Job 33
1 “But now, O Job, hear my speech, and listen to all my words.
Howbeit, Job, I pray thee, hear my speech, 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 hath spoken in my mouth.
3 My words are from an upright heart, and my lips speak sincerely what I know.
My words [shall utter] the uprightness of my heart: and that which my lips know they shall speak sincerely.
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 giveth me life.
5 Refute me if you can; prepare your case and confront me.
If thou canst, answer thou me; set [thy words] in order before me, stand forth.
6 I am just like you before God; I was also formed from clay.
Behold, I am toward God even as thou art: 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, neither shall my pressure be heavy upon thee.
8 Surely you have spoken in my hearing, and I have heard these very words:
Surely thou hast spoken in mine hearing, and I have heard the voice of [thy] words, [saying],
9 ‘I am pure, without transgression; I am clean, with no iniquity in me.
I am clean, without transgression; I am innocent, neither is there iniquity in me:
10 Yet God finds occasions against me; He counts me as His enemy.
Behold, he findeth occasions 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 just; 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, yea twice, [though man] regardeth 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 the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction,
17 to turn a man from wrongdoing and keep him from pride,
That he may withdraw man [from his] purpose, 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 perishing 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 continual strife in his bones:
20 so that he detests his bread, and his soul loathes his favorite food.
So that his life abhorreth bread, and his soul dainty meat.
21 His flesh wastes away from sight, and his hidden bones protrude.
His flesh is consumed away, that it cannot be seen; and his bones that were not seen stick out.
22 He draws near to the Pit, and his life to the messengers of death.
Yea, his soul draweth near unto 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 with him an angel, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to shew unto man what is right for him;
24 to be gracious to him and say, ‘Spare him from going down to the Pit; I have found his ransom,’
Then he is gracious unto him, and saith, 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 a child’s; he returneth 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 prayeth unto God, and he is favourable unto him; so that he seeth his face with joy: and he restoreth 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 singeth before men, and saith, I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it profited me not:
28 He redeemed my soul from going down to the Pit, and I will live to see the light.’
He hath redeemed my soul from going into the pit, and my life shall behold the light.
29 Behold, all these things God does to a man, two or even three times,
Lo, all these things doth God work, twice, [yea] thrice, with a 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, O Job, hearken unto me: hold thy peace, 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 any thing 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: hold thy peace, and I will teach thee wisdom.
