English Standard Version

International Standard Version

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

1"Now please listen to what I have to say, Job. Listen to every word!

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

2Look! I've begun to speak, and I'm fashioning my words.

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

3I speak from the innocence of my heart; and my lips will utter what I sincerely know.

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

4"The spirit of God fashioned me; and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.

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

5Answer me, if you can! Present your case! Take your stand in my presence!

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

6Look! As far as God is concerned, I'm just like you are— I, too, have been pinched off from a piece of clay.

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

7Don't be afraid of me; I'll go easy on you."

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

8"You spoke clearly so I could hear; I've heard what you've said:

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

9I'm pure. I'm without sin; I'm innocent. I'm harboring no iniquity inside of me.

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

10Nevertheless, God has found a pretext to attack me; he considers me his enemy.

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

11He has bound my feet in shackles, and keeps watching everything I do.'"

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

12"You aren't right about this; My response is that God is greater than human beings.

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

13Why are you arguing with him? He doesn't have to give explanations for what he does to you!

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

14"God speaks time and time again — but nobody notices—

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

15in a dream or night vision, when a deep sleep falls on mankind while they sleep on their beds.

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

16That's when he opens the ear of mankind, authenticating his messages to them,

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

17turning a person from his actions, keeping him from pride,

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

18sparing his soul from the Pit and his life from violent death.

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

19"He is being reproved by painful bed rest, with continual aching in his bones.

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

20He cannot stand his food, and he has no desire for appetizing food.

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

21His flesh wastes away; his bones, which once couldn't be seen, are visible.

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

22His soul is getting close to the Pit; his life is approaching its executioner."

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

23"If there's a messenger appointed to mediate for Job —one out of a thousand— to represent the man's integrity on his behalf,

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

24to show favor to him and to plead, 'Deliver him from having to go down to the Pit — I know where his ransom is!'

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

25Let his flesh be rejuvenated as he was in his youth! Let him recover the strength of his youth.

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.

26Let him pray to God and he will accept him; he will appear before him with joyful shouts!"

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

27"He'll sing to mankind with these words: 'I've sinned. I have twisted what is right. Yet he has not repaid me like I deserve.

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

28He has redeemed my soul from going down to the Pit; my life will see the light.'

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

29Indeed God does all these things again and again with a person

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

30to bring back his soul from the Pit; to light him with the light of life."

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

31"Job, pay attention! Listen to me! Be silent and let me speak.

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

32If you have anything to say, answer me; speak up, because I'd be happy to vindicate you.

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

33But if you have nothing to say, then at least listen to me! Be quiet and learn some wisdom from me."

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.

The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY.