Job 33

¹ "But now, hear my speech, O Job, and listen to all my words.

² Behold, I open my mouth; the tongue in my mouth speaks.

³ My words declare the uprightness of my heart, and what my lips know they speak sincerely.

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

⁵ Answer me, if you can; set your words in order before me; take your stand.

⁶ Behold, I am toward God as you are; I too was formed from a piece of clay.

⁷ Behold, no fear of me need terrify you; my pressure will not be heavy upon you.

⁸ "Surely, you have spoken in my hearing, and I have heard the sound of your words.

⁹ You say, '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 as his enemy;

¹¹ he puts my feet in the stocks, and watches all my paths.'

¹² "Behold, in this you are not right. I will answer you. God is greater than man.

¹³ Why do you contend against him, saying, 'He will answer none of my words'?

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, while they slumber on their beds,

¹⁶ then he opens the ears of men, and terrifies them with warnings,

¹⁷ that he may turn man aside from his deed, and cut off pride from man;

¹⁸ he keeps back his soul from the Pit, his life from perishing by the sword.

¹⁹ "Man is also chastened with pain upon his bed, and with continual strife in his bones;

²⁰ so that his life loathes bread, and his appetite dainty food.

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 the Pit, and his life to those who bring death.

²³ If there be for him an angel, a mediator, one of the thousand, to declare to man what is right for him;

²⁴ and he is gracious to him, and says, 'Deliver him from going down into the Pit, I have found a ransom;

²⁵ let his flesh become fresh with youth; let him return to the days of his youthful vigor';

²⁶ then man prays to God, and he accepts him, he comes into his presence with joy. He recounts to men his salvation,

²⁷ and he sings before men, and says: 'I sinned, and perverted what was right, and it was not requited to me.

²⁸ He has redeemed my soul from going down into the Pit, and my life shall see the light.'

²⁹ "Behold, God does all these things, twice, three times, with a man,

³⁰ to bring back his soul from the Pit, that he may see the light of life.

³¹ Give heed, O Job, 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.

³³ If not, listen to me; be silent, and I will teach you wisdom."