< Job 33 >

1 Howbeit hear, Job, my words, and listen to my speech.
Wherefore, Iob, I pray thee, heare my talke and hearken vnto all my wordes.
2 For behold, I have opened my mouth, and my tongue has spoken.
Beholde now, I haue opened my mouth: my tongue hath spoken in my mouth.
3 My heart [shall be found] pure by [my] words; and the understanding of my lips shall meditate purity.
My words are in the vprightnesse of mine heart, and my lippes shall speake pure knowledge.
4 The Divine Spirit is that which formed me, and the breath of the Almighty that which teaches me.
The Spirite of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almightie hath giuen me life.
5 If you can, give me an answer: wait therefore; stand against me, and I [will stand] against you.
If thou canst giue me answere, prepare thy selfe and stand before me.
6 You are formed out of the clay as also I: we have been formed out of the same [substance].
Beholde, I am according to thy wish in Gods stead: I am also formed of the clay.
7 My fear shall not terrify you, neither shall my hand be heavy upon you.
Beholde, my terrour shall not feare thee, neither shall mine hand be heauie vpon 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;
Doubtles thou hast spoken in mine eares, and I haue heard the voyce of thy wordes.
9 I am blameless, for I have not transgressed.
I am cleane, without sinne: I am innocent, and there is none iniquitie in me.
10 Yet he has discovered a charge against me, and he has reckoned me as an adversary.
Lo, he hath found occasions against me, and counted me for his enemie.
11 And he has put my foot in the stocks, and has watched all my ways.
He hath put my feete in the stockes, and looketh narrowly vnto 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.
Behold, in this hast thou not done right: I will answere thee, that God is greater then man.
13 But you say, Why has he not heard every word of my cause?
Why doest thou striue against him? for he doeth not giue account of all his matters.
14 For when the Lord speaks once, or a second time,
For God speaketh once or twise, and one seeth it not.
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: )
In dreames and visions of the night, when sleepe falleth vpon men, and they sleepe vpon their beds,
16 then opens he the understanding of men: he scares them with such fearful visions:
Then he openeth the eares of men, euen by their corrections, which he had sealed,
17 to turn a man from unrighteousness, and he delivers his body from a fall.
That he might cause man to turne away from his enterprise, and that he might hide the pride of man,
18 He spares also his soul from death, and [suffers] him not to fall in war.
And keepe backe his soule from the pit, and that his life should not passe by the sword.
19 And again, he chastens him with sickness on his bed, and the multitude of his bones is benumbed.
He is also striken with sorow vpon his bed, and the griefe of his bones is sore,
20 And he shall not be able to take any food, though his soul shall desire meat;
So that his life causeth him to abhorre bread, and his soule daintie meate.
21 until his flesh shall be consumed, and he shall show his bones bare.
His flesh faileth that it can not be seene, and his bones which were not seene, clatter.
22 His soul also draws near to death, and his life is in Hades.
So his soule draweth to the graue, and his life to the buriers.
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 be a messenger with him, or an interpreter, one of a thousand to declare vnto man his righteousnesse,
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.
Then will he haue mercie vpon him, and will say, Deliuer him, that he go not downe into the pit: for I haue receiued a reconciliation.
25 And he will make his flesh tender as that of a babe, and he will restore him among men in [his] full strength.
Then shall his flesh be as fresh as a childes, and shall returne as in the dayes 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 vnto God, and he will be fauourable vnto him, and he shall see his face with ioy: for he will render vnto man his righteousnes.
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 looketh vpon men, and if one say, I haue sinned, and peruerted righteousnesse, and it did not profite me,
28 Deliver my soul, that it may not go to destruction, and my life shall see the light.
He will deliuer his soule from going into the pit, and his life shall see the light.
29 Behold, all these things, the Mighty One works in a threefold manner with a man.
Lo, all these things will God worke twise or thrise with a man,
30 And he has delivered my soul from death, that my life may praise him in the light.
That he may turne backe his soule from the pit, to be illuminate in the light of the liuing.
31 Listen, Job, and hear me: be silent, and I will speak.
Marke well, O Iob, and heare me: keepe silence, and I will speake.
32 If you have words, answer me: speak, for I desire you to be justified.
If there be matter, answere me, and speak: for I desire to iustifie thee.
33 If not, do you hear me: be silent, and I will teach you.
If thou hast not, heare me: holde thy tongue, and I will teach thee wisedome.

< Job 33 >