King James Bible | New Living Translation |
1Wherefore, Job, I pray thee, hear my speeches, and hearken to all my words. | 1“Listen to my words, Job; pay attention to what I have to say. |
2Behold, now I have opened my mouth, my tongue hath spoken in my mouth. | 2Now that I have begun to speak, let me continue. |
3My words shall be of the uprightness of my heart: and my lips shall utter knowledge clearly. | 3I speak with all sincerity; I speak the truth. |
4The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life. | 4For the 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. | 5Answer me, if you can; make your case and take your stand. |
6Behold, I am according to thy wish in God's stead: I also am formed out of the clay. | 6Look, you and I both belong to God. I, too, was formed from clay. |
7Behold, my terror shall not make thee afraid, neither shall my hand be heavy upon thee. | 7So you don’t need to be afraid of me. I won’t come down hard on you. |
8Surely thou hast spoken in mine hearing, and I have heard the voice of thy words, saying, | 8“You have spoken in my hearing, and I have heard your very words. |
9I am clean without transgression, I am innocent; neither is there iniquity in me. | 9You said, ‘I am pure; I am without sin; I am innocent; I have no guilt. |
10Behold, he findeth occasions against me, he counteth me for his enemy, | 10God is picking a quarrel with me, and he considers me his enemy. |
11He putteth my feet in the stocks, he marketh all my paths. | 11He puts my feet in the stocks and watches my every move.’ |
12Behold, in this thou art not just: I will answer thee, that God is greater than man. | 12“But you are wrong, and I will show you why. For God is greater than any human being. |
13Why dost thou strive against him? for he giveth not account of any of his matters. | 13So why are you bringing a charge against him? Why say he does not respond to people’s complaints? |
14For God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not. | 14For God speaks again and again, though people do not recognize it. |
15In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed; | 15He speaks in dreams, in visions of the night, when deep sleep falls on people as they lie in their beds. |
16Then he openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction, | 16He whispers in their ears and terrifies them with warnings. |
17That he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man. | 17He makes them turn from doing wrong; he keeps them from pride. |
18He keepeth back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword. | 18He protects them from the grave, from crossing over the river of death. |
19He is chastened also with pain upon his bed, and the multitude of his bones with strong pain: | 19“Or God disciplines people with pain on their sickbeds, with ceaseless aching in their bones. |
20So that his life abhorreth bread, and his soul dainty meat. | 20They lose their appetite for even the most delicious food. |
21His flesh is consumed away, that it cannot be seen; and his bones that were not seen stick out. | 21Their flesh wastes away, and their bones stick out. |
22Yea, his soul draweth near unto the grave, and his life to the destroyers. | 22They are at death’s door; the angels of death wait for them. |
23If there be a messenger with him, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to shew unto man his uprightness: | 23“But if an angel from heaven appears— a special messenger to intercede for a person and declare that he is upright— |
24Then he is gracious unto him, and saith, Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom. | 24he will be gracious and say, ‘Rescue him from the grave, for I have found a ransom for his life.’ |
25His flesh shall be fresher than a child's: he shall return to the days of his youth: | 25Then his body will become as healthy as a child’s, firm and youthful again. |
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. | 26When he prays to God, he will be accepted. And God will receive him with joy and restore him to good standing. |
27He looketh upon men, and if any say, I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it profited me not; | 27He will declare to his friends, ‘I sinned and twisted the truth, but it was not worth it. |
28He will deliver his soul from going into the pit, and his life shall see the light. | 28God rescued me from the grave, and now my life is filled with light.’ |
29Lo, all these things worketh God oftentimes with man, | 29“Yes, God does these things again and again for people. |
30To bring back his soul from the pit, to be enlightened with the light of the living. | 30He rescues them from the grave so they may enjoy the light of life. |
31Mark well, O Job, hearken unto me: hold thy peace, and I will speak. | 31Mark this well, Job. Listen to me, for I have more to say. |
32If thou hast any thing to say, answer me: speak, for I desire to justify thee. | 32But if you have anything to say, go ahead. Speak, for I am anxious to see you justified. |
33If not, hearken unto me: hold thy peace, and I shall teach thee wisdom. | 33But if not, then listen to me. Keep silent and I will teach you wisdom!” |
King James Bible, text courtesy of BibleProtector.com. | Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. |
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