Job 33
1 Howbeit, Job, I pray thee, hear my speech, and hearken to all my words.
Therefore do thou but hear, O Job, my speeches, and give ear to all my words.
2 Behold now, I have 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 shall utter the uprightness of my heart; and that which my lips know they shall speak sincerely.
Out of my straightforward heart [come] my sayings, and my lips utter knowledge clearly.
4 The spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty given me life.
The spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty giveth me life.
5 If thou canst, answer thou me, set thy words in order before me, stand forth.
If thou canst, answer me, array thyself before me, stand forward.
6 Behold, I am toward God even as thou art; I also am formed out of the clay.
Behold, I am in the same relation as thyself toward God: I myself also am cut out of the clay.
7 Behold, my terror shall not make thee afraid, neither shall my pressure be heavy upon thee.
Behold, dread of me cannot terrify thee, and my pressure will not be too heavy upon thee.
8 Surely thou hast spoken in my hearing, and I have heard the voice of thy words;
But thou hast said before my ears, and the sound of the words I still hear,
9 'I am clean, without transgression, I am innocent, neither is there iniquity in me;
“I am pure without transgression, I am quite clean; and there is no iniquity in me:
10 Behold, He findeth occasions against me, He counteth me for His enemy;
Yet, behold, he findeth hateful backsliding on me, he regardeth me as an enemy unto him;
11 He putteth my feet in the stocks, He marketh all my paths.'
He putteth my feet in the stocks, he watcheth all my paths.”
12 Behold, I answer thee: In this thou art not right, that God is too great for man;
Behold, In this thou art not just: I will answer thee; for God is far greater than a mortal.
13 Why hast thou striven against Him? seeing that He will not answer any of his words.
Why dost thou contend against him? for with all his words will he not give an answer.
14 For God speaketh in one way, yea in two, though man perceiveth it not.
For God speaketh once, yea twice: [yet man] regardeth it not.
15 In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed;
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 ears of men, and by their chastisement sealeth the decree,
Then doth he lay open the ear of men, and sealeth it with their warning;
17 That men may put away their purpose, and that He may hide pride from man;
To remove the son of earth [from his intended] deed and he covereth up pride from man;
18 That He may keep back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword.
He withholdeth his soul from the pit, and his life from passing away by the sword.
19 He is chastened also with pain upon his bed, and all his bones grow stiff;
And so is he admonished by pain upon his couch, and all his bones with violent [aches].
20 So that his life maketh him to abhor bread, and his soul dainty food.
So that his inclination abhorreth bread, and his soul, the most agreeable food.
21 His flesh is consumed away, that it cannot be seen; and his bones corrode to unsightliness.
His flesh is consumed away, that it cannot be seen, and his bones that were not seen stick out.
22 Yea, his soul draweth near unto the pit, and his life to the destroyers.
Yea, his soul draweth near unto the pit, and his life to those that slay.
23 If there be for him an angel, an intercessor, one among a thousand, to vouch for a man's uprightness;
If there be now about him one single angel, as defender, one out of a thousand, to tell for man his uprightness:
24 Then He is gracious unto him, and saith: 'Deliver him from going down to the pit, I have found a ransom.'
Then is he gracious unto him, and saith, Release him from going down to the pit, I have found an atonement.
25 His flesh is tenderer than a child's; he returneth to the days of his youth;
His flesh becometh full again as in youth: he returneth to the days of his boyhood.
26 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.
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 cometh before men, and saith: 'I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it profited me not.'
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 So He redeemeth his soul from going into the pit, and his life beholdeth 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 doth God work, twice, yea thrice, with a man,
Lo, all these things doth God two or three times with man;
30 To bring back his soul from the pit, that he may be enlightened with the light of the living.
To bring back his soul from the pit, that she may shine in the light of life.
31 Mark well, O Job, hearken unto me; hold thy peace, and I will speak.
Listen well, O Job, hearken unto me: keep silence, and I will truly speak.
32 If thou hast any thing to say, answer me; speak, for I desire to justify thee.
If thou hast any words, answer me: speak, for I wish to justify thee.
33 If not, hearken thou unto me; hold thy peace, and I will teach thee wisdom.
If not, hearken thou unto me: keep silence, and I will teach thee wisdom.
