< Job 33 >

1 Wherefore, Job, I pray you, hear my speeches, and hearken to all my words.
And yet, I pray thee, O Job, Hear my speech and [to] all my words give 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 hath 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 knowledge have my lips clearly 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 breath of the Mighty doth quicken me.
5 If you can answer me, set your words in order before me, stand up.
If thou art able — answer me, Set in array before me — station thyself.
6 Behold, I am according to your wish in God's position: I also am formed out of the clay.
Lo, I [am], according to thy word, for God, From the clay I — I also, have been formed.
7 Behold, my terror shall not make you afraid, neither shall my hand be heavy upon you.
Lo, my terror doth not frighten thee, And my burden on thee is not heavy.
8 Surely you have spoken in mine hearing, and I have heard the voice of your words, saying,
Surely — thou hast said in mine ears, And the sounds of words I hear:
9 I am clean without transgression, I am innocent; neither is there iniquity in me.
'Pure [am] I, without transgression, Innocent [am] I, and I have no iniquity.
10 Behold, he finds occasions against me, he counts me for his enemy,
Lo, occasions against me He doth find, He doth reckon me for an enemy to Him,
11 He puts my feet in the stocks, he marks all my paths.
He doth put in the stocks my feet, He doth watch 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 righteous, I answer thee, that greater is God than man.
13 Why do you strive against him? for he gives not account of any of his matters.
Wherefore against Him hast thou striven, When [for] all His matters He answereth not?
14 For God speaks once, yea twice, yet man perceives it not.
For once doth God speak, and twice, (He doth not behold 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 night, In the falling of deep sleep on men, In slumberings on a bed.
16 Then he opens the ears of men, and seals their instruction,
Then He uncovereth the ear of men, And for their instruction sealeth:
17 That he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man.
To turn aside man [from] doing, And 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 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 hath been reproved With pain on his bed, And the strife of his bones [is] enduring.
20 So that his life detests bread, and his soul dainty food.
And his life hath 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 high are his bones, they were not seen!
22 Yea, his soul draws near unto the grave, and his life to the destroyers.
And draw near to the pit doth his soul, And his life to those causing death.
23 If there be a messenger with him, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to show unto man his uprightness:
If there is by him a messenger, An interpreter — one of a thousand, To declare for man 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 He doth favour him and saith, '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 returneth 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 maketh supplication unto God, And He accepteth him. And he seeth His face with shouting, And He returneth 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 looketh on men, and saith, 'I sinned, And uprightness I have perverted, And it hath not been profitable to me.
28 He will deliver his soul from going into the pit, and his life shall see the light.
He hath ransomed my soul From going over into the pit, And my life on the light looketh.'
29 Lo, all these things works God oftentimes with man,
Lo, all these doth God work, Twice — thrice 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 your peace, and I will speak.
Attend, O Job, hearken to me, Keep silent, and I — I do speak.
32 If you have anything to say, answer me: speak, for I desire to justify you.
If there are words — answer me, Speak, for I have a desire to justify thee.
33 If not, hearken unto me: hold your peace, and I shall teach you wisdom.
If there are not — hearken thou to me, Keep silent, and I teach thee wisdom.

< Job 33 >