< Job 33 >

1 And yet, I pray thee, O Job, Hear my speech and [to] all my words give ear.
Howbeit, Job, I pray thee, hear my speech, and hearken to all my words.
2 Lo, I pray thee, I have opened my mouth, My tongue hath spoken in the palate.
Behold now, I have opened my mouth, my tongue hath spoken in my mouth.
3 Of the uprightness of my heart [are] my sayings, And knowledge have my lips clearly spoken.
My words shall utter the uprightness of my heart; and that which my lips know they shall speak sincerely.
4 The Spirit of God hath made me, And the breath of the Mighty doth quicken me.
The spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty given me life.
5 If thou art able — answer me, Set in array before me — station thyself.
If thou canst, answer thou me, set thy words in order before me, stand forth.
6 Lo, I [am], according to thy word, for God, From the clay I — I also, have been formed.
Behold, I am toward God even as thou art; I also am formed out of the clay.
7 Lo, my terror doth not frighten thee, And my burden on thee is not heavy.
Behold, my terror shall not make thee afraid, neither shall my pressure be heavy upon thee.
8 Surely — thou hast said in mine ears, And the sounds of words I hear:
Surely thou hast spoken in my hearing, and I have heard the voice of thy words;
9 'Pure [am] I, without transgression, Innocent [am] I, and I have no iniquity.
'I am clean, without transgression, I am innocent, neither is there iniquity in me;
10 Lo, occasions against me He doth find, He doth reckon me for an enemy to Him,
Behold, He findeth occasions against me, He counteth me for His enemy;
11 He doth put in the stocks my feet, He doth watch all my paths.'
He putteth my feet in the stocks, He marketh all my paths.'
12 Lo, [in] this thou hast not been righteous, I answer thee, that greater is God than man.
Behold, I answer thee: In this thou art not right, that God is too great for man;
13 Wherefore against Him hast thou striven, When [for] all His matters He answereth not?
Why hast thou striven against Him? seeing that He will not answer any of his words.
14 For once doth God speak, and twice, (He doth not behold it.)
For God speaketh in one way, yea in two, though man perceiveth 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 falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed;
16 Then He uncovereth the ear of men, And for their instruction sealeth:
Then He openeth the ears of men, and by their chastisement sealeth the decree,
17 To turn aside man [from] doing, And pride from man He concealeth.
That men may put away their purpose, and that He may hide pride from man;
18 He keepeth back his soul from corruption, And his life from passing away by a dart.
That He may keep back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword.
19 And he hath been reproved With pain on his bed, And the strife of his bones [is] enduring.
He is chastened also with pain upon his bed, and all his bones grow stiff;
20 And his life hath nauseated bread, And his soul desirable food.
So that his life maketh him to abhor bread, and his soul dainty food.
21 His flesh is consumed from being seen, And high are his bones, they were not seen!
His flesh is consumed away, that it cannot be seen; and his bones corrode to unsightliness.
22 And draw near to the pit doth his soul, And his life to those causing death.
Yea, his soul draweth near unto the pit, and his life to the destroyers.
23 If there is by him a messenger, An interpreter — one of a thousand, To declare for man his uprightness:
If there be for him an angel, an intercessor, one among a thousand, to vouch for a man's uprightness;
24 Then He doth favour him and saith, 'Ransom him from going down to the pit, I have found an atonement.'
Then He is gracious unto him, and saith: 'Deliver him from going down to the pit, I have found a ransom.'
25 Fresher [is] his flesh than a child's, He returneth to the days of his youth.
His flesh is tenderer than a child's; he returneth to the days of his youth;
26 He maketh supplication unto God, And He accepteth him. And he seeth His face with shouting, And He returneth to 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 looketh on men, and saith, 'I sinned, And uprightness I have perverted, And it hath not been profitable to me.
He cometh before men, and saith: 'I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it profited me not.'
28 He hath ransomed my soul From going over into the pit, And my life on the light looketh.'
So He redeemeth his soul from going into the pit, and his life beholdeth the light.
29 Lo, all these doth God work, Twice — thrice with man,
Lo, all these things doth God work, twice, yea thrice, with a 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, that he may be enlightened with the light of the living.
31 Attend, O Job, hearken to me, Keep silent, and I — I do speak.
Mark well, O Job, hearken unto me; hold thy peace, and I will speak.
32 If there are words — answer me, Speak, for I have a desire to justify thee.
If thou hast any thing to say, answer me; speak, for I desire to justify thee.
33 If there are not — hearken thou to me, Keep silent, and I teach thee wisdom.
If not, hearken thou unto me; hold thy peace, and I will teach thee wisdom.

< Job 33 >