Study Desk

"However, please hear my speech, Job, And listen to all my words.

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

"Behold now, I open my mouth, My tongue in my mouth speaks.

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

"My words are from the integrity of my heart, And my lips speak knowledge sincerely.

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

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

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

"Refute me if you can; Line up against me, take your stand.

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

"Behold, I belong to God, like you; I too have been formed out of the clay.

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

"Behold, no fear of me should terrify you, Nor should my pressure weigh heavily on you.

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

"You have in fact spoken while I listened, And I heard the sound of your words:

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

'I am pure, without wrongdoing; I am innocent and there is no guilt in me.

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

'Behold, He invents criticisms against me; He counts me as His enemy.

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

'He puts my feet in the stocks; He watches all my paths.'

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

"Behold, let me respond to you, you are not right in this, For God is greater than mankind.

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

"Why do you complain to Him That He does not give an account of all His doings?

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

"Indeed God speaks once, Or twice, yet no one notices it.

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

"In a dream, a vision of the night, When deep sleep falls on people, While they slumber in their beds,

In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed;

Then He opens the ears of people, And horrifies them with warnings,

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

So that He may turn a person away from bad conduct, And keep a man from pride;

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

He keeps his soul back from the pit, And his life from perishing by the spear.

He keepeth back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword.

"A person is also rebuked by pain in his bed, And with constant complaint in his bones,

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

So that his life loathes bread, And his soul, food that he should crave.

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

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

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

"Then his soul comes near to the pit, And his life to those who bring death.

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

"If there is an interceding angel for him, One out of a thousand, To remind a person of what is right for him,

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

And he is gracious to him, and says, 'Free him from going down to the pit, I have found a ransom';

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

Let his flesh become fresher than in youth, Let him return to the days of his youthful vigor;

His flesh shall be fresher than a child's: he shall return to the days of his youth:

Then he will pray to God, and He will accept him, So that he may see His face with joy, And He will restore His righteousness to that person.

He 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.

"He will sing to people and say, 'I have sinned and perverted what is right, And it is not proper for me.

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

'He has redeemed my soul from going to the pit, And my life will see the light.'

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

"Behold, God does all these things for a man two or three times,

Lo, all these things worketh God oftentimes with man,

To bring back his soul from the pit, So that he may be enlightened with the light of life.

To bring back his soul from the pit, to be enlightened with the light of the living.

"Pay attention, Job, listen to me; Keep silent, and let me speak.

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

"Then if you have anything to say, answer me; Speak, for I would take pleasure in justifying you.

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

"If not, listen to me; Keep silent, and I will teach you wisdom."

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