Job 33
1 Howbeit hear, Job, my words, and listen to my speech.
Howbeit, Job, I pray thee, hear my speech, 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, 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 shall utter the uprightness of my heart; and that which my lips know they shall speak sincerely.
4 The Divine Spirit is that which formed me, and the breath of the Almighty that which teaches me.
The spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty given 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 thou me, set thy words in order before me, stand forth.
6 You are formed out of the clay as also I: we have been formed out of the same [substance].
Behold, I am toward God even as thou art; I also am formed out of the clay.
7 My fear shall not terrify you, neither shall my hand be heavy upon you.
Behold, my terror shall not make thee afraid, neither shall my pressure be heavy upon 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;
Surely thou hast spoken in my hearing, and I have heard the voice of thy words;
9 I am blameless, for I have not transgressed.
'I am clean, without transgression, I am innocent, neither is there iniquity in me;
10 Yet he has discovered a charge against me, and he has reckoned me as an adversary.
Behold, He findeth occasions against me, He counteth me for His enemy;
11 And he has put my foot in the stocks, and has watched all my ways.
He putteth my feet in the stocks, He marketh 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, I answer thee: In this thou art not right, that God is too great for man;
13 But you say, Why has he not heard every word of my cause?
Why hast thou striven against Him? seeing that He will not answer any of his words.
14 For when the Lord speaks once, or a second time,
For God speaketh in one way, yea in two, though man perceiveth 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 a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed;
16 then opens he the understanding of men: he scares them with such fearful visions:
Then He openeth the ears of men, and by their chastisement sealeth the decree,
17 to turn a man from unrighteousness, and he delivers his body from a fall.
That men may put away their purpose, and that He may hide pride from man;
18 He spares also his soul from death, and [suffers] him not to fall in war.
That He may keep back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword.
19 And again, he chastens him with sickness on his bed, and the multitude of his bones is benumbed.
He is chastened also with pain upon his bed, and all his bones grow stiff;
20 And he shall not be able to take any food, though his soul shall desire meat;
So that his life maketh him to abhor bread, and his soul dainty food.
21 until his flesh shall be consumed, and he shall show his bones bare.
His flesh is consumed away, that it cannot be seen; and his bones corrode to unsightliness.
22 His soul also draws near to death, and his life is in Hades.
Yea, his soul draweth near unto the pit, 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 be for him an angel, an intercessor, one among a thousand, to vouch for a 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.
Then He is gracious unto him, and saith: 'Deliver him from going down to the pit, I have found a ransom.'
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 tenderer than a child's; he returneth 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 prayeth unto God, and He is favourable unto him; so that he seeth His face with joy; and He restoreth unto man his righteousness.
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 cometh before men, and saith: 'I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it profited me not.'
28 Deliver my soul, that it may not go to destruction, and my life shall see the light.
So He redeemeth his soul from going into the pit, and his life beholdeth the light.
29 Behold, all these things, the Mighty One works in a threefold manner with a man.
Lo, all these things doth God work, twice, yea thrice, with a man,
30 And he has delivered my soul from death, that my life may praise him in the light.
To bring back his soul from the pit, that he may be enlightened with the light of the living.
31 Listen, Job, and hear me: be silent, and I will speak.
Mark well, O Job, hearken unto me; hold thy peace, and I will speak.
32 If you have words, answer me: speak, for I desire you to be justified.
If thou hast any thing to say, answer me; speak, for I desire to justify thee.
33 If not, do you hear me: be silent, and I will teach you.
If not, hearken thou unto me; hold thy peace, and I will teach thee wisdom.
