^{1 Ref} Howbeit, Job, I pray thee, hear my speech, And hearken to all my words.

^{2 Ref} Behold now, I have opened my mouth; My tongue hath spoken in my mouth.

^{3 Ref} My words `shall utter' the uprightness of my heart; And that which my lips know they shall speak sincerely.

^{4 Ref} The Spirit of God hath made me, And the breath of the Almighty giveth me life.

^{5 Ref} If thou canst, answer thou me; Set `thy words' in order before me, stand forth.

^{6 Ref} Behold, I am toward God even as thou art: I also am formed out of the clay.

^{7 Ref} Behold, my terror shall not make thee afraid, Neither shall my pressure be heavy upon thee.

^{8 Ref} Surely thou hast spoken in my hearing, And I have heard the voice of `thy' words, `saying',

^{9 Ref} I am clean, without transgression; I am innocent, neither is there iniquity in me:

^{10 Ref} Behold, he findeth occasions against me, He counteth me for his enemy:

^{11 Ref} He putteth my feet in the stocks, He marketh all my paths.

^{12 Ref} Behold, I will answer thee, in this thou art not just; For God is greater than man.

^{13 Ref} Why dost thou strive against him, For that he giveth not account of any of his matters?

^{14 Ref} For God speaketh once, Yea twice, `though man' regardeth it not.

^{15 Ref} In a dream, in a vision of the night, When deep sleep falleth upon men, In slumberings upon the bed;

^{16 Ref} Then he openeth the ears of men, And sealeth their instruction,

^{17 Ref} That he may withdraw man `from his' purpose, And hide pride from man;

^{18 Ref} He keepeth back his soul from the pit, And his life from perishing by the sword.

^{19 Ref} He is chastened also with pain upon his bed, And with continual strife in his bones;

^{20 Ref} So that his life abhorreth bread, And his soul dainty food.

^{21 Ref} His flesh is consumed away, that it cannot be seen; And his bones that were not seen stick out.

^{22 Ref} Yea, his soul draweth near unto the pit, And his life to the destroyers.

^{23 Ref} If there be with him an angel, An interpreter, one among a thousand, To show unto man what is right for him;

^{24 Ref} Then `God' is gracious unto him, and saith, Deliver him from going down to the pit, I have found a ransom.

^{25 Ref} His flesh shall be fresher than a child's; He returneth to the days of his youth.

^{26 Ref} He prayeth unto God, and he is favorable unto him, So that he seeth his face with joy: And he restoreth unto man his righteousness.

^{27 Ref} He singeth before men, and saith, I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, And it profited me not:

^{28 Ref} He hath redeemed my soul from going into the pit, And my life shall behold the light.

^{29 Ref} Lo, all these things doth God work, Twice, `yea' thrice, with a man,

^{30 Ref} To bring back his soul from the pit, That he may be enlightened with the light of the living.

^{31 Ref} Mark well, O Job, hearken unto me: Hold thy peace, and I will speak.

^{32 Ref} If thou hast anything to say, answer me: Speak, for I desire to justify thee.

^{33 Ref} If not, hearken thou unto me: Hold thy peace, and I will teach thee wisdom.