Job 33
1 “However, Job, please hear my speech, and listen to all my words.
But, in very deed, hear, I pray thee, Job, my discourse, and, to all my words, give thou ear.
2 See now, I have opened my mouth. My tongue has spoken in my mouth.
Lo! I pray thee, I have opened my mouth, My tongue, with my palate, hath spoken,
3 My words will utter the uprightness of my heart. That which my lips know they will speak sincerely.
Mine utterances come straight from mine own heart, and, what I know, my lips have truly spoken;
4 The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.
The spirit of GOD, hath made me, and, the inspiration of the Almighty, giveth me life.
5 If you can, answer me. Set your words in order before me, and stand up.
If thou art able to answer me, Set in order before me—take thy stand!
6 Behold, I am toward God even as you are. I am also formed out of the clay.
Lo! I am like thyself toward GOD, From clay, have I been nipped off, even I!
7 Behold, my terror will not make you afraid, neither will my pressure be heavy on you.
Lo! my terror, will not startle thee, nor, my hand, upon thee, be heavy.
8 “Surely you have spoken in my hearing, I have heard the voice of your words, saying,
But thou hast spoken in mine ears, and, the sound of words, I heard: —
9 ‘I am clean, without disobedience. I am innocent, neither is there iniquity in me.
Pure am, I, without transgression, —Clean am, I, and have no iniquity;
10 Behold, he finds occasions against me. He counts me for his enemy.
Lo! occasions of hostility, would he find against me, He counteth me an enemy to him;
11 He puts my feet in the stocks. He marks all my paths.’
He putteth—in the stocks—my feet, He watcheth all my paths.
12 “Behold, I will answer you. In this you are not just, for God is greater than man.
Lo! in this, thou hast not been right—let me 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?
Wherefore, against him, hast thou contended? For, with none of his reasons, will he respond.
14 For God speaks once, yes twice, though man pays no attention.
For, in one way, GOD may speak, —and, in a second way, one may not heed it: —
15 In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on men, in slumbering on the bed,
In a dream, a vision of the night, when a deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed,
16 then he opens the ears of men, and seals their instruction,
Then, uncovereth he the ear of men, and, on their correction, affixeth a seal;
17 that he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man.
To turn a son of earth from his deed, while yet, pride, from man he concealeth:
18 He keeps back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword.
He keepeth back his said from the pit, and his life from passing away by a weapon.
19 “He is chastened also with pain on his bed, with continual strife in his bones,
Or he is chastised with pain, upon his bed, and, the strife of his bones, is unceasing!
20 so that his life abhors bread, and his soul dainty food.
So that his life maketh loathsome [his] food, and his soul, dainty meat;
21 His flesh is so consumed away that it cannot be seen. His bones that were not seen stick out.
His flesh wasteth away out of sight, and bared are the bones once unseen;
22 Yes, his soul draws near to the pit, and his life to the destroyers.
So doth his soul draw near to the pit, and his life to the inflicters of death:
23 “If there is beside him an angel, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to show to man what is right for him,
If there hath been near him a messenger who could interpret—one of a thousand, to declare to the son of earth His uprightness,
24 then God is gracious to him, and says, ‘Deliver him from going down to the pit, I have found a ransom.’
Then hath he shewed him favour, and said, Set him free from going down to the pit, I have found a price of redemption!
25 His flesh will be fresher than a child’s. He returns to the days of his youth.
His flesh hath been made fresher than a child’s, he hath returned 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 made supplication unto GOD, who hath accepted him, and he hath beheld his face with a shout of triumph, Thus hath he given back to 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 sang before men, and said, I sinned, and, uprightness, I perverted, yet he requited me not;
28 He has redeemed my soul from going into the pit. My life will see the light.’
He hath ransomed my soul from passing away into the pit, —and, my life, in the light, shall have vision.
29 “Behold, God does all these things, twice, yes three times, with a man,
Lo! a these things, doth GOD work, two ways, three, with a man;
30 to bring back his soul from the pit, that he may be enlightened with the light of the living.
To bring back his soul from the pit, to enlighten with the light of the living.
31 Mark well, Job, and listen to me. Hold your peace, and I will speak.
Mark well, O Job, and hearken to me, Be silent, and, I, will speak:
32 If you have anything to say, answer me. Speak, for I desire to justify you.
If there is anything to say, reply to me, Speak, for I desire to justify thee;
33 If not, listen to me. Hold your peace, and I will teach you wisdom.”
If not, do, thou, hearken unto me, Be silent, that I may teach thee wisdom.
