Job 33
1 “However, Job, please hear my speech, and listen to all my words.
Howbeit, Job, I pray thee, hear mine utterances, and hearken to all my words.
2 See now, I have opened my mouth. My tongue has spoken in my mouth.
Behold now, I have opened my mouth, my tongue speaketh in my palate,
3 My words will utter the uprightness of my heart. That which my lips know they will speak sincerely.
My words shall be of the uprightness of my heart, and my lips shall utter knowledge purely.
4 The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.
The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life.
5 If you can, answer me. Set your words in order before me, and stand up.
If thou canst, answer me; array [thy words] before me: take thy stand.
6 Behold, I am towards God even as you are. I am also formed out of the clay.
Behold, before God I am as thou; I also am formed out of the clay.
7 Behold, my terror will not make you afraid, neither will my pressure be heavy on you.
Behold, my terror shall not make thee afraid, nor my burden be heavy upon thee.
8 “Surely you have spoken in my hearing, I have heard the voice of your words, saying,
Surely thou hast spoken in my hearing, and I have heard the voice of [thy] words: —
9 ‘I am clean, without disobedience. I am innocent, neither is there iniquity in me.
I am clean without transgression; I am pure, and there is no iniquity in me;
10 Behold, he finds occasions against me. He counts me for his enemy.
Lo, he findeth occasions of hostility against me, he counteth me for his enemy;
11 He puts my feet in the stocks. He marks all my paths.’
He putteth my feet in the stocks, he marketh all my paths.
12 “Behold, I will answer you. In this you are not just, for God is greater than man.
Behold, I will answer thee in this, thou art not right; for God is greater than man.
13 Why do you strive against him, because he doesn’t give account of any of his matters?
Why dost thou strive against him? for he giveth not account of any of his matters.
14 For God speaks once, yes twice, though man pays no attention.
For God speaketh once, and twice, — [and man] perceiveth it not —
15 In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on men, in slumbering on the bed,
In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed;
16 then he opens the ears of men, and seals their instruction,
Then he openeth men's ears, and sealeth their instruction,
17 that he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man.
That he may withdraw man [from his] work, and hide pride from man.
18 He keeps back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword.
He keepeth back his soul from the pit, and his life from passing away by the sword.
19 “He is chastened also with pain on his bed, with continual strife in his bones,
He is chastened also with pain upon his bed, and with constant strife in his bones;
20 so that his life abhors bread, and his soul dainty food.
And his life abhorreth bread, and his soul dainty food;
21 His flesh is so consumed away that it can’t be seen. His bones that were not seen stick out.
His flesh is consumed away from view, and his bones that were not seen stick out;
22 Yes, his soul draws near to the pit, and his life to the destroyers.
And his soul draweth near to the pit, and his life to the destroyers.
23 “If there is beside him an angel, an interpreter, one amongst a thousand, to show to man what is right for him,
If there be a messenger with him, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to shew unto man his duty;
24 then God is gracious to him, and says, ‘Deliver him from going down to the pit, I have found a ransom.’
Then he will be gracious unto him, and say, Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom.
25 His flesh will be fresher than a child’s. He returns to the days of his youth.
His flesh shall be fresher than in childhood; he shall return to the days of his youth.
26 He prays to God, and he is favourable to him, so that he sees his face with joy. He restores to man his righteousness.
He shall pray unto God, and he will receive him with favour; and he shall see his face with shoutings, and he will render unto man his righteousness.
27 He sings before men, and says, ‘I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it didn’t profit me.
He will sing before men, and say, I have sinned, and perverted what was right, and it hath not been requited to me;
28 He has redeemed my soul from going into the pit. My life will see the light.’
He hath delivered my soul from going into the pit, and my life shall see the light.
29 “Behold, God does all these things, twice, yes three times, with a man,
Lo, all these [things] worketh God twice, thrice, with man,
30 to bring back his soul from the pit, that he may be enlightened with the light of the living.
To bring back his soul from the pit, that he may be enlightened with the light of the living.
31 Mark well, Job, and listen to me. Hold your peace, and I will speak.
Mark well, Job, hearken unto 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 anything to say, answer me; speak, for I desire to justify thee.
33 If not, listen to me. Hold your peace, and I will teach you wisdom.”
If not, hearken thou unto me; be silent, and I will teach thee wisdom.
