Job 33
1 Howbeit hear, Job, my words, and listen to my speech.
And now, O Job, give ear to my words, and take note of all I say.
2 For behold, I have opened my mouth, and my tongue has spoken.
See, now my mouth is open, my tongue gives out words.
3 My heart [shall be found] pure by [my] words; and the understanding of my lips shall meditate purity.
My heart is overflowing with knowledge, my lips say what is true.
4 The Divine Spirit is that which formed me, and the breath of the Almighty that which teaches me.
The spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Ruler of all gives me life.
5 If you can, give me an answer: wait therefore; stand against me, and I [will stand] against you.
If you are able, give me an answer; put your cause in order, and come forward.
6 You are formed out of the clay as also I: we have been formed out of the same [substance].
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 My fear shall not terrify you, neither shall my hand be heavy upon you.
Fear of me will not overcome you, and my hand will not be hard on you.
8 But you have said in mine ears, (I have heard the voice of your words; ) because you say, I am pure, not having sinned;
But you said in my hearing, and your voice came to my ears:
9 I am blameless, for I have not transgressed.
I am clean, without sin; I am washed, and there is no evil in me:
10 Yet he has discovered a charge against me, and he has reckoned me as an adversary.
See, he is looking for something against me; in his eyes I am as one of his haters;
11 And he has put my foot in the stocks, and has watched all my ways.
He puts chains on my feet; he is watching all my ways.
12 For how say you, I am righteous, yet he has not listened to me? for he that is above mortals is eternal.
Truly, in saying this you are wrong; for God is greater than man.
13 But you say, Why has he not heard every word of my cause?
Why do you put forward your cause against him, saying, He gives no answer to any of my words?
14 For when the Lord speaks once, or a second time,
For God gives his word in one way, even in two, and man is not conscious of it:
15 [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: )
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 opens he the understanding of men: he scares them with such fearful visions:
Then he makes his secrets clear to men, so that they are full of fear at what they see;
17 to turn a man from unrighteousness, and he delivers his body from a fall.
In order that man may be turned from his evil works, and that pride may be taken away from him;
18 He spares also his soul from death, and [suffers] him not to fall in war.
To keep back his soul from the underworld, and his life from destruction.
19 And again, he chastens him with sickness on his bed, and the multitude of his bones is benumbed.
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 And he shall not be able to take any food, though his soul shall desire meat;
He has no desire for food, and his soul is turned away from delicate meat;
21 until his flesh shall be consumed, and he shall show his bones bare.
His flesh is so wasted away, that it may not be seen, and his bones. ...
22 His soul also draws near to death, and his life is in Hades.
And his soul comes near to the underworld, and his life to the angels of death.
23 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;
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 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.
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 And he will make his flesh tender as that of a babe, and he will restore him among men in [his] full strength.
Then his flesh becomes young again, and he comes back to the days of his early strength;
26 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.
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 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.
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 Deliver my soul, that it may not go to destruction, and my life shall see the light.
He kept my soul from the underworld, and my life sees the light in full measure.
29 Behold, all these things, the Mighty One works in a threefold manner with a man.
Truly, God does all these things to man, twice and three times,
30 And he has delivered my soul from death, that my life may praise him in the light.
Keeping back his soul from the underworld, so that he may see the light of life.
31 Listen, Job, and hear me: be silent, and I will speak.
Take note O Job, give ear to me; keep quiet, while I say what is in my mind.
32 If you have words, answer me: speak, for I desire you to be justified.
If you have anything to say, give me an answer; for it is my desire that you may be judged free from sin.
33 If not, do you hear me: be silent, and I will teach you.
If not, give attention to me, and keep quiet, and I will give you wisdom.
