New King James Version

King James Bible

1“But please, Job, hear my speech, And listen to all my words.

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

2Now, I open my mouth; My tongue speaks in my mouth.

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

3My words come from my upright heart; My lips utter pure knowledge.

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

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

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

5If you can answer me, Set your words in order before me; Take your stand.

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

6Truly I am as your spokesman before God; I also have been formed out of clay.

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

7Surely no fear of me will terrify you, Nor will my hand be heavy on you.

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

8“Surely you have spoken in my hearing, And I have heard the sound of your words, saying,

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

9‘I am pure, without transgression; I am innocent, and there is no iniquity in me.

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

10Yet He finds occasions against me, He counts me as His enemy;

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

11He puts my feet in the stocks, He watches all my paths.’

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

12“Look, in this you are not righteous. I will answer you, For God is greater than man.

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

13Why do you contend with Him? For He does not give an accounting of any of His words.

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

14For God may speak in one way, or in another, Yet man does not perceive it.

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

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 of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed;

16Then He opens the ears of men, And seals their instruction.

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

17In order to turn man from his deed, And conceal pride from man,

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

18He keeps back his soul from the Pit, And his life from perishing by the sword.

18He keepeth back 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,

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

20So that his life abhors bread, And his soul succulent food.

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

21His flesh wastes away from sight, And his bones stick out which once were not seen.

21His flesh is consumed away, that it cannot be seen; and his bones that were not seen stick out.

22Yes, his soul draws near the Pit, And his life to the executioners.

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

23“If there is a messenger for him, A mediator, one among a thousand, To show man His uprightness,

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

24Then He is gracious to him, and says, ‘Deliver him from going down to the Pit; I have found a ransom’;

24Then he is gracious unto him, and saith, Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom.

25His flesh shall be young like a child’s, He shall return to the days of his youth.

25His flesh shall be fresher than a child's: he shall return 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 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.

27Then he looks at men and says, ‘I have sinned, and perverted what was right, And it did not profit me.’

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

28He will redeem his soul from going down to the Pit, And his life shall see the light.

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

29“Behold, God works all these things, Twice, in fact, three times with a man,

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

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, to be enlightened with the light of the living.

31“Give ear, Job, listen to me; Hold your peace, and I will speak.

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

32If you have anything to say, answer me; Speak, for I desire to justify you.

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

33If not, listen to me; Hold your peace, and I will teach you wisdom.”

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

The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.

King James Bible, text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.