King James Bible | NET Bible |
1Wherefore, Job, I pray thee, hear my speeches, and hearken to all my words. | 1"But now, O Job, listen to my words, and hear everything I have to say! |
2Behold, now I have opened my mouth, my tongue hath spoken in my mouth. | 2See now, I have opened my mouth; my tongue in my mouth has spoken. |
3My words shall be of the uprightness of my heart: and my lips shall utter knowledge clearly. | 3My words come from the uprightness of my heart, and my lips will utter knowledge sincerely. |
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. | 5Reply to me, if you can; set your arguments in order before me and take your stand! |
6Behold, I am according to thy wish in God's stead: I also am formed out of the clay. | 6Look, I am just like you in relation to God; I too have been molded from clay. |
7Behold, my terror shall not make thee afraid, neither shall my hand be heavy upon thee. | 7Therefore no fear of me should terrify you, nor should my pressure be heavy on you. |
8Surely thou hast spoken in mine hearing, and I have heard the voice of thy words, saying, | 8"Indeed, you have said in my hearing (I heard the sound of the words!): |
9I am clean without transgression, I am innocent; neither is there iniquity in me. | 9I am pure, without transgression; I am clean and have no iniquity. |
10Behold, he findeth occasions against me, he counteth me for his enemy, | 10Yet God finds occasions with me; he regards me as his enemy! |
11He putteth my feet in the stocks, he marketh all my paths. | 11He puts my feet in shackles; he watches closely all my paths.' |
12Behold, in this thou art not just: I will answer thee, that God is greater than man. | 12Now in this, you are not right--I answer you, for God is greater than a human being. |
13Why dost thou strive against him? for he giveth not account of any of his matters. | 13Why do you contend against him, that he does not answer all a person's words? |
14For God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not. | 14"For God speaks, the first time in one way, the second time in another, though a person does not perceive 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 night vision, when deep sleep falls on people as they sleep in their beds. |
16Then he openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction, | 16Then he gives a revelation to people, and terrifies them with warnings, |
17That he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man. | 17to turn a person from his sin, and to cover a person's pride. |
18He keepeth back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword. | 18He spares a person's life from corruption, his very life from crossing over the river. |
19He is chastened also with pain upon his bed, and the multitude of his bones with strong pain: | 19Or a person is chastened by pain on his bed, and with the continual strife of his bones, |
20So that his life abhorreth bread, and his soul dainty meat. | 20so that his life loathes food, and his soul rejects appetizing fare. |
21His flesh is consumed away, that it cannot be seen; and his bones that were not seen stick out. | 21His flesh wastes away from sight, and his bones, which were not seen, are easily visible. |
22Yea, his soul draweth near unto the grave, and his life to the destroyers. | 22He draws near to the place of corruption, and his life to the messengers of death. |
23If there be a messenger with him, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to shew unto man his uprightness: | 23If there is an angel beside him, one mediator out of a thousand, to tell a person what constitutes his uprightness; |
24Then he is gracious unto him, and saith, Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom. | 24and if God is gracious to him and says, 'Spare him from going down to the place of corruption, I have found a ransom for him,' |
25His flesh shall be fresher than a child's: he shall return to the days of his youth: | 25then his flesh is restored like a youth's; he returns 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 entreats God, and God delights in him, he sees God's face with rejoicing, and God restores to him his righteousness. |
27He looketh upon men, and if any say, I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it profited me not; | 27That person sings to others, saying: 'I have sinned and falsified what is right, but I was not punished according to what I deserved. |
28He will deliver his soul from going into the pit, and his life shall see the light. | 28He redeemed my life from going down to the place of corruption, and my life sees the light!' |
29Lo, all these things worketh God oftentimes with man, | 29"Indeed, God does all these things, twice, three times, in his dealings with a person, |
30To bring back his soul from the pit, to be enlightened with the light of the living. | 30to turn back his life from the place of corruption, that he may be enlightened with the light of life. |
31Mark well, O Job, hearken unto me: hold thy peace, and I will speak. | 31Pay attention, Job--listen to me; be silent, and I will speak. |
32If thou hast any thing to say, answer me: speak, for I desire to justify thee. | 32If you have any words, reply to me; speak, for I want to justify you. |
33If not, hearken unto me: hold thy peace, and I shall teach thee wisdom. | 33If not, you listen to me; be silent, and I will teach you wisdom." |
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