Therefore hearken unto me, ye men of understanding: far be it from God, that he should do wickedness; and from the Almighty, that he should commit iniquity.

If now thou hast understanding, hear this: hearken to the voice of my words.

How may a hater of right be a ruler? and will you say that the upright Ruler of all is evil?

There is no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.

And He gives quietness, who then can condemn? And when He hides His face, who can behold Him? And it may be against a nation and a man together;

So that godless men would not rule
Nor be snares for the people.

“For has anyone said to God,
‘I have endured my chastisement;
I will not offend anymore;

That which I see not teach thou me: if I have done iniquity, I will do no more.

Let men of understanding tell me, and let a wise man hearken unto me.

My desire is that Job may be tried unto the end because of his answers for wicked men.

so that we may not add to our sins, and lawlessness will be reckoned against us, speaking many words before LORD.

Thinkest thou this to be right, that thou saidst, My righteousness is more than God's?

For thou saidst, What advantage will it be unto thee? and, What profit shall I have, if I be cleansed from my sin?

I'm going to respond to that statement, and to your friends with you."

Thy wickedness may hurt a man as thou art; and thy righteousness may profit the son of man.

But none saith, Where is God my maker, who giveth songs in the night;

Suffer me a little, and I will shew thee that I have yet to speak on God's behalf.

I will fetch my knowledge from afar, and will ascribe righteousness to my Maker.

For truly my words shall not be false: he that is perfect in knowledge is with thee.

Their ear is open to his teaching, and he gives them orders so that their hearts may be turned from evil.

Every man may see it; man may behold it afar off.

Truly, God is great, greater than all our knowledge; the number of his years may not be searched out.

At this also my heart trembleth, and is moved out of his place.

A roaring voice followeth him: for his glorious majesty giveth such a thunder clap, that, though a man hear it, yet may he not perceive it afterward. It giveth a horrible sound,

He does wonders, more than may be searched out; great things of which we have no knowledge;

He sealeth up the hand of every man; that all men may know his work.

And it is turned round about by his counsels: that they may do whatsoever he commandeth them upon the face of the world in the earth.

“Tell us [Job] what words [of man] shall we say to such a Being;
We cannot state our case because of darkness [that is, our ignorance in the presence of the unsearchable God].

How may he have knowledge of my desire for talk with him? or did any man ever say, May destruction come on me?

Who is this who obscures My counsel
with ignorant words?

Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me.

“Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?
Tell Me, if you know and have understanding.

Where wast thou, when the morning stars praised me together, and all the children of God rejoiced triumphantly?

In My making a cloud its clothing, And thick darkness its swaddling band,

And brake up for it my decreed place, and set bars and doors,

when I declared: “You may come this far, but no farther;
your proud waves stop here”?

So that light may take hold of the corners of the earth
And shake the wickedness out of it?

That their light may be withdrawn from the lawless, and, the lofty arm, be shivered.

“Have you understood the expanse of the earth?
Tell Me, if you know all this.

then show me where light dwelleth, and where darkness is:

That you may take it to its territory
And that you may know the paths to its house?

Canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, that abundance of waters may cover thee?

Canst thou send lightnings, that they may go, and say unto thee, Here we are?

Do you go after food for the she-lion, or get meat so that the young lions may have enough,

That they may give no force for the multitude of people in the cities, neither regard the crying of the driver,

And forgetteth that the foot may crush them, or that the wild beast may break them.

She treats her young harshly, as if they were not her own,
with no fear that her labor may have been in vain.

From thence may he behold his pray, and look far about with his eyes.

Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth.

I have said once, and even twice, what was in my mind, but I will not do so again.

Gird up thy loins now like a man: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me.

Wilt thou also disannul my judgment? wilt thou condemn me, that thou mayest be righteous?

Will he make an agreement with you, so that you may take him as a servant for ever?

that thy companions may hew him in pieces, to be parted among the merchant men?

None is so fierce that dare stir him up: who then is able to stand before me?

Who hath prevented me, that I should repay him? whatsoever is under the whole heaven is mine.

Who has ever taken off his outer skin? who may come inside his inner coat of iron?

One is so near to the other that no air may come between them.

They take a grip of one another; they are joined together, so that they may not be parted.

The sword may come near him but is not able to go through him; the spear, or the arrow, or the sharp-pointed iron.

“He looks on everything that is high [without terror];
He is monarch over all the sons of pride. [And now, Job, who are you who does not dare to disturb the beast, yet who dares resist Me, the beast’s creator? Everything under the heavens is Mine; therefore, who can have a claim against God?]”

Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge? therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not.

Hear, I beseech thee, and I will speak: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me.

“I had heard of You [only] by the hearing of the ear,
But now my [spiritual] eye sees You.

“Therefore I retract [my words and hate myself]
And I repent in dust and ashes.”

And it was so, that after the LORD had spoken these words unto Job, the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite, My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends: for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath.

Therefore take unto you now seven bullocks and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and my servant Job shall pray for you: for him will I accept: lest I deal with you after your folly, in that ye have not spoken of me the thing which is right, like my servant Job.