Job 33
1 “However, Job, please hear my speech, and listen to all my words.
Howbeit, Job, I pray thee, hear my speech, 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, my tongue hath spoken in my mouth.
3 My words will utter the uprightness of my heart. That which my lips know they will speak sincerely.
My words shall utter the uprightness of my heart; and that which my lips know they shall speak sincerely.
4 The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.
The spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty given me life.
5 If you can, answer me. Set your words in order before me, and stand up.
If thou canst, answer thou me, set thy words in order before me, stand forth.
6 Behold, I am toward God even as you are. I am also formed out of the clay.
Behold, I am toward God even as thou art; I also am formed out of the clay.
7 Behold, my terror will not make you afraid, neither will my pressure be heavy on you.
Behold, my terror shall not make thee afraid, neither shall my pressure be heavy upon thee.
8 “Surely you have spoken in my hearing, I have heard the voice of your words, saying,
Surely thou hast spoken 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, without transgression, I am innocent, neither is there iniquity in me;
10 Behold, he finds occasions against me. He counts me for his enemy.
Behold, He findeth occasions against me, He counteth me for His enemy;
11 He puts my feet in the stocks. He marks all my paths.’
He putteth my feet in the stocks, He marketh all my paths.'
12 “Behold, I will answer you. In this you are not just, for God is greater than man.
Behold, I answer thee: In this thou art not right, that God is too great for man;
13 Why do you strive against him, because he does not give account of any of his matters?
Why hast thou striven against Him? seeing that He will not answer any of his words.
14 For God speaks once, yes twice, though man pays no attention.
For God speaketh in one way, yea in two, though man perceiveth it not.
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 of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed;
16 then he opens the ears of men, and seals their instruction,
Then He openeth the ears of men, and by their chastisement sealeth the decree,
17 that he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man.
That men may put away their purpose, and that He may hide pride from man;
18 He keeps back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword.
That He may keep back 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,
He is chastened also with pain upon his bed, and all his bones grow stiff;
20 so that his life abhors bread, and his soul dainty food.
So that his life maketh him to abhor bread, and his soul dainty food.
21 His flesh is so consumed away that it cannot be seen. His bones that were not seen stick out.
His flesh is consumed away, that it cannot be seen; and his bones corrode to unsightliness.
22 Yes, his soul draws 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 “If there is beside him an angel, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to show to man what is right for him,
If there be for him an angel, an intercessor, one among a thousand, to vouch for a 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.’
Then He is gracious unto him, and saith: 'Deliver him from going down to the pit, I have found a ransom.'
25 His flesh will be fresher than a child’s. He returns to the days of his youth.
His flesh is tenderer than a child's; he returneth 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 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 sings before men, and says, ‘I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it did not profit me.
He cometh before men, and saith: 'I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it profited me not.'
28 He has redeemed my soul from going into the pit. My life will see the light.’
So He redeemeth his soul from going into the pit, and his life beholdeth the light.
29 “Behold, God does all these things, twice, yes three times, with a man,
Lo, all these things doth God work, twice, yea thrice, with a man,
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 the living.
31 Mark well, Job, and listen to me. Hold your peace, and I will speak.
Mark well, O Job, hearken unto me; hold thy peace, and I will speak.
32 If you have anything to say, answer me. Speak, for I desire to justify you.
If thou hast any thing to say, answer me; speak, for I desire to justify thee.
33 If not, listen to me. Hold your peace, and I will teach you wisdom.”
If not, hearken thou unto me; hold thy peace, and I will teach thee wisdom.
