13 Why do you complain to him

that he responds to no one’s words?

14 For God does speak—now one way, now another—

though no one perceives it.

15 In a dream, in a vision of the night,

when deep sleep falls on people

as they slumber in their beds,

16 he may speak in their ears

and terrify them with warnings,

17 to turn them from wrongdoing

and keep them from pride,

18 to preserve them from the pit,

their lives from perishing by the sword.

13 Why dost thou strive against him?

For he giveth not account of any of his matters.

14 For God speaketh once,

Yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not.

15 In a dream, in a vision of the night,

When deep sleep falleth upon men,

In slumberings upon the bed;

16 Then he openeth the ears of men,

And sealeth their instruction,

17 That he may withdraw man from his purpose,

And hide pride from man.

18 He keepeth back his soul from the pit,

And his life from perishing by the sword.

13 So why are you bringing a charge against him?

Why say he does not respond to people’s complaints?

14 For God speaks again and again,

though people do not recognize it.

15 He speaks in dreams, in visions of the night,

when deep sleep falls on people

as they lie in their beds.

16 He whispers in their ears

and terrifies them with warnings.

17 He makes them turn from doing wrong;

he keeps them from pride.

18 He protects them from the grave,

from crossing over the river of death.

13 Why do you contend with Him?

For He does not give an accounting of any of His words.

14 For God may speak in one way, or in another,

Yet man does not perceive it.

15 In a dream, in a vision of the night,

When deep sleep falls upon men,

While slumbering on their beds,

16 Then He opens the ears of men,

And seals their instruction.

17 In order to turn man from his deed,

And conceal pride from man,

18 He keeps back his soul from the Pit,

And his life from perishing by the sword.

13 Why do you accuse God

of not answering anyone?

14 God does speak—sometimes one way and sometimes another—

even though people may not understand it.

15 He speaks in a dream or a vision of the night

when people are in a deep sleep,

lying on their beds.

16 He speaks in their ears

and frightens them with warnings

17 to turn them away from doing wrong

and to keep them from being proud.

18 God does this to save people from death,

to keep them from dying.

13 Why dost thou strive against him,

For that he giveth not account of any of his matters?

14 For God speaketh once,

Yea twice, though man regardeth it not.

15 In a dream, in a vision of the night,

When deep sleep falleth upon men,

In slumberings upon the bed;

16 Then he openeth the ears of men,

And sealeth their instruction,

17 That he may withdraw man from his purpose,

And hide pride from man;

18 He keepeth back his soul from the pit,

And his life from perishing by the sword.

13 Why dost thou strive against him? for he giveth not account of any of his matters.

14 For •God speaketh once, and twice, —and man perceiveth it not— 15 In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed; 16 Then he openeth men’s ears, and sealeth their instruction, 17 That he may withdraw man from his work, and hide pride from man. 18 He keepeth back his soul from the pit, and his life from passing away by the sword.

13 Why do you quarrel with him 

since he doesn’t answer any questions? 

14 “God speaks in one way, 

even in two ways without people noticing it: 

15 In a dream, a prophetic vision at night, 

when people fall into a deep sleep, 

when they sleep on their beds, 

16 he opens people’s ears 

and terrifies them with warnings. 

17 ⸤He warns them⸥ to turn away from doing ⸤wrong⸥ 

and to stop being arrogant.

18 He keeps their souls from the pit 

and their lives from crossing the River ⸤of Death⸥. 

13 Why do you take Him to court

for not answering anything a person asks?

14 For God speaks time and again,

but a person may not notice it.

15 In a dream, a vision in the night,

when deep sleep falls on people

as they slumber on their beds,

16 He uncovers their ears at that time

and terrifies them with warnings,

17 in order to turn a person from his actions

and suppress his pride.

18 God spares his soul from the Pit,

his life from crossing the river of death.

13 Why do you contend against him,

saying, ‘He will answer none of my words’?

14 For God speaks in one way,

and in two, though people do not perceive it.

15 In a dream, in a vision of the night,

when deep sleep falls on mortals,

while they slumber on their beds,

16 then he opens their ears,

and terrifies them with warnings,

17 that he may turn them aside from their deeds,

and keep them from pride,

18 to spare their souls from the Pit,

their lives from traversing the River.

13 Why do you contend against him,

that he will not answer all a person’s words?

14 Indeed, God speaks in one way,

even in two, yet someone does not perceive it.

15 “In a dream, a vision of the night,

when a deep sleep falls on men slumbering on their bed,

16 then he opens the ear of men,

and he frightens them with a warning

17 to turn human beings aside from their deeds,

and he keeps man from pride.

18 He spares his life from the pit

and his life from passing over the river of death.

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.

17 He warns men in order to turn them away from sinning.

He wants to keep them from being proud.

18 He wants to stop them from going down into the grave.

He doesn’t want them to be killed with swords.

13 “Why do you complain against Him

That He does not give an account of all His doings?

14 “Indeed God speaks once,

Or twice, yet no one notices it.

15 “In a dream, a vision of the night,

When sound sleep falls on men,

While they slumber in their beds,

16 Then He opens the ears of men,

And seals their instruction,

17 That He may turn man aside from his conduct,

And keep man from pride;

18 He keeps back his soul from the pit,

And his life from passing over into Sheol.