King James Bible

Christian Standard Bible

1Wherefore, Job, I pray thee, hear my speeches, and hearken to all my words.

1But now, Job, pay attention to my speech, and listen to all my words.

2Behold, now I have opened my mouth, my tongue hath spoken in my mouth.

2I am going to open my mouth; my tongue will form words on my palate.

3My words shall be of the uprightness of my heart: and my lips shall utter knowledge clearly.

3My words come from my upright heart, and my lips speak with sincerity what they know.

4The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life.

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

5If thou canst answer me, set thy words in order before me, stand up.

5Refute me if you can. Prepare your case against me; take your stand.

6Behold, I am according to thy wish in God's stead: I also am formed out of the clay.

6I am just like you before God; I was also pinched off from a piece of clay.

7Behold, my terror shall not make thee afraid, neither shall my hand be heavy upon thee.

7Fear of me should not terrify you; no pressure from me should weigh you down.

8Surely thou hast spoken in mine hearing, and I have heard the voice of thy words, saying,

8Surely you have spoken in my hearing, and I have heard these very words:

9I am clean without transgression, I am innocent; neither is there iniquity in me.

9"I am pure, without transgression; I am clean and have no iniquity.

10Behold, he findeth occasions against me, he counteth me for his enemy,

10But he finds reasons to oppose me; he regards me as his enemy.

11He putteth my feet in the stocks, he marketh all my paths.

11He puts my feet in the stocks; he stands watch over all my paths."

12Behold, in this thou art not just: I will answer thee, that God is greater than man.

12But I tell you that you are wrong in this matter, since God is greater than man.

13Why dost thou strive against him? for he giveth not account of any of his matters.

13Why do you take him to court for not answering anything a person asks?

14For God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not.

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 falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed;

15In a dream, a vision in the night, when deep sleep comes over people as they slumber on their beds,

16Then he openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction,

16he uncovers their ears and terrifies them with warnings,

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

17in order to turn a person from his actions and suppress the pride of a person.

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

18God spares his soul from the Pit, his life from crossing the river of death.

19He is chastened also with pain upon his bed, and the multitude of his bones with strong pain:

19A person may be disciplined on his bed with pain and constant distress in his bones,

20So that his life abhorreth bread, and his soul dainty meat.

20so that he detests bread, and his soul despises his favorite food.

21His flesh is consumed 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.

22Yea, his soul draweth near unto the grave, and his life to the destroyers.

22He draws near to the Pit, and his life to the executioners.

23If there be a messenger with him, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to shew unto man his uprightness:

23If there is an angel on his side, one mediator out of a thousand, to tell a person what is right for him

24Then he is gracious unto him, and saith, Deliver him from going down to 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,"

25His flesh shall be fresher than a child's: he shall return to the days of his youth:

25then his flesh will be healthier than in his youth, and he will return to the days of his youthful vigor.

26He shall pray unto God, and he will be favourable unto him: and he shall see his face with joy: for he will render unto man his righteousness.

26He will pray to God, and God will delight in him. That person will see his face with a shout of joy, and God will restore his righteousness to him.

27He looketh upon men, and if any say, I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it profited me not;

27He will look at men and say, "I have sinned and perverted what was right; yet I did not get what I deserved.

28He will deliver his soul from going into the pit, and his life shall see the light.

28He redeemed my soul from going down to the Pit, and I will continue to see the light."

29Lo, all these things worketh God oftentimes with man,

29God certainly does all these things two or three times to a person

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

30in order to turn him back from the Pit, so he may shine with the light of life.

31Mark well, O Job, hearken unto me: hold thy peace, and I will speak.

31Pay attention, Job, and listen to me. Be quiet, and I will speak.

32If thou hast any thing to say, answer me: speak, for I desire to justify thee.

32But if you have something to say, answer me; speak, for I would like to justify you.

33If not, hearken unto me: hold thy peace, and I shall teach thee wisdom.

33If not, then listen to me; be quiet, and I will teach you wisdom.

King James Bible, text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.