Study Desk

"But now, Job, listen to my words; pay attention to everything I say.

"But now, Job, listen to my words; pay attention to everything I say.

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

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

My words come from an upright heart; my lips sincerely speak what I know.

My words come from an upright heart; my lips sincerely speak what I know.

The Spirit of God has made me; the breath of the Almighty gives me life.

The Spirit of God has made me; the breath of the Almighty gives me life.

Answer me then, if you can; prepare yourself and confront me.

Answer me then, if you can; stand up and argue your case before me.

I am just like you before God; I too have been taken from clay.

I am the same as you in God's sight; I too am a piece of clay.

No fear of me should alarm you, nor should my hand be heavy upon you.

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

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

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

'I am pure and without sin; I am clean and free from guilt.

‘I am pure, I have done no wrong; I am clean and free from sin.

Yet God has found fault with me; he considers me his enemy.

Yet God has found fault with me; he considers me his enemy.

He fastens my feet in shackles; he keeps close watch on all my paths.'

He fastens my feet in shackles; he keeps close watch on all my paths.'

"But I tell you, in this you are not right, for God is greater than man.

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

Why do you complain to him that he answers none of man's words ?

Why do you complain to him that he responds to no one's words?

For God does speak-now one way, now another- though man may not perceive it.

For God does speak—now one way, now another— though no one perceives it.

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

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

he may speak in their ears and terrify them with warnings,

he may speak in their ears and terrify them with warnings,

to turn man from wrongdoing and keep him from pride,

to turn them from wrongdoing and keep them from pride,

to preserve his soul from the pit, his life from perishing by the sword.

to preserve them from the pit, their lives from perishing by the sword.

Or a man may be chastened on a bed of pain with constant distress in his bones,

"Or someone may be chastened on a bed of pain with constant distress in their bones,

so that his very being finds food repulsive and his soul loathes the choicest meal.

so that their body finds food repulsive and their soul loathes the choicest meal.

His flesh wastes away to nothing, and his bones, once hidden, now stick out.

Their flesh wastes away to nothing, and their bones, once hidden, now stick out.

His soul draws near to the pit, and his life to the messengers of death.

They draw near to the pit, and their life to the messengers of death.

"Yet if there is an angel on his side as a mediator, one out of a thousand, to tell a man what is right for him,

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

to be gracious to him and say, 'Spare him from going down to the pit ; I have found a ransom for him'-

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

then his flesh is renewed like a child's; it is restored as in the days of his youth.

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

He prays to God and finds favor with him, he sees God's face and shouts for joy; he is restored by God to his righteous state.

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

Then he comes to men and says, 'I sinned, and perverted what was right, but I did not get what I deserved.

And they will go to others and say, ‘I have sinned, I have perverted what is right, but I did not get what I deserved.

He redeemed my soul from going down to the pit, and I will live to enjoy the light.'

God has delivered me from going down to the pit, and I shall live to enjoy the light of life.'

"God does all these things to a man- twice, even three times-

"God does all these things to a person— twice, even three times—

to turn back his soul from the pit, that the light of life may shine on him.

to turn them back from the pit, that the light of life may shine on them.

"Pay attention, Job, and listen to me; be silent, and I will speak.

"Pay attention, Job, and listen to me; be silent, and I will speak.

If you have anything to say, answer me; speak up, for I want you to be cleared.

If you have anything to say, answer me; speak up, for I want to vindicate you.

But if not, then listen to me; be silent, and I will teach you wisdom."

But if not, then listen to me; be silent, and I will teach you wisdom."