in their bones

20so that their whole being hates food and they lose their appetite for a delicious meal.

21Their flesh becomes so thin that it can't be seen. Their bones, not seen before, will be exposed.

22Their souls approach the pit. Their lives come close to those already dead.

23"If they have a messenger for them, a spokesman, one in a thousand, to tell people what is right for them,

24then he will have pity on them and say, 'Free them from going into the pit. I have found a ransom.'

25Then their flesh will become softer than a child's. They will go back to the days of their youth.

26They will pray to God, who will be pleased with them. They will see God's face and shout for joy as he restores their righteousness.

27Each one sings in front of other people and says, 'I sinned and did wrong instead of what was right, and it did me no good.

28The messenger has freed my soul from going into the pit, and my life will see the light.'

29Truly, God does all this two or three times with people

30to turn their souls away from the pit and to enlighten them with the light of life.

31"Pay attention, Job! Listen to me! Keep quiet, and let me speak.

32If you have a response, answer me. Speak, because I'd be happy if you were right.

33If not, you listen to me. Keep quiet, and I'll teach you wisdom."