New Revised Standard NRS
The Bible in Basic English BBE
1 "But now, hear my speech, O Job, and listen to all my words.
1
And now, O Job, give ear to my words, and take note of all I say.
2 See, I open my mouth; the tongue in my mouth speaks.
2
See, now my mouth is open, my tongue gives out words.
3 My words declare the uprightness of my heart, and what my lips know they speak sincerely.
3
My heart is overflowing with knowledge, my lips say what is true.
4 The spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.
4
The spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Ruler of all gives me life.
5 Answer me, if you can; set your words in order before me; take your stand.
5
If you are able, give me an answer; put your cause in order, and come forward.
6 See, before God I am as you are; I too was formed from a piece of clay.
6
See, I am the same as you are in the eyes of God; I was cut off from the same bit of wet earth.
7 No fear of me need terrify you; my pressure will not be heavy on you.
7
Fear of me will not overcome you, and my hand will not be hard on you.
8 "Surely, you have spoken in my hearing, and I have heard the sound of your words.
8
But you said in my hearing, and your voice came to my ears:
9 You say, "I am clean, without transgression; I am pure, and there is no iniquity in me.
9
I am clean, without sin; I am washed, and there is no evil in me:
10 Look, he finds occasions against me, he counts me as his enemy;
10
See, he is looking for something against me; in his eyes I am as one of his haters;
11 he puts my feet in the stocks, and watches all my paths.'
11
He puts chains on my feet; he is watching all my ways.
12 "But in this you are not right. I will answer you: God is greater than any mortal.
12
Truly, in saying this you are wrong; for God is greater than man.
13 Why do you contend against him, saying, "He will answer none of my words'?
13
Why do you put forward your cause against him, saying, He gives no answer to any of my words?
14 For God speaks in one way, and in two, though people do not perceive it.
14
For God gives his word in one way, even in two, and man is not conscious of it:
15 In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on mortals, while they slumber on their beds,
15
In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep comes on men, while they take their rest on their beds;
16 then he opens their ears, and terrifies them with warnings,
16
Then he makes his secrets clear to men, so that they are full of fear at what they see;
17 that he may turn them aside from their deeds, and keep them from pride,
17
In order that man may be turned from his evil works, and that pride may be taken away from him;
18 to spare their souls from the Pit, their lives from traversing the River.
18
To keep back his soul from the underworld, and his life from destruction.
19 They are also chastened with pain upon their beds, and with continual strife in their bones,
19
Pain is sent on him as a punishment, while he is on his bed; there is no end to the trouble in his bones;
20 so that their lives loathe bread, and their appetites dainty food.
20
He has no desire for food, and his soul is turned away from delicate meat;
21 Their flesh is so wasted away that it cannot be seen; and their bones, once invisible, now stick out.
21
His flesh is so wasted away, that it may not be seen, and his bones. ...
22 Their souls draw near the Pit, and their lives to those who bring death.
22
And his soul comes near to the underworld, and his life to the angels of death.
23 Then, if there should be for one of them an angel, a mediator, one of a thousand, one who declares a person upright,
23
If now there may be an angel sent to him, one of the thousands which there are to be between him and God, and to make clear to man what is right for him;
24 and he is gracious to that person, and says, "Deliver him from going down into the Pit; I have found a ransom;
24
And if he has mercy on him, and says, Let him not go down to the underworld, I have given the price for his life:
25 let his flesh become fresh with youth; let him return to the days of his youthful vigor';
25
Then his flesh becomes young again, and he comes back to the days of his early strength;
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.
26
He makes his prayer to God, and he has mercy on him; he sees God's face with cries of joy; he gives news of his righteousness to men;
27 That person sings to others and says, "I sinned, and perverted what was right, and it was not paid back to me.
27
He makes a song, saying, I did wrong, turning from the straight way, but he did not give me the reward of my sin.
28 He has redeemed my soul from going down to the Pit, and my life shall see the light.'
28
He kept my soul from the underworld, and my life sees the light in full measure.
29 "God indeed does all these things, twice, three times, with mortals,
29
Truly, God does all these things to man, twice and three times,
30 to bring back their souls from the Pit, so that they may see the light of life.
30
Keeping back his soul from the underworld, so that he may see the light of life.
31 Pay heed, Job, listen to me; be silent, and I will speak.
31
Take note O Job, give ear to me; keep quiet, while I say what is in my mind.
32 If you have anything to say, answer me; speak, for I desire to justify you.
32
If you have anything to say, give me an answer; for it is my desire that you may be judged free from sin.
33 If not, listen to me; be silent, and I will teach you wisdom."
33
If not, give attention to me, and keep quiet, and I will give you wisdom.
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.
The Bible in Basic English is in the public domain.