Job 33
1 Howbeit hear, Job, my words, and listen to my speech.
“But now, O Job, hear my speech, and listen to all my words.
2 For behold, I have opened my mouth, and my tongue has spoken.
Behold, I will open my mouth; my address is on the tip of my tongue.
3 My heart [shall be found] pure by [my] words; and the understanding of my lips shall meditate purity.
My words are from an upright heart, and my lips speak sincerely what I know.
4 The Divine Spirit is that which formed me, and the breath of the Almighty that which teaches me.
The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.
5 If you can, give me an answer: wait therefore; stand against me, and I [will stand] against you.
Refute me if you can; prepare your case and confront me.
6 You are formed out of the clay as also I: we have been formed out of the same [substance].
I am just like you before God; I was also formed from clay.
7 My fear shall not terrify you, neither shall my hand be heavy upon you.
Surely no fear of me should terrify you; nor will my hand be heavy upon you.
8 But you have said in mine ears, (I have heard the voice of your words; ) because you say, I am pure, not having sinned;
Surely you have spoken in my hearing, and I have heard these very words:
9 I am blameless, for I have not transgressed.
‘I am pure, without transgression; I am clean, with no iniquity in me.
10 Yet he has discovered a charge against me, and he has reckoned me as an adversary.
Yet God finds occasions against me; He counts me as His enemy.
11 And he has put my foot in the stocks, and has watched all my ways.
He puts my feet in the stocks; He watches over all my paths.’
12 For how say you, I am righteous, yet he has not listened to me? for he that is above mortals is eternal.
Behold, you are not right in this matter. I will answer you, for God is greater than man.
13 But you say, Why has he not heard every word of my cause?
Why do you complain to Him that He answers nothing a man asks?
14 For when the Lord speaks once, or a second time,
For God speaks in one way and in another, yet no one notices.
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 in the night, when deep sleep falls upon men as they slumber on their beds,
16 then opens he the understanding of men: he scares them with such fearful visions:
He opens their ears and terrifies them with warnings
17 to turn a man from unrighteousness, and he delivers his body from a fall.
to turn a man from wrongdoing and keep him from pride,
18 He spares also his soul from death, and [suffers] him not to fall in war.
to preserve his soul from the Pit and his life from perishing by the sword.
19 And again, he chastens him with sickness on his bed, and the multitude of his bones is benumbed.
A man is also chastened on his bed with pain and constant distress in his bones,
20 And he shall not be able to take any food, though his soul shall desire meat;
so that he detests his bread, and his soul loathes his favorite food.
21 until his flesh shall be consumed, and he shall show his bones bare.
His flesh wastes away from sight, and his hidden bones protrude.
22 His soul also draws near to death, and his life is in Hades.
He draws near to the Pit, and his life to the messengers of death.
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 show his folly;
Yet if there is a messenger on his side, one mediator in a thousand, to tell a man what is right for him,
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.
to be gracious to him and say, ‘Spare him from going down to the Pit; I have found his ransom,’
25 And he will make his flesh tender as that of a babe, and he will restore him amongst men in [his] full strength.
then his flesh is refreshed like a child’s; he returns to the days of his youth.
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 prays to God and finds favor; he sees God’s face and shouts for joy, and God restores His righteousness to that man.
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.
Then he sings before men with these words: ‘I have sinned and perverted what was right; yet I did not get what I deserved.
28 Deliver my soul, that it may not go to destruction, and my life shall see the light.
He redeemed my soul from going down to the Pit, and I will live to see the light.’
29 Behold, all these things, the Mighty One works in a threefold manner with a man.
Behold, all these things God does to a man, two or even three times,
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 he may be enlightened with the light of life.
31 Listen, Job, and hear me: be silent, and I will speak.
Pay attention, Job, and listen to me; be silent, and I will speak.
32 If you have words, answer me: speak, for I desire you to be justified.
But if you have something to say, answer me; speak up, for I would like to vindicate you.
33 If not, do you hear me: be silent, and I will teach you.
But if not, then listen to me; be quiet, and I will teach you wisdom.”
