Job 33

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
1 Therefore, O Job, hear my discourse, and hearken to all my words.	1 "But now, hear my speech, O Job, and listen to all my words.
2 Behold, now I open my mouth; my tongue and my voice form words.	2 Behold, I open my mouth; the tongue in my mouth speaks.
3 I will state directly what is in my mind, my lips shall utter knowledge sincerely;	3 My words declare the uprightness of my heart, and what my lips know they speak sincerely.
4 For the spirit of God has made me, the breath of the Almighty keeps me alive.	4 The spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.
5 If you are able, refute me; draw up your arguments and stand forth.	5 Answer me, if you can; set your words in order before me; take your stand.
6 Behold I, like yourself, have been taken from the same clay by God.	6 Behold, I am toward God as you are; I too was formed from a piece of clay.
7 Therefore no fear of me should dismay you, nor should my presence weigh heavily upon you.	7 Behold, no fear of me need terrify you; my pressure will not be heavy upon you.
8 But you have said in my hearing, as I listened to the sound of your words:	8 "Surely, you have spoken in my hearing, and I have heard the sound of your words.
9 "I am clean and without transgression; I am innocent; there is no guilt in me.	9 You say, 'I am clean, without transgression; I am pure, and there is no iniquity in me.
10 Yet he invents pretexts against me and reckons me as his enemy.	10 Behold, he finds occasions against me, he counts me as his enemy;
11 He puts my feet in the stocks; he watches all my ways!"	11 he puts my feet in the stocks, and watches all my paths.'
12 In this you are not just, let me tell you; for God is greater than man.	12 "Behold, in this you are not right. I will answer you. God is greater than man.
13 Why, then, do you make complaint against him that he gives no account of his doings?	13 Why do you contend against him, saying, 'He will answer none of my words'?
14 For God does speak, perhaps once, or even twice, though one perceive it not.	14 For God speaks in one way, and in two, though man does not perceive it.
15 In a dream, in a vision of the night, (when deep sleep falls upon men) as they slumber in their beds,	15 In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls upon men, while they slumber on their beds,
16 It is then he opens the ears of men and as a warning to them, terrifies them;	16 then he opens the ears of men, and terrifies them with warnings,
17 By turning man from evil and keeping pride away from him,	17 that he may turn man aside from his deed, and cut off pride from man;
18 He withholds his soul from the pit and his life from passing to the grave.	18 he keeps back his soul from the Pit, his life from perishing by the sword.
19 Or a man is chastened on his bed by pain and unceasing suffering within his frame,	19 "Man is also chastened with pain upon his bed, and with continual strife in his bones;
20 So that to his appetite food becomes repulsive, and his senses reject the choicest nourishment.	20 so that his life loathes bread, and his appetite dainty food.
21 His flesh is wasted so that it cannot be seen, and his bones, once invisible, appear;	21 His flesh is so wasted away that it cannot be seen; and his bones which were not seen stick out.
22 His soul draws near to the pit, his life to the place of the dead.	22 His soul draws near the Pit, and his life to those who bring death.
23 If then there be for him an angel, one out of a thousand, a mediator, To show him what is right for him and bring the man back to justice,	23 If there be for him an angel, a mediator, one of the thousand, to declare to man what is right for him;
24 He will take pity on him and say, "Deliver him from going down to the pit; I have found him a ransom."	24 and he is gracious to him, and says, 'Deliver him from going down into the Pit, I have found a ransom;
25 Then his flesh shall become soft as a boy's; he shall be again as in the days of his youth.	25 let his flesh become fresh with youth; let him return to the days of his youthful vigor';
26 He shall pray and God will favor him; he shall see God's face with rejoicing.	26 then man prays to God, and he accepts him, he comes into his presence with joy. He recounts to men his salvation,
27 He shall sing before men and say, "I sinned and did wrong, yet he has not punished me accordingly.	27 and he sings before men, and says: 'I sinned, and perverted what was right, and it was not requited to me.
28 He delivered my soul from passing to the pit, and I behold the light of life."	28 He has redeemed my soul from going down into the Pit, and my life shall see the light.'
29 Lo, all these things God does, twice, or thrice, for a man,	29 "Behold, God does all these things, twice, three times, with a man,
30 Bringing back his soul from the pit to the light, in the land of the living.	30 to bring back his soul from the Pit, that he may see the light of life.
31 Be attentive, O Job; listen to me! Be silent and I will speak.	31 Give heed, O Job, listen to me; be silent, and I will speak.
32 If you have aught to say, then answer me. Speak out! I should like to see you justified.	32 If you have anything to say, answer me; speak, for I desire to justify you.
33 If not, then do you listen to me; be silent while I teach you wisdom.	33 If not, listen to me; be silent, and I will teach you wisdom."