Job 33
1 Howbeit hear, Job, my words, and listen to my speech.
Howbeit, Job, I pray thee, hear mine utterances, and hearken 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 palate,
3 My heart [shall be found] pure by [my] words; and the understanding of my lips shall meditate purity.
My words shall be of the uprightness of my heart, and my lips shall utter knowledge purely.
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 hath given me life.
5 If you can, give me an answer: wait therefore; stand against me, and I [will stand] against you.
If thou canst, answer me; array [thy words] before me: take thy stand.
6 You are formed out of the clay as also I: we have been formed out of the same [substance].
Behold, before God I am as thou; I also am formed out of the clay.
7 My fear shall not terrify you, neither shall my hand be heavy upon you.
Behold, my terror shall not make thee afraid, nor my burden be heavy upon thee.
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 thou hast spoken in my hearing, and I have heard the voice of [thy] words: —
9 I am blameless, for I have not transgressed.
I am clean without transgression; I am pure, and there is no iniquity in me;
10 Yet he has discovered a charge against me, and he has reckoned me as an adversary.
Lo, he findeth occasions of hostility against me, he counteth me for his enemy;
11 And he has put my foot in the stocks, and has watched all my ways.
He putteth my feet in the stocks, he marketh 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, I will answer thee in this, thou art not right; for God is greater than man.
13 But you say, Why has he not heard every word of my cause?
Why dost thou strive against him? for he giveth not account of any of his matters.
14 For when the Lord speaks once, or a second time,
For God speaketh once, and twice, — [and man] perceiveth 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 slumberings upon the bed;
16 then opens he the understanding of men: he scares them with such fearful visions:
Then he openeth men's ears, and sealeth their instruction,
17 to turn a man from unrighteousness, and he delivers his body from a fall.
That he may withdraw man [from his] work, and hide pride from man.
18 He spares also his soul from death, and [suffers] him not to fall in war.
He keepeth back 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.
He is chastened also with pain upon his bed, and with constant strife in his bones;
20 And he shall not be able to take any food, though his soul shall desire meat;
And his life abhorreth bread, and his soul dainty food;
21 until his flesh shall be consumed, and he shall show his bones bare.
His flesh is consumed away from view, and his bones that were not seen stick out;
22 His soul also draws near to death, and his life is in Hades.
And his soul draweth near to the pit, and his life to the destroyers.
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;
If there be a messenger with him, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to shew unto man his duty;
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 he will be gracious unto him, and say, Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a 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.
His flesh shall be fresher than in childhood; he shall return 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 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 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 will sing before men, and say, I have sinned, and perverted what was right, and it hath not been requited to me;
28 Deliver my soul, that it may not go to destruction, and my life shall see the light.
He hath delivered my soul from going into the pit, and my life shall see the light.
29 Behold, all these things, the Mighty One works in a threefold manner with a man.
Lo, all these [things] worketh God twice, thrice, 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 he may be enlightened with the light of the living.
31 Listen, Job, and hear me: be silent, and I will speak.
Mark well, Job, hearken unto me; be silent, and I will speak.
32 If you have words, answer me: speak, for I desire you to be justified.
If thou hast anything to say, answer me; speak, for I desire to justify thee.
33 If not, do you hear me: be silent, and I will teach you.
If not, hearken thou unto me; be silent, and I will teach thee wisdom.
