Job 33
1 Howbeit hear, Job, my words, and listen to my speech.
“And yet, please, O Job, Hear my speech and give ear [to] all my words.
2 For behold, I have opened my mouth, and my tongue has spoken.
Now behold, I have opened my mouth, My tongue has spoken in the palate.
3 My heart [shall be found] pure by [my] words; and the understanding of my lips shall meditate purity.
Of the uprightness of my heart [are] my sayings, And my lips have clearly spoken knowledge.
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 Mighty quickens me.
5 If you can, give me an answer: wait therefore; stand against me, and I [will stand] against you.
If you are able—answer me, Set in array before me—station yourself.
6 You are formed out of the clay as also I: we have been formed out of the same [substance].
Behold, I [am], according to your word, for God, I have also been formed from the clay.
7 My fear shall not terrify you, neither shall my hand be heavy upon you.
Behold, my terror does not frighten you, And my burden on you is not heavy.
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 ears, And the sounds of words I hear:
9 I am blameless, for I have not transgressed.
I [am] pure, without transgression, I [am] innocent, and I have no iniquity.
10 Yet he has discovered a charge against me, and he has reckoned me as an adversary.
Behold, He develops hindrances against me, He reckons me for an enemy to Him,
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 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 have not been righteous [in] this, I answer you, that God is greater than man.
13 But you say, Why has he not heard every word of my cause?
Why have you striven against Him, When [for] all His matters He does not answer?
14 For when the Lord speaks once, or a second time,
For once God speaks, and twice (he does not behold it),
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—a vision of night, In the falling of deep sleep on men, In slumberings on a bed.
16 then opens he the understanding of men: he scares them with such fearful visions:
Then He uncovers the ear of men, And seals for their instruction,
17 to turn a man from unrighteousness, and he delivers his body from a fall.
To turn aside man [from] doing, And He conceals pride from man.
18 He spares also his soul from death, and [suffers] him not to fall in war.
He keeps back his soul from corruption, And his life from passing away by a dart.
19 And again, he chastens him with sickness on his bed, and the multitude of his bones is benumbed.
And he has been reproved With pain on his bed, And the strife of his bones [is] enduring.
20 And he shall not be able to take any food, though his soul shall desire meat;
And his life has nauseated bread, And his soul desirable food.
21 until his flesh shall be consumed, and he shall show his bones bare.
His flesh is consumed from being seen, And his bones are high, they were not seen!
22 His soul also draws near to death, and his life is in Hades.
And his soul draws near to the pit, And his life to those causing 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;
If there is a messenger by him, An interpreter—one of a thousand, To declare 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 He favors him and says, Ransom 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 amongst men in [his] full strength.
Fresher [is] his flesh than 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 makes supplication to God, And He accepts him. And he sees His face with shouting, And He returns to 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.
[Then] he looks on men and says, I sinned, and I have perverted uprightness, And it has not been profitable to me.
28 Deliver my soul, that it may not go to destruction, and my life shall see the light.
He has ransomed my soul From going over into the pit, And my life looks on the light.
29 Behold, all these things, the Mighty One works in a threefold manner with a man.
Behold, God works all these, Twice, [even] 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, To be enlightened with the light of the living.
31 Listen, Job, and hear me: be silent, and I will speak.
Attend, O Job, listen to me, Keep silent, and I speak.
32 If you have words, answer me: speak, for I desire you to be justified.
If there are words—answer me, Speak, for I have a desire to justify you.
33 If not, do you hear me: be silent, and I will teach you.
If there are not—listen to me, Keep silent, and I teach you wisdom.”
