International Standard Version

New American Standard Bible 1995

1"Now please listen to what I have to say, Job. Listen to every word!

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

2Look! I've begun to speak, and I'm fashioning my words.

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

3I speak from the innocence of my heart; and my lips will utter what I sincerely know.

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

4"The spirit of God fashioned me; and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.

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

5Answer me, if you can! Present your case! Take your stand in my presence!

5"Refute me if you can; Array yourselves before me, take your stand.

6Look! As far as God is concerned, I'm just like you are— I, too, have been pinched off from a piece of clay.

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

7Don't be afraid of me; I'll go easy on you."

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

8"You spoke clearly so I could hear; I've heard what you've said:

8"Surely you have spoken in my hearing, And I have heard the sound of your words:

9I'm pure. I'm without sin; I'm innocent. I'm harboring no iniquity inside of me.

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

10Nevertheless, God has found a pretext to attack me; he considers me his enemy.

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

11He has bound my feet in shackles, and keeps watching everything I do.'"

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

12"You aren't right about this; My response is that God is greater than human beings.

12"Behold, let me tell you, you are not right in this, For God is greater than man.

13Why are you arguing with him? He doesn't have to give explanations for what he does to you!

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

14"God speaks time and time again — but nobody notices—

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

15in a dream or night vision, when a deep sleep falls on mankind while they sleep on their beds.

15"In a dream, a vision of the night, When sound sleep falls on men, While they slumber in their beds,

16That's when he opens the ear of mankind, authenticating his messages to them,

16Then He opens the ears of men, And seals their instruction,

17turning a person from his actions, keeping him from pride,

17That He may turn man aside from his conduct, And keep man from pride;

18sparing his soul from the Pit and his life from violent death.

18He keeps back his soul from the pit, And his life from passing over into Sheol.

19"He is being reproved by painful bed rest, with continual aching in his bones.

19"Man is also chastened with pain on his bed, And with unceasing complaint in his bones;

20He cannot stand his food, and he has no desire for appetizing food.

20So that his life loathes bread, And his soul favorite food.

21His flesh wastes away; his bones, which once couldn't be seen, are visible.

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

22His soul is getting close to the Pit; his life is approaching its executioner."

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

23"If there's a messenger appointed to mediate for Job —one out of a thousand— to represent the man's integrity on his behalf,

23"If there is an angel as mediator for him, One out of a thousand, To remind a man what is right for him,

24to show favor to him and to plead, 'Deliver him from having to go down to the Pit — I know where his ransom is!'

24Then let him be gracious to him, and say, 'Deliver him from going down to the pit, I have found a ransom';

25Let his flesh be rejuvenated as he was in his youth! Let him recover the strength of his youth.

25Let his flesh become fresher than in youth, Let him return to the days of his youthful vigor;

26Let him pray to God and he will accept him; he will appear before him with joyful shouts!"

26Then he will pray to God, and He will accept him, That he may see His face with joy, And He may restore His righteousness to man.

27"He'll sing to mankind with these words: 'I've sinned. I have twisted what is right. Yet he has not repaid me like I deserve.

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

28He has redeemed my soul from going down to the Pit; my life will see the light.'

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

29Indeed God does all these things again and again with a person

29"Behold, God does all these oftentimes with men,

30to bring back his soul from the Pit; to light him with the light of life."

30To bring back his soul from the pit, That he may be enlightened with the light of life.

31"Job, pay attention! Listen to me! Be silent and let me speak.

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

32If you have anything to say, answer me; speak up, because I'd be happy to vindicate you.

32"Then if you have anything to say, answer me; Speak, for I desire to justify you.

33But if you have nothing to say, then at least listen to me! Be quiet and learn some wisdom from me."

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

The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY.

New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit //www.lockman.org