Job 33
1 “However, Job, please hear my speech, and listen to all my words.
Hear, therefore, my discourse, I pray thee, O Job! And attend unto all my words!
2 See now, I have opened my mouth. My tongue has spoken in my mouth.
Behold, I am opening my mouth; My tongue is now speaking in my palate.
3 My words will utter the uprightness of my heart. That which my lips know they will speak sincerely.
My words shall be in the uprightness of my heart; My lips shall utter knowledge purely.
4 The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.
The spirit of God made me, And the breath of the Almighty gave me life.
5 If you can, answer me. Set your words in order before me, and stand up.
If thou art able, answer me; Set thyself in array against me; stand up!
6 Behold, I am toward God even as you are. I am also formed out of the clay.
Behold, I, like thee, am a creature of God; I also was formed of clay.
7 Behold, my terror will not make you afraid, neither will my pressure be heavy on you.
Behold, my terror cannot dismay thee, Nor can my greatness be heavy upon thee.
8 “Surely you have spoken in my hearing, I have heard the voice of your words, saying,
Surely thou hast said in my hearing, I have heard the sound of thy words:
9 ‘I am clean, without disobedience. I am innocent, neither is there iniquity in me.
“I am pure, and without transgression; I am clean, and there is no iniquity in me.
10 Behold, he finds occasions against me. He counts me for his enemy.
Behold, He seeketh causes of hostility against me; He regardeth me as his enemy.
11 He puts my feet in the stocks. He marks all my paths.’
He putteth my feet in the stocks; He watcheth all my paths.”
12 “Behold, I will answer you. In this you are not just, for God is greater than man.
Behold, in this thou art not right; I will answer thee; For God is greater than man.
13 Why do you strive against him, because he does not give account of any of his matters?
Why dost thou contend with Him? For he giveth no account of any of his doings.
14 For God speaks once, yes twice, though man pays no attention.
For God speaketh once, Yea, twice, when man regardeth it not.
15 In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on men, in slumbering on the bed,
In a dream, in a vision of the night, When deep sleep falleth upon men, In slumber upon the bed;
16 then he opens the ears of men, and seals their instruction,
Then openeth he the ears of men, And sealeth up for them admonition;
17 that he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man.
That he may turn man from his purpose, And hide pride from man.
18 He keeps back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword.
Thus he saveth him from the pit, Yea, his life from perishing by the sword.
19 “He is chastened also with pain on his bed, with continual strife in his bones,
He is chastened also with pain upon his bed, And with a continual agitation of his bones,
20 so that his life abhors bread, and his soul dainty food.
So that his mouth abhorreth bread, And his taste the choicest food;
21 His flesh is so consumed away that it cannot be seen. His bones that were not seen stick out.
His flesh is consumed, that it cannot be seen, And his bones, that were invisible, are naked;
22 Yes, his soul draws near to the pit, and his life to the destroyers.
Yea, his soul draweth near to the pit, And his life to the destroyers.
23 “If there is beside him an angel, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to show to man what is right for him,
But if there be with him a messenger, An interpreter, one of a thousand, Who may show unto man his duty,
24 then God is gracious to him, and says, ‘Deliver him from going down to the pit, I have found a ransom.’
Then will God be gracious to him, and say, “Save him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom.”
25 His flesh will be fresher than a child’s. He returns to the days of his youth.
His flesh shall became fresher than a child's; He shall return to the days of his youth.
26 He prays to God, and he is favorable to him, so that he sees his face with joy. He restores to man his righteousness.
He shall pray to God, and he will be favorable to him, And permit him to see his face with joy, And restore unto man his righteousness.
27 He sings before men, and says, ‘I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it did not profit me.
He shall sing among men, and say, “I sinned; I acted perversely; Yet hath he not requited me for it:
28 He has redeemed my soul from going into the pit. My life will see the light.’
He hath delivered me from going down to the pit, And my life beholdeth the light.”
29 “Behold, God does all these things, twice, yes three times, with a man,
Lo! all these things doeth God Time after time with man,
30 to bring back his soul from the pit, that he may be enlightened with the light of the living.
That he may bring him back from the pit, That he may enjoy the light of the living.
31 Mark well, Job, and listen to me. Hold your peace, and I will speak.
Mark well, O Job! hearken to me! Keep silence, and I will speak.
32 If you have anything to say, answer me. Speak, for I desire to justify you.
Yet if thou hast any thing to say, answer me! Speak! for I desire to pronounce thee innocent.
33 If not, listen to me. Hold your peace, and I will teach you wisdom.”
But if not, do thou listen to me! Keep silence, and I will teach thee wisdom!
