Job 33
1 “But now, O Job, hear my speech, and listen to all my words.
Howbeit, Job, I pray thee, hear mine utterances, and hearken to all my words.
2 Behold, I will open my mouth; my address is on the tip of my tongue.
Behold now, I have opened my mouth, my tongue speaketh in my palate,
3 My words are from an upright heart, and my lips speak sincerely what I know.
My words shall be of the uprightness of my heart, and 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 hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life.
5 Refute me if you can; prepare your case and confront me.
If thou canst, answer me; array [thy words] before me: take thy stand.
6 I am just like you before God; I was also formed from clay.
Behold, before God I am as thou; I also am formed out of the clay.
7 Surely no fear of me should terrify you; nor will my hand be heavy upon you.
Behold, my terror shall not make thee afraid, nor my burden be heavy upon thee.
8 Surely you have spoken in my hearing, and I have heard these very words:
Surely thou hast spoken in my hearing, and I have heard the voice of [thy] words: —
9 ‘I am pure, without transgression; I am clean, with no iniquity in me.
I am clean without transgression; I am pure, and there is no iniquity in me;
10 Yet God finds occasions against me; He counts me as His enemy.
Lo, he findeth occasions of hostility against me, he counteth me for his enemy;
11 He puts my feet in the stocks; He watches over all my paths.’
He putteth my feet in the stocks, he marketh all my paths.
12 Behold, you are not right in this matter. I will answer you, for God is greater than man.
Behold, I will answer thee in this, thou art not right; for God is greater than man.
13 Why do you complain to Him that He answers nothing a man asks?
Why dost thou strive against him? for he giveth not account of any of his matters.
14 For God speaks in one way and in another, yet no one notices.
For God speaketh once, and twice, — [and man] perceiveth it not —
15 In a dream, in a vision in the night, when deep sleep falls upon men as they slumber on their beds,
In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed;
16 He opens their ears and terrifies them with warnings
Then he openeth men's ears, and sealeth their instruction,
17 to turn a man from wrongdoing and keep him from pride,
That he may withdraw man [from his] work, and hide pride from man.
18 to preserve his soul from the Pit and his life from perishing by the sword.
He keepeth back his soul from the pit, and his life from passing away by the sword.
19 A man is also chastened on his bed with pain and constant distress in his bones,
He is chastened also with pain upon his bed, and with constant strife in his bones;
20 so that he detests his bread, and his soul loathes his favorite food.
And his life abhorreth bread, and his soul dainty food;
21 His flesh wastes away from sight, and his hidden bones protrude.
His flesh is consumed away from view, and his bones that were not seen stick out;
22 He draws near to the Pit, and his life to the messengers of death.
And his soul draweth near to the pit, and his life to the destroyers.
23 Yet if there is a messenger on his side, one mediator in a thousand, to tell a man what is right for him,
If there be a messenger with him, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to shew unto man his duty;
24 to be gracious to him and say, ‘Spare him from going down to the Pit; I have found his ransom,’
Then he will be gracious unto him, and say, Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom.
25 then his flesh is refreshed like a child’s; he returns to the days of his youth.
His flesh shall be fresher than in childhood; he shall return to the days of his youth.
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.
He shall pray unto God, and he will receive him with favour; and he shall see his face with shoutings, and he will render unto man his righteousness.
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.
He will sing before men, and say, I have sinned, and perverted what was right, and it hath not been requited to me;
28 He redeemed my soul from going down to the Pit, and I will live to see the light.’
He hath delivered my soul from going into the pit, and my life shall see the light.
29 Behold, all these things God does to a man, two or even three times,
Lo, all these [things] worketh God twice, thrice, with man,
30 to bring back his soul from the Pit, that he may be enlightened with the light of life.
To bring back his soul from the pit, that he may be enlightened with the light of the living.
31 Pay attention, Job, and listen to me; be silent, and I will speak.
Mark well, Job, hearken unto 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 anything to say, answer me; speak, for I desire to justify thee.
33 But if not, then listen to me; be quiet, and I will teach you wisdom.”
If not, hearken thou unto me; be silent, and I will teach thee wisdom.
