English Standard Version ESV
New Revised Standard NRS
1 “But now, hear my speech, O Job, and listen to all my words.
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"But now, hear my speech, O Job, and listen to all my words.
2 Behold, I open my mouth; the tongue in my mouth speaks.
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See, I open my mouth; the tongue in my mouth speaks.
3 My words declare the uprightness of my heart, and what my lips know they speak sincerely.
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My words declare the uprightness of my heart, and what my lips know they speak sincerely.
4 The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.
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The spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.
5 Answer me, if you can; set your words in order before me; take your stand.
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Answer me, if you can; set your words in order before me; take your stand.
6 Behold, I am toward God as you are; I too was pinched off from a piece of clay.
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See, before God I am as you are; I too was formed from a piece of clay.
7 Behold, no fear of me need terrify you; my pressure will not be heavy upon you.
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No fear of me need terrify you; my pressure will not be heavy on you.
8 “Surely you have spoken in my ears, and I have heard the sound of your words.
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"Surely, you have spoken in my hearing, and I have heard the sound of your words.
9 You say, ‘I am pure, without transgression; I am clean, and there is no iniquity in me.
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You say, "I am clean, without transgression; I am pure, and there is no iniquity in me.
10 Behold, he finds occasions against me, he counts me as his enemy,
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Look, he finds occasions against me, he counts me as his enemy;
11 he puts my feet in the stocks and watches all my paths. ’
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he puts my feet in the stocks, and watches all my paths.'
12 “Behold, in this you are not right. I will answer you, for God is greater than man.
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"But in this you are not right. I will answer you: God is greater than any mortal.
13 Why do you contend against him, saying, ‘He will answer none of man’s words’?
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Why do you contend against him, saying, "He will answer none of my words'?
14 For God speaks in one way, and in two, though man does not perceive it.
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For God speaks in one way, and in two, though people do not perceive it.
15 In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on men, while they slumber on their beds,
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In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on mortals, while they slumber on their beds,
16 then he opens the ears of men and terrifies them with warnings,
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then he opens their ears, and terrifies them with warnings,
17 that he may turn man aside from his deed and conceal pride from a man;
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that he may turn them aside from their deeds, and keep them from pride,
18 he keeps back his soul from the pit, his life from perishing by the sword.
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to spare their souls from the Pit, their lives from traversing the River.
19 “Man is also rebuked with pain on his bed and with continual strife in his bones,
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They are also chastened with pain upon their beds, and with continual strife in their bones,
20 so that his life loathes bread, and his appetite the choicest food.
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so that their lives loathe bread, and their appetites dainty food.
21 His flesh is so wasted away that it cannot be seen, and his bones that were not seen stick out.
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Their flesh is so wasted away that it cannot be seen; and their bones, once invisible, now stick out.
22 His soul draws near the pit, and his life to those who bring death.
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Their souls draw near the Pit, and their lives to those who bring death.
23 If there be for him an angel, a mediator, one of the thousand, to declare to man what is right for him,
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Then, if there should be for one of them an angel, a mediator, one of a thousand, one who declares a person upright,
24 and he is merciful to him, and says, ‘Deliver him from going down into the pit; I have found a ransom;
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and he is gracious to that person, and says, "Deliver him from going down into the Pit; I have found a ransom;
25 let his flesh become fresh with youth; let him return to the days of his youthful vigor’;
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let his flesh become fresh with youth; let him return to the days of his youthful vigor';
26 then man prays to God, and he accepts him; he sees his face with a shout of joy, and he restores to man his righteousness.
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then he prays to God, and is accepted by him, he comes into his presence with joy, and God repays him for his righteousness.
27 He sings before men and says: ‘I sinned and perverted what was right, and it was not repaid to me.
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That person sings to others and says, "I sinned, and perverted what was right, and it was not paid back to me.
28 He has redeemed my soul from going down into the pit, and my life shall look upon the light. ’
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He has redeemed my soul from going down to the Pit, and my life shall see the light.'
29 “Behold, God does all these things, twice, three times, with a man,
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"God indeed does all these things, twice, three times, with mortals,
30 to bring back his soul from the pit, that he may be lighted with the light of life.
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to bring back their souls from the Pit, so that they may see the light of life.
31 Pay attention, O Job, listen to me; be silent, and I will speak.
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Pay heed, Job, listen to me; be silent, and I will speak.
32 If you have any words, answer me; speak, for I desire to justify you.
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If you have anything to say, answer me; speak, for I desire to justify you.
33 If not, listen to me; be silent, and I will teach you wisdom. ”
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If not, listen to me; be silent, and I will teach you wisdom."
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®) © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved. ESV Text Edition: 2025
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.