1 Job, listen to me!

Pay close attention.

* 2 Everything I will say

3 is true and sincere,

4 just as surely as the Spirit

of God All-Powerful*

gave me the breath of life.

5 Now line up your arguments

and prepare to face me.

6 We each were made from clay,

and God has no favorites,

7 so don't be afraid of me

or what I might do.

8 I have heard you argue

9 that you are innocent,

guilty of nothing.

10 You claim that God

has made you his enemy,

11 * that he has bound your feet

and blocked your path.

12 But, Job, you're wrong—

God is greater

than any human.

13 So why do you challenge God

to answer you?*

14 God speaks in different ways,

and we don't always

recognize his voice.

* 15 * Sometimes in the night,

he uses terrifying dreams

16 to give us warnings.

17 God does this to make us turn

from sin and pride

18 and to protect us

from being swept away

to the world of the dead.

19 Sometimes we are punished

with a serious illness

and aching joints.

20 Merely the thought

of our favorite food

makes our stomachs sick,

21 and we become so skinny

that our bones stick out.

22 We feel death and the grave

taking us in their grip.

23 One of a thousand angels

then comes to our rescue

by saying we are innocent.

24 The angel shows kindness,

commanding death to release us,

because the price was paid.

25 Our health is restored,

we feel young again,

26 and we ask God to accept us.

Then we joyfully worship God,

and we are rewarded

because we are innocent.

27 When that happens,

we tell everyone,

"I sinned and did wrong,

but God forgave me

28 and rescued me from death!

Now I will see the light."

29 God gives each of us

chance after chance

30 to be saved from death

and brought into the light

that gives life.

31 So, Job, pay attention

and don't interrupt,

32 though I would gladly listen

to anything you say

that proves you are right.

33 Otherwise, listen in silence

to my wisdom.