Job 33

1 “However, Job, please hear my speech, and listen to all my words.

“But now, O Job, hear my speech, and listen to all my words.

2 See now, I have opened my mouth. My tongue has spoken in my mouth.

Behold, I will open my mouth; my address is on the tip of my tongue.

3 My words will utter the uprightness of my heart. That which my lips know they will speak sincerely.

My words are from an upright heart, and my lips speak sincerely what I know.

4 The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.

The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.

5 If you can, answer me. Set your words in order before me, and stand up.

Refute me if you can; prepare your case and confront me.

6 Behold, I am toward God even as you are. I am also formed out of the clay.

I am just like you before God; I was also formed from clay.

7 Behold, my terror will not make you afraid, neither will my pressure be heavy on you.

Surely no fear of me should terrify you; nor will my hand be heavy upon you.

8 “Surely you have spoken in my hearing, I have heard the voice of your words, saying,

Surely you have spoken in my hearing, and I have heard these very words:

9 ‘I am clean, without disobedience. I am innocent, neither is there iniquity in me.

‘I am pure, without transgression; I am clean, with no iniquity in me.

10 Behold, he finds occasions against me. He counts me for his enemy.

Yet God finds occasions against me; He counts me as His enemy.

11 He puts my feet in the stocks. He marks all my paths.’

He puts my feet in the stocks; He watches over all my paths.’

12 “Behold, I will answer you. In this you are not just, for God is greater than man.

Behold, you are not right in this matter. I will answer you, 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 complain to Him that He answers nothing a man asks?

14 For God speaks once, yes twice, though man pays no attention.

For God speaks in one way and in another, yet no one notices.

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 in the night, when deep sleep falls upon men as they slumber on their beds,

16 then he opens the ears of men, and seals their instruction,

He opens their ears and terrifies them with warnings

17 that he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man.

to turn a man from wrongdoing and keep him from pride,

18 He keeps back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword.

to preserve his soul from the Pit and his life from perishing by the sword.

19 “He is chastened also with pain on his bed, with continual strife in his bones,

A man is also chastened on his bed with pain and constant distress in his bones,

20 so that his life abhors bread, and his soul dainty food.

so that he detests his bread, and his soul loathes his favorite food.

21 His flesh is so consumed away that it can’t be seen. His bones that were not seen stick out.

His flesh wastes away from sight, and his hidden bones protrude.

22 Yes, his soul draws near to the pit, and his life to the destroyers.

He draws near to the Pit, and his life to the messengers 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,

Yet if there is a messenger on his side, one mediator in a thousand, to tell a man what is right for him,

24 then God is gracious to him, and says, ‘Deliver him from going down to the pit, I have found a ransom.’

to be gracious to him and say, ‘Spare him from going down to the Pit; I have found his ransom,’

25 His flesh will be fresher than a child’s. He returns to the days of his youth.

then his flesh is refreshed like 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 prays to God and finds favor; he sees God’s face and shouts for joy, and God restores His righteousness to that man.

27 He sings before men, and says, ‘I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it didn’t profit me.

Then he sings before men with these words: ‘I have sinned and perverted what was right; yet I did not get what I deserved.

28 He has redeemed my soul from going into the pit. My life will see the light.’

He redeemed my soul from going down to the Pit, and I will live to see the light.’

29 “Behold, God does all these things, twice, yes three times, with a man,

Behold, all these things God does to a man, two or even three times,

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, that he may be enlightened with the light of life.

31 Mark well, Job, and listen to me. Hold your peace, and I will speak.

Pay attention, Job, and listen to me; be silent, and I will speak.

32 If you have anything to say, answer me. Speak, for I desire to justify you.

But if you have something to say, answer me; speak up, for I would like to vindicate you.

33 If not, listen to me. Hold your peace, and I will teach you wisdom.”

But if not, then listen to me; be quiet, and I will teach you wisdom.”