Study Desk

"But now, Job, listen^(a) to my words; pay attention to everything I say.^(b)

I am about to open my mouth; my words are on the tip of my tongue.

My words come from an upright heart;^(c) my lips sincerely speak what I know.^(d)

The Spirit^(e) of God has made me;^(f) the breath of the Almighty^(g) gives me life.^(h)

Answer me⁽ⁱ⁾ then, if you can; stand up^(j) and argue your case before me.^(k)

I am the same as you in God's sight;^(l) I too am a piece of clay.^(m)

No fear of me should alarm you, nor should my hand be heavy on you.⁽ⁿ⁾

"But you have said in my hearing— I heard the very words—

‘I am pure,^(o) I have done no wrong;^(p) I am clean and free from sin.^(q)

Yet God has found fault with me; he considers me his enemy.^(r)

He fastens my feet in shackles;^(s) he keeps close watch on all my paths.'^(t)

"But I tell you, in this you are not right, for God is greater than any mortal.^(u)

Why do you complain to him^(v) that he responds to no one's words^[a]?^(w)

For God does speak^(x)—now one way, now another^(y)— though no one perceives it.^(z)

In a dream,^(aa) in a vision^(ab) of the night,^(ac) when deep sleep^(ad) falls on people as they slumber in their beds,

he may speak^(ae) in their ears and terrify them^(af) with warnings,^(ag)

to turn them from wrongdoing and keep them from pride,^(ah)

to preserve them from the pit,^(ai) their lives from perishing by the sword.^[b](aj)

"Or someone may be chastened^(ak) on a bed of pain^(al) with constant distress in their bones,^(am)

so that their body finds food^(an) repulsive and their soul loathes the choicest meal.^(ao)

Their flesh wastes away to nothing, and their bones,^(ap) once hidden, now stick out.^(aq)

They draw near to the pit,^(ar) and their life to the messengers of death.^[c](as)

Yet if there is an angel at their side, a messenger,^(at) one out of a thousand, sent to tell them how to be upright,^(au)

and he is gracious to that person and says to God, ‘Spare them from going down to the pit;^(av) I have found a ransom for them^(aw)—

let their flesh be renewed^(ax) like a child's; let them be restored as in the days of their youth'^(ay)—

then that person can pray to God and find favor with him,^(az) they will see God's face and shout for joy;^(ba) he will restore them to full well-being.^(bb)

And they will go to others and say, ‘I have sinned,^(bc) I have perverted what is right,^(bd) but I did not get what I deserved.^(be)

God has delivered^(bf) me from going down to the pit,^(bg) and I shall live to enjoy the light of life.'^(bh)

"God does all these things to a person^(bi)— twice, even three times^(bj)—

to turn them back^(bk) from the pit,^(bl) that the light of life^(bm) may shine on them.^(bn)

"Pay attention, Job, and listen^(bo) to me;^(bp) be silent,^(bq) and I will speak.

If you have anything to say, answer me;^(br) speak up, for I want to vindicate you.^(bs)

But if not, then listen to me;^(bt) be silent,^(bu) and I will teach you wisdom.^(bv)"