Job 33
1 Howbeit hear, Job, my words, and hearken to my speech.
Therefore do thou but hear, O Job, my speeches, and give ear to all my words.
2 For behold, I have opened my mouth, and my tongue has spoken.
Behold now, I have opened my mouth, my tongue speaketh in my mouth.
3 My heart [shall be found] pure by [my] words; and the understanding of my lips shall meditate purity.
Out of my straightforward heart [come] my sayings, and my lips utter knowledge clearly.
4 The Divine Spirit is that which formed me, and the breath of the Almighty that which teaches me.
The spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty giveth me life.
5 If thou canst, give me an answer: wait therefore; stand against me, and I [will stand] against thee.
If thou canst, answer me, array thyself before me, stand forward.
6 Thou art formed out of the clay as also I: we have been formed out of the same [substance].
Behold, I am in the same relation as thyself toward God: I myself also am cut out of the clay.
7 My fear shall not terrify thee, neither shall my hand be heavy upon thee.
Behold, dread of me cannot terrify thee, and my pressure will not be too heavy upon thee.
8 But thou hast said in mine ears, (I have heard the voice of thy words; ) because thou sayest, I am pure, not having sinned;
But thou hast said before my ears, and the sound of the words I still hear,
9 I am blameless, for I have not transgressed.
“I am pure without transgression, I am quite clean; and there is no iniquity in me:
10 Yet he has discovered a charge against me, and he has reckoned me as an adversary.
Yet, behold, he findeth hateful backsliding on me, he regardeth me as an enemy unto him;
11 And he has put my foot in the stocks, and has watched all my ways.
He putteth my feet in the stocks, he watcheth all my paths.”
12 For how sayest thou, I am righteous, yet he has not hearkened to me? for he that is above mortals is eternal.
Behold, In this thou art not just: I will answer thee; for God is far greater than a mortal.
13 But thou sayest, Why has he not heard every word of my cause?
Why dost thou contend against him? for with all his words will he not give an answer.
14 For when the Lord speaks once, or a second time,
For God speaketh once, yea twice: [yet man] regardeth it not.
15 [sending] a dream, or in the meditation of the night; (as when a dreadful alarm happens to fall upon men, in slumberings on the bed: )
In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumbers upon the couch:
16 then opens he the understanding of men: he scares them with such fearful visions:
Then doth he lay open the ear of men, and sealeth it with their warning;
17 to turn a man from unrighteousness, and he delivers his body from a fall.
To remove the son of earth [from his intended] deed and he covereth up pride from man;
18 He spares also his soul from death, and [suffers] him not to fall in war.
He withholdeth his soul from the pit, and his life from passing away by the sword.
19 And again, he chastens him with sickness on his bed, and the multitude of his bones is benumbed.
And so is he admonished by pain upon his couch, and all his bones with violent [aches].
20 And he shall not be able to take any food, though his soul shall desire meat;
So that his inclination abhorreth bread, and his soul, the most agreeable food.
21 until his flesh shall be consumed, and he shall shew his bones bare.
His flesh is consumed away, that it cannot be seen, and his bones that were not seen stick out.
22 His soul also draws nigh to death, and his life is in Hades.
Yea, his soul draweth near unto the pit, and his life to those that slay.
23 Though there should be a thousand messengers of death, not one of them shall wound him: if he should purpose in his heart to turn to the Lord, and declare to man his fault, and shew his folly;
If there be now about him one single angel, as defender, one out of a thousand, to tell for man his uprightness:
24 he will support him, that he should not perish, and will restore his body as [fresh] plaster upon a wall; and he will fill his bones with morrow.
Then is he gracious unto him, and saith, Release him from going down to the pit, I have found an atonement.
25 And he will make his flesh tender as that of a babe, and he will restore him among men in [his] full strength.
His flesh becometh full again as in youth: he returneth to the days of his boyhood.
26 And he shall pray to the Lord, and his prayer shall be accepted of him; he shall enter with a cheerful countenance, with a full expression [of praise]: for he will render to men [their] due.
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 Even then a man shall blame himself, saying, What kind of things have I done? and he has not punished me according to the full amount of my sins.
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 Deliver my soul, that it may not go to destruction, and my life shall see the light.
Thus he redeemeth his soul from passing into the pit, and his life will look joyously on the light.
29 Behold, all these things, the Mighty One works in a threefold manner with a man.
Lo, all these things doth God two or three times with man;
30 And he has delivered my soul from death, that my life may praise him in the light.
To bring back his soul from the pit, that she may shine in the light of life.
31 Hearken, Job, and hear me: be silent, and I will speak.
Listen well, O Job, hearken unto me: keep silence, and I will truly speak.
32 If thou hast words, answer me: speak, for I desire thee to be justified.
If thou hast any words, answer me: speak, for I wish to justify thee.
33 If not, do thou hear me: be silent, and I will teach thee.
If not, hearken thou unto me: keep silence, and I will teach thee wisdom.
