66 Books

¹ And listen to all my words. ² My tongue speaks in my mouth. ³ My lips utter pure knowledge. ⁴ And the breath of the Almighty gives me life. ⁵ Take your stand. ⁶ I also have been formed out of clay. ⁷ Nor will my hand be heavy on you. ⁸ And I have heard the sound of your words, saying, ⁹ I am innocent, and there is no iniquity in me. ¹⁰ He counts me as His enemy; ¹¹ He watches all my paths.’ ¹² For God is greater than man. ¹³ For He does not give an accounting of any of His words. ¹⁴ Yet man does not perceive it. ¹⁵ While slumbering on their beds, ¹⁶ And seals their instruction. ¹⁷ And conceal pride from man, ¹⁸ And his life from perishing by the sword. ¹⁹ And with strong pain in many of his bones, ²⁰ And his soul succulent food. ²¹ And his bones stick out which once were not seen. ²² And his life to the executioners. ²³ To show man His uprightness, ²⁴ I have found a ransom’; ²⁵ He shall return to the days of his youth. ²⁶ For He restores to man His righteousness. ²⁷ And it did not profit me.’ ²⁸ And his life shall see the light. ²⁹ Twice, in fact, three times with a man, ³⁰ That he may be enlightened with the light of life. ³¹ Hold your peace, and I will speak. ³² Speak, for I desire to justify you. ³³ Hold your peace, and I will teach you wisdom.”