< Job 33 >

1 Howbeit, Job, I pray thee, hear my speech, and hearken to all my words.
“And yet, please, O Job, Hear my speech and give ear [to] all my words.
2 Behold now, I have opened my mouth, my tongue hath spoken in my mouth.
Now behold, I have opened my mouth, My tongue has spoken in the palate.
3 My words shall utter the uprightness of my heart; and that which my lips know they shall speak sincerely.
Of the uprightness of my heart [are] my sayings, And my lips have clearly spoken knowledge.
4 The spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty given me life.
The Spirit of God has made me, And the breath of the Mighty quickens me.
5 If thou canst, answer thou me, set thy words in order before me, stand forth.
If you are able—answer me, Set in array before me—station yourself.
6 Behold, I am toward God even as thou art; I also am formed out of the clay.
Behold, I [am], according to your word, for God, I have also been formed from the clay.
7 Behold, my terror shall not make thee afraid, neither shall my pressure be heavy upon thee.
Behold, my terror does not frighten you, And my burden on you is not heavy.
8 Surely thou hast spoken in my hearing, and I have heard the voice of thy words;
Surely you have spoken in my ears, And the sounds of words I hear:
9 'I am clean, without transgression, I am innocent, neither is there iniquity in me;
I [am] pure, without transgression, I [am] innocent, and I have no iniquity.
10 Behold, He findeth occasions against me, He counteth me for His enemy;
Behold, He develops hindrances against me, He reckons me for an enemy to Him,
11 He putteth my feet in the stocks, He marketh all my paths.'
He puts my feet in the stocks, He watches all my paths.
12 Behold, I answer thee: In this thou art not right, that God is too great for man;
Behold, you have not been righteous [in] this, I answer you, that God is greater than man.
13 Why hast thou striven against Him? seeing that He will not answer any of his words.
Why have you striven against Him, When [for] all His matters He does not answer?
14 For God speaketh in one way, yea in two, though man perceiveth it not.
For once God speaks, and twice (he does not behold it),
15 In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed;
In a dream—a vision of night, In the falling of deep sleep on men, In slumberings on a bed.
16 Then He openeth the ears of men, and by their chastisement sealeth the decree,
Then He uncovers the ear of men, And seals for their instruction,
17 That men may put away their purpose, and that He may hide pride from man;
To turn aside man [from] doing, And He conceals pride from man.
18 That He may keep back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword.
He keeps back his soul from corruption, And his life from passing away by a dart.
19 He is chastened also with pain upon his bed, and all his bones grow stiff;
And he has been reproved With pain on his bed, And the strife of his bones [is] enduring.
20 So that his life maketh him to abhor bread, and his soul dainty food.
And his life has nauseated bread, And his soul desirable food.
21 His flesh is consumed away, that it cannot be seen; and his bones corrode to unsightliness.
His flesh is consumed from being seen, And his bones are high, they were not seen!
22 Yea, his soul draweth near unto the pit, and his life to the destroyers.
And his soul draws near to the pit, And his life to those causing death.
23 If there be for him an angel, an intercessor, one among a thousand, to vouch for a man's uprightness;
If there is a messenger by him, An interpreter—one of a thousand, To declare 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 He favors him and says, Ransom 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;
Fresher [is] his flesh than a child’s, He returns to the days of his youth.
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 makes supplication to God, And He accepts him. And he sees His face with shouting, And He returns to man His righteousness.
27 He cometh before men, and saith: 'I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it profited me not.'
[Then] he looks on men and says, I sinned, and I have perverted uprightness, And it has not been profitable to me.
28 So He redeemeth his soul from going into the pit, and his life beholdeth the light.
He has ransomed my soul From going over into the pit, And my life looks on the light.
29 Lo, all these things doth God work, twice, yea thrice, with a man,
Behold, God works all these, Twice, [even] 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, To be enlightened with the light of the living.
31 Mark well, O Job, hearken unto me; hold thy peace, and I will speak.
Attend, O Job, listen to me, Keep silent, and I speak.
32 If thou hast any thing to say, answer me; speak, for I desire to justify thee.
If there are words—answer me, Speak, for I have a desire to justify you.
33 If not, hearken thou unto me; hold thy peace, and I will teach thee wisdom.
If there are not—listen to me, Keep silent, and I teach you wisdom.”

< Job 33 >