< Job 33 >

1 Wherefore, Iob, I pray thee, heare my talke and hearken vnto all my wordes.
Hear, therefore, my discourse, I pray thee, O Job! And attend unto all my words!
2 Beholde now, I haue opened my mouth: my tongue hath spoken in my mouth.
Behold, I am opening my mouth; My tongue is now speaking in my palate.
3 My words are in the vprightnesse of mine heart, and my lippes shall speake pure knowledge.
My words shall be in the uprightness of my heart; My lips shall utter knowledge purely.
4 The Spirite of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almightie hath giuen me life.
The spirit of God made me, And the breath of the Almighty gave me life.
5 If thou canst giue me answere, prepare thy selfe and stand before me.
If thou art able, answer me; Set thyself in array against me; stand up!
6 Beholde, I am according to thy wish in Gods stead: I am also formed of the clay.
Behold, I, like thee, am a creature of God; I also was formed of clay.
7 Beholde, my terrour shall not feare thee, neither shall mine hand be heauie vpon thee.
Behold, my terror cannot dismay thee, Nor can my greatness be heavy upon thee.
8 Doubtles thou hast spoken in mine eares, and I haue heard the voyce of thy wordes.
Surely thou hast said in my hearing, I have heard the sound of thy words:
9 I am cleane, without sinne: I am innocent, and there is none iniquitie in me.
“I am pure, and without transgression; I am clean, and there is no iniquity in me.
10 Lo, he hath found occasions against me, and counted me for his enemie.
Behold, He seeketh causes of hostility against me; He regardeth me as his enemy.
11 He hath put my feete in the stockes, and looketh narrowly vnto all my paths.
He putteth my feet in the stocks; He watcheth all my paths.”
12 Behold, in this hast thou not done right: I will answere thee, that God is greater then man.
Behold, in this thou art not right; I will answer thee; For God is greater than man.
13 Why doest thou striue against him? for he doeth not giue account of all his matters.
Why dost thou contend with Him? For he giveth no account of any of his doings.
14 For God speaketh once or twise, and one seeth it not.
For God speaketh once, Yea, twice, when man regardeth it not.
15 In dreames and visions of the night, when sleepe falleth vpon men, and they sleepe vpon their beds,
In a dream, in a vision of the night, When deep sleep falleth upon men, In slumber upon the bed;
16 Then he openeth the eares of men, euen by their corrections, which he had sealed,
Then openeth he the ears of men, And sealeth up for them admonition;
17 That he might cause man to turne away from his enterprise, and that he might hide the pride of man,
That he may turn man from his purpose, And hide pride from man.
18 And keepe backe his soule from the pit, and that his life should not passe by the sword.
Thus he saveth him from the pit, Yea, his life from perishing by the sword.
19 He is also striken with sorow vpon his bed, and the griefe of his bones is sore,
He is chastened also with pain upon his bed, And with a continual agitation of his bones,
20 So that his life causeth him to abhorre bread, and his soule daintie meate.
So that his mouth abhorreth bread, And his taste the choicest food;
21 His flesh faileth that it can not be seene, and his bones which were not seene, clatter.
His flesh is consumed, that it cannot be seen, And his bones, that were invisible, are naked;
22 So his soule draweth to the graue, and his life to the buriers.
Yea, his soul draweth near to the pit, And his life to the destroyers.
23 If there be a messenger with him, or an interpreter, one of a thousand to declare vnto man his righteousnesse,
But if there be with him a messenger, An interpreter, one of a thousand, Who may show unto man his duty,
24 Then will he haue mercie vpon him, and will say, Deliuer him, that he go not downe into the pit: for I haue receiued a reconciliation.
Then will God be gracious to him, and say, “Save him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom.”
25 Then shall his flesh be as fresh as a childes, and shall returne as in the dayes of his youth.
His flesh shall became fresher than a child's; He shall return to the days of his youth.
26 He shall pray vnto God, and he will be fauourable vnto him, and he shall see his face with ioy: for he will render vnto man his righteousnes.
He shall pray to God, and he will be favorable to him, And permit him to see his face with joy, And restore unto man his righteousness.
27 He looketh vpon men, and if one say, I haue sinned, and peruerted righteousnesse, and it did not profite me,
He shall sing among men, and say, “I sinned; I acted perversely; Yet hath he not requited me for it:
28 He will deliuer his soule from going into the pit, and his life shall see the light.
He hath delivered me from going down to the pit, And my life beholdeth the light.”
29 Lo, all these things will God worke twise or thrise with a man,
Lo! all these things doeth God Time after time with man,
30 That he may turne backe his soule from the pit, to be illuminate in the light of the liuing.
That he may bring him back from the pit, That he may enjoy the light of the living.
31 Marke well, O Iob, and heare me: keepe silence, and I will speake.
Mark well, O Job! hearken to me! Keep silence, and I will speak.
32 If there be matter, answere me, and speak: for I desire to iustifie thee.
Yet if thou hast any thing to say, answer me! Speak! for I desire to pronounce thee innocent.
33 If thou hast not, heare me: holde thy tongue, and I will teach thee wisedome.
But if not, do thou listen to me! Keep silence, and I will teach thee wisdom!

< Job 33 >