< Job 33 >
1 "However, Job, Please hear my speech, and listen to all my words.
And yet, I pray thee, O Job, Hear my speech and [to] all my words give ear.
2 See now, I have opened my mouth. My tongue has spoken in my mouth.
Lo, I pray thee, I have opened my mouth, My tongue hath 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 knowledge have my lips clearly spoken.
4 The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of Shaddai gives me life.
The Spirit of God hath made me, And the breath of the Mighty doth quicken me.
5 If you can, answer me. Set your words in order before me, and stand forth.
If thou art able — answer me, Set in array before me — station thyself.
6 Look, I am toward God even as you are. I am also formed out of the clay.
Lo, I [am], according to thy word, for God, From the clay I — I also, have been formed.
7 Look, my terror shall not make you afraid, neither shall my pressure be heavy on you.
Lo, my terror doth not frighten thee, And my burden on thee is not heavy.
8 "Surely you have spoken in my hearing, I have heard the voice of your words, saying,
Surely — thou hast said in mine ears, And the sounds of words I hear:
9 'I am clean, without disobedience. I am innocent, neither is there iniquity in me.
'Pure [am] I, without transgression, Innocent [am] I, and I have no iniquity.
10 Look, he finds occasions against me. He counts me for his enemy.
Lo, occasions against me He doth find, He doth reckon me for an enemy to Him,
11 He puts my feet in the stocks. He marks all my paths.'
He doth put in the stocks my feet, He doth watch all my paths.'
12 "Look, I will answer you. In this you are not just, for God is greater than man.
Lo, [in] this thou hast not been righteous, I answer thee, that greater is God than man.
13 Why do you strive against him, because he doesn't give account of any of his matters?
Wherefore against Him hast thou striven, When [for] all His matters He answereth not?
14 For God speaks once, yes twice, though man pays no attention.
For once doth God speak, and twice, (He doth 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 uncovereth the ear of men, And for their instruction sealeth:
17 That he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man.
To turn aside man [from] doing, And pride from man He concealeth.
18 He keeps back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword.
He keepeth 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 hath 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 hath 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 high are his bones, they were not seen!
22 Yes, his soul draws near to the pit, and his life to the destroyers.
And draw near to the pit doth his soul, 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 by him a messenger, 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 doth favour him and saith, '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 returneth 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 maketh supplication unto God, And He accepteth him. And he seeth His face with shouting, And He returneth 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.
He looketh on men, and saith, 'I sinned, And uprightness I have perverted, And it hath not been profitable to me.
28 He has redeemed my soul from going into the pit. My life shall see the light.'
He hath ransomed my soul From going over into the pit, And my life on the light looketh.'
29 "Look, God works all these things, twice, yes three times, with a man,
Lo, all these doth God work, Twice — thrice 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, hearken to me, Keep silent, and I — I do 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 thee.
33 If not, listen to me. Hold your peace, and I will teach you wisdom."
If there are not — hearken thou to me, Keep silent, and I teach thee wisdom.