< Job 33 >
1 Wherefore, Job, I pray you, hear my speeches, and hearken to all my words.
But, in very deed, hear, I pray thee, Job, my discourse, and, to all my words, give thou ear.
2 Behold, now I have opened my mouth, my tongue has spoken in my mouth.
Lo! I pray thee, I have opened my mouth, My tongue, with my palate, hath spoken,
3 My words shall be of the uprightness of my heart: and my lips shall utter knowledge clearly.
Mine utterances come straight from mine own heart, and, what I know, my lips have truly spoken;
4 The spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty has given me life.
The spirit of GOD, hath made me, and, the inspiration of the Almighty, giveth me life.
5 If you can answer me, set your words in order before me, stand up.
If thou art able to answer me, Set in order before me—take thy stand!
6 Behold, I am according to your wish in God's position: I also am formed out of the clay.
Lo! I am like thyself toward GOD, From clay, have I been nipped off, even I!
7 Behold, my terror shall not make you afraid, neither shall my hand be heavy upon you.
Lo! my terror, will not startle thee, nor, my hand, upon thee, be heavy.
8 Surely you have spoken in mine hearing, and I have heard the voice of your words, saying,
But thou hast spoken in mine ears, and, the sound of words, I heard: —
9 I am clean without transgression, I am innocent; neither is there iniquity in me.
Pure am, I, without transgression, —Clean am, I, and have no iniquity;
10 Behold, he finds occasions against me, he counts me for his enemy,
Lo! occasions of hostility, would he find against me, He counteth me an enemy to him;
11 He puts my feet in the stocks, he marks all my paths.
He putteth—in the stocks—my feet, He watcheth all my paths.
12 Behold, in this you are not just: I will answer you, that God is greater than man.
Lo! in this, thou hast not been right—let me answer thee, For, GOD, is greater than, man.
13 Why do you strive against him? for he gives not account of any of his matters.
Wherefore, against him, hast thou contended? For, with none of his reasons, will he respond.
14 For God speaks once, yea twice, yet man perceives it not.
For, in one way, GOD may speak, —and, in a second way, one may not heed it: —
15 In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls upon men, in slumberings upon the bed;
In a dream, a vision of the night, when a deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed,
16 Then he opens the ears of men, and seals their instruction,
Then, uncovereth he the ear of men, and, on their correction, affixeth a seal;
17 That he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man.
To turn a son of earth from his deed, while yet, pride, from man he concealeth:
18 He keeps back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword.
He keepeth back his said from the pit, and his life from passing away by a weapon.
19 He is chastened also with pain upon his bed, and the multitude of his bones with strong pain:
Or he is chastised with pain, upon his bed, and, the strife of his bones, is unceasing!
20 So that his life detests bread, and his soul dainty food.
So that his life maketh loathsome [his] food, and his soul, dainty meat;
21 His flesh is consumed away, that it cannot be seen; and his bones that were not seen stick out.
His flesh wasteth away out of sight, and bared are the bones once unseen;
22 Yea, his soul draws near unto the grave, and his life to the destroyers.
So doth his soul draw near to the pit, and his life to the inflicters of death:
23 If there be a messenger with him, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to show unto man his uprightness:
If there hath been near him a messenger who could interpret—one of a thousand, to declare to the son of earth His uprightness,
24 Then he is gracious unto him, and says, Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom.
Then hath he shewed him favour, and said, Set him free from going down to the pit, I have found a price of redemption!
25 His flesh shall be fresher than a child's: he shall return to the days of his youth:
His flesh hath been made fresher than a child’s, he hath returned 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 made supplication unto GOD, who hath accepted him, and he hath beheld his face with a shout of triumph, Thus hath he given back to man his righteousness.
27 He looks upon men, and if any say, I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it profited me not;
He sang before men, and said, I sinned, and, uprightness, I perverted, yet he requited me not;
28 He will deliver his soul from going into the pit, and his life shall see the light.
He hath ransomed my soul from passing away into the pit, —and, my life, in the light, shall have vision.
29 Lo, all these things works God oftentimes with man,
Lo! a these things, doth GOD work, two ways, three, with a 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 enlighten with the light of the living.
31 Mark well, O Job, hearken unto me: hold your peace, and I will speak.
Mark well, O Job, and hearken to me, Be silent, and, I, will speak:
32 If you have anything to say, answer me: speak, for I desire to justify you.
If there is anything to say, reply to me, Speak, for I desire to justify thee;
33 If not, hearken unto me: hold your peace, and I shall teach you wisdom.
If not, do, thou, hearken unto me, Be silent, that I may teach thee wisdom.