< Job 33 >

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

< Job 33 >