33:1
Howbeit, Job, I pray thee, hear my speech, and hearken to all my words.
33:2
Behold now, I have opened my mouth, my tongue hath spoken in my mouth.
33:3
My words shall utter the uprightness of my heart; and that which my lips know they shall speak sincerely.
33:4
The spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty given me life.
33:5
If thou canst, answer thou me, set thy words in order before me, stand forth.
33:6
Behold, I am toward God even as thou art; I also am formed out of the clay.
33:7
Behold, my terror shall not make thee afraid, neither shall my pressure be heavy upon thee.
33:8
Surely thou hast spoken in my hearing, and I have heard the voice of thy words;
33:9
'I am clean, without transgression, I am innocent, neither is there iniquity in me;
33:10
Behold, He findeth occasions against me, He counteth me for His enemy;
33:11
He putteth my feet in the stocks, He marketh all my paths.'
33:12
Behold, I answer thee: In this thou art not right, that God is too great for man;
33:13
Why hast thou striven against Him? seeing that He will not answer any of his words.
33:14
For God speaketh in one way, yea in two, though man perceiveth it not.
33:15
In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed;
33:16
Then He openeth the ears of men, and by their chastisement sealeth the decree,
33:17
That men may put away their purpose, and that He may hide pride from man;
33:18
That He may keep back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword.
33:19
He is chastened also with pain upon his bed, and all his bones grow stiff;
33:20
So that his life maketh him to abhor bread, and his soul dainty food.
33:21
His flesh is consumed away, that it cannot be seen; and his bones corrode to unsightliness.
33:22
Yea, his soul draweth near unto the pit, and his life to the destroyers.
33:23
If there be for him an angel, an intercessor, one among a thousand, to vouch for a man's uprightness;
33:24
Then He is gracious unto him, and saith: 'Deliver him from going down to the pit, I have found a ransom.'
33:25
His flesh is tenderer than a child's; he returneth to the days of his youth;
33:26
He prayeth unto God, and He is favourable unto him; so that he seeth His face with joy; and He restoreth unto man his righteousness.
33:27
He cometh before men, and saith: 'I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it profited me not.'
33:28
So He redeemeth his soul from going into the pit, and his life beholdeth the light.
33:29
Lo, all these things doth God work, twice, yea thrice, with a man,
33:30
To bring back his soul from the pit, that he may be enlightened with the light of the living.
33:31
Mark well, O Job, hearken unto me; hold thy peace, and I will speak.
33:32
If thou hast any thing to say, answer me; speak, for I desire to justify thee.
33:33
If not, hearken thou unto me; hold thy peace, and I will teach thee wisdom.