Job 33
1 “However, Job, please hear my speech, and listen to all my words.
Hear therefore, O Job, my speeches, and hearken to all my words.
2 See now, I have opened my mouth. My tongue has spoken in my mouth.
Behold now I have opened my mouth, let my tongue speak within my jaws.
3 My words will utter the uprightness of my heart. That which my lips know they will speak sincerely.
My words are from my upright heart, and my lips shall speak a pure sentence.
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 thou canst, answer me, and stand up against my face.
6 Behold, I am toward God even as you are. I am also formed out of the clay.
Behold God hath made me as well as thee, and of the same clay I also was formed.
7 Behold, my terror will not make you afraid, neither will my pressure be heavy on you.
But yet let not my wonder terrify thee, and let not my eloquence be burdensome to thee.
8 “Surely you have spoken in my hearing, I have heard the voice of your words, saying,
Now thou has said in my hearing, and I have heard the voice of thy words:
9 ‘I am clean, without disobedience. I am innocent, neither is there iniquity in me.
I am clean, and without sin: I am unspotted, and there is no iniquity in me.
10 Behold, he finds occasions against me. He counts me for his enemy.
Because he hath found complaints against me, therefore he hath counted me for his enemy.
11 He puts my feet in the stocks. He marks all my paths.’
He hath put my feet in the stocks, he hath observed all my paths.
12 “Behold, I will answer you. In this you are not just, for God is greater than man.
Now this is the thing in which thou art not justified: I will answer thee, that God is greater than man.
13 Why do you strive against him, because he does not give account of any of his matters?
Dost thou strive against him, because he hath not answered thee to all words?
14 For God speaks once, yes twice, though man pays no attention.
God speaketh once, and repeateth not the selfsame thing the second time.
15 In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on men, in slumbering on the bed,
By a dream in a vision by night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, and they are sleeping in their beds:
16 then he opens the ears of men, and seals their instruction,
Then he openeth the ears of men, and teaching instructeth them in what they are to learn.
17 that he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man.
That he may withdraw a man from the things he is doing, and may deliver 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 to the sword.
19 “He is chastened also with pain on his bed, with continual strife in his bones,
He rebuketh also by sorrow in the bed, and he maketh all his bones to wither.
20 so that his life abhors bread, and his soul dainty food.
Bread becometh 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 flesh shall be consumed away, and his bones that were covered shall be made bare.
22 Yes, his soul draws near to the pit, and his life to the destroyers.
His soul hath drawn near to corruption, and his life to the destroyers.
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 shall be an angel speaking for him, one among thousands, to declare man’s uprightness,
24 then God is gracious to him, and says, ‘Deliver him from going down to the pit, I have found a ransom.’
He shall have mercy on him, and shall say: Deliver him, that he may not go down to corruption: I have found wherein I may be merciful to him.
25 His flesh will be fresher than a child’s. He returns to the days of his youth.
His flesh is consumed with punishment, 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 shall pray to God, and he will be gracious to him: and he shall see his face with joy, and he will render to man his justice.
27 He sings before men, and says, ‘I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it did not profit me.
He shall look upon men, and shall say: I have sinned, and indeed I have offended, and I have not received what I have deserved.
28 He has redeemed my soul from going into the pit. My life will see the light.’
He hath delivered his soul from going into destruction, that it may live and see the light.
29 “Behold, God does all these things, twice, yes three times, with a man,
Behold, all these things God worketh three times within every one.
30 to bring back his soul from the pit, that he may be enlightened with the light of the living.
That he may withdraw their souls from corruption, and enlighten them with the light of the living.
31 Mark well, Job, and listen to me. Hold your peace, and I will speak.
Attend, Job, and hearken to me: and hold thy peace, whilst I speak.
32 If you have anything to say, answer me. Speak, for I desire to justify you.
But if thou hast any thing to say, answer me, speak: for I would have thee to appear just.
33 If not, listen to me. Hold your peace, and I will teach you wisdom.”
And if thou have not, hear me: hold thy peace, and I will teach thee wisdom.
