- 1
- Wherefore, Iob, I pray thee, heare my talke and hearken vnto all my wordes.
- 2
- Beholde now, I haue opened my mouth: my tongue hath spoken in my mouth.
- 3
- My words are in the vprightnesse of mine heart, & my lippes shall speake pure knowledge.
- 4
- The Spirite of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almightie hath giuen me life.
- 5
- If thou canst giue me answere, prepare thy selfe and stand before me.
- 6
- Beholde, I am according to thy wish in Gods stead: I am also formed of the clay.
- 7
- Beholde, my terrour shall not feare thee, neither shall mine hand be heauie vpon thee.
- 8
- Doubtles thou hast spoken in mine eares, and I haue heard the voyce of thy wordes.
- 9
- I am cleane, without sinne: I am innocent, and there is none iniquitie in me.
- 10
- Lo, he hath found occasions against me, and counted me for his enemie.
- 11
- He hath put my feete in the stockes, and looketh narrowly vnto all my paths.
- 12
- Behold, in this hast thou not done right: I will answere thee, that God is greater then man.
- 13
- Why doest thou striue against him?
for he doeth not giue account of all his matters.
- 14
- For God speaketh once or twise, and one seeth it not.
- 15
- In dreames and visions of the night, when sleepe falleth vpon men, and they sleepe vpon their beds,
- 16
- Then he openeth the eares of men, euen by their corrections, which he had sealed,
- 17
- That he might cause man to turne away from his enterprise, and that he might hide the pride of man,
- 18
- And keepe backe his soule from the pit, & that his life should not passe by the sword.
- 19
- He is also striken with sorow vpon his bed, and the griefe of his bones is sore,
- 20
- So that his life causeth him to abhorre bread, and his soule daintie meate.
- 21
- His flesh faileth that it can not be seene, and his bones which were not seene, clatter.
- 22
- So his soule draweth to the graue, and his life to the buriers.
- 23
- If there be a messenger with him, or an interpreter, one of a thousand to declare vnto man his righteousnesse,
- 24
- Then will he haue mercie vpon him, and will say, Deliuer him, that he go not downe into the pit: for I haue receiued a reconciliation.
- 25
- Then shal his flesh be as fresh as a childes, and shall returne as in the dayes of his youth.
- 26
- He shall pray vnto God, and he will be fauourable vnto him, and he shall see his face with ioy: for he will render vnto ma his righteousnes.
- 27
- He looketh vpon men, and if one say, I haue sinned, and peruerted righteousnesse, and it did not profite me,
- 28
- He will deliuer his soule from going into the pit, and his life shall see the light.
- 29
- Lo, all these things will God worke twise or thrise with a man,
- 30
- That he may turne backe his soule from the pit, to be illuminate in the light of the liuing.
- 31
- Marke well, O Iob, and heare me: keepe silence, and I will speake.
- 32
- If there be matter, answere me, and speak: for I desire to iustifie thee.
- 33
- If thou hast not, heare me: holde thy tongue, and I will teach thee wisedome.
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