(“) But now , O Job - , hear my speech , and listen to all my words.
Behold ... , I will open my mouth ; my address is on the tip of my tongue.
My words are from an upright heart , and my lips speak sincerely what I know.
The Spirit of God has made me , and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.
Refute me if you can ; prepare your case and confront me ....
- I ... am just like you before God ; I was also formed from clay.
Surely no fear of me should terrify you ; nor will my hand be heavy upon you.
Surely you have spoken in my hearing , ... and I have heard these very words :
‘ I am pure , without transgression ; I am clean , with no iniquity
Yet (God) finds occasions against me ; He counts me enemy.
He puts my feet in the stocks ; He watches over all my paths. ’
Behold , you are not right in this matter. I will answer you , for God is greater than man.
Why do you complain to Him that He answers nothing ... a man asks ?
For God speaks in one (way) and in another , (yet) no one notices.
In a dream , in a vision in the night , when deep sleep falls upon men as they slumber on their beds ,
- He opens their ears ... and terrifies them with warnings
to turn a man from wrongdoing and keep him from pride ,
to preserve his soul from the Pit and his life from perishing by the sword.
A man is also chastened on his bed with pain and constant distress in his bones ,
so that he detests his bread , and his soul (loathes) his favorite food.
His flesh wastes away from sight , and his hidden ... bones protrude.
He draws near to the Pit , and his life to the messengers of death.
Yet if there is a messenger on his side , one mediator in a thousand , to tell a man what is right for him ,
to be gracious to him and say , ‘ Spare him from going down to the Pit ; I have found his ransom , ’
then his flesh is refreshed like a child’s ; he returns to the days of his youth.
He prays to God and finds favor ; he sees (God’s) face and shouts for joy , and God restores His righteousness to that man.
Then he sings before men with these words : ‘ I have sinned and perverted what was right ; yet I did not get what I deserved
He redeemed my soul from going down to the Pit , and I will live to see the light. ’
Behold , all these things God does to a man , two or even three times ,
to bring back his soul from the Pit , that he may be enlightened with the light of life.
Pay attention , Job - , and listen be silent , and I will speak.
But if you have something to say , answer me ; speak up , for I would like to vindicate you.
But if not , ... then listen be quiet , and I will teach you wisdom. ”