Job 33
1 “And yet, please, O Job, Hear my speech and give ear [to] all my words.
Why, Job, I pray you, hear my speeches, and listen to all my words.
2 Now behold, I have opened my mouth, My tongue has spoken in the palate.
Behold, now I have opened my mouth, my tongue has spoken in my mouth.
3 Of the uprightness of my heart [are] my sayings, And my lips have clearly spoken knowledge.
My words shall be of the uprightness of my heart: and my lips shall utter knowledge clearly.
4 The Spirit of God has made me, And the breath of the Mighty quickens me.
The spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty has given me life.
5 If you are able—answer me, Set in array before me—station yourself.
If you can answer me, set your words in order before me, stand up.
6 Behold, I [am], according to your word, for God, I have also been formed from the clay.
Behold, I am according to your wish in God’s stead: I also am formed out of the clay.
7 Behold, my terror does not frighten you, And my burden on you is not heavy.
Behold, my terror shall not make you afraid, neither shall my hand be heavy on you.
8 Surely you have spoken in my ears, And the sounds of words I hear:
Surely you have spoken in my hearing, and I have heard the voice of your words, saying,
9 I [am] pure, without transgression, I [am] innocent, and I have no iniquity.
I am clean without transgression, I am innocent; neither is there iniquity in me.
10 Behold, He develops hindrances against me, He reckons me for an enemy to Him,
Behold, he finds occasions against me, he counts me for his enemy,
11 He puts my feet in the stocks, He watches all my paths.
He puts my feet in the stocks, he marks all my paths.
12 Behold, you have not been righteous [in] this, I answer you, that God is greater than man.
Behold, in this you are not just: I will answer you, that God is greater than man.
13 Why have you striven against Him, When [for] all His matters He does not answer?
Why do you strive against him? for he gives not account of any of his matters.
14 For once God speaks, and twice (he does not behold it),
For God speaks once, yes twice, yet man perceives it not.
15 In a dream—a vision of night, In the falling of deep sleep on men, In slumberings on a bed.
In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on men, in slumberings on the bed;
16 Then He uncovers the ear of men, And seals for their instruction,
Then he opens the ears of men, and seals their instruction,
17 To turn aside man [from] doing, And He conceals pride from man.
That he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man.
18 He keeps back his soul from corruption, And his life from passing away by a dart.
He keeps back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword.
19 And he has been reproved With pain on his bed, And the strife of his bones [is] enduring.
He is chastened also with pain on his bed, and the multitude of his bones with strong pain:
20 And his life has nauseated bread, And his soul desirable food.
So that his life abhors bread, and his soul dainty meat.
21 His flesh is consumed from being seen, And his bones are high, they were not seen!
His flesh is consumed away, that it cannot be seen; and his bones that were not seen stick out.
22 And his soul draws near to the pit, And his life to those causing death.
Yes, his soul draws near to the grave, and his life to the destroyers.
23 If there is a messenger by him, An interpreter—one of a thousand, To declare for man his uprightness,
If there be a messenger with him, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to show to man his uprightness:
24 Then He favors him and says, Ransom him from going down to the pit, I have found an atonement.
Then he is gracious to him, and says, Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom.
25 Fresher [is] his flesh than a child’s, He returns to the days of his youth.
His flesh shall be fresher than a child’s: he shall return to the days of his youth:
26 He makes supplication to God, And He accepts him. And he sees His face with shouting, And He returns to man His righteousness.
He shall pray to God, and he will be favorable to him: and he shall see his face with joy: for he will render to man his righteousness.
27 [Then] he looks on men and says, I sinned, and I have perverted uprightness, And it has not been profitable to me.
He looks on men, and if any say, I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it profited me not;
28 He has ransomed my soul From going over into the pit, And my life looks on the light.
He will deliver his soul from going into the pit, and his life shall see the light.
29 Behold, God works all these, Twice, [even] three times with man,
See, all these things works God oftentimes 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 Attend, O Job, listen to me, Keep silent, and I speak.
Mark well, O Job, listen to me: hold your peace, and I will speak.
32 If there are words—answer me, Speak, for I have a desire to justify you.
If you have anything to say, answer me: speak, for I desire to justify you.
33 If there are not—listen to me, Keep silent, and I teach you wisdom.”
If not, listen to me: hold your peace, and I shall teach you wisdom.
