Job 33

1 Hear therefore, O Job, my speeches, and hearken to all my words.

And now, O Job, give ear to my words, and take note of all I say.

2 Behold now I have opened my mouth, let my tongue speak within my jaws.

See, now my mouth is open, my tongue gives out words.

3 My words are from my upright heart, and my lips shall speak a pure sentence.

My heart is overflowing with knowledge, my lips say what is true.

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

The spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Ruler of all gives me life.

5 If thou canst, answer me, and stand up against my face.

If you are able, give me an answer; put your cause in order, and come forward.

6 Behold God hath made me as well as thee, and of the same clay I also was formed.

See, I am the same as you are in the eyes of God; I was cut off from the same bit of wet earth.

7 But yet let not my wonder terrify thee, and let not my eloquence be burdensome to thee.

Fear of me will not overcome you, and my hand will not be hard on you.

8 Now thou has said in my hearing, and I have heard the voice of thy words:

But you said in my hearing, and your voice came to my ears:

9 I am clean, and without sin: I am unspotted, and there is no iniquity in me.

I am clean, without sin; I am washed, and there is no evil in me:

10 Because he hath found complaints against me, therefore he hath counted me for his enemy.

See, he is looking for something against me; in his eyes I am as one of his haters;

11 He hath put my feet in the stocks, he hath observed all my paths.

He puts chains on my feet; he is watching all my ways.

12 Now this is the thing in which thou art not justified: I will answer thee, that God is greater than man.

Truly, in saying this you are wrong; for God is greater than man.

13 Dost thou strive against him, because he hath not answered thee to all words?

Why do you put forward your cause against him, saying, He gives no answer to any of my words?

14 God speaketh once, and repeateth not the selfsame thing the second time.

For God gives his word in one way, even in two, and man is not conscious of it:

15 By a dream in a vision by night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, and they are sleeping in their beds:

In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep comes on men, while they take their rest on their beds;

16 Then he openeth the ears of men, and teaching instructeth them in what they are to learn.

Then he makes his secrets clear to men, so that they are full of fear at what they see;

17 That he may withdraw a man from the things he is doing, and may deliver him from pride.

In order that man may be turned from his evil works, and that pride may be taken away from him;

18 Rescuing his soul from corruption: and his life from passing to the sword.

To keep back his soul from the underworld, and his life from destruction.

19 He rebuketh also by sorrow in the bed, and he maketh all his bones to wither.

Pain is sent on him as a punishment, while he is on his bed; there is no end to the trouble in his bones;

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

He has no desire for food, and his soul is turned away from delicate meat;

21 His flesh shall be consumed away, and his bones that were covered shall be made bare.

His flesh is so wasted away, that it may not be seen, and his bones. ...

22 His soul hath drawn near to corruption, and his life to the destroyers.

And his soul comes near to the underworld, and his life to the angels of death.

23 If there shall be an angel speaking for him, one among thousands, to declare man’s uprightness,

If now there may be an angel sent to him, one of the thousands which there are to be between him and God, and to make clear to man what is right for him;

24 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.

And if he has mercy on him, and says, Let him not go down to the underworld, I have given the price for his life:

25 His flesh is consumed with punishment, let him return to the days of his youth.

Then his flesh becomes young again, and he comes back to the days of his early strength;

26 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.

He makes his prayer to God, and he has mercy on him; he sees God's face with cries of joy; he gives news of his righteousness to men;

27 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.

He makes a song, saying, I did wrong, turning from the straight way, but he did not give me the reward of my sin.

28 He hath delivered his soul from going into destruction, that it may live and see the light.

He kept my soul from the underworld, and my life sees the light in full measure.

29 Behold, all these things God worketh three times within every one.

Truly, God does all these things to man, twice and three times,

30 That he may withdraw their souls from corruption, and enlighten them with the light of the living.

Keeping back his soul from the underworld, so that he may see the light of life.

31 Attend, Job, and hearken to me: and hold thy peace, whilst I speak.

Take note O Job, give ear to me; keep quiet, while I say what is in my mind.

32 But if thou hast any thing to say, answer me, speak: for I would have thee to appear just.

If you have anything to say, give me an answer; for it is my desire that you may be judged free from sin.

33 And if thou have not, hear me: hold thy peace, and I will teach thee wisdom.

If not, give attention to me, and keep quiet, and I will give you wisdom.