1. "Job, listen now to my words. Pay attention to everything I say.
2. I'm about to open my mouth. My words are on the tip of my tongue.
3. What I say comes from an honest heart. My lips speak only what I know is true.
4. The Spirit of God has made me. The breath of the Mighty One gives me life.
5. So answer me if you can. Prepare yourself to face me.
6. In God's sight I'm just like you. I too have been made out of clay.
7. You don't have to be afraid of me. My hand won't be too heavy on you.
8. "But I heard what you said. And here are the exact words I heard.
9. You said, 'I'm pure. I haven't sinned in the ways you have charged. I'm clean. I'm not guilty of doing anything wrong.
10. But God has found fault with me. He thinks I'm his enemy.
11. He puts my feet in chains. He watches every step I take.'
12. "But I'm telling you that you aren't right when you talk like that. After all, God is greater than a mere man.
13. Why do you claim that God never answers any of our questions?
14. He speaks in one way and then another. We might not even realize it.
15. He might speak in a dream or in a vision at night. That's when people are sound asleep in their beds.
16. He might speak in their ears. His warnings might terrify them.