| Berean Standard Bible | Christian Standard Bible |
| 1“But now, O Job, hear my speech, and listen to all my words. | 1But now, Job, pay attention to my speech, and listen to all my words. |
| 2Behold, I will open my mouth; my address is on the tip of my tongue. | 2I am going to open my mouth; my tongue will form words on my palate. |
| 3My words are from an upright heart, and my lips speak sincerely what I know. | 3My words come from my upright heart, and my lips speak with sincerity what they know. |
| 4The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life. | 4The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life. |
| 5Refute me if you can; prepare your case and confront me. | 5Refute me if you can. Prepare your case against me; take your stand. |
| 6I am just like you before God; I was also formed from clay. | 6I am just like you before God; I was also pinched off from a piece of clay. |
| 7Surely no fear of me should terrify you; nor will my hand be heavy upon you. | 7Fear of me should not terrify you; no pressure from me should weigh you down. |
| 8Surely you have spoken in my hearing, and I have heard these very words: | 8Surely you have spoken in my hearing, and I have heard these very words: |
| 9‘I am pure, without transgression; I am clean, with no iniquity in me. | 9"I am pure, without transgression; I am clean and have no iniquity. |
| 10Yet God finds occasions against me; He counts me as His enemy. | 10But he finds reasons to oppose me; he regards me as his enemy. |
| 11He puts my feet in the stocks; He watches over all my paths.’ | 11He puts my feet in the stocks; he stands watch over all my paths." |
| 12Behold, you are not right in this matter. I will answer you, for God is greater than man. | 12But I tell you that you are wrong in this matter, since God is greater than man. |
| 13Why do you complain to Him that He answers nothing a man asks? | 13Why do you take him to court for not answering anything a person asks? |
| 14For God speaks in one way and in another, yet no one notices. | 14For God speaks time and again, but a person may not notice it. |
| 15In a dream, in a vision in the night, when deep sleep falls upon men as they slumber on their beds, | 15In a dream, a vision in the night, when deep sleep comes over people as they slumber on their beds, |
| 16He opens their ears and terrifies them with warnings | 16he uncovers their ears and terrifies them with warnings, |
| 17to turn a man from wrongdoing and keep him from pride, | 17in order to turn a person from his actions and suppress the pride of a person. |
| 18to preserve his soul from the Pit and his life from perishing by the sword. | 18God spares his soul from the Pit, his life from crossing the river of death. |
| 19A man is also chastened on his bed with pain and constant distress in his bones, | 19A person may be disciplined on his bed with pain and constant distress in his bones, |
| 20so that he detests his bread, and his soul loathes his favorite food. | 20so that he detests bread, and his soul despises his favorite food. |
| 21His flesh wastes away from sight, and his hidden bones protrude. | 21His flesh wastes away to nothing, and his unseen bones stick out. |
| 22He draws near to the Pit, and his life to the messengers of death. | 22He draws near to the Pit, and his life to the executioners. |
| 23Yet if there is a messenger on his side, one mediator in a thousand, to tell a man what is right for him, | 23If there is an angel on his side, one mediator out of a thousand, to tell a person what is right for him |
| 24to be gracious to him and say, ‘Spare him from going down to the Pit; I have found his ransom,’ | 24and to be gracious to him and say, "Spare him from going down to the Pit; I have found a ransom," |
| 25then his flesh is refreshed like a child’s; he returns to the days of his youth. | 25then his flesh will be healthier than in his youth, and he will return to the days of his youthful vigor. |
| 26He prays to God and finds favor; he sees God’s face and shouts for joy, and God restores His righteousness to that man. | 26He will pray to God, and God will delight in him. That person will see his face with a shout of joy, and God will restore his righteousness to him. |
| 27Then he sings before men with these words: ‘I have sinned and perverted what was right; yet I did not get what I deserved. | 27He will look at men and say, "I have sinned and perverted what was right; yet I did not get what I deserved. |
| 28He redeemed my soul from going down to the Pit, and I will live to see the light.’ | 28He redeemed my soul from going down to the Pit, and I will continue to see the light." |
| 29Behold, all these things God does to a man, two or even three times, | 29God certainly does all these things two or three times to a person |
| 30to bring back his soul from the Pit, that he may be enlightened with the light of life. | 30in order to turn him back from the Pit, so he may shine with the light of life. |
| 31Pay attention, Job, and listen to me; be silent, and I will speak. | 31Pay attention, Job, and listen to me. Be quiet, and I will speak. |
| 32But if you have something to say, answer me; speak up, for I would like to vindicate you. | 32But if you have something to say, answer me; speak, for I would like to justify you. |
| 33But if not, then listen to me; be quiet, and I will teach you wisdom.” | 33If not, then listen to me; be quiet, and I will teach you wisdom. |
| This text of God's Word has been dedicated to the public domain. | The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. |
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