3 You asked, ‘Who is this that obscures my plans without knowledge?’

Surely I spoke of things I did not understand,

things too wonderful for me to know.

4 “You said, ‘Listen now, and I will speak;

I will question you,

and you shall answer me.’

5 My ears had heard of you

but now my eyes have seen you.

6 Therefore I despise myself

and repent in dust and ashes.”

3 ‘Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’

Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand,

things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.

4 ‘Hear, and I will speak;

I will question you, and you make it known to me.’

5 I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear,

but now my eye sees you;

6 therefore I despise myself,

and repent in dust and ashes.”

3 Who is he that hideth counsel

Without knowledge?

Therefore have I uttered that I understood not;

Things too wonderful for me, which I knew not.

4 Hear, I beseech thee, and I will speak:

I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me.

5 I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear:

But now mine eye seeth thee.

6 Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent

In dust and ashes.

3 You asked, ‘Who is this that questions my wisdom with such ignorance?’

It is I—and I was talking about things I knew nothing about,

things far too wonderful for me.

4 You said, ‘Listen and I will speak!

I have some questions for you,

and you must answer them.’

5 I had only heard about you before,

but now I have seen you with my own eyes.

6 I take back everything I said,

and I sit in dust and ashes to show my repentance.”

3 You asked, ‘Who is this that made my purpose unclear by saying things that are not true?’

Surely I spoke of things I did not understand;

I talked of things too wonderful for me to know.

4 You said, ‘Listen now, and I will speak.

I will ask you questions,

and you must answer me.’

5 My ears had heard of you before,

but now my eyes have seen you.

6 So now I hate myself;

I will change my heart and life.

I will sit in the dust and ashes.”

3 Who is this that hideth counsel without knowledge?

Therefore have I uttered that which I understood not,

Things too wonderful for me, which I knew not.

4 Hear, I beseech thee, and I will speak;

I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me.

5 I had heard of thee by the hearing of the ear;

But now mine eye seeth thee:

6 Wherefore I abhor myself,

And repent in dust and ashes.

3 Who is he that obscureth counsel without knowledge? therefore have I uttered what I did not understand; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not. 4 Hear, I beseech thee, and I will speak: I will demand of thee, and inform me. 5 I had heard of thee by the hearing of the ear, but now mine eye seeth thee: 6 Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.

3 “⸤You said,⸥ ‘Who is this that belittles my advice 

without having any knowledge ⸤about it⸥?’ 

Yes, I have stated things I didn’t understand, 

things too mysterious for me to know. 

4 “⸤You said,⸥ ‘Listen now, and I will speak. 

I will ask you, and you will teach me.’ 

5 I had heard about you with my own ears, 

but now I have seen you with my own eyes. 

6 That is why I take back what I said, 

and I sit in dust and ashes to show that I am sorry.” 

3 You asked, “Who is this who conceals My counsel with ignorance?”

Surely I spoke about things I did not understand,

things too wonderful for me to know.

4 You said, “Listen now, and I will speak.

When I question you, you will inform Me.”

5 I had heard rumors about You,

but now my eyes have seen You.

6 Therefore I take back my words

and repent in dust and ashes.

3 ‘Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’

Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand,

things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.

4 ‘Hear, and I will speak;

I will question you, and you declare to me.’

5 I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear,

but now my eye sees you;

6 therefore I despise myself,

and repent in dust and ashes.”

3 ‘Who is this darkening counsel without knowledge?’

Therefore I uttered, but I did not understand;

things too wonderful for me, but I did not know.

4 ‘Hear and I will speak;

I will question you, then inform me.’

5 By the ear’s hearing I heard of you,

but now my eye has seen you.

6 Therefore I despise myself

and repent in dust and ashes.”

3 You asked me, ‘Who do you think you are to disagree with my plans?

You do not know what you are talking about.’

I spoke about things I didn’t completely understand.

I talked about things that were too wonderful for me to know.

4 “You said, ‘Listen now, and I will speak.

I will ask you some questions.

Then I want you to answer me.’

5 My ears had heard about you.

But now my own eyes have seen you.

6 So I hate myself.

I’m really sorry for what I said about you.

That’s why I’m sitting in dust and ashes.”

3 ‘Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’

“Therefore I have declared that which I did not understand,

Things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.”

4 ‘Hear, now, and I will speak;

I will ask You, and You instruct me.’

5 “I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear;

But now my eye sees You;

6 Therefore I retract,

And I repent in dust and ashes.”