“Teach me, and I will be silent; make me understand how I have gone astray.

“But now, be pleased to look at me, for I will not lie to your face.

“Therefore I will not restrain my mouth; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.

If I say, ‘I will forget my complaint, I will put off my sad face, and be of good cheer,’

Job Continues: A Plea to God

“I loathe my life; I will give free utterance to my complaint; I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.

I will say to God, Do not condemn me; let me know why you contend against me.

Job Continues: Still I Will Hope in God

“Behold, my eye has seen all this, my ear has heard and understood it.

“Let me have silence, and I will speak, and let come on me what may.

Though he slay me, I will hope in him; yet I will argue my ways to his face.

Only grant me two things, then I will not hide myself from your face:

Then call, and I will answer; or let me speak, and you reply to me.

“I will show you; hear me, and what I have seen I will declare

Bear with me, and I will speak, and after I have spoken, mock on.

Job Continues: I Will Maintain My Integrity

And Job again took up his discourse, and said:

Far be it from me to say that you are right; till I die I will not put away my integrity from me.

I will teach you concerning the hand of God; what is with the Almighty I will not conceal.

He has not directed his words against me, and I will not answer him with your speeches.

I will not show partiality to any man or use flattery toward any person.

“Behold, in this you are not right. I will answer you, for God is greater than man.

Pay attention, O Job, listen to me; be silent, and I will speak.

If not, listen to me; be silent, and I will teach you wisdom.”

“For has anyone said to God, ‘I have borne punishment; I will not offend any more;

teach me what I do not see; if I have done iniquity, I will do it no more’?

I will answer you and your friends with you.

“Bear with me a little, and I will show you, for I have yet something to say on God's behalf.

I will get my knowledge from afar and ascribe righteousness to my Maker.

Dress for action like a man; I will question you, and you make it known to me.

I have spoken once, and I will not answer; twice, but I will proceed no further.”

“Dress for action like a man; I will question you, and you make it known to me.

“I will not keep silence concerning his limbs, or his mighty strength, or his goodly frame.

‘Hear, and I will speak; I will question you, and you make it known to me.’

Now therefore take seven bulls and seven rams and go to my servant Job and offer up a burnt offering for yourselves. And my servant Job shall 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.”