Job 33

1 “Now, Job, listen to my words. Pay attention to everything I say.

2 I open my mouth and am ready to speak.

3 My words come from an honest heart, and I am sincere in saying what I know.

4 The Spirit of God created me, and the breath of the Almighty gave me life.

5 Answer me if you can; get yourself ready and stand before me.

6 I am just like you before God; I too am made out of clay.

7 Don’t be afraid of me; I will not be hard on you.

8 “But I heard what you have said; I heard every word.

9 You said, ‘I am pure and without sin; I am innocent and free from guilt.

10 But God has found fault with me; he considers me his enemy.

11 He locks my feet in chains and closely watches everywhere I go.’

12 “But I tell you, you are not right in saying this, because God is greater than we are.

13 Why do you accuse God of not answering anyone?

14 God does speak—sometimes one way and sometimes another— even though people may not understand it.

15 He speaks in a dream or a vision of the night when people are in a deep sleep, lying on their beds.

16 He speaks in their ears and frightens them with warnings

17 to turn them away from doing wrong and to keep them from being proud.

18 God does this to save people from death, to keep them from dying.

19 People may be corrected while in bed in great pain; they may have continual pain in their very bones.

20 They may be in such pain that they even hate food, even the very best meal.

21 Their body becomes so thin there is almost nothing left of it, and their bones that were hidden now stick out.

22 They are near death, and their life is almost over.

23 “But there may be an angel to speak for him, one out of a thousand, who will tell him what to do.

24 The angel will beg for mercy and say: ‘Save him from death. I have found a way to pay for his life.’

25 Then his body is made new like a child’s. It will return to the way it was when he was young.

26 That person will pray to God, and God will listen to him. He will see God’s face and will shout with happiness. And God will set things right for him again.

27 Then he will say to others, ‘I sinned and twisted what was right, but I did not receive the punishment I should have received.

28 God bought my life back from death, and I will continue to enjoy life.’

29 “God does all these things to a person two or even three times

30 so he won’t die as punishment for his sins and so he may still enjoy life.

31 “Job, pay attention and listen to me; be quiet, and I will speak.

32 If you have anything to say, answer me; speak up, because I want to prove you right.
33 But if you have nothing to say, then listen to me; be quiet, and I will teach you wisdom.”

Job 33

1 Howbeit, Job, I pray thee, hear my speech, 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 utter the uprightness of my heart; And that which my lips know they shall speak sincerely.

4 The Spirit of God hath made me, And the breath of the Almighty giveth me life.

5 If thou canst, answer thou me; Set thy words in order before me, stand forth.

6 Behold, I am toward God even as thou art: I also am formed out of the clay.

7 Behold, my terror shall not make thee afraid, Neither shall my pressure be heavy upon thee.

8 Surely thou hast spoken in my 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, I will answer thee, in this thou art not just; For God is greater than man.

13 Why dost thou strive against him, For that he giveth not account of any of his matters?

14 For God speaketh once, Yea twice, though man regardeth 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 with continual strife in his bones;

20 So that his life abhorreth bread, And his soul dainty food.

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 pit, And his life to the destroyers.

23 If there be with him an angel, An interpreter, one among a thousand, To show unto man what is right for him;

24 Then God 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 returneth to the days of his youth.

26 He prayeth unto God, and he is favorable unto him, So that he seeth his face with joy: And he restoreth unto man his righteousness.

27 He singeth before men, and saith, I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, And it profited me not:

28 He hath redeemed my soul from going into the pit, And my life shall behold the light.

29 Lo, all these things doth God work, Twice, yea thrice, with a man,

30 To bring back his soul from the pit, That he may 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 anything to say, answer me: Speak, for I desire to justify thee.

33 If not, hearken thou unto me: Hold thy peace, and I will teach thee wisdom.