New King James Version | Berean Study Bible |
1“But please, Job, hear my speech, And listen to all my words. | 1“But now, O Job, hear my speech, and listen to all my words. |
2Now, I open my mouth; My tongue speaks in my mouth. | 2Behold, I will open my mouth; my address is on the tip of my tongue. |
3My words come from my upright heart; My lips utter pure knowledge. | 3My words are from an upright heart, and my lips speak sincerely what I 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. |
5If you can answer me, Set your words in order before me; Take your stand. | 5Refute me if you can; prepare your case and confront me. |
6Truly I am as your spokesman before God; I also have been formed out of clay. | 6I am just like you before God; I was also formed from clay. |
7Surely no fear of me will terrify you, Nor will my hand be heavy on you. | 7Surely no fear of me should terrify you; nor will my hand be heavy upon you. |
8“Surely you have spoken in my hearing, And I have heard the sound of your words, saying, | 8Surely you have spoken in my hearing, and I have heard these very words: |
9‘I am pure, without transgression; I am innocent, and there is no iniquity in me. | 9‘I am pure, without transgression; I am clean, with no iniquity in me. |
10Yet He finds occasions against me, He counts me as His enemy; | 10Yet God finds occasions against me; He counts me as His enemy. |
11He puts my feet in the stocks, He watches all my paths.’ | 11He puts my feet in the stocks; He watches over all my paths.’ |
12“Look, in this you are not righteous. I will answer you, For God is greater than man. | 12Behold, you are not right in this matter. I will answer you, for God is greater than man. |
13Why do you contend with Him? For He does not give an accounting of any of His words. | 13Why do you complain to Him that He answers nothing a man asks? |
14For God may speak in one way, or in another, Yet man does not perceive it. | 14For God speaks in one way and in another, yet no one notices. |
15In a dream, in a vision of the night, When deep sleep falls upon men, While slumbering on their beds, | 15In a dream, in a vision in the night, when deep sleep falls upon men as they slumber on their beds, |
16Then He opens the ears of men, And seals their instruction. | 16He opens their ears and terrifies them with warnings |
17In order to turn man from his deed, And conceal pride from man, | 17to turn a man from wrongdoing and keep him from pride, |
18He keeps back his soul from the Pit, And his life from perishing by the sword. | 18to preserve his soul from the Pit and his life from perishing by the sword. |
19“Man is also chastened with pain on his bed, And with strong pain in many of his bones, | 19A man is also chastened on his bed with pain and constant distress in his bones, |
20So that his life abhors bread, And his soul succulent food. | 20so that he detests his bread, and his soul loathes his favorite food. |
21His flesh wastes away from sight, And his bones stick out which once were not seen. | 21His flesh wastes away from sight, and his hidden bones protrude. |
22Yes, his soul draws near the Pit, And his life to the executioners. | 22He draws near to the Pit, and his life to the messengers of death. |
23“If there is a messenger for him, A mediator, one among a thousand, To show man His uprightness, | 23Yet if there is a messenger on his side, one mediator in a thousand, to tell a man what is right for him, |
24Then He is gracious to him, and says, ‘Deliver him from going down to the Pit; I have found a ransom’; | 24to be gracious to him and say, ‘Spare him from going down to the Pit; I have found his ransom,’ |
25His flesh shall be young like a child’s, He shall return to the days of his youth. | 25then his flesh is refreshed like a child’s; he returns to the days of his youth. |
26He shall pray to God, and He will delight in him, He shall see His face with joy, For He restores to man His righteousness. | 26He prays to God and finds favor; he sees God’s face and shouts for joy, and God restores His righteousness to that man. |
27Then he looks at men and says, ‘I have sinned, and perverted what was right, And it did not profit me.’ | 27Then he sings before men with these words: ‘I have sinned and perverted what was right; yet I did not get what I deserved. |
28He will redeem his soul from going down to the Pit, And his life shall see the light. | 28He redeemed my soul from going down to the Pit, and I will live to see the light.’ |
29“Behold, God works all these things, Twice, in fact, three times with a man, | 29Behold, all these things God does to a man, two or even three times, |
30To bring back his soul from the Pit, That he may be enlightened with the light of life. | 30to bring back his soul from the Pit, that he may be enlightened with the light of life. |
31“Give ear, Job, listen to me; Hold your peace, and I will speak. | 31Pay attention, Job, and listen to me; be silent, and I will speak. |
32If you have anything to say, answer me; Speak, for I desire to justify you. | 32But if you have something to say, answer me; speak up, for I would like to vindicate you. |
33If not, listen to me; Hold your peace, and I will teach you wisdom.” | 33But if not, then listen to me; be quiet, and I will teach you wisdom.” |
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