Job 33
1 Therefore do thou but hear, O Job, my speeches, and give ear to all my words.
Howbeit hear, Job, my words, and listen to my speech.
2 Behold now, I have opened my mouth, my tongue speaketh in my mouth.
For behold, I have opened my mouth, and my tongue has spoken.
3 Out of my straightforward heart [come] my sayings, and my lips utter knowledge clearly.
My heart [shall be found] pure by [my] words; and the understanding of my lips shall meditate purity.
4 The spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty giveth me life.
The Divine Spirit is that which formed me, and the breath of the Almighty that which teaches me.
5 If thou canst, answer me, array thyself before me, stand forward.
If you can, give me an answer: wait therefore; stand against me, and I [will stand] against you.
6 Behold, I am in the same relation as thyself toward God: I myself also am cut out of the clay.
You are formed out of the clay as also I: we have been formed out of the same [substance].
7 Behold, dread of me cannot terrify thee, and my pressure will not be too heavy upon thee.
My fear shall not terrify you, neither shall my hand be heavy upon you.
8 But thou hast said before my ears, and the sound of the words I still hear,
But you have said in mine ears, (I have heard the voice of your words; ) because you say, I am pure, not having sinned;
9 “I am pure without transgression, I am quite clean; and there is no iniquity in me:
I am blameless, for I have not transgressed.
10 Yet, behold, he findeth hateful backsliding on me, he regardeth me as an enemy unto him;
Yet he has discovered a charge against me, and he has reckoned me as an adversary.
11 He putteth my feet in the stocks, he watcheth all my paths.”
And he has put my foot in the stocks, and has watched all my ways.
12 Behold, In this thou art not just: I will answer thee; for God is far greater than a mortal.
For how say you, I am righteous, yet he has not listened to me? for he that is above mortals is eternal.
13 Why dost thou contend against him? for with all his words will he not give an answer.
But you say, Why has he not heard every word of my cause?
14 For God speaketh once, yea twice: [yet man] regardeth it not.
For when the Lord speaks once, or a second time,
15 In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumbers upon the couch:
[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: )
16 Then doth he lay open the ear of men, and sealeth it with their warning;
then opens he the understanding of men: he scares them with such fearful visions:
17 To remove the son of earth [from his intended] deed and he covereth up pride from man;
to turn a man from unrighteousness, and he delivers his body from a fall.
18 He withholdeth his soul from the pit, and his life from passing away by the sword.
He spares also his soul from death, and [suffers] him not to fall in war.
19 And so is he admonished by pain upon his couch, and all his bones with violent [aches].
And again, he chastens him with sickness on his bed, and the multitude of his bones is benumbed.
20 So that his inclination abhorreth bread, and his soul, the most agreeable food.
And he shall not be able to take any food, though his soul shall desire meat;
21 His flesh is consumed away, that it cannot be seen, and his bones that were not seen stick out.
until his flesh shall be consumed, and he shall show his bones bare.
22 Yea, his soul draweth near unto the pit, and his life to those that slay.
His soul also draws near to death, and his life is in Hades.
23 If there be now about him one single angel, as defender, one out of a thousand, to tell for man his uprightness:
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;
24 Then is he gracious unto him, and saith, Release him from going down to the pit, I have found an atonement.
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.
25 His flesh becometh full again as in youth: he returneth to the days of his boyhood.
And he will make his flesh tender as that of a babe, and he will restore him amongst men in [his] full strength.
26 He will offer his entreaty unto God, and he will receive him in favor, that he may see his face with joy: so doth He recompense unto the mortal his righteousness.
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.
27 He then should assemble men around, and say, “I had sinned, and perverted what is right, yet have I not received a like return.”
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.
28 Thus he redeemeth his soul from passing into the pit, and his life will look joyously on the light.
Deliver my soul, that it may not go to destruction, and my life shall see the light.
29 Lo, all these things doth God two or three times with man;
Behold, all these things, the Mighty One works in a threefold manner with a man.
30 To bring back his soul from the pit, that she may shine in the light of life.
And he has delivered my soul from death, that my life may praise him in the light.
31 Listen well, O Job, hearken unto me: keep silence, and I will truly speak.
Listen, Job, and hear me: be silent, and I will speak.
32 If thou hast any words, answer me: speak, for I wish to justify thee.
If you have words, answer me: speak, for I desire you to be justified.
33 If not, hearken thou unto me: keep silence, and I will teach thee wisdom.
If not, do you hear me: be silent, and I will teach you.
