| English Standard Version | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1“But now, hear my speech, O Job, and listen to all my words. | 1But now, Job, pay attention to my speech, and listen to all my words. |
| 2Behold, I open my mouth; the tongue in my mouth speaks. | 2I am going to open my mouth; my tongue will form words on my palate. |
| 3My words declare the uprightness of my heart, and what my lips know they speak sincerely. | 3My words come from my upright heart, and my lips speak with sincerity what they know. |
| 4The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life. | 4The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life. |
| 5Answer me, if you can; set your words in order before me; take your stand. | 5Refute me if you can. Prepare your case against me; take your stand. |
| 6Behold, I am toward God as you are; I too was pinched off from a piece of clay. | 6I am just like you before God; I was also pinched off from a piece of clay. |
| 7Behold, no fear of me need terrify you; my pressure will not be heavy upon you. | 7Fear of me should not terrify you; the pressure I exert against you will be light. |
| 8“Surely you have spoken in my ears, and I have heard the sound of your words. | 8Surely you have spoken in my hearing, and I have heard these very words: |
| 9You say, ‘I am pure, without transgression; I am clean, and there is no iniquity in me. | 9"I am pure, without transgression; I am clean and have no guilt. |
| 10Behold, he finds occasions against me, he counts me as his enemy, | 10But He finds reasons to oppose me; He regards me as His enemy. |
| 11he puts my feet in the stocks and watches all my paths.’ | 11He puts my feet in the stocks; He stands watch over all my paths." |
| 12“Behold, in this you are not right. I will answer you, for God is greater than man. | 12But I tell you that you are wrong in this matter, since God is greater than man. |
| 13Why do you contend against him, saying, ‘He will answer none of man’s words’? | 13Why do you take Him to court for not answering anything a person asks? |
| 14For God speaks in one way, and in two, though man does not perceive it. | 14For God speaks time and again, but a person may not notice it. |
| 15In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on men, while they slumber on their beds, | 15In a dream, a vision in the night, when deep sleep falls on people as they slumber on their beds, |
| 16then he opens the ears of men and terrifies them with warnings, | 16He uncovers their ears at that time and terrifies them with warnings, |
| 17that he may turn man aside from his deed and conceal pride from a man; | 17in order to turn a person from his actions and suppress his pride. |
| 18he keeps back his soul from the pit, his life from perishing by the sword. | 18God spares his soul from the Pit, his life from crossing the river of death. |
| 19“Man is also rebuked with pain on his bed and with continual strife in his bones, | 19A person may be disciplined on his bed with pain and constant distress in his bones, |
| 20so that his life loathes bread, and his appetite the choicest food. | 20so that he detests bread, and his soul despises his favorite food. |
| 21His flesh is so wasted away that it cannot be seen, and his bones that were not seen stick out. | 21His flesh wastes away to nothing, and his unseen bones stick out. |
| 22His soul draws near the pit, and his life to those who bring death. | 22He draws near to the Pit, and his life to the executioners. |
| 23If there be for him an angel, a mediator, one of the thousand, to declare to man what is right for him, | 23If there is an angel on his side, one mediator out of a thousand, to tell a person what is right for him |
| 24and he is merciful to him, and says, ‘Deliver him from going down into the pit; I have found a ransom; | 24and to be gracious to him and say, "Spare him from going down to the Pit; I have found a ransom," |
| 25let his flesh become fresh with youth; let him return to the days of his youthful vigor’; | 25then his flesh will be healthier than in his youth, and he will return to the days of his youthful vigor. |
| 26then man prays to God, and he accepts him; he sees his face with a shout of joy, and he restores to man his righteousness. | 26He will pray to God, and God will delight in him. That man will see His face with a shout of joy, and God will restore his righteousness to him. |
| 27He sings before men and says: ‘I sinned and perverted what was right, and it was not repaid to me. | 27He will look at men and say, "I have sinned and perverted what was right; yet I did not get what I deserved. |
| 28He has redeemed my soul from going down into the pit, and my life shall look upon the light.’ | 28He redeemed my soul from going down to the Pit, and I will continue to see the light." |
| 29“Behold, God does all these things, twice, three times, with a man, | 29God certainly does all these things two or three times to a man |
| 30to bring back his soul from the pit, that he may be lighted with the light of life. | 30in order to turn him back from the Pit, so he may shine with the light of life. |
| 31Pay attention, O Job, listen to me; be silent, and I will speak. | 31Pay attention, Job, and listen to me. Be quiet, and I will speak. |
| 32If you have any words, answer me; speak, for I desire to justify you. | 32But if you have something to say, answer me; speak, for I would like to justify you. |
| 33If not, listen to me; be silent, and I will teach you wisdom.” | 33If not, then listen to me; be quiet, and I will teach you wisdom. |
|
