Add parallel Print Page Options

33 And yet, I pray thee, O Job, Hear my speech and [to] all my words give ear.

Lo, I pray thee, I have opened my mouth, My tongue hath spoken in the palate.

Of the uprightness of my heart [are] my sayings, And knowledge have my lips clearly spoken.

The Spirit of God hath made me, And the breath of the Mighty doth quicken me.

If thou art able -- answer me, Set in array before me -- station thyself.

Lo, I [am], according to thy word, for God, From the clay I -- I also, have been formed.

Lo, my terror doth not frighten thee, And my burden on thee is not heavy.

Surely -- thou hast said in mine ears, And the sounds of words I hear:

`Pure [am] I, without transgression, Innocent [am] I, and I have no iniquity.

10 Lo, occasions against me He doth find, He doth reckon me for an enemy to Him,

11 He doth put in the stocks my feet, He doth watch all my paths.'

12 Lo, [in] this thou hast not been righteous, I answer thee, that greater is God than man.

13 Wherefore against Him hast thou striven, When [for] all His matters He answereth not?

14 For once doth God speak, and twice, (He doth not behold it.)

15 In a dream -- a vision of night, In the falling of deep sleep on men, In slumberings on a bed.

16 Then He uncovereth the ear of men, And for their instruction sealeth:

17 To turn aside man [from] doing, And pride from man He concealeth.

18 He keepeth back his soul from corruption, And his life from passing away by a dart.

19 And he hath been reproved With pain on his bed, And the strife of his bones [is] enduring.

20 And his life hath nauseated bread, And his soul desirable food.

21 His flesh is consumed from being seen, And high are his bones, they were not seen!

22 And draw near to the pit doth his soul, And his life to those causing death.

23 If there is by him a messenger, An interpreter -- one of a thousand, To declare for man his uprightness:

24 Then He doth favour him and saith, `Ransom him from going down to the pit, I have found an atonement.'

25 Fresher [is] his flesh than a child's, He returneth to the days of his youth.

26 He maketh supplication unto God, And He accepteth him. And he seeth His face with shouting, And He returneth to man His righteousness.

27 He looketh on men, and saith, `I sinned, And uprightness I have perverted, And it hath not been profitable to me.

28 He hath ransomed my soul From going over into the pit, And my life on the light looketh.'

29 Lo, all these doth God work, Twice -- thrice with man,

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

31 Attend, O Job, hearken to me, Keep silent, and I -- I do speak.

32 If there are words -- answer me, Speak, for I have a desire to justify thee.

33 If there are not -- hearken thou to me, Keep silent, and I teach thee wisdom.

33 “But now, Job, listen(A) to my words;
    pay attention to everything I say.(B)
I am about to open my mouth;
    my words are on the tip of my tongue.
My words come from an upright heart;(C)
    my lips sincerely speak what I know.(D)
The Spirit(E) of God has made me;(F)
    the breath of the Almighty(G) gives me life.(H)
Answer me(I) then, if you can;
    stand up(J) and argue your case before me.(K)
I am the same as you in God’s sight;(L)
    I too am a piece of clay.(M)
No fear of me should alarm you,
    nor should my hand be heavy on you.(N)

“But you have said in my hearing—
    I heard the very words—
‘I am pure,(O) I have done no wrong;(P)
    I am clean and free from sin.(Q)
10 Yet God has found fault with me;
    he considers me his enemy.(R)
11 He fastens my feet in shackles;(S)
    he keeps close watch on all my paths.’(T)

12 “But I tell you, in this you are not right,
    for God is greater than any mortal.(U)
13 Why do you complain to him(V)
    that he responds to no one’s words[a]?(W)
14 For God does speak(X)—now one way, now another(Y)
    though no one perceives it.(Z)
15 In a dream,(AA) in a vision(AB) of the night,(AC)
    when deep sleep(AD) falls on people
    as they slumber in their beds,
16 he may speak(AE) in their ears
    and terrify them(AF) with warnings,(AG)
17 to turn them from wrongdoing
    and keep them from pride,(AH)
18 to preserve them from the pit,(AI)
    their lives from perishing by the sword.[b](AJ)

19 “Or someone may be chastened(AK) on a bed of pain(AL)
    with constant distress in their bones,(AM)
20 so that their body finds food(AN) repulsive
    and their soul loathes the choicest meal.(AO)
21 Their flesh wastes away to nothing,
    and their bones,(AP) once hidden, now stick out.(AQ)
22 They draw near to the pit,(AR)
    and their life to the messengers of death.[c](AS)
23 Yet if there is an angel at their side,
    a messenger,(AT) one out of a thousand,
    sent to tell them how to be upright,(AU)
24 and he is gracious to that person and says to God,
    ‘Spare them from going down to the pit;(AV)
    I have found a ransom for them(AW)
25 let their flesh be renewed(AX) like a child’s;
    let them be restored as in the days of their youth’(AY)
26 then that person can pray to God and find favor with him,(AZ)
    they will see God’s face and shout for joy;(BA)
    he will restore them to full well-being.(BB)
27 And they will go to others and say,
    ‘I have sinned,(BC) I have perverted what is right,(BD)
    but I did not get what I deserved.(BE)
28 God has delivered(BF) me from going down to the pit,(BG)
    and I shall live to enjoy the light of life.’(BH)

29 “God does all these things to a person(BI)
    twice, even three times(BJ)
30 to turn them back(BK) from the pit,(BL)
    that the light of life(BM) may shine on them.(BN)

31 “Pay attention, Job, and listen(BO) to me;(BP)
    be silent,(BQ) and I will speak.
32 If you have anything to say, answer me;(BR)
    speak up, for I want to vindicate you.(BS)
33 But if not, then listen to me;(BT)
    be silent,(BU) and I will teach you wisdom.(BV)

Footnotes

  1. Job 33:13 Or that he does not answer for any of his actions
  2. Job 33:18 Or from crossing the river
  3. Job 33:22 Or to the place of the dead