Job 33

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

1 “However, Job, please 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.

2 See now, I have opened my mouth. My tongue has spoken in my mouth.

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

3 My words will utter the uprightness of my heart. That which my lips know they will speak sincerely.

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

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.

5 If you can, answer me. Set your words in order before me, and stand up.

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

6 Behold, I am toward God even as you are. I am also formed out of the clay.

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

7 Behold, my terror will not make you afraid, neither will my pressure be heavy on you.

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

8 “Surely you have spoken in my hearing, I have heard the voice of your words, saying,

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

9 ‘I am clean, without disobedience. I am innocent, neither is there iniquity in me.

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

10 Behold, he finds occasions against me. He counts me for his enemy.

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

11 He puts my feet in the stocks. He marks all my paths.’

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

12 “Behold, I will answer you. In this you are not just, for God is greater than man.

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

13 Why do you strive against him, because he doesn’t give account of any of his matters?

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

14 For God speaks once, yes twice, though man pays no attention.

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

15 In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on men, in slumbering on the bed,

16 He opens their ears and terrifies them with warnings

16 then he opens the ears of men, and seals their instruction,

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

17 that he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man.

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

18 He keeps back 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,

19 “He is chastened also with pain on his bed, with continual strife in his bones,

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

20 so that his life abhors bread, and his soul dainty food.

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

21 His flesh is so consumed away that it can’t be seen. His bones that were not seen stick out.

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

22 Yes, his soul draws near to the pit, and his life to the destroyers.

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

23 “If there is beside him an angel, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to show to 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,’

24 then God is gracious to him, and says, ‘Deliver him from going down to the pit, I have found a ransom.’

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

25 His flesh will be fresher than 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.

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.

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.

27 He sings before men, and says, ‘I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it didn’t profit me.

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

28 He has redeemed my soul from going into the pit. My life will see the light.’

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

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

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

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

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

31 Mark well, Job, and listen to me. Hold your peace, and I will speak.

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

32 If you have anything to say, answer me. Speak, for I desire to justify you.

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

33 If not, listen to me. Hold your peace, and I will teach you wisdom.”