Job 33
1 Hear therefore, O Job, my speeches, and hearken to all my words.
Howbeit, Job, I pray thee, hear my speech, and hearken to all my words.
2 Behold now I have opened my mouth, let my tongue speak within my jaws.
Behold now, I have opened my mouth, my tongue hath spoken in my mouth.
3 My words are from my upright heart, and my lips shall speak a pure sentence.
My words shall utter the uprightness of my heart; and that which my lips know they shall speak sincerely.
4 The spirit of God made me, and the breath of the Almighty gave me life.
The spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty given me life.
5 If thou canst, answer me, and stand up against my face.
If thou canst, answer thou me, set thy words in order before me, stand forth.
6 Behold God hath made me as well as thee, and of the same clay I also was formed.
Behold, I am toward God even as thou art; I also am formed out of the clay.
7 But yet let not my wonder terrify thee, and let not my eloquence be burdensome to thee.
Behold, my terror shall not make thee afraid, neither shall my pressure be heavy upon thee.
8 Now thou has said in my hearing, and I have heard the voice of thy words:
Surely thou hast spoken in my hearing, and I have heard the voice of thy words;
9 I am clean, and without sin: I am unspotted, and there is no iniquity in me.
'I am clean, without transgression, I am innocent, neither is there iniquity in me;
10 Because he hath found complaints against me, therefore he hath counted me for his enemy.
Behold, He findeth occasions against me, He counteth me for His enemy;
11 He hath put my feet in the stocks, he hath observed all my paths.
He putteth my feet in the stocks, He marketh all my paths.'
12 Now this is the thing in which thou art not justified: I will answer thee, that God is greater than man.
Behold, I answer thee: In this thou art not right, that God is too great for man;
13 Dost thou strive against him, because he hath not answered thee to all words?
Why hast thou striven against Him? seeing that He will not answer any of his words.
14 God speaketh once, and repeateth not the selfsame thing the second time.
For God speaketh in one way, yea in two, though man perceiveth it not.
15 By a dream in a vision by night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, and they are sleeping in their beds:
In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed;
16 Then he openeth the ears of men, and teaching instructeth them in what they are to learn.
Then He openeth the ears of men, and by their chastisement sealeth the decree,
17 That he may withdraw a man from the things he is doing, and may deliver him from pride.
That men may put away their purpose, and that He may hide pride from man;
18 Rescuing his soul from corruption: and his life from passing to the sword.
That He may keep back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword.
19 He rebuketh also by sorrow in the bed, and he maketh all his bones to wither.
He is chastened also with pain upon his bed, and all his bones grow stiff;
20 Bread becometh abominable to him in his life, and to his soul the meat which before he desired.
So that his life maketh him to abhor bread, and his soul dainty food.
21 His flesh shall be consumed away, and his bones that were covered shall be made bare.
His flesh is consumed away, that it cannot be seen; and his bones corrode to unsightliness.
22 His soul hath drawn near to corruption, and his life to the destroyers.
Yea, his soul draweth near unto the pit, and his life to the destroyers.
23 If there shall be an angel speaking for him, one among thousands, to declare man’s uprightness,
If there be for him an angel, an intercessor, one among a thousand, to vouch for a man's uprightness;
24 He shall have mercy on him, and shall say: Deliver him, that he may not go down to corruption: I have found wherein I may be merciful to him.
Then He is gracious unto him, and saith: 'Deliver him from going down to the pit, I have found a ransom.'
25 His flesh is consumed with punishment, let him return to the days of his youth.
His flesh is tenderer than a child's; he returneth to the days of his youth;
26 He shall pray to God, and he will be gracious to him: and he shall see his face with joy, and he will render to man his justice.
He prayeth unto God, and He is favourable unto him; so that he seeth His face with joy; and He restoreth unto man his righteousness.
27 He shall look upon men, and shall say: I have sinned, and indeed I have offended, and I have not received what I have deserved.
He cometh before men, and saith: 'I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it profited me not.'
28 He hath delivered his soul from going into destruction, that it may live and see the light.
So He redeemeth his soul from going into the pit, and his life beholdeth the light.
29 Behold, all these things God worketh three times within every one.
Lo, all these things doth God work, twice, yea thrice, with a man,
30 That he may withdraw their souls from corruption, and enlighten them with the light of the living.
To bring back his soul from the pit, that he may be enlightened with the light of the living.
31 Attend, Job, and hearken to me: and hold thy peace, whilst I speak.
Mark well, O Job, hearken unto me; hold thy peace, and I will speak.
32 But if thou hast any thing to say, answer me, speak: for I would have thee to appear just.
If thou hast any thing to say, answer me; speak, for I desire to justify thee.
33 And if thou have not, hear me: hold thy peace, and I will teach thee wisdom.
If not, hearken thou unto me; hold thy peace, and I will teach thee wisdom.
