Job 33
1 “However, Job, please hear my speech, and listen to all my words.
Howbeit hear, Job, my words, and hearken to my speech.
2 See now, I have opened my mouth. My tongue has spoken in my mouth.
For behold, I have opened my mouth, and my tongue has spoken.
3 My words will utter the uprightness of my heart. That which my lips know they will speak sincerely.
My heart [shall be found] pure by [my] words; and the understanding of my lips shall meditate purity.
4 The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.
The Divine Spirit is that which formed me, and the breath of the Almighty that which teaches me.
5 If you can, answer me. Set your words in order before me, and stand up.
If thou canst, give me an answer: wait therefore; stand against me, and I [will stand] against thee.
6 Behold, I am toward God even as you are. I am also formed out of the clay.
Thou art formed out of the clay as also I: we have been formed out of the same [substance].
7 Behold, my terror will not make you afraid, neither will my pressure be heavy on you.
My fear shall not terrify thee, neither shall my hand be heavy upon thee.
8 “Surely you have spoken in my hearing, I have heard the voice of your words, saying,
But thou hast said in mine ears, (I have heard the voice of thy words; ) because thou sayest, I am pure, not having sinned;
9 ‘I am clean, without disobedience. I am innocent, neither is there iniquity in me.
I am blameless, for I have not transgressed.
10 Behold, he finds occasions against me. He counts me for his enemy.
Yet he has discovered a charge against me, and he has reckoned me as an adversary.
11 He puts my feet in the stocks. He marks all my paths.’
And he has put my foot in the stocks, and has watched all my ways.
12 “Behold, I will answer you. In this you are not just, for God is greater than man.
For how sayest thou, I am righteous, yet he has not hearkened to me? for he that is above mortals is eternal.
13 Why do you strive against him, because he doesn’t give account of any of his matters?
But thou sayest, Why has he not heard every word of my cause?
14 For God speaks once, yes twice, though man pays no attention.
For when the Lord speaks once, or a second time,
15 In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on men, in slumbering on the bed,
[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 opens the ears of men, and seals their instruction,
then opens he the understanding of men: he scares them with such fearful visions:
17 that he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man.
to turn a man from unrighteousness, and he delivers his body from a fall.
18 He keeps back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword.
He spares also his soul from death, and [suffers] him not to fall in war.
19 “He is chastened also with pain on his bed, with continual strife in his bones,
And again, he chastens him with sickness on his bed, and the multitude of his bones is benumbed.
20 so that his life abhors bread, and his soul dainty food.
And he shall not be able to take any food, though his soul shall desire meat;
21 His flesh is so consumed away that it can’t be seen. His bones that were not seen stick out.
until his flesh shall be consumed, and he shall shew his bones bare.
22 Yes, his soul draws near to the pit, and his life to the destroyers.
His soul also draws nigh to death, and his life is in Hades.
23 “If there is beside him an angel, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to show to man what is right for him,
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 shew his folly;
24 then God is gracious to him, and says, ‘Deliver him from going down to the pit, I have found a ransom.’
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 will be fresher than a child’s. He returns to the days of his youth.
And he will make his flesh tender as that of a babe, and he will restore him among men in [his] full strength.
26 He prays to God, and he is favorable to him, so that he sees his face with joy. He restores to man his righteousness.
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 sings before men, and says, ‘I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it didn’t profit me.
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 has redeemed my soul from going into the pit. My life will see the light.’
Deliver my soul, that it may not go to destruction, and my life shall see the light.
29 “Behold, God does all these things, twice, yes three times, with a man,
Behold, all these things, the Mighty One works in a threefold manner with a man.
30 to bring back his soul from the pit, that he may be enlightened with the light of the living.
And he has delivered my soul from death, that my life may praise him in the light.
31 Mark well, Job, and listen to me. Hold your peace, and I will speak.
Hearken, Job, and hear me: be silent, and I will speak.
32 If you have anything to say, answer me. Speak, for I desire to justify you.
If thou hast words, answer me: speak, for I desire thee to be justified.
33 If not, listen to me. Hold your peace, and I will teach you wisdom.”
If not, do thou hear me: be silent, and I will teach thee.
