¹ Listen to my words Job. Pay attention to everything I say. ² I am about to open my mouth. My words are on the tip of my tongue. ³ My words come from an upright heart! My lips sincerely speak what I know. ⁴ The Spirit of God has made me. The Breath of the Almighty gives me life. ⁵ Answer me then, if you can, and prepare yourself to confront me. ⁶ I am just like you before God. I too have been taken from clay! ⁷ No fear of me should alarm you, nor should my hand be heavy upon you.

⁸ You have said in my hearing, I heard the very words: ⁹ I am pure and without sin! I am clean and free from guilt. ¹⁰ Yet God has found fault with me. He considers me his enemy! ¹¹ He fastens my feet in shackles and he keeps close watch on all my paths.

¹² But I tell you, Job, in this you are not right, for God is greater than man. ¹³ Why do you complain to him that he answers none of man's words? ¹⁴ God does speak, now one-way and then another, though man may not perceive it. ¹⁵ In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on men as they slumber in their beds, ¹⁶ he may speak in their ears and terrify them with warnings, ¹⁷ that turn man from wrongdoing and keep him from pride. ¹⁸ It is to preserve him from the pit and keep his life from perishing by the sword. ¹⁹ On the other hand a man may be chastened on a bed of pain with constant distress in his bones. ²⁰ His very being finds food repulsive and he loathes the choicest meal. ²¹ His flesh wastes away to nothing, and his bones, once hidden, now stick out. ²² He draws near to the pit and to the messengers of death. ²³ Yet if there is an angel on his side as a mediator, one out of a thousand, to tell a man what is right for him, ²⁴ to be gracious to him and say: 'Spare him from going down to the pit. I have found a ransom for him!' ²⁵ His flesh is renewed like a child's. It is restored as in the days of his youth. ²⁶ He prays to God and finds favor with him. He sees God's face and shouts for joy! God restores him to his righteous state. ²⁷ He comes to men and says: 'I sinned, and perverted what was right, but I did not get what I deserved.' ²⁸ He redeemed me from going down to the pit, and I will live to enjoy the light. ²⁹ God does all these things to a man twice, even three times. ³⁰ He turns him back from the pit that the light of life may shine on him. ³¹ Pay attention, Job, and listen to me! Be silent, and I will speak. ³² If you have anything to say answer me. Speak up, for I want you to be cleared. ³³ But if not, then listen to me. Be silent, and I will teach you wisdom.