Job 33
1 And now, O Job, give ear to my words, and take note of all I say.
Therefore do thou but hear, O Job, my speeches, and give ear 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 mouth.
3 My heart is overflowing with knowledge, my lips say what is true.
Out of my straightforward heart [come] my sayings, and my lips utter knowledge clearly.
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 giveth 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 thyself before me, stand forward.
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 in the same relation as thyself toward God: I myself also am cut out of the clay.
7 Fear of me will not overcome you, and my hand will not be hard on you.
Behold, dread of me cannot terrify thee, and my pressure will not be too heavy upon thee.
8 But you said in my hearing, and your voice came to my ears:
But thou hast said before my ears, and the sound of the words I still hear,
9 I am clean, without sin; I am washed, and there is no evil in me:
“I am pure without transgression, I am quite clean; 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;
Yet, behold, he findeth hateful backsliding on me, he regardeth me as an enemy unto him;
11 He puts chains on my feet; he is watching all my ways.
He putteth my feet in the stocks, he watcheth all my paths.”
12 Truly, in saying this you are wrong; for God is greater than man.
Behold, In this thou art not just: I will answer thee; for God is far greater than a mortal.
13 Why do you put forward your cause against him, saying, He gives no answer to any of my words?
Why dost thou contend against him? for with all his words will he not give an answer.
14 For God gives his word in one way, even in two, and man is not conscious of it:
For God speaketh once, yea twice: [yet man] regardeth 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 slumbers upon the couch:
16 Then he makes his secrets clear to men, so that they are full of fear at what they see;
Then doth he lay open the ear of men, and sealeth it with their warning;
17 In order that man may be turned from his evil works, and that pride may be taken away from him;
To remove the son of earth [from his intended] deed and he covereth up pride from man;
18 To keep back his soul from the underworld, and his life from destruction.
He withholdeth 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;
And so is he admonished by pain upon his couch, and all his bones with violent [aches].
20 He has no desire for food, and his soul is turned away from delicate meat;
So that his inclination abhorreth bread, and his soul, the most agreeable 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 that were not seen stick out.
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 those that slay.
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 now about him one single angel, as defender, one out of a thousand, to tell for man his 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 is he gracious unto him, and saith, Release him from going down to the pit, I have found an atonement.
25 Then his flesh becomes young again, and he comes back to the days of his early strength;
His flesh becometh full again as in youth: he returneth to the days of his boyhood.
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 will offer his entreaty unto God, and he will receive him in favor, that he may see his face with joy: so doth He recompense unto the mortal 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 then should assemble men around, and say, “I had sinned, and perverted what is right, yet have I not received a like return.”
28 He kept my soul from the underworld, and my life sees the light in full measure.
Thus he redeemeth his soul from passing into the pit, and his life will look joyously on the light.
29 Truly, God does all these things to man, twice and three times,
Lo, all these things doth God two or three times 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 she may shine in the light of life.
31 Take note O Job, give ear to me; keep quiet, while I say what is in my mind.
Listen well, O Job, hearken unto me: keep silence, and I will truly 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 words, answer me: speak, for I wish 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: keep silence, and I will teach thee wisdom.
