< Job 33 >

1 Wherefore, Iob, I pray thee, heare my talke and hearken vnto all my wordes.
But, in very deed, hear, I pray thee, Job, my discourse, and, to all my words, give thou ear.
2 Beholde now, I haue opened my mouth: my tongue hath spoken in my mouth.
Lo! I pray thee, I have opened my mouth, My tongue, with my palate, hath spoken,
3 My words are in the vprightnesse of mine heart, and my lippes shall speake pure knowledge.
Mine utterances come straight from mine own heart, and, what I know, my lips have truly spoken;
4 The Spirite of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almightie hath giuen me life.
The spirit of GOD, hath made me, and, the inspiration of the Almighty, giveth me life.
5 If thou canst giue me answere, prepare thy selfe and stand before me.
If thou art able to answer me, Set in order before me—take thy stand!
6 Beholde, I am according to thy wish in Gods stead: I am also formed of the clay.
Lo! I am like thyself toward GOD, From clay, have I been nipped off, even I!
7 Beholde, my terrour shall not feare thee, neither shall mine hand be heauie vpon thee.
Lo! my terror, will not startle thee, nor, my hand, upon thee, be heavy.
8 Doubtles thou hast spoken in mine eares, and I haue heard the voyce of thy wordes.
But thou hast spoken in mine ears, and, the sound of words, I heard: —
9 I am cleane, without sinne: I am innocent, and there is none iniquitie in me.
Pure am, I, without transgression, —Clean am, I, and have no iniquity;
10 Lo, he hath found occasions against me, and counted me for his enemie.
Lo! occasions of hostility, would he find against me, He counteth me an enemy to him;
11 He hath put my feete in the stockes, and looketh narrowly vnto all my paths.
He putteth—in the stocks—my feet, He watcheth all my paths.
12 Behold, in this hast thou not done right: I will answere thee, that God is greater then man.
Lo! in this, thou hast not been right—let me 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.
Wherefore, against him, hast thou contended? For, with none of his reasons, will he respond.
14 For God speaketh once or twise, and one seeth it not.
For, in one way, GOD may speak, —and, in a second way, one may not heed it: —
15 In dreames and visions of the night, when sleepe falleth vpon men, and they sleepe vpon their beds,
In a dream, a vision of the night, when a deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed,
16 Then he openeth the eares of men, euen by their corrections, which he had sealed,
Then, uncovereth he the ear of men, and, on their correction, affixeth a seal;
17 That he might cause man to turne away from his enterprise, and that he might hide the pride of man,
To turn a son of earth from his deed, while yet, pride, from man he concealeth:
18 And keepe backe his soule from the pit, and that his life should not passe by the sword.
He keepeth back his said from the pit, and his life from passing away by a weapon.
19 He is also striken with sorow vpon his bed, and the griefe of his bones is sore,
Or he is chastised with pain, upon his bed, and, the strife of his bones, is unceasing!
20 So that his life causeth him to abhorre bread, and his soule daintie meate.
So that his life maketh loathsome [his] food, and his soul, dainty meat;
21 His flesh faileth that it can not be seene, and his bones which were not seene, clatter.
His flesh wasteth away out of sight, and bared are the bones once unseen;
22 So his soule draweth to the graue, and his life to the buriers.
So doth his soul draw near to the pit, and his life to the inflicters of death:
23 If there be a messenger with him, or an interpreter, one of a thousand to declare vnto man his righteousnesse,
If there hath been near him a messenger who could interpret—one of a thousand, to declare to the son of earth His uprightness,
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 hath he shewed him favour, and said, Set him free from going down to the pit, I have found a price of redemption!
25 Then shall his flesh be as fresh as a childes, and shall returne as in the dayes of his youth.
His flesh hath been made fresher than a child’s, he hath returned 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 made supplication unto GOD, who hath accepted him, and he hath beheld his face with a shout of triumph, Thus hath he given back to 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 sang before men, and said, I sinned, and, uprightness, I perverted, yet he requited me not;
28 He will deliuer his soule from going into the pit, and his life shall see the light.
He hath ransomed my soul from passing away into the pit, —and, my life, in the light, shall have vision.
29 Lo, all these things will God worke twise or thrise with a man,
Lo! a these things, doth GOD work, two ways, three, with a man;
30 That he may turne backe his soule from the pit, to be illuminate in the light of the liuing.
To bring back his soul from the pit, to enlighten with the light of the living.
31 Marke well, O Iob, and heare me: keepe silence, and I will speake.
Mark well, O Job, and hearken to me, Be silent, and, I, will speak:
32 If there be matter, answere me, and speak: for I desire to iustifie thee.
If there is anything to say, reply to me, Speak, for I desire to justify thee;
33 If thou hast not, heare me: holde thy tongue, and I will teach thee wisedome.
If not, do, thou, hearken unto me, Be silent, that I may teach thee wisdom.

< Job 33 >