Job 33
1 "However, Job, Please hear my speech, and listen to all my words.
And now, O Job, give ear to my words, and take note of all I say.
2 See now, I have opened my mouth. My tongue has spoken in my mouth.
See, now my mouth is open, my tongue gives out words.
3 My words shall utter the uprightness of my heart. That which my lips know they shall speak sincerely.
My heart is overflowing with knowledge, my lips say what is true.
4 The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of Shaddai gives me life.
The spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Ruler of all gives me life.
5 If you can, answer me. Set your words in order before me, and stand forth.
If you are able, give me an answer; put your cause in order, and come forward.
6 Look, I am toward God even as you are. I am also formed out of the clay.
See, I am the same as you are in the eyes of God; I was cut off from the same bit of wet earth.
7 Look, my terror shall not make you afraid, neither shall my pressure be heavy on you.
Fear of me will not overcome you, and my hand will not be hard on you.
8 "Surely you have spoken in my hearing, I have heard the voice of your words, saying,
But you said in my hearing, and your voice came to my ears:
9 'I am clean, without disobedience. I am innocent, neither is there iniquity in me.
I am clean, without sin; I am washed, and there is no evil in me:
10 Look, he finds occasions against me. He counts me for his enemy.
See, he is looking for something against me; in his eyes I am as one of his haters;
11 He puts my feet in the stocks. He marks all my paths.'
He puts chains on my feet; he is watching all my ways.
12 "Look, I will answer you. In this you are not just, for God is greater than man.
Truly, in saying this you are wrong; for God is greater than man.
13 Why do you strive against him, because he doesn't give account of any of his matters?
Why do you put forward your cause against him, saying, He gives no answer to any of my words?
14 For God speaks once, yes twice, though man pays no attention.
For God gives his word in one way, even in two, and man is not conscious of it:
15 In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on men, in slumbering on the bed;
In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep comes on men, while they take their rest on their beds;
16 Then he opens the ears of men, and seals their instruction,
Then he makes his secrets clear to men, so that they are full of fear at what they see;
17 That he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man.
In order that man may be turned from his evil works, and that pride may be taken away from him;
18 He keeps back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword.
To keep back his soul from the underworld, and his life from destruction.
19 He is chastened also with pain on his bed, with continual strife in his bones;
Pain is sent on him as a punishment, while he is on his bed; there is no end to the trouble in his bones;
20 So that his life abhors bread, and his soul choicest food.
He has no desire for food, and his soul is turned away from delicate meat;
21 His flesh is so consumed away, that it can't be seen. His bones that were not seen stick out.
His flesh is so wasted away, that it may not be seen, and his bones. ...
22 Yes, his soul draws near to the pit, and his life to the destroyers.
And his soul comes near to the underworld, and his life to the angels of death.
23 "If there is beside him an angel, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to show to man what is right for him;
If now there may be an angel sent to him, one of the thousands which there are to be between him and God, and to make clear to man what is right for him;
24 then he is gracious to him, and says, 'Deliver him from going down to the pit, I have found a ransom.'
And if he has mercy on him, and says, Let him not go down to the underworld, I have given the price for his life:
25 His flesh shall be fresher than a child's. He returns to the days of his youth.
Then his flesh becomes young again, and he comes back to the days of his early strength;
26 He prays to God, and he is favorable to him, so that he sees his face with joy. He restores to man his righteousness.
He makes his prayer to God, and he has mercy on him; he sees God's face with cries of joy; he gives news of his righteousness to men;
27 He sings before men, and says, 'I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it did not profit me.
He makes a song, saying, I did wrong, turning from the straight way, but he did not give me the reward of my sin.
28 He has redeemed my soul from going into the pit. My life shall see the light.'
He kept my soul from the underworld, and my life sees the light in full measure.
29 "Look, God works all these things, twice, yes three times, with a man,
Truly, God does all these things to man, twice and three times,
30 to bring back his soul from the pit, that he may be enlightened with the light of the living.
Keeping back his soul from the underworld, so that he may see the light of life.
31 Mark well, Job, and listen to me. Hold your peace, and I will speak.
Take note O Job, give ear to me; keep quiet, while I say what is in my mind.
32 If you have anything to say, answer me. Speak, for I desire to justify you.
If you have anything to say, give me an answer; for it is my desire that you may be judged free from sin.
33 If not, listen to me. Hold your peace, and I will teach you wisdom."
If not, give attention to me, and keep quiet, and I will give you wisdom.
