After this, Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth.

“But God saves [the innocent] from the sword of the mouth of the devious,
And the poor from the hand of the mighty.

“So the helpless have hope,
And injustice shuts its mouth.

“Therefore I will not restrain my mouth;
I will speak in the anguish of my spirit,
I will complain in the bitterness of my soul [O Lord].

“How long will you say these things?
And will the words of your mouth be a mighty wind?

“He will yet fill your mouth with laughter
And your lips with joyful shouting [if you are found blameless].

“Though I am innocent and in the right, my own mouth would pronounce me guilty;
Though I am blameless, He would denounce me as guilty.

“Does the ear not put words to the test,
Just as the palate tastes its food [distinguishing between the desirable and the undesirable]?

“For your guilt teaches your mouth,
And you choose [to speak] the language of the crafty and cunning.

“Your own mouth condemns you, and not I;
Yes, your own lips testify against you.

That you should turn your spirit against God
And let such words [as you have spoken] go out of your mouth?

“He will not escape from darkness [fleeing disaster];
The flame [of God’s wrath] will wither his branch,
And by the blast of His mouth he will go away.

“[But instead] I could strengthen and encourage you with [the words of] my mouth,
And the consolation and solace of my lips would soothe your suffering and lessen your anguish.

“Though evil and wickedness are sweet in his mouth
And he hides it under his tongue,

Though he desires it and will not let it go
But holds it in his mouth,

“Look at me and be astonished and appalled;
And put your hand over your mouth.

“Please receive the law and instruction from His mouth
And establish His words in your heart and keep them.

“I would present my cause before Him
And fill my mouth with arguments.

“I have not departed from the commandment of His lips;
I have kept the words of His mouth more than my necessary food.

And my heart became secretly enticed [by them],
And my hand threw a kiss from my mouth [in respect to them],

“No, I have not allowed my mouth to sin
By cursing my enemy and asking for his life.

“Behold, I have opened my mouth [to begin my speech];
My tongue in my mouth is going to speak.

Job uselessly opens his mouth
And multiplies words without knowledge [drawing the worthless conclusion that the righteous have no more advantage than the wicked].”

“Then indeed, He enticed you from the mouth of distress and confinement,
Into a broad place where there is no constraint or distress;
And that which was set on your table was full of fatness (rich food).

“Listen carefully to the thunder of His voice,
And the rumbling that goes out of His mouth!

“Behold, I am of little importance and contemptible; what can I reply to You?
I lay my hand on my mouth.

“If a river rages and overflows, he does not tremble;
He is confident, though the Jordan [River] swells and rushes against his mouth.

“Who can open the doors (jaws) of his face?
Around his [open jaws and] teeth there is terror.

“Out of his mouth go burning torches,
And sparks of fire leap out.

“His breath kindles coals,
And a flame goes forth from his mouth.