King James Version KJV
New Revised Standard NRS
1 Wherefore, Job, I pray thee, hear my speeches, and hearken to all my words.
1
"But now, hear my speech, O Job, and listen to all my words.
2 Behold, now I have opened my mouth, my tongue hath spoken in my mouth.
2
See, I open my mouth; the tongue in my mouth speaks.
3 My words shall be of the uprightness of my heart: and my lips shall utter knowledge clearly.
3
My words declare the uprightness of my heart, and what my lips know they speak sincerely.
4 The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life.
4
The spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.
5 If thou canst answer me, set thy words in order before me, stand up.
5
Answer me, if you can; set your words in order before me; take your stand.
6 Behold, I am according to thy wish in God's stead: I also am formed out of the clay.
6
See, before God I am as you are; I too was formed from a piece of clay.
7 Behold, my terror shall not make thee afraid, neither shall my hand be heavy upon thee.
7
No fear of me need terrify you; my pressure will not be heavy on you.
8 Surely thou hast spoken in mine hearing, and I have heard the voice of thy words, saying,
8
"Surely, you have spoken in my hearing, and I have heard the sound of your words.
9 I am clean without transgression, I am innocent; neither is there iniquity in me.
9
You say, "I am clean, without transgression; I am pure, and there is no iniquity in me.
10 Behold, he findeth occasions against me, he counteth me for his enemy,
10
Look, he finds occasions against me, he counts me as his enemy;
11 He putteth my feet in the stocks, he marketh all my paths.
11
he puts my feet in the stocks, and watches all my paths.'
12 Behold, in this thou art not just: I will answer thee, that God is greater than man.
12
"But in this you are not right. I will answer you: God is greater than any mortal.
13 Why dost thou strive against him? for he giveth not account of any of his matters.
13
Why do you contend against him, saying, "He will answer none of my words'?
14 For God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not.
14
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 falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed;
15
In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on mortals, while they slumber on their beds,
16 Then he openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction,
16
then he opens their ears, and terrifies them with warnings,
17 That he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man.
17
that he may turn them aside from their deeds, and keep them from pride,
18 He keepeth back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword.
18
to spare their souls from the Pit, their lives from traversing the River.
19 He is chastened also with pain upon his bed, and the multitude of his bones with strong pain:
19
They are also chastened with pain upon their beds, and with continual strife in their bones,
20 So that his life abhorreth bread, and his soul dainty meat.
20
so that their lives loathe bread, and their appetites dainty food.
21 His flesh is consumed away, that it cannot be seen; and his bones that were not seen stick out.
21
Their flesh is so wasted away that it cannot be seen; and their bones, once invisible, now stick out.
22 Yea, his soul draweth near unto the grave, and his life to the destroyers.
22
Their souls draw near the Pit, and their lives to those who bring death.
23 If there be a messenger with him, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to shew unto man his uprightness:
23
Then, if there should be for one of them an angel, a mediator, one of a thousand, one who declares a person upright,
24 Then he is gracious unto him, and saith, Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom.
24
and he is gracious to that person, and says, "Deliver him from going down into the Pit; I have found a ransom;
25 His flesh shall be fresher than a child's: he shall return to the days of his youth:
25
let his flesh become fresh with youth; let him return to the days of his youthful vigor';
26 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.
26
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 looketh upon men, and if any say, I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it profited me not;
27
That person sings to others and says, "I sinned, and perverted what was right, and it was not paid back to me.
28 He will deliver his soul from going into the pit, and his life shall see the light.
28
He has redeemed my soul from going down to the Pit, and my life shall see the light.'
29 Lo, all these things worketh God oftentimes with man,
29
"God indeed does all these things, twice, three times, with mortals,
30 To bring back his soul from the pit, to be enlightened with the light of the living.
30
to bring back their souls from the Pit, so that they may see the light of life.
31 Mark well, O Job, hearken unto me: hold thy peace, and I will speak.
31
Pay heed, Job, listen to me; be silent, and I will speak.
32 If thou hast any thing to say, answer me: speak, for I desire to justify thee.
32
If you have anything to say, answer me; speak, for I desire to justify you.
33 If not, hearken unto me: hold thy peace, and I shall teach thee wisdom.
33
If not, listen to me; be silent, and I will teach you wisdom."
The King James Version is in the public domain.
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.