Job 42:1-9

English Standard Version

Job's Confession and Repentance

42 Then Job answered the Lord and said:

²“I know that you can ^(A)do all things,
    and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.
³^(B)‘Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’
Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand,
    things ^(C)too wonderful for me, which I did not know.
⁴‘Hear, and I will speak;
    ^(D)I will question you, and you make it known to me.’
⁵I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear,
    but now my eye sees you;
⁶therefore I despise myself,
    and repent^[a] in ^(E)dust and ashes.”

The Lord Rebukes Job's Friends

⁷After the Lord had spoken these words to Job, the Lord said to Eliphaz ^(F)the Temanite: “My anger burns against you and against your two friends, for you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has. ⁸Now therefore take ^(G)seven bulls and seven rams and go to my servant Job and ^(H)offer up a burnt offering for yourselves. And my servant Job shall ^(I)pray for you, for I will accept his prayer not to deal with you according to your folly. For you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has.” ⁹^(J)So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite went and did what the Lord had told them, and the Lord accepted Job's prayer.