King James Bible

English Standard Version

1Wherefore, Job, I pray thee, hear my speeches, and hearken to all my words.

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

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

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

3My words shall be of the uprightness of my heart: and my lips shall utter knowledge clearly.

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

4The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life.

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

5If thou canst answer me, set thy words in order before me, stand up.

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

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

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

7Behold, my terror shall not make thee afraid, neither shall my hand be heavy upon thee.

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

8Surely thou hast spoken in mine hearing, and I have heard the voice of thy words, saying,

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

9I am clean without transgression, I am innocent; neither is there iniquity in me.

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

10Behold, he findeth occasions against me, he counteth me for his enemy,

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

11He putteth my feet in the stocks, he marketh all my paths.

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

12Behold, in this thou art not just: I will answer thee, that God is greater than man.

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

13Why dost thou strive against him? for he giveth not account of any of his matters.

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

14For God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not.

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

15In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed;

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

16Then he openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction,

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

17That he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man.

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

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

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

19He is chastened also with pain upon his bed, and the multitude of his bones with strong pain:

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

20So that his life abhorreth bread, and his soul dainty meat.

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

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

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

22Yea, his soul draweth near unto the grave, and his life to the destroyers.

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

23If there be a messenger with him, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to shew unto man his uprightness:

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

24Then he is gracious unto him, and saith, Deliver 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;

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

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

26He shall pray unto God, and he will be favourable unto him: and he shall see his face with joy: for he will render unto man his righteousness.

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 looketh upon men, and if any say, I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it profited me not;

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

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

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

29Lo, all these things worketh God oftentimes with man,

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

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

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

31Mark well, O Job, hearken unto me: hold thy peace, and I will speak.

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

32If thou hast any thing to say, answer me: speak, for I desire to justify thee.

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

33If not, hearken unto me: hold thy peace, and I shall teach thee wisdom.

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

King James Bible, text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.

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.