Job 33
1 Wherefore, Iob, I pray thee, heare my talke and hearken vnto all my wordes.
Therefore do thou but hear, O Job, my speeches, and give ear to all my words.
2 Beholde now, I haue opened my mouth: my tongue hath spoken in my mouth.
Behold now, I have opened my mouth, my tongue speaketh in my mouth.
3 My words are in the vprightnesse of mine heart, and my lippes shall speake pure knowledge.
Out of my straightforward heart [come] my sayings, and my lips utter knowledge clearly.
4 The Spirite of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almightie hath giuen me life.
The spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty giveth me life.
5 If thou canst giue me answere, prepare thy selfe and stand before me.
If thou canst, answer me, array thyself before me, stand forward.
6 Beholde, I am according to thy wish in Gods stead: I am also formed of the clay.
Behold, I am in the same relation as thyself toward God: I myself also am cut out of the clay.
7 Beholde, my terrour shall not feare thee, neither shall mine hand be heauie vpon thee.
Behold, dread of me cannot terrify thee, and my pressure will not be too heavy upon thee.
8 Doubtles thou hast spoken in mine eares, and I haue heard the voyce of thy wordes.
But thou hast said before my ears, and the sound of the words I still hear,
9 I am cleane, without sinne: I am innocent, and there is none iniquitie in me.
“I am pure without transgression, I am quite clean; and there is no iniquity in me:
10 Lo, he hath found occasions against me, and counted me for his enemie.
Yet, behold, he findeth hateful backsliding on me, he regardeth me as an enemy unto him;
11 He hath put my feete in the stockes, and looketh narrowly vnto all my paths.
He putteth my feet in the stocks, he watcheth all my paths.”
12 Behold, in this hast thou not done right: I will answere thee, that God is greater then man.
Behold, In this thou art not just: I will answer thee; for God is far greater than a mortal.
13 Why doest thou striue against him? for he doeth not giue account of all his matters.
Why dost thou contend against him? for with all his words will he not give an answer.
14 For God speaketh once or twise, and one seeth it not.
For God speaketh once, yea twice: [yet man] regardeth it not.
15 In dreames and visions of the night, when sleepe falleth vpon men, and they sleepe vpon their beds,
In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumbers upon the couch:
16 Then he openeth the eares of men, euen by their corrections, which he had sealed,
Then doth he lay open the ear of men, and sealeth it with their warning;
17 That he might cause man to turne away from his enterprise, and that he might hide the pride of man,
To remove the son of earth [from his intended] deed and he covereth up pride from man;
18 And keepe backe his soule from the pit, and that his life should not passe by the sword.
He withholdeth his soul from the pit, and his life from passing away by the sword.
19 He is also striken with sorow vpon his bed, and the griefe of his bones is sore,
And so is he admonished by pain upon his couch, and all his bones with violent [aches].
20 So that his life causeth him to abhorre bread, and his soule daintie meate.
So that his inclination abhorreth bread, and his soul, the most agreeable food.
21 His flesh faileth that it can not be seene, and his bones which were not seene, clatter.
His flesh is consumed away, that it cannot be seen, and his bones that were not seen stick out.
22 So his soule draweth to the graue, and his life to the buriers.
Yea, his soul draweth near unto the pit, and his life to those that slay.
23 If there be a messenger with him, or an interpreter, one of a thousand to declare vnto man his righteousnesse,
If there be now about him one single angel, as defender, one out of a thousand, to tell for man his uprightness:
24 Then will he haue mercie vpon him, and will say, Deliuer him, that he go not downe into the pit: for I haue receiued a reconciliation.
Then is he gracious unto him, and saith, Release him from going down to the pit, I have found an atonement.
25 Then shall his flesh be as fresh as a childes, and shall returne as in the dayes of his youth.
His flesh becometh full again as in youth: he returneth to the days of his boyhood.
26 He shall pray vnto God, and he will be fauourable vnto him, and he shall see his face with ioy: for he will render vnto man his righteousnes.
He will offer his entreaty unto God, and he will receive him in favor, that he may see his face with joy: so doth He recompense unto the mortal his righteousness.
27 He looketh vpon men, and if one say, I haue sinned, and peruerted righteousnesse, and it did not profite me,
He then should assemble men around, and say, “I had sinned, and perverted what is right, yet have I not received a like return.”
28 He will deliuer his soule from going into the pit, and his life shall see the light.
Thus he redeemeth his soul from passing into the pit, and his life will look joyously on the light.
29 Lo, all these things will God worke twise or thrise with a man,
Lo, all these things doth God two or three times with man;
30 That he may turne backe his soule from the pit, to be illuminate in the light of the liuing.
To bring back his soul from the pit, that she may shine in the light of life.
31 Marke well, O Iob, and heare me: keepe silence, and I will speake.
Listen well, O Job, hearken unto me: keep silence, and I will truly speak.
32 If there be matter, answere me, and speak: for I desire to iustifie thee.
If thou hast any words, answer me: speak, for I wish to justify thee.
33 If thou hast not, heare me: holde thy tongue, and I will teach thee wisedome.
If not, hearken thou unto me: keep silence, and I will teach thee wisdom.
