New Living Translation

Holman Christian Standard Bible

1“Listen to my words, Job; pay attention to what I have to say.

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

2Now that I have begun to speak, let me continue.

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

3I speak with all sincerity; I speak the truth.

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

4For the 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.

5Answer me, if you can; make your case and take your stand.

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

6Look, you and I both belong to God. I, too, was formed from clay.

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

7So you don’t need to be afraid of me. I won’t come down hard on you.

7Fear of me should not terrify you; the pressure I exert against you will be light.

8“You have spoken in my hearing, and I have heard your very words.

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

9You said, ‘I am pure; I am without sin; I am innocent; I have no guilt.

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

10God is picking a quarrel with me, and he considers me his enemy.

10But He finds reasons to oppose me; He regards me as His enemy.

11He puts my feet in the stocks and watches my every move.’

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

12“But you are wrong, and I will show you why. For God is greater than any human being.

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

13So why are you bringing a charge against him? Why say he does not respond to people’s complaints?

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

14For God speaks again and again, though people do not recognize it.

14For God speaks time and again, but a person may not notice it.

15He speaks in dreams, in visions of the night, when deep sleep falls on people as they lie in their beds.

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

16He whispers in their ears and terrifies them with warnings.

16He uncovers their ears at that time and terrifies them with warnings,

17He makes them turn from doing wrong; he keeps them from pride.

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

18He protects them from the grave, from crossing over the river of death.

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

19“Or God disciplines people with pain on their sickbeds, with ceaseless aching in their bones.

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

20They lose their appetite for even the most delicious food.

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

21Their flesh wastes away, and their bones stick out.

21His flesh wastes away to nothing, and his unseen bones stick out.

22They are at death’s door; the angels of death wait for them.

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

23“But if an angel from heaven appears— a special messenger to intercede for a person and declare that he is upright—

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

24he will be gracious and say, ‘Rescue him from the grave, for I have found a ransom for his life.’

24and to be gracious to him and say, "Spare him from going down to the Pit; I have found a ransom,"

25Then his body will become as healthy as a child’s, firm and youthful again.

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

26When he prays to God, he will be accepted. And God will receive him with joy and restore him to good standing.

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

27He will declare to his friends, ‘I sinned and twisted the truth, but it was not worth it.

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

28God rescued me from the grave, and now my life is filled with light.’

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

29“Yes, God does these things again and again for people.

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

30He rescues them from the grave so they may enjoy the light of life.

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

31Mark this well, Job. Listen to me, for I have more to say.

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

32But if you have anything to say, go ahead. Speak, for I am anxious to see you justified.

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

33But if not, then listen to me. Keep silent and I will teach you wisdom!”

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

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.

Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.