Job 33
1 Hear therefore, O Job, my speeches, and hearken to all my words.
Howbeit hear, Job, my words, and listen to my speech.
2 Behold now I have opened my mouth, let my tongue speak within my jaws.
For behold, I have opened my mouth, and my tongue has spoken.
3 My words are from my upright heart, and my lips shall speak a pure sentence.
My heart [shall be found] pure by [my] words; and the understanding of my lips shall meditate purity.
4 The spirit of God made me, and the breath of the Almighty gave me life.
The Divine Spirit is that which formed me, and the breath of the Almighty that which teaches me.
5 If thou canst, answer me, and stand up against my face.
If you can, give me an answer: wait therefore; stand against me, and I [will stand] against you.
6 Behold God hath made me as well as thee, and of the same clay I also was formed.
You are formed out of the clay as also I: we have been formed out of the same [substance].
7 But yet let not my wonder terrify thee, and let not my eloquence be burdensome to thee.
My fear shall not terrify you, neither shall my hand be heavy upon you.
8 Now thou has said in my hearing, and I have heard the voice of thy words:
But you have said in mine ears, (I have heard the voice of your words; ) because you say, I am pure, not having sinned;
9 I am clean, and without sin: I am unspotted, and there is no iniquity in me.
I am blameless, for I have not transgressed.
10 Because he hath found complaints against me, therefore he hath counted me for his enemy.
Yet he has discovered a charge against me, and he has reckoned me as an adversary.
11 He hath put my feet in the stocks, he hath observed all my paths.
And he has put my foot in the stocks, and has watched 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.
For how say you, I am righteous, yet he has not listened to me? for he that is above mortals is eternal.
13 Dost thou strive against him, because he hath not answered thee to all words?
But you say, Why has he not heard every word of my cause?
14 God speaketh once, and repeateth not the selfsame thing the second time.
For when the Lord speaks once, or a second time,
15 By a dream in a vision by night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, and they are sleeping in their beds:
[sending] a dream, or in the meditation of the night; (as when a dreadful alarm happens to fall upon men, in slumberings on the bed: )
16 Then he openeth the ears of men, and teaching instructeth them in what they are to learn.
then opens he the understanding of men: he scares them with such fearful visions:
17 That he may withdraw a man from the things he is doing, and may deliver him from pride.
to turn a man from unrighteousness, and he delivers his body from a fall.
18 Rescuing his soul from corruption: and his life from passing to the sword.
He spares also his soul from death, and [suffers] him not to fall in war.
19 He rebuketh also by sorrow in the bed, and he maketh all his bones to wither.
And again, he chastens him with sickness on his bed, and the multitude of his bones is benumbed.
20 Bread becometh abominable to him in his life, and to his soul the meat which before he desired.
And he shall not be able to take any food, though his soul shall desire meat;
21 His flesh shall be consumed away, and his bones that were covered shall be made bare.
until his flesh shall be consumed, and he shall show his bones bare.
22 His soul hath drawn near to corruption, and his life to the destroyers.
His soul also draws near to death, and his life is in Hades.
23 If there shall be an angel speaking for him, one among thousands, to declare man’s uprightness,
Though there should be a thousand messengers of death, not one of them shall wound him: if he should purpose in his heart to turn to the Lord, and declare to man his fault, and show his folly;
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.
he will support him, that he should not perish, and will restore his body as [fresh] plaster upon a wall; and he will fill his bones with morrow.
25 His flesh is consumed with punishment, let him return to the days of his youth.
And he will make his flesh tender as that of a babe, and he will restore him amongst men in [his] full 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.
And he shall pray to the Lord, and his prayer shall be accepted of him; he shall enter with a cheerful countenance, with a full expression [of praise]: for he will render to men [their] due.
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.
Even then a man shall blame himself, saying, What kind of things have I done? and he has not punished me according to the full amount of my sins.
28 He hath delivered his soul from going into destruction, that it may live and see the light.
Deliver my soul, that it may not go to destruction, and my life shall see the light.
29 Behold, all these things God worketh three times within every one.
Behold, all these things, the Mighty One works in a threefold manner with a man.
30 That he may withdraw their souls from corruption, and enlighten them with the light of the living.
And he has delivered my soul from death, that my life may praise him in the light.
31 Attend, Job, and hearken to me: and hold thy peace, whilst I speak.
Listen, Job, and hear me: be silent, and I will speak.
32 But if thou hast any thing to say, answer me, speak: for I would have thee to appear just.
If you have words, answer me: speak, for I desire you to be justified.
33 And if thou have not, hear me: hold thy peace, and I will teach thee wisdom.
If not, do you hear me: be silent, and I will teach you.
