Job 33
1 Wherefore, Job, I pray thee, hear my speeches, 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 be of the uprightness of my heart: and my lips shall utter knowledge clearly.
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 hath given me life.
The Spirit of God has made me, And the breath of the Mighty quickens me.
5 If thou canst answer me, set thy words in order before me, stand up.
If you are able—answer me, Set in array before me—station yourself.
6 Behold, I am according to thy wish in God’s stead: 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 hand 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 mine hearing, and I have heard the voice of thy words, saying,
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, in this thou art not just: I will answer thee, that God is greater than man.
Behold, you have not been righteous [in] this, I answer you, that God is greater than man.
13 Why dost thou strive against him? for he giveth not account of any of his matters.
Why have you striven against Him, When [for] all His matters He does not answer?
14 For God speaketh once, yea twice, yet 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 sealeth their instruction,
Then He uncovers the ear of men, And seals for their instruction,
17 That he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man.
To turn aside man [from] doing, And He conceals pride from man.
18 He keepeth 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 the multitude of his bones with strong pain:
And he has been reproved With pain on his bed, And the strife of his bones [is] enduring.
20 So that his life abhorreth bread, and his soul dainty meat.
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 that were not seen stick out.
His flesh is consumed from being seen, And his bones are high, they were not seen!
22 Yea, his soul draweth near unto the grave, 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 a messenger with him, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to shew unto man his 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 shall be fresher than a child’s: he shall return to the days of his youth:
Fresher [is] his flesh than a child’s, He returns to the days of his youth.
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.
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 looketh upon men, and if any say, 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 He will deliver his soul from going into the pit, and his life shall see 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 worketh God oftentimes with man,
Behold, God works all these, Twice, [even] three times with man,
30 To bring back his soul from the pit, to 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 unto me: hold thy peace, and I shall teach thee wisdom.
If there are not—listen to me, Keep silent, and I teach you wisdom.”
