Job 33
1 And now, O Job, give ear to my words, and take note of all I say.
Howbeit, Job, I pray thee, hear mine utterances, and hearken to all my words.
2 See, now my mouth is open, my tongue gives out words.
Behold now, I have opened my mouth, my tongue speaketh in my palate,
3 My heart is overflowing with knowledge, my lips say what is true.
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 Ruler of all gives me life.
The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life.
5 If you are able, give me an answer; put your cause in order, and come forward.
If thou canst, answer me; array [thy words] before me: take thy stand.
6 See, I am the same as you are in the eyes of God; I was cut off from the same bit of wet earth.
Behold, before God I am as thou; I also am formed out of the clay.
7 Fear of me will not overcome you, and my hand will not be hard on you.
Behold, my terror shall not make thee afraid, nor my burden be heavy upon thee.
8 But you said in my hearing, and your voice came to my ears:
Surely thou hast spoken in my hearing, and I have heard the voice of [thy] words: —
9 I am clean, without sin; I am washed, and there is no evil in me:
I am clean without transgression; I am pure, and there is no iniquity in me;
10 See, he is looking for something against me; in his eyes I am as one of his haters;
Lo, he findeth occasions of hostility against me, he counteth me for his enemy;
11 He puts chains on my feet; he is watching all my ways.
He putteth my feet in the stocks, he marketh all my paths.
12 Truly, in saying this you are wrong; 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 put forward your cause against him, saying, He gives no answer to any of my words?
Why dost thou strive against him? for he giveth not account of any of his matters.
14 For God gives his word in one way, even in two, and man is not conscious of it:
For God speaketh once, and twice, — [and man] perceiveth it not —
15 In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep comes on men, while they take their rest on their beds;
In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed;
16 Then he makes his secrets clear to men, so that they are full of fear at what they see;
Then he openeth men's ears, and sealeth their instruction,
17 In order that man may be turned from his evil works, and that pride may be taken away from him;
That he may withdraw man [from his] work, and hide pride from man.
18 To keep back his soul from the underworld, and his life from destruction.
He keepeth back his soul from the pit, and his life from passing away by the sword.
19 Pain is sent on him as a punishment, while he is on his bed; there is no end to the trouble in his bones;
He is chastened also with pain upon his bed, and with constant strife in his bones;
20 He has no desire for food, and his soul is turned away from delicate meat;
And his life abhorreth bread, and his soul dainty food;
21 His flesh is so wasted away, that it may not be seen, and his bones. ...
His flesh is consumed away from view, and his bones that were not seen stick out;
22 And his soul comes near to the underworld, and his life to the angels of death.
And his soul draweth near to the pit, and his life to the destroyers.
23 If now there may be an angel sent to him, one of the thousands which there are to be between him and God, and to make clear to 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 And if he has mercy on him, and says, Let him not go down to the underworld, I have given the price for his life:
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 becomes young again, and he comes back to the days of his early strength;
His flesh shall be fresher than in childhood; he shall return to the days of his youth.
26 He makes his prayer to God, and he has mercy on him; he sees God's face with cries of joy; he gives news of his righteousness to men;
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 He makes a song, saying, I did wrong, turning from the straight way, but he did not give me the reward of my sin.
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 kept my soul from the underworld, and my life sees the light in full measure.
He hath delivered my soul from going into the pit, and my life shall see the light.
29 Truly, God does all these things to man, twice and three times,
Lo, all these [things] worketh God twice, thrice, with man,
30 Keeping back his soul from the underworld, so that he may see the light of life.
To bring back his soul from the pit, that he may be enlightened with the light of the living.
31 Take note O Job, give ear to me; keep quiet, while I say what is in my mind.
Mark well, Job, hearken unto me; be silent, and I will speak.
32 If you have anything to say, give me an answer; for it is my desire that you may be judged free from sin.
If thou hast anything to say, answer me; speak, for I desire to justify thee.
33 If not, give attention to me, and keep quiet, and I will give you wisdom.
If not, hearken thou unto me; be silent, and I will teach thee wisdom.
