But now, Iyyov, I pray thee, hear my speeches, and hearken to all my words.

But hear my words, Iyyov, and listen to all that I say.

Behold, now I have opened my mouth, my tongue has spoken in my mouth.

I will now open my mouth, and my tongue will speak upon my palate.

My words shall be of the uprightness of my heart: and my lips shall utter knowledge in purity.

My words are [from] the uprightness of my heart, and my lips will speak clear knowledge.

The spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty has given me life.

The will of G d made me [(and I am not stronger than you)], and the breath of the Almighty will sustain me.

If thou canst, answer me; set thy words in order before me; stand up.

If you can, answer me. Prepare your case and stand up against me.

Behold, I am towards God as thou art: I also am formed out of the clay.

Here am I, as you requested, to argue G d's case [(without your being confounded by Him [viz. 13:21])]. I, too, have been hewn from clay.

Behold, my terror shall not make thee afraid, nor shall my pressure be heavy upon thee.

Fear of me will not confound you, and my compulsion will not bear down upon you.

Surely thou hast spoken in my hearing, and I have heard the voice of thy words, saying,

But what you said came to my ears, and I heard [only] the sound [(not the senses)] of words:

I am clean without transgression, I am innocent; neither is there iniquity in me.

"I am pure, without offense; I am clean, without transgression."

Behold, he finds occasions against me, he counts me for his enemy.

"He has found pretexts against me; He reckons me His foe."

He puts my feet in the stocks, he marks all my paths.

"He has put my feet in stocks; He guards all my ways."

Behold, in this thou art not right: I will answer thee, that God is greater than man.

Only this shall I answer you: that G d is [far] more righteous than man [(and He is not overly severe with you)].

Why dost thou strive against him, seeing that none of his words will answer you.

Why did you argue against Him that He does not answer for all of His ways?

Surely God speaks once, yea twice, yet man perceives it not.

For G d speaks in one way — and in a second, for him who does not see [the first].

In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls upon men, in slumberings upon the bed,

In a dream, a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls upon men, or when they slumber upon their couch,

then he opens the ears of men, and with discipline seals their instruction,

then He uncovers the ear of men [(as in the instance of Avimelech [viz. Genesis 20])], and in their afflictions He seals [them].

that he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man.

To remove a man from his [contemplated] deed and to conceal [i.e., to remove] haughtiness from a man [(and so spare him from death)].

He keeps back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword.

He [thus] saves his soul from the pit, and his life from passing [under] the sword [(of the Angel of Death)].

He is chastened also with pain upon his bed, and the multitude of his bones with strong pain:

He is chastised with pain upon his couch [when] most of his bones are [yet] strong.

so that his life abhors bread, and his soul dainty food.

Then his soul abhors bread, and his spirit, [all] savory food.

His flesh is consumed away, that it cannot be seen; and his bones that were not seen stick out.

His flesh dwindles from sight, and his bones slip [(from their sockets) until] they are no [longer] visible.

For his soul draws near to the pit, and his life to the destroyers.

And then his spirit draws near to the pit, and his soul [draws near] to the killers [(the messengers of the Angel of Death)].

If there be an angel over him, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to declare to man what is right:

If there be for him one defending angel among a thousand [accusers] to speak of a man's righteousness,

then he is gracious to him, and says, Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom.

then He is gracious to him and says: "Redeem him from descending to the pit; I have found atonement."

His flesh shall be smoother than a child’s: he shall return to the days of his youth:

His flesh will cease from its convulsions. He will return to the days of his youth.

he shall pray to God, and he will be favourable to him: and he shall see his face with joy: for he will render to man his righteousness.

And when he entreats G d and courts His favor and beholds His face with prayer, then He will return to [i.e., accord to] the man [reward for] his righteousness.

He should then assemble a row of men, and say, I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it profited me not.

[(And when upon recovery from his illness)] he makes rows of men [(and passes through them)] saying: "I have sinned and have perverted what is just and have not profited by it,"

Thus he will redeem his soul from going into the pit, and his life shall see the light.

He will save his spirit from passing to the pit, and his soul will see the light.

Lo, God does all these things twice or three times with a man,

All of this G d will do two or three times with a man.

to bring back his soul from the pit, to be enlightened with the light of the living.

To turn his soul from the pit to be illumined in the light of life.

Mark well, O Iyyov, hearken to me: hold thy peace, and I will speak.

Listen, Iyyov, hear me. Be still and I will speak.

If thou hast anything to say, answer me: speak, for I desire to justify thee.

If you have words, answer me; for I desire to vindicate you.

If not, hearken to me: hold thy peace, and I shall teach thee wisdom.

If not, then you listen to me. Be still, and I will teach you wisdom.