Job 33
1 Now listen to me, Job. Pay attention to everything I have to say.
Wherefore, Job, I pray you, hear my speeches, and hearken to all my words.
2 Look, I'm about to speak; my mouth is ready to talk.
Behold, now I have opened my mouth, my tongue has spoken in my mouth.
3 My words come from my upright heart; my lips speak sincerely of what I know.
My words shall be of the uprightness of my heart: and my lips shall utter knowledge clearly.
4 The spirit of God made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.
The spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty has given me life.
5 Answer me, if you can. Stand in front of me and prepare to defend yourself.
If you can answer me, set your words in order before me, stand up.
6 Look, before God we are both the same. I was also made from a piece of clay.
Behold, I am according to your wish in God's position: I also am formed out of the clay.
7 See here, you don't need to be frightened of me. I won't be too hard on you.
Behold, my terror shall not make you afraid, neither shall my hand be heavy upon you.
8 You spoke in my hearing and I have listened to everything you had to say.
Surely you have spoken in mine hearing, and I have heard the voice of your words, saying,
9 You say, ‘I'm clean, I've done nothing wrong; I'm pure, I have not sinned.
I am clean without transgression, I am innocent; neither is there iniquity in me.
10 See how God finds fault with me and treats me as his enemy.
Behold, he finds occasions against me, he counts me for his enemy,
11 He puts my feet in the stocks and watches everything I do.’
He puts my feet in the stocks, he marks all my paths.
12 But look, you are wrong—let me explain. God is greater than any human being.
Behold, in this you are not just: I will answer you, that God is greater than man.
13 Why are you fighting against him, complaining that God isn't answering your questions?
Why do you strive against him? for he gives not account of any of his matters.
14 God speaks over and over again, but people don't notice.
For God speaks once, yea twice, yet man perceives it not.
15 Through dreams and visions in the night, when people fall into deep sleep, resting on their beds,
In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls upon men, in slumberings upon the bed;
16 God speaks to them with solemn warnings
Then he opens the ears of men, and seals their instruction,
17 to turn them away from doing wrong and to stop them from becoming proud.
That he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man.
18 He saves them from the grave and spares them from violent death.
He keeps back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword.
19 People are also disciplined on a bed of pain with constant aching in their bones.
He is chastened also with pain upon his bed, and the multitude of his bones with strong pain:
20 They have no desire to eat; they do not even want their favorite dishes.
So that his life detests bread, and his soul dainty food.
21 Their flesh wastes away to nothing; all that's left is skin and bones.
His flesh is consumed away, that it cannot be seen; and his bones that were not seen stick out.
22 They are close to death; their lives approaching the executioner.
Yea, his soul draws near unto the grave, and his life to the destroyers.
23 But if an angel appears, a mediator, one of God's thousands of angels, to tell someone the right way for them,
If there be a messenger with him, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to show unto man his uprightness:
24 he will be gracious to them. He will say, ‘Save them from going down into the grave, for I have found a way to free them.’
Then he is gracious unto him, and says, Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom.
25 Then their bodies will be renewed as if they were young again; they will be as strong as when they were in their prime.
His flesh shall be fresher than a child's: he shall return to the days of his youth:
26 They will pray to God, and he will accept them; they come into God's presence with joy, and he will set things right for them.
He shall pray unto God, and he will be favourable unto him: and he shall see his face with joy: for he will render unto man his righteousness.
27 They sing, and tell others, ‘I sinned, I distorted what is right, but it did not do me any good.
He looks upon men, and if any say, I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it profited me not;
28 He saved me from going down into the grave and I will live in the light.’
He will deliver his soul from going into the pit, and his life shall see the light.
29 Look, God does this time and again for people;
Lo, all these things works God oftentimes with man,
30 he saves them from the grave so they might see the light of life.
To bring back his soul from the pit, to be enlightened with the light of the living.
31 Pay attention Job, and listen to me! Be quiet—let me speak!
Mark well, O Job, hearken unto me: hold your peace, and I will speak.
32 But if you have anything to say, then speak up.
If you have anything to say, answer me: speak, for I desire to justify you.
33 If not, listen to me. Keep quiet and I will teach you wisdom.”
If not, hearken unto me: hold your peace, and I shall teach you wisdom.
