King James Bible

New American Standard Bible 1995

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

4"The 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.

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

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

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

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

7"Behold, no fear of me should terrify you, Nor should my pressure weigh heavily on 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 hearing, And I have heard the sound of your words:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

18He keepeth 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

22"Then his soul draws near to 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:

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 unto him, and saith, 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 fresher than 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 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 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.

27He looketh upon men, and if any say, I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it profited me not;

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 deliver his soul from going into 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.'

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

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

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 enlightened with the light of life.

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

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

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

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

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

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

King James Bible, text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.

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