Job 33
1 Hear, therefore, my discourse, I pray thee, O Job! And attend unto all my words!
Howbeit, Job, I pray thee, hear my speech, and hearken to all my words.
2 Behold, I am opening my mouth; My tongue is now speaking in my palate.
Behold now, I have opened my mouth, my tongue hath spoken in my mouth.
3 My words shall be in the uprightness of my heart; My lips shall utter knowledge purely.
My words [shall utter] the uprightness of my heart: and that which my lips know they shall speak sincerely.
4 The spirit of God made me, And the breath of the Almighty gave me life.
The spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty giveth me life.
5 If thou art able, answer me; Set thyself in array against me; stand up!
If thou canst, answer thou me; set [thy words] in order before me, stand forth.
6 Behold, I, like thee, am a creature of God; I also was formed of clay.
Behold, I am toward God even as thou art: I also am formed out of the clay.
7 Behold, my terror cannot dismay thee, Nor can my greatness be heavy upon thee.
Behold, my terror shall not make thee afraid, neither shall my pressure be heavy upon thee.
8 Surely thou hast said in my hearing, I have heard the sound of thy words:
Surely thou hast spoken in mine hearing, and I have heard the voice of [thy] words, [saying],
9 “I am pure, and without transgression; I am clean, and there is no iniquity in me.
I am clean, without transgression; I am innocent, neither is there iniquity in me:
10 Behold, He seeketh causes of hostility against me; He regardeth me as his enemy.
Behold, he findeth occasions against me, he counteth me for his enemy;
11 He putteth my feet in the stocks; He watcheth all my paths.”
He putteth my feet in the stocks, he marketh all my paths.
12 Behold, in this thou art not right; I will answer thee; For God is greater than man.
Behold, I will answer thee, in this thou art not just; for God is greater than man.
13 Why dost thou contend with Him? For he giveth no account of any of his doings.
Why dost thou strive against him? for he giveth not account of any of his matters.
14 For God speaketh once, Yea, twice, when man regardeth it not.
For God speaketh once, yea twice, [though man] regardeth it not.
15 In a dream, in a vision of the night, When deep sleep falleth upon men, In slumber upon the bed;
In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed;
16 Then openeth he the ears of men, And sealeth up for them admonition;
Then he openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction,
17 That he may turn man from his purpose, And hide pride from man.
That he may withdraw man [from his] purpose, and hide pride from man;
18 Thus he saveth him from the pit, Yea, his life from perishing by the sword.
He keepeth back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword.
19 He is chastened also with pain upon his bed, And with a continual agitation of his bones,
He is chastened also with pain upon his bed, and with continual strife in his bones:
20 So that his mouth abhorreth bread, And his taste the choicest food;
So that his life abhorreth bread, and his soul dainty meat.
21 His flesh is consumed, that it cannot be seen, And his bones, that were invisible, are naked;
His flesh is consumed away, that it cannot be seen; and his bones that were not seen stick out.
22 Yea, his soul draweth near to the pit, And his life to the destroyers.
Yea, his soul draweth near unto the pit, and his life to the destroyers.
23 But if there be with him a messenger, An interpreter, one of a thousand, Who may show unto man his duty,
If there be with him an angel, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to shew unto man what is right for him;
24 Then will God be gracious to him, and say, “Save him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom.”
Then he is gracious unto him, and saith, Deliver him from going down to the pit, I have found a ransom.
25 His flesh shall became fresher than a child's; He shall return to the days of his youth.
His flesh shall be fresher than a child’s; he returneth to the days of his youth:
26 He shall pray to God, and he will be favorable to him, And permit him to see his face with joy, And restore unto man his righteousness.
He prayeth unto God, and he is favourable unto him; so that he seeth his face with joy: and he restoreth unto man his righteousness.
27 He shall sing among men, and say, “I sinned; I acted perversely; Yet hath he not requited me for it:
He singeth before men, and saith, I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it profited me not:
28 He hath delivered me from going down to the pit, And my life beholdeth the light.”
He hath redeemed my soul from going into the pit, and my life shall behold the light.
29 Lo! all these things doeth God Time after time with man,
Lo, all these things doth God work, twice, [yea] thrice, with a man,
30 That he may bring him back from the pit, That he may enjoy the light of the living.
To bring back his soul from the pit, that he may be enlightened with the light of the living.
31 Mark well, O Job! hearken to me! Keep silence, and I will speak.
Mark well, O Job, hearken unto me: hold thy peace, and I will speak.
32 Yet if thou hast any thing to say, answer me! Speak! for I desire to pronounce thee innocent.
If thou hast any thing to say, answer me: speak, for I desire to justify thee.
33 But if not, do thou listen to me! Keep silence, and I will teach thee wisdom!
If not, hearken thou unto me: hold thy peace, and I will teach thee wisdom.
