< Job 33 >
1 Wherefore, Job, I pray thee, 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 hath 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 hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life.
The Spirit of God hath made me, And the breath of the Mighty doth quicken me.
5 If thou canst answer me, set [thy 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 thy wish in God’s stead: 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 thee afraid, neither shall my hand be heavy upon thee.
Lo, my terror doth not frighten thee, And my burden on thee is not heavy.
8 Surely thou hast spoken in mine hearing, and I have heard the voice of [thy] 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 findeth occasions against me, he counteth me for his enemy,
Lo, occasions against me He doth find, He doth reckon me for an enemy to Him,
11 He putteth my feet in the stocks, he marketh all my paths.
He doth put in the stocks my feet, He doth watch all my paths.'
12 Behold, [in] this thou art not just: I will answer thee, 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 dost thou strive against him? for he giveth not account of any of his matters.
Wherefore against Him hast thou striven, When [for] all His matters He answereth not?
14 For God speaketh once, yea twice, [yet man] perceiveth 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 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 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 keepeth 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 abhorreth bread, and his soul dainty meat.
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 draweth 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 shew 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 saith, 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 looketh 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] worketh 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 thy peace, and I will speak.
Attend, O Job, hearken to me, Keep silent, and I — I do 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 thee.
33 If not, hearken unto me: hold thy peace, and I shall teach thee wisdom.
If there are not — hearken thou to me, Keep silent, and I teach thee wisdom.