✧“However, Job, please hear my speech, and listen to all my words. ✧2See now, I have opened my mouth. My tongue has spoken in my mouth. ✧3My words will utter the uprightness of my heart. That which my lips know they will speak sincerely. ✧4The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life. ✧5If you can, answer me. Set your words in order before me, and stand up. ✧6Behold, I am toward God even as you are. I am also formed out of the clay. ✧7Behold, my terror will not make you afraid, neither will my pressure be heavy on you. ✧8“Surely you have spoken in my hearing, I have heard the voice of your words, saying, ✧9‘I am clean, without disobedience. I am innocent, neither is there iniquity in me. ✧10Behold, he finds occasions against me. He counts me for his enemy. ✧11He puts my feet in the stocks. He marks all my paths.’ ✧12“Behold, I will answer you. In this you are not just, for God is greater than man. ✧13Why do you strive against him, because he doesn’t give account of any of his matters? ✧14For God speaks once, yes twice, though man pays no attention. ✧15In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on men, in slumbering on the bed, ✧16then he opens the ears of men, and seals their instruction, ✧17that he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man. ✧18He keeps back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword. ✧19“He is chastened also with pain on his bed, with continual strife in his bones, ✧20so that his life abhors bread, and his soul dainty food. ✧21His flesh is so consumed away that it can’t be seen. His bones that were not seen stick out. ✧22Yes, his soul draws near to the pit, and his life to the destroyers. ✧23“If there is beside him an angel, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to show to man what is right for him, ✧24then God is gracious to him, and says, ‘Deliver him from going down to the pit, I have found a ransom.’ ✧25His flesh will be fresher than a child’s. He returns to the days of his youth. ✧26He prays to God, and he is favorable to him, so that he sees his face with joy. He restores to man his righteousness. ✧27He sings before men, and says, ‘I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it didn’t profit me. ✧28He has redeemed my soul from going into the pit. My life will see the light.’ ✧29“Behold, God does all these things, twice, yes three times, with a man, ✧30to bring back his soul from the pit, that he may be enlightened with the light of the living. ✧31Mark well, Job, and listen to me. Hold your peace, and I will speak. ✧32If you have anything to say, answer me. Speak, for I desire to justify you. ✧33If not, listen to me. Hold your peace, and I will teach you wisdom.”