The Preacher's Bible

“However, Job, please hear my speech, and listen to all my words.

²See now, I have opened my mouth. My tongue has spoken in my mouth.

³My words will utter the uprightness of my heart. That which my lips know they will speak sincerely.

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

⁵If you can, answer me. Set your words in order before me, and stand up.

⁶Behold, I am toward God even as you are. I am also formed out of the clay.

⁷Behold, my terror will not make you afraid, neither will my pressure be heavy on you.

⁸“Surely you have spoken in my hearing, I have heard the voice of your words, saying,

⁹‘I am clean, without disobedience. I am innocent, neither is there iniquity in me.

¹⁰Behold, he finds occasions against me. He counts me for his enemy.

¹¹He puts my feet in the stocks. He marks all my paths.’

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

¹³Why do you strive against him, because he doesn’t give account of any of his matters?

¹⁴For God speaks once, yes twice, though man pays no attention.

¹⁵In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on men, in slumbering on the bed,

¹⁶then he opens the ears of men, and seals their instruction,

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

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

¹⁹“He is chastened also with pain on his bed, with continual strife in his bones,

²⁰so that his life abhors bread, and his soul dainty food.

²¹His flesh is so consumed away that it can’t be seen. His bones that were not seen stick out.

²²Yes, his soul draws near to the pit, and his life to the destroyers.

²³“If there is beside him an angel, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to show to man what is right for him,

²⁴then God is gracious to him, and says, ‘Deliver him from going down to the pit, I have found a ransom.’

²⁵His flesh will be fresher than a child’s. He returns to the days of his youth.

²⁶He prays to God, and he is favorable to him, so that he sees his face with joy. He restores to man his righteousness.

²⁷He sings before men, and says, ‘I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it didn’t profit me.

²⁸He has redeemed my soul from going into the pit. My life will see the light.’

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

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

³¹Mark well, Job, and listen to me. Hold your peace, and I will speak.

³²If you have anything to say, answer me. Speak, for I desire to justify you.

³³If not, listen to me. Hold your peace, and I will teach you wisdom.”