Job 33
1 Now listen to me, Job. Pay attention to everything I have to say.
“However, Job, please hear my speech, and listen to all my words.
2 Look, I'm about to speak; my mouth is ready to talk.
See 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 will utter the uprightness of my heart. That which my lips know they will speak sincerely.
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 gives 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, and stand up.
6 Look, before God we are both the same. I was also made from a piece of clay.
Behold, I am towards God even as you are. I am also 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 will not make you afraid, neither will my pressure be heavy on you.
8 You spoke in my hearing and I have listened to everything you had to say.
“Surely you have spoken in my hearing, 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 disobedience. 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, I will answer you. In this you are not just, for 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, because he doesn’t give account of any of his matters?
14 God speaks over and over again, but people don't notice.
For God speaks once, yes twice, though man pays no attention.
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 on men, in slumbering on 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 on his bed, with continual strife in his bones,
20 They have no desire to eat; they do not even want their favorite dishes.
so that his life abhors bread, and his soul dainty food.
21 Their flesh wastes away to nothing; all that's left is skin and bones.
His flesh is so consumed away that it can’t be seen. His bones that were not seen stick out.
22 They are close to death; their lives approaching the executioner.
Yes, his soul draws near to the pit, 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 is beside him an angel, an interpreter, one amongst a thousand, to show to man what is right for him,
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 God is gracious to 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 will be fresher than a child’s. He returns 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 prays to God, and he is favourable to him, so that he sees his face with joy. He restores to 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 sings before men, and says, ‘I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it didn’t profit me.
28 He saved me from going down into the grave and I will live in the light.’
He has redeemed my soul from going into the pit. My life will see the light.’
29 Look, God does this time and again for people;
“Behold, God does all these things, twice, yes three times, with a man,
30 he saves them from the grave so they might see the light of life.
to bring back his soul from the pit, that he may be enlightened with the light of the living.
31 Pay attention Job, and listen to me! Be quiet—let me speak!
Mark well, Job, and listen to 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, listen to me. Hold your peace, and I will teach you wisdom.”
