Job 33

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

Therefore, hear my speeches, Job, and listen to all my words.

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

Behold, I have opened my mouth; let my tongue speak along with my throat.

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

My words are from my simple heart, and my lips will speak a pure judgment.

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

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

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

If you can, answer me, and oppose me to my face.

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

Behold, God has made me, just as he also has made you, and I, likewise, have been formed of the same clay.

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

So, truly, do not let my wonders terrify you, and do not let my eloquence be burdensome to you.

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

For you have spoken in my hearing, and I have heard the voice of your words, saying:

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

“I am clean and without sin; I am immaculate, and there is no iniquity in me.

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

Yet he has discovered blame in me, and so he has treated me like his enemy.

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

He has put my feet in fetters; he has kept watch over all my ways.”

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

Therefore, it is for this reason that you have not been justified. For I tell you that God is greater than man.

13 Why do you strive against him, because he does not give account of any of his matters?

Do you contend against him because he has not responded to all of your words?

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

God speaks once, and he does not repeat the same thing a second time.

15 In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on men, in slumbering on the bed,

Through a dream in a vision of the night, when a deep sleep falls over men, and they are sleeping in their beds,

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

then, he opens the ears of men, and, educating them, he teaches discipline,

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

so that he may divert a man from the things that he is doing, and may free him from pride,

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

rescuing his soul from corruption and his life from passing away by the sword.

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

Likewise, he rebukes by sorrow in bed, and he causes all of his bones to become weak.

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

Bread becomes abominable to him in his life, and, to his soul, the meat which before he desired.

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

His body will waste away, and his bones, which had been covered, will be revealed.

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

His soul has approached corruption, and his life has drawn near to what is deadly.

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 were an angel speaking for him, one among thousands, to declare the fairness of the man,

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

he will have mercy on him, and he will say, “Free him, so that he will not descend to destruction. I have found a reason to be favorable to him.

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

His body is consumed by suffering. Let him return 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 will beg pardon from God, and he will be soothing to him; and he will look upon his face in jubilation, and he will restore his justice to man.

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

He will consider mankind, and he will say: “I have sinned and truly I have offended, yet I was not treated as I deserved.”

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

He has freed his soul from continuing into destruction, so that, in living, it may see the light.

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

Behold, all these things God works three times within each one,

30 to bring back his soul from the pit, that he may be enlightened with the light of the living.

so that he may revive their souls from corruption and enlighten them 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; and remain silent, while I speak.

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

Yet, if you have anything to say, answer me and speak, for I want you to be treated justly.

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

But if you do not have anything to say, then listen to me. Be quiet and I will teach you wisdom.