1 “And yet, O Iyoḇ, please hear my speech and listen to all my words.
2 See, please! I shall open my mouth, my tongue shall speak in my mouth.
3 My words are from the uprightness of my heart, my lips shall speak knowledge clearly.
4 The Spirit of Ěl has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.
5 If you are able, answer me, set yourself in order before me, take your stand.
6 See, I am like you before Ěl, I too have been formed out of clay.
7 See, no fear of me should alarm you, nor should pressure by me be heavy on you.
8 But you have spoken in my hearing, and the sound of words I hear, saying,
9 ‘I am clear, without transgression; I am innocent, and I have no crookedness.
10 See, He finds occasions against me, He counts me as His enemy;
11 He puts my feet in the stocks, He watches all my paths.’
12 See, in this you have not been righteous. Let me answer you: Eloah is greater than man!
13 Why have you complained against Him? Because He does not answer all His matters?
14 For Ěl does speak once, or twice – though one does not notice it –
15 in a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls upon men, while slumbering on a bed,
16 then He opens the ears of men, and seals their instruction,
17 to turn man from his deed, and conceal pride from man.
18 He keeps back his being from the Pit, and his life from passing away by the sword.
19 And he is reproved with pain on his bed, and with unceasing distress in his bones,
20 so that his life loathes bread, and his being desirable food.
21 His flesh wastes away, and his bones which were not seen stick out.
22 And his being draws near the Pit, and his life to the destroyers.
23 If there is a messenger for him, a mediator, one among a thousand, to show man His straightness,
24 then He shows favour to him, and says, ‘Release him from going down to the Pit, I have found an atonement.
25 ‘Let his flesh become fresher than a child’s, let him return to the days of his youth.’
26 He prays to Eloah, and He accepts him. And he sees His face with joy, and He restores to man his righteousness.
27 He sings to men and says, ‘I have sinned, and I have perverted what was right, and it did not profit me.’
28 He has redeemed my being from going down to the Pit, and my life sees the light.
29 See, Ěl does all these – twice, three times with a man,
30 to bring back his being from the Pit, to be enlightened with the light of the living.
31 Pay attention, Iyoḇ, listen to me, keep silent, and let me speak.
32 If there are words, answer me; speak, for I desire to declare you right.
33 If not, listen to me, keep silent, and let me teach you wisdom.”