1. “Listen to my words, Job;pay attention to what I have to say.
2. Now that I have begun to speak,let me continue.
3. I speak with all sincerity;I speak the truth.
4. For the Spirit of God has made me,and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.
5. Answer me, if you can;make your case and take your stand.
6. Look, you and I both belong to God.I, too, was formed from clay.
7. So you don’t need to be afraid of me.I won’t come down hard on you.
8. “You have spoken in my hearing,and I have heard your very words.
9. You said, ‘I am pure; I am without sin;I am innocent; I have no guilt.
10. God is picking a quarrel with me,and he considers me his enemy.
11. He puts my feet in the stocksand watches my every move.’
12. “But you are wrong, and I will show you why.For God is greater than any human being.
13. So why are you bringing a charge against him?Why say he does not respond to people’s complaints?