Job 33
1 Howbeit hear, Job, my words, and listen to my speech.
Hear therefore, O Job, my speeches, and hearken to all my words.
2 For behold, I have opened my mouth, and my tongue has spoken.
Behold now I have opened my mouth, let my tongue speak within my jaws.
3 My heart [shall be found] pure by [my] words; and the understanding of my lips shall meditate purity.
My words are from my upright heart, and my lips shall speak a pure sentence.
4 The Divine Spirit is that which formed me, and the breath of the Almighty that which teaches me.
The spirit of God made me, and the breath of the Almighty gave me life.
5 If you can, give me an answer: wait therefore; stand against me, and I [will stand] against you.
If thou canst, answer me, and stand up against my face.
6 You are formed out of the clay as also I: we have been formed out of the same [substance].
Behold God hath made me as well as thee, and of the same clay I also was formed.
7 My fear shall not terrify you, neither shall my hand be heavy upon you.
But yet let not my wonder terrify thee, and let not my eloquence be burdensome to thee.
8 But you have said in mine ears, (I have heard the voice of your words; ) because you say, I am pure, not having sinned;
Now thou has said in my hearing, and I have heard the voice of thy words:
9 I am blameless, for I have not transgressed.
I am clean, and without sin: I am unspotted, and there is no iniquity in me.
10 Yet he has discovered a charge against me, and he has reckoned me as an adversary.
Because he hath found complaints against me, therefore he hath counted me for his enemy.
11 And he has put my foot in the stocks, and has watched all my ways.
He hath put my feet in the stocks, he hath observed all my paths.
12 For how say you, I am righteous, yet he has not listened to me? for he that is above mortals is eternal.
Now this is the thing in which thou art not justified: I will answer thee, that God is greater than man.
13 But you say, Why has he not heard every word of my cause?
Dost thou strive against him, because he hath not answered thee to all words?
14 For when the Lord speaks once, or a second time,
God speaketh once, and repeateth not the selfsame thing the second time.
15 [sending] a dream, or in the meditation of the night; (as when a dreadful alarm happens to fall upon men, in slumberings on the bed: )
By a dream in a vision by night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, and they are sleeping in their beds:
16 then opens he the understanding of men: he scares them with such fearful visions:
Then he openeth the ears of men, and teaching instructeth them in what they are to learn.
17 to turn a man from unrighteousness, and he delivers his body from a fall.
That he may withdraw a man from the things he is doing, and may deliver him from pride.
18 He spares also his soul from death, and [suffers] him not to fall in war.
Rescuing his soul from corruption: and his life from passing to the sword.
19 And again, he chastens him with sickness on his bed, and the multitude of his bones is benumbed.
He rebuketh also by sorrow in the bed, and he maketh all his bones to wither.
20 And he shall not be able to take any food, though his soul shall desire meat;
Bread becometh abominable to him in his life, and to his soul the meat which before he desired.
21 until his flesh shall be consumed, and he shall show his bones bare.
His flesh shall be consumed away, and his bones that were covered shall be made bare.
22 His soul also draws near to death, and his life is in Hades.
His soul hath drawn near to corruption, and his life to the destroyers.
23 Though there should be a thousand messengers of death, not one of them shall wound him: if he should purpose in his heart to turn to the Lord, and declare to man his fault, and show his folly;
If there shall be an angel speaking for him, one among thousands, to declare man’s uprightness,
24 he will support him, that he should not perish, and will restore his body as [fresh] plaster upon a wall; and he will fill his bones with morrow.
He shall have mercy on him, and shall say: Deliver him, that he may not go down to corruption: I have found wherein I may be merciful to him.
25 And he will make his flesh tender as that of a babe, and he will restore him among men in [his] full strength.
His flesh is consumed with punishment, let him return to the days of his youth.
26 And he shall pray to the Lord, and his prayer shall be accepted of him; he shall enter with a cheerful countenance, with a full expression [of praise]: for he will render to men [their] due.
He shall pray to God, and he will be gracious to him: and he shall see his face with joy, and he will render to man his justice.
27 Even then a man shall blame himself, saying, What kind of things have I done? and he has not punished me according to the full amount of my sins.
He shall look upon men, and shall say: I have sinned, and indeed I have offended, and I have not received what I have deserved.
28 Deliver my soul, that it may not go to destruction, and my life shall see the light.
He hath delivered his soul from going into destruction, that it may live and see the light.
29 Behold, all these things, the Mighty One works in a threefold manner with a man.
Behold, all these things God worketh three times within every one.
30 And he has delivered my soul from death, that my life may praise him in the light.
That he may withdraw their souls from corruption, and enlighten them with the light of the living.
31 Listen, Job, and hear me: be silent, and I will speak.
Attend, Job, and hearken to me: and hold thy peace, whilst I speak.
32 If you have words, answer me: speak, for I desire you to be justified.
But if thou hast any thing to say, answer me, speak: for I would have thee to appear just.
33 If not, do you hear me: be silent, and I will teach you.
And if thou have not, hear me: hold thy peace, and I will teach thee wisdom.
