Job 33

1 Why, Job, I pray you, hear my speeches, and listen to all my words.

So now, Job, I beg you, hear my speech; listen to all my words.

2 Behold, now I have opened my mouth, my tongue has spoken in my mouth.

See now, I have opened my mouth; my tongue has spoken in my mouth.

3 My words shall be of the uprightness of my heart: and my lips shall utter knowledge clearly.

My words come from the uprightness of my heart; my lips speak pure knowledge.

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

The Spirit of God has made me; the breath of the Almighty has given me life.

5 If you can answer me, set your words in order before me, stand up.

If you can, answer me; set your words in order before me and stand up.

6 Behold, I am according to your wish in God’s stead: I also am formed out of the clay.

See, I am just as you are in God's sight; I also have been formed out of the clay.

7 Behold, my terror shall not make you afraid, neither shall my hand be heavy on you.

See, terror of me will not make you afraid; neither will my pressure be heavy upon you.

8 Surely you have spoken in my hearing, and I have heard the voice of your words, saying,

You have certainly spoken in my hearing; I have heard the sound of your words saying,

9 I am clean without transgression, I am innocent; neither is there iniquity in me.

'I am clean and without transgression; I am innocent, and there is no sin in me.

10 Behold, he finds occasions against me, he counts me for his enemy,

See, God finds opportunities to attack me; he regards me as his enemy.

11 He puts my feet in the stocks, he marks all my paths.

He puts my feet in stocks; he watches all my paths.'

12 Behold, in this you are not just: I will answer you, that God is greater than man.

See, in this you are not right—I will answer you, for God is greater than man.

13 Why do you strive against him? for he gives not account of any of his matters.

Why do you struggle against him? He does not account for any of his doings.

14 For God speaks once, yes twice, yet man perceives it not.

For God speaks once— yes, twice, though man does not notice it.

15 In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on men, in slumberings on the bed;

In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls upon men, in slumber on the bed—

16 Then he opens the ears of men, and seals their instruction,

then God opens the ears of men, and frightens them with threats,

17 That he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man.

in order to pull man back from his sinful purposes, and keep pride from him.

18 He keeps back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword.

God keeps man's life back from the pit, his life from crossing over to death.

19 He is chastened also with pain on his bed, and the multitude of his bones with strong pain:

Man is punished also with pain on his bed, with constant agony in his bones,

20 So that his life abhors bread, and his soul dainty meat.

so that his life abhors food, and his soul abhors delicacies.

21 His flesh is consumed away, that it cannot be seen; and his bones that were not seen stick out.

His flesh is consumed away so that it cannot be seen; his bones, once not seen, now stick out.

22 Yes, his soul draws near to the grave, and his life to the destroyers.

Indeed, his soul draws close to the pit, his life to those who wish to destroy it.

23 If there be a messenger with him, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to show to man his uprightness:

But if there is an angel who can be a mediator for him, a mediator, one from among the thousands of angels, to show him what is right to do,

24 Then he is gracious to him, and says, Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom.

and if the angel is kind to him and says to God, 'Save this person from going down to the pit; I have found a ransom for him,'

25 His flesh shall be fresher than a child’s: he shall return to the days of his youth:

then his flesh will become fresher than a child's; he will return to the days of his youthful strength.

26 He shall pray to God, and he will be favorable to him: and he shall see his face with joy: for he will render to man his righteousness.

He will pray to God, and God will be kind to him, so that he sees God's face with joy. God will give the person his triumph.

27 He looks on men, and if any say, I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it profited me not;

Then that person will sing in front of other people and say, 'I sinned and perverted that which was right, but my sin was not punished.

28 He will deliver his soul from going into the pit, and his life shall see the light.

God has rescued my soul from going down into the pit; my life will continue to see light.'

29 See, all these things works God oftentimes with man,

See, God does all these things with a person, twice, yes, even three times,

30 To bring back his soul from the pit, to be enlightened with the light of the living.

to bring his soul back from the pit, so that he may be enlightened with the light of life.

31 Mark well, O Job, listen to me: hold your peace, and I will speak.

Pay attention, Job, and listen to me; be silent and I will speak.

32 If you have anything to say, answer me: speak, for I desire to justify you.

If you have anything to say, answer me; speak, for I wish to prove that you are in the right.

33 If not, listen to me: hold your peace, and I shall teach you wisdom.

If not, then listen to me; remain silent, and I will teach you wisdom.”