Job 33

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

2 Behold, I will open my mouth; my address is on the tip of my tongue.

3 My words are from an upright heart, and my lips speak sincerely what I know.

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

5 Refute me if you can; prepare your case and confront me.

6 I am just like you before God; I was also formed from clay.

7 Surely no fear of me should terrify you; nor will my hand be heavy upon you.

8 Surely you have spoken in my hearing, and I have heard these very words:

9 ‘I am pure, without transgression; I am clean, with no iniquity in me.

10 Yet God finds occasions against me; He counts me as His enemy.

11 He puts my feet in the stocks; He watches over all my paths.’

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

13 Why do you complain to Him that He answers nothing a man asks?

14 For God speaks in one way and in another, yet no one notices.

15 In a dream, in a vision in the night, when deep sleep falls upon men as they slumber on their beds,

16 He opens their ears and terrifies them with warnings

17 to turn a man from wrongdoing and keep him from pride,

18 to preserve his soul from the Pit and his life from perishing by the sword.

19 A man is also chastened on his bed with pain and constant distress in his bones,

20 so that he detests his bread, and his soul loathes his favorite food.

21 His flesh wastes away from sight, and his hidden bones protrude.

22 He draws near to the Pit, and his life to the messengers of death.

23 Yet if there is a messenger on his side, one mediator in a thousand, to tell a man what is right for him,

24 to be gracious to him and say, ‘Spare him from going down to the Pit; I have found his ransom,’

25 then his flesh is refreshed like a child’s; he returns to the days of his youth.

26 He prays to God and finds favor; he sees God’s face and shouts for joy, and God restores His righteousness to that man.

27 Then he sings before men with these words: ‘I have sinned and perverted what was right; yet I did not get what I deserved.

28 He redeemed my soul from going down to the Pit, and I will live to see the light.’

29 Behold, all these things God does to a man, two or even three times,

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

31 Pay attention, Job, and listen to me; be silent, and I will speak.

32 But if you have something to say, answer me; speak up, for I would like to vindicate you.

33 But if not, then listen to me; be quiet, and I will teach you wisdom.”

1 ¶ Wherefore, Job, I pray thee, hear my speeches, and hearken to all my words.

2 Behold, now I have opened my mouth, my tongue hath spoken in my mouth.

3 My words [shall be of] the uprightness of my heart: and my lips shall utter knowledge clearly.

4 The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life.

5 If thou canst answer me, set [thy words] in order before me, stand up.

6 Behold, I [am] according to thy wish in God's stead: I also am formed out of the clay.

7 Behold, my terror shall not make thee afraid, neither shall my hand be heavy upon thee.

8 ¶ Surely thou hast spoken in mine hearing, and I have heard the voice of [thy] words, [saying],

9 I am clean without transgression, I [am] innocent; neither [is there] iniquity in me.

10 Behold, he findeth occasions against me, he counteth me for his enemy,

11 He putteth my feet in the stocks, he marketh all my paths.

12 Behold, [in] this thou art not just: I will answer thee, that God is greater than man.

13 Why dost thou strive against him? for he giveth not account of any of his matters.

14 ¶ For God speaketh once, yea twice, [yet man] perceiveth it not.

15 In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed;

16 Then he openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction,

17 That he may withdraw man [from his] purpose, and hide pride from man.

18 He keepeth back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword.

19 ¶ He is chastened also with pain upon his bed, and the multitude of his bones with strong [pain]:

20 So that his life abhorreth bread, and his soul dainty meat.

21 His flesh is consumed away, that it cannot be seen; and his bones [that] were not seen stick out.

22 Yea, his soul draweth near unto the grave, and his life to the destroyers.

23 If there be a messenger with him, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to shew unto man his uprightness:

24 Then he is gracious unto him, and saith, Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom.

25 His flesh shall be fresher than a child's: he shall return to the days of his youth:

26 He shall pray unto God, and he will be favourable unto him: and he shall see his face with joy: for he will render unto man his righteousness.

27 He looketh upon men, and [if any] say, I have sinned, and perverted [that which was] right, and it profited me not;

28 He will deliver his soul from going into the pit, and his life shall see the light.

29 ¶ Lo, all these [things] worketh God oftentimes with man,

30 To bring back his soul from the pit, to be enlightened with the light of the living.

31 Mark well, O Job, hearken unto me: hold thy peace, and I will speak.

32 If thou hast any thing to say, answer me: speak, for I desire to justify thee.

33 If not, hearken unto me: hold thy peace, and I shall teach thee wisdom.

2 Behold, I open my mouth, and my tongue speaketh in my mouth.

3 My heart shall speak right, and my lips shall speak the pure mind.

4 the Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty has given me life.

5 If thou canst, answer me: send thee against me, and stand!

6 Behold, I am God's as well as thine, and of glue also am I made.

7 But thou shalt not be afraid of me, neither shall my hand be heavy unto thee.

8 Thou hast spoken in mine ears; I have heard the voice of thy speech:

9 I am pure, without iniquity, innocent, having no sin.

10 Behold, he hath found a thing against me; therefore he reckoneth me to be his enemy.

11 Hear now, O Job, my speech, and mark all my words.

11 He hath put my foot in a stick, and hath kept all my ways.

12 Behold, from this very thing I conclude against thee, that thou art not right: for God is more than man.

13 Why wilt thou quarrel with him, that he will not give thee an account of all his doings?

14 For when God decideth a thing, he considereth it not afterward.

15 in the dream of the face at night, when sleep falls upon the people, when they sleep upon the bed,

16 Then he openeth the ear of the people, and startleth them, and chasteneth them,

17 That he may turn a man from his purpose, and guard him from pride.

18 And spare his soul from destruction, and his life from falling by the sword.

19 He punisheth him with pains upon his bed, and all his bones severely;

20 And he hath made his life to be disgusted with food, and his soul to have no desire to eat.

21 His flesh is wasted, that he may not see; and his legs are bruised, that they may not be looked upon with pleasure,

22 That his soul should come near to destruction, and his life to the dead.

23 And if an angel speak unto him, one of a thousand, to shew unto a man what he ought to do,

24 Then shall he have mercy upon him, saying, He shall be delivered, that he go not down to destruction: for I have found a propitiation.

25 His flesh green again as in youth, and let him be young again.

26 He shall beseech God, and He shall show him mercy, and shall make his face to be seen with joy, and shall recompense man according to his righteousness.

27 He shall confess before men, saying, I would have sinned, and perverted the law, but it availeth me nothing.

28 He hath redeemed my soul, that it should not go to destruction, but that my life should see the light.

29 Behold, God does all these things two or three times to each one,

30 That he may bring his soul round from destruction, and enlighten him with the light of the living.

31 Take heed, O Job, and hearken unto me, and be silent that I speak.

32 But if thou hast any thing to say, answer me; tell me if thou be right, and I will hear it gladly.

33 But if thou hast nothing, hear me, and hold thy peace, and I will teach thee wisdom.