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 my speech, 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 hath spoken in my mouth.
3 My heart is overflowing with knowledge, my lips say what is true.
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 Ruler of all gives me life.
The spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty given me life.
5 If you are able, give me an answer; put your cause in order, and come forward.
If thou canst, answer thou me, set thy words in order before me, stand forth.
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, I am toward God even as thou art; 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, neither shall my pressure 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 innocent, neither is there iniquity in me;
10 See, he is looking for something against me; in his eyes I am as one of his haters;
Behold, He findeth occasions 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 answer thee: In this thou art not right, that God is too great for man;
13 Why do you put forward your cause against him, saying, He gives no answer to any of my words?
Why hast thou striven against Him? seeing that He will not answer any of his words.
14 For God gives his word in one way, even in two, and man is not conscious of it:
For God speaketh in one way, yea in two, though 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 the ears of men, and by their chastisement sealeth the decree,
17 In order that man may be turned from his evil works, and that pride may be taken away from him;
That men may put away their purpose, and that He may hide pride from man;
18 To keep back his soul from the underworld, and his life from destruction.
That He may keep back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing 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 all his bones grow stiff;
20 He has no desire for food, and his soul is turned away from delicate meat;
So that his life maketh him to abhor 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, that it cannot be seen; and his bones corrode to unsightliness.
22 And his soul comes near to the underworld, and his life to the angels of death.
Yea, his soul draweth near unto 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 for him an angel, an intercessor, one among a thousand, to vouch for a man's uprightness;
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 is gracious unto him, and saith: '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 is tenderer than a child's; he returneth 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 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 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 cometh before men, and saith: 'I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it profited me not.'
28 He kept my soul from the underworld, and my life sees the light in full measure.
So He redeemeth his soul from going into the pit, and his life beholdeth the light.
29 Truly, God does all these things to man, twice and three times,
Lo, all these things doth God work, twice, yea thrice, with a 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, O Job, hearken unto me; hold thy peace, 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 any thing 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; hold thy peace, and I will teach thee wisdom.
