31 “Suppose someone says to God,

‘I am guilty but will offend no more.

32 Teach me what I cannot see;

if I have done wrong, I will not do so again.’

33 Should God then reward you on your terms,

when you refuse to repent?

You must decide, not I;

so tell me what you know.

34 “Men of understanding declare,

wise men who hear me say to me,

35 ‘Job speaks without knowledge;

his words lack insight.’

36 Oh, that Job might be tested to the utmost

for answering like a wicked man!

37 To his sin he adds rebellion;

scornfully he claps his hands among us

and multiplies his words against God.”

31 “For has anyone said to God,

‘I have borne punishment; I will not offend any more;

32 teach me what I do not see;

if I have done iniquity, I will do it no more’?

33 Will he then make repayment to suit you,

because you reject it?

For you must choose, and not I;

therefore declare what you know.

34 Men of understanding will say to me,

and the wise man who hears me will say:

35 ‘Job speaks without knowledge;

his words are without insight.’

36 Would that Job were tried to the end,

because he answers like wicked men.

37 For he adds rebellion to his sin;

he claps his hands among us

and multiplies his words against God.”

31 Surely it is meet to be said unto God,

I have borne chastisement, I will not offend any more:

32 That which I see not teach thou me:

If I have done iniquity, I will do no more.

33 Should it be according to thy mind? he will recompense it,

Whether thou refuse, or whether thou choose; and not I:

Therefore speak what thou knowest.

34 Let men of understanding tell me,

And let a wise man hearken unto me.

35 Job hath spoken without knowledge,

And his words were without wisdom.

36 My desire is that Job may be tried unto the end

Because of his answers for wicked men.

37 For he addeth rebellion unto his sin,

He clappeth his hands among us,

And multiplieth his words against God.

31 “Why don’t people say to God, ‘I have sinned,

but I will sin no more’?

32 Or ‘I don’t know what evil I have done—tell me.

If I have done wrong, I will stop at once’?

33 “Must God tailor his justice to your demands?

But you have rejected him!

The choice is yours, not mine.

Go ahead, share your wisdom with us.

34 After all, bright people will tell me,

and wise people will hear me say,

35 ‘Job speaks out of ignorance;

his words lack insight.’

36 Job, you deserve the maximum penalty

for the wicked way you have talked.

37 For you have added rebellion to your sin;

you show no respect,

and you speak many angry words against God.”

31 “For has anyone said to God,

‘I have borne chastening;

I will offend no more;

32 Teach me what I do not see;

If I have done iniquity, I will do no more’?

33 Should He repay it according to your terms,

Just because you disavow it?

You must choose, and not I;

Therefore speak what you know.

34 “Men of understanding say to me,

Wise men who listen to me:

35 ‘Job speaks without knowledge,

His words are without wisdom.’

36 Oh, that Job were tried to the utmost,

Because his answers are like those of wicked men!

37 For he adds rebellion to his sin;

He claps his hands among us,

And multiplies his words against God.”

31 “But suppose someone says to God,

‘I am guilty, but I will not sin anymore.

32 Teach me what I cannot see.

If I have done wrong, I will not do it again.’

33 So, Job, should God reward you as you want

when you refuse to change?

You must decide, not I,

so tell me what you know.

34 “Those who understand speak,

and the wise who hear me say,

35 ‘Job speaks without knowing what is true;

his words show he does not understand.’

36 I wish Job would be tested completely,

because he answered like an evil man!

37 Job now adds to his sin by turning against God.

He claps his hands in protest,

speaking more and more against God.”

31 For hath any said unto God, I have borne chastisement, I will not offend any more:

32 That which I see not teach thou me:

If I have done iniquity, I will do it no more?

33 Shall his recompense be as thou wilt, that thou refusest it?

For thou must choose, and not I:

Therefore speak what thou knowest.

34 Men of understanding will say unto me,

Yea, every wise man that heareth me:

35 Job speaketh without knowledge,

And his words are without wisdom.

36 Would that Job were tried unto the end,

Because of his answering like wicked men.

37 For he addeth rebellion unto his sin;

He clappeth his hands among us,

And multiplieth his words against God.

31 For hath he said unto •God, I bear chastisement, I will not offend; 32 What I see not, teach thou me; if I have done wrong, I will do so no more? 33 Shall he recompense according to thy mind? for thou hast refused his judgment; for thou so choosest, and not I; speak then what thou knowest. 34 Men of understanding will say to me, and a wise man who heareth me: 35 Job hath spoken without knowledge, and his words were not with intelligence. 36 Would that Job may be tried unto the end, because of his answers after the manner of evil men! 37 For he addeth rebellion unto his sin, he clappeth his hands among us, and multiplieth his words against •God.

31 “But suppose such a person says to God, ‘I am guilty, 

I will stop my immoral behavior. 

32 Teach me what I cannot see. 

If I’ve done wrong, I won’t do it again.’ 

33 Should God reward you on your own terms since you have rejected his? 

You must choose, not I. 

Tell me what you know. Speak! 

34 “People of understanding, the wise people 

who listen to me, will say, 

35 ‘Job speaks without knowledge. 

His words show no insight.’ 

36 “My Father, let Job be thoroughly tested 

for giving answers like wicked people do. 

37 He adds disobedience to his sin. 

He claps his hands to insult us. 

He multiplies his words against God.” 

31 Suppose someone says to God,

“I have endured my punishment;

I will no longer act wickedly.

32 Teach me what I cannot see;

if I have done wrong, I won’t do it again.”

33 Should God repay you on your terms

when you have rejected His?

You must choose, not I!

So declare what you know.

34 Reasonable men will say to me,

along with the wise men who hear me,

35 “Job speaks without knowledge;

his words are without insight.”

36 If only Job were tested to the limit,

because his answers are like those of wicked men.

37 For he adds rebellion to his sin;

he scornfully claps in our presence,

while multiplying his words against God.

31 “For has anyone said to God,

‘I have endured punishment; I will not offend any more;

32 teach me what I do not see;

if I have done iniquity, I will do it no more’?

33 Will he then pay back to suit you,

because you reject it?

For you must choose, and not I;

therefore declare what you know.

34 Those who have sense will say to me,

and the wise who hear me will say,

35 ‘Job speaks without knowledge,

his words are without insight.’

36 Would that Job were tried to the limit,

because his answers are those of the wicked.

37 For he adds rebellion to his sin;

he claps his hands among us,

and multiplies his words against God.”

31 “Indeed, does anyone say to God, ‘I have endured chastisement;

I will not act corruptly again;

32 teach me yourself what I cannot see;

if I have done wrong, I will not repeat it’?

33 According to your judgment, must he repay it because you rejected this?

Indeed, you must choose, and not I, so declare what you know.

34 Those who have sense say to me,

and the wise man hearing me says:

35 ‘Job speaks without knowledge,

and his words are without insight.

36 Would that Job were tested up to the end

because his answers are like those from men of mischief,

37 for he adds transgression to his sin;

he claps hands among us,

and he multiplies his words against God.’ ”

31 “Someone might say to God,

‘I’m guilty of sinning,

but I won’t do it anymore.

32 Show me my sins that I’m not aware of.

If I’ve done what is wrong,

I won’t do it again.’

33 But you refuse to turn away from your sins.

So God won’t treat you the way you want to be treated.

You must decide, Job. I can’t do it for you.

So tell me what you know.

34 “You men who have understanding have spoken.

You wise men who hear me have said to me,

35 ‘Job doesn’t know what he’s talking about.

The things he has said don’t make any sense.’

36 I wish Job would be put to the hardest test!

He answered like someone who is evil.

37 To his sin he adds even more sin.

He claps his hands and makes fun of us.

He multiplies his words against God.”