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