Job 33
1 “But now, O Job, hear my speech, and listen to all my words.
Howbeit hear, Job, my words, and hearken to my speech.
2 Behold, I will open my mouth; my address is on the tip of my tongue.
For behold, I have opened my mouth, and my tongue has spoken.
3 My words are from an upright heart, and my lips speak sincerely what I know.
My heart [shall be found] pure by [my] words; and the understanding of my lips shall meditate purity.
4 The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.
The Divine Spirit is that which formed me, and the breath of the Almighty that which teaches me.
5 Refute me if you can; prepare your case and confront me.
If thou canst, give me an answer: wait therefore; stand against me, and I [will stand] against thee.
6 I am just like you before God; I was also formed from clay.
Thou art formed out of the clay as also I: we have been formed out of the same [substance].
7 Surely no fear of me should terrify you; nor will my hand be heavy upon you.
My fear shall not terrify thee, neither shall my hand be heavy upon thee.
8 Surely you have spoken in my hearing, and I have heard these very words:
But thou hast said in mine ears, (I have heard the voice of thy words; ) because thou sayest, I am pure, not having sinned;
9 ‘I am pure, without transgression; I am clean, with no iniquity in me.
I am blameless, for I have not transgressed.
10 Yet God finds occasions against me; He counts me as His enemy.
Yet he has discovered a charge against me, and he has reckoned me as an adversary.
11 He puts my feet in the stocks; He watches over all my paths.’
And he has put my foot in the stocks, and has watched all my ways.
12 Behold, you are not right in this matter. I will answer you, for God is greater than man.
For how sayest thou, I am righteous, yet he has not hearkened to me? for he that is above mortals is eternal.
13 Why do you complain to Him that He answers nothing a man asks?
But thou sayest, Why has he not heard every word of my cause?
14 For God speaks in one way and in another, yet no one notices.
For when the Lord speaks once, or a second time,
15 In a dream, in a vision in the night, when deep sleep falls upon men as they slumber on their beds,
[sending] a dream, or in the meditation of the night; (as when a dreadful alarm happens to fall upon men, in slumberings on the bed: )
16 He opens their ears and terrifies them with warnings
then opens he the understanding of men: he scares them with such fearful visions:
17 to turn a man from wrongdoing and keep him from pride,
to turn a man from unrighteousness, and he delivers his body from a fall.
18 to preserve his soul from the Pit and his life from perishing by the sword.
He spares also his soul from death, and [suffers] him not to fall in war.
19 A man is also chastened on his bed with pain and constant distress in his bones,
And again, he chastens him with sickness on his bed, and the multitude of his bones is benumbed.
20 so that he detests his bread, and his soul loathes his favorite food.
And he shall not be able to take any food, though his soul shall desire meat;
21 His flesh wastes away from sight, and his hidden bones protrude.
until his flesh shall be consumed, and he shall shew his bones bare.
22 He draws near to the Pit, and his life to the messengers of death.
His soul also draws nigh to death, and his life is in Hades.
23 Yet if there is a messenger on his side, one mediator in a thousand, to tell a man what is right for him,
Though there should be a thousand messengers of death, not one of them shall wound him: if he should purpose in his heart to turn to the Lord, and declare to man his fault, and shew his folly;
24 to be gracious to him and say, ‘Spare him from going down to the Pit; I have found his ransom,’
he will support him, that he should not perish, and will restore his body as [fresh] plaster upon a wall; and he will fill his bones with morrow.
25 then his flesh is refreshed like a child’s; he returns to the days of his youth.
And he will make his flesh tender as that of a babe, and he will restore him among men in [his] full strength.
26 He prays to God and finds favor; he sees God’s face and shouts for joy, and God restores His righteousness to that man.
And he shall pray to the Lord, and his prayer shall be accepted of him; he shall enter with a cheerful countenance, with a full expression [of praise]: for he will render to men [their] due.
27 Then he sings before men with these words: ‘I have sinned and perverted what was right; yet I did not get what I deserved.
Even then a man shall blame himself, saying, What kind of things have I done? and he has not punished me according to the full amount of my sins.
28 He redeemed my soul from going down to the Pit, and I will live to see the light.’
Deliver my soul, that it may not go to destruction, and my life shall see the light.
29 Behold, all these things God does to a man, two or even three times,
Behold, all these things, the Mighty One works in a threefold manner with a man.
30 to bring back his soul from the Pit, that he may be enlightened with the light of life.
And he has delivered my soul from death, that my life may praise him in the light.
31 Pay attention, Job, and listen to me; be silent, and I will speak.
Hearken, Job, and hear me: be silent, and I will speak.
32 But if you have something to say, answer me; speak up, for I would like to vindicate you.
If thou hast words, answer me: speak, for I desire thee to be justified.
33 But if not, then listen to me; be quiet, and I will teach you wisdom.”
If not, do thou hear me: be silent, and I will teach thee.
