33:1 “But now, Job, listen to my words; pay attention to everything I say.
33:2 I am about to open my mouth; my words are on the tip of my tongue.
33:3 My words come from an upright heart; my lips sincerely speak what I know.
33:4 The Spirit of God has made me; the breath of the Almighty gives me life.
33:5 Answer me then, if you can; prepare yourself and confront me.
33:6 I am just like you before God; I too have been taken from clay.
33:7 No fear of me should alarm you, nor should my hand be heavy upon you.
33:8 “But you have said in my hearing–I heard the very words–
33:9 ‘I am pure and without sin; I am clean and free from guilt.
33:10 Yet God has found fault with me; he considers me his enemy.
33:11 He fastens my feet in shackles; he keeps close watch on all my paths.’
33:12 “But I tell you, in this you are not right, for God is greater than man.
33:13 Why do you complain to him that he answers none of man’s words?
33:14 For God does speak–now one way, now another–though man may not perceive it.
33:15 In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on men as they slumber in their beds,
33:16 he may speak in their ears and terrify them with warnings,
33:17 to turn man from wrongdoing and keep him from pride,
33:18 to preserve his soul from the pit, his life from perishing by the sword.
33:19 Or a man may be chastened on a bed of pain with constant distress in his bones,
33:20 so that his very being finds food repulsive and his soul loathes the choicest meal.
33:21 His flesh wastes away to nothing, and his bones, once hidden, now stick out.
33:22 His soul draws near to the pit, and his life to the messengers of death.
33:23 “Yet if there is an angel on his side as a mediator, one out of a thousand, to tell a man what is right for him,
33:24 to be gracious to him and say, ‘Spare him from going down to the pit; I have found a ransom for him’–
33:25 then his flesh is renewed like a child’s; it is restored as in the days of his youth.
33:26 He prays to God and finds favor with him, he sees God’s face and shouts for joy; he is restored by God to his righteous state.
33:27 Then he comes to men and says, ‘I sinned, and perverted what was right, but I did not get what I deserved.
33:28 He redeemed my soul from going down to the pit, and I will live to enjoy the light.’
33:29 “God does all these things to a man–twice, even three times–
33:30 to turn back his soul from the pit, that the light of life may shine on him.
33:31 “Pay attention, Job, and listen to me; be silent, and I will speak.
33:32 If you have anything to say, answer me; speak up, for I want you to be cleared.
33:33 But if not, then listen to me; be silent, and I will teach you wisdom.”
33:1 But now, Job, hear my speaking, / And give ear to all my words.
33:2 Indeed now, I have opened my mouth; / My tongue has spoken in my mouth.
33:3 My words manifest the uprightness of my heart, / And what my lips know they speak sincerely.
33:4 The Spirit of God has made me, / And the breath of the Almighty has enlivened me.
33:5 If you can, respond to me; / Arrange your words before me; take your stand.
33:6 Indeed, I am before God as you are; / I too was cut out of clay.
33:7 So no fear of me can terrify you, / Nor can my pressure be heavy upon you.
33:8 You have surely spoken in my hearing, / And I have heard the voice of your words, saying,
33:9 I am clean and without transgression; / I am pure, and there is no iniquity in me.
33:10 See, He finds occasions for hostility against me; / He considers me as His enemy.
33:11 He puts my feet in stocks; / He watches all my paths.
33:12 However, in this you are not right, I will answer you, / For God is greater than man.
33:13 Why do you contend with Him, / Saying that He does not answer for any of His affairs?
33:14 For God speaks in one way, / Indeed in two ways, without any perceiving it ?
33:15 In a dream, a night vision, / When deep sleep falls upon men / In the slumberings upon their beds ?
33:16 Then He opens the ears of men / And seals up their instruction,
33:17 That He may turn man aside from his doing / And hide pride from man.
33:18 He keeps his soul from the pit, / And his life from perishing by the sword.
33:19 He is also chastened with pain upon his bed / And with continual strife in his bones,
33:20 So that his life abhors bread, / And his soul, fancy food.
33:21 His flesh is so consumed that it cannot be seen, / And his bones that had not been seen stick out.
33:22 And his soul draws near to the pit, / And his life, to the destroyers.
33:23 If there is with him an angel, / An interpreter, one of a thousand, / To declare to man what is right for him,
33:24 Then He will be gracious to him and will say, / Redeem him from going down into the pit; / I have found a ransom.
33:25 His flesh will be fresher than in childhood; / He will return to the days of his youth.
33:26 He will pray to God, and He will accept him, / So that he sees His face with joyous shouting; / And God restores to man his righteousness.
33:27 He will sing to men and say, / I sinned and perverted what was right, / But it was not paid back to me.
33:28 He has redeemed my soul from perishing in the pit, / And my life will see the light.
33:29 Indeed, all these things God accomplishes for a man, / Twice, even three times,
33:30 To bring his soul back from the pit, / To enlighten him with the light of the living.
33:31 Take heed, Job; hear me. / Be silent, and I will speak.
33:32 If you have anything to say, answer me; / Speak, for I desire to justify you.
33:33 If not, you listen to me; / Be silent, and I will teach you wisdom.