“I know that you can do all things;(A)
    no purpose of yours can be thwarted.(B)
You asked, ‘Who is this that obscures my plans without knowledge?’(C)
    Surely I spoke of things I did not understand,
    things too wonderful for me to know.(D)

“You said, ‘Listen now, and I will speak;
    I will question you,
    and you shall answer me.’(E)
My ears had heard of you(F)
    but now my eyes have seen you.(G)
Therefore I despise myself(H)
    and repent(I) in dust and ashes.”(J)

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“I know that You (A)can do everything,
And that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You.
You asked, (B)‘Who is this who hides counsel without knowledge?’
Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand,
(C)Things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.
Listen, please, and let me speak;
You said, (D)‘I will question you, and you shall answer Me.’

“I have (E)heard of You by the hearing of the ear,
But now my eye sees You.
Therefore I (F)abhor[a] myself,
And repent in dust and ashes.”

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Footnotes

  1. Job 42:6 despise

“I know that (A)You can do all things,
And that no plan is impossible for You.
‘Who is this who (B)conceals advice without knowledge?’
Therefore I have declared that which I did not understand,
Things (C)too wonderful for me, which I do not know.
‘Please listen, and I will speak;
I will (D)ask You, and You instruct me.’
I have (E)heard of You by the hearing of the ear;
But now my (F)eye sees You;
Therefore I retract,
And I repent, sitting on dust and ashes.”

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Job Worships God

I Babbled On About Things Far Beyond Me

42 1-6 Job answered God:

“I’m convinced: You can do anything and everything.
    Nothing and no one can upset your plans.
You asked, ‘Who is this muddying the water,
    ignorantly confusing the issue, second-guessing my purposes?’
I admit it. I was the one. I babbled on about things far beyond me,
    made small talk about wonders way over my head.
You told me, ‘Listen, and let me do the talking.
    Let me ask the questions. You give the answers.’
I admit I once lived by rumors of you;
    now I have it all firsthand—from my own eyes and ears!
I’m sorry—forgive me. I’ll never do that again, I promise!
    I’ll never again live on crusts of hearsay, crumbs of rumor.”

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