1“Listen to my words, Job;pay attention to what I have to say.
2Now that I have begun to speak,let me continue.
3I speak with all sincerity;I speak the truth.
4For the Spirit of God has made me,and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.
5Answer me, if you can;make your case and take your stand.
6Look, you and I both belong to God.I, too, was formed from clay.
7So you don’t need to be afraid of me.I won’t come down hard on you.
8“You have spoken in my hearing,and I have heard your very words.
9You said, ‘I am pure; I am without sin;I am innocent; I have no guilt.
10God is picking a quarrel with me,and he considers me his enemy.
11He puts my feet in the stocksand watches my every move.’
12“But you are wrong, and I will show you why.For God is greater than any human being.
13So why are you bringing a charge against him?Why say he does not respond to people’s complaints?
14For God speaks again and again,though people do not recognize it.
15He speaks in dreams, in visions of the night,when deep sleep falls on peopleas they lie in their beds.
16He whispers in their earsand terrifies them with warnings.
17He makes them turn from doing wrong;he keeps them from pride.
18He protects them from the grave,from crossing over the river of death.
19“Or God disciplines people with pain on their sickbeds,with ceaseless aching in their bones.
20They lose their appetitefor even the most delicious food.
21Their flesh wastes away,and their bones stick out.
22They are at death’s door;the angels of death wait for them.
23“But if an angel from heaven appears —a special messenger to intercede for a personand declare that he is upright —
24he will be gracious and say,‘Rescue him from the grave,for I have found a ransom for his life.’
25Then his body will become as healthy as a child’s,firm and youthful again.
26When he prays to God,he will be accepted.And God will receive him with joyand restore him to good standing.
27He will declare to his friends,‘I sinned and twisted the truth,but it was not worth it.
28God rescued me from the grave,and now my life is filled with light.’
29“Yes, God does these thingsagain and again for people.
30He rescues them from the graveso they may enjoy the light of life.
31Mark this well, Job. Listen to me,for I have more to say.
32But if you have anything to say, go ahead.Speak, for I am anxious to see you justified.
33But if not, then listen to me.Keep silent and I will teach you wisdom!”