33
1 “However, Job, please hear
my speech,
and listen to
all my words.
2 See
now, I have
opened my mouth.
My tongue has
spoken in my
mouth.
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.
5 If you
can, answer me.
Set your words in
order before me,
and stand up.
6 Behold,
I am toward God
even as you
are.
I am also
formed out of the
clay.
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,
I have heard
the voice of
your words, saying,
9 ‘I am
clean, without disobedience.
I am innocent,
neither is there
iniquity in me.
10 Behold,
he finds occasions
against me.
He counts me
for his enemy.
11 He
puts my feet
in the stocks.
He marks all
my paths.’
12 “Behold,
I will answer
you. In this
you are not
just,
for God is
greater than man.
13 Why
do you strive
against him,
because he doesn’t
give account of
any of his
matters?
14 For
God speaks once,
yes twice,
though man pays no attention.
15 In
a dream, in
a vision of
the night,
when deep sleep
falls on men,
in slumbering on
the bed,
16 then he
opens the ears
of men,
and seals their
instruction,
17 that he may
withdraw man from
his purpose,
and hide pride
from man.
18 He
keeps back his
soul from the
pit,
and his life
from perishing by
the sword.
19 “He
is chastened also
with pain on
his bed,
with continual strife
in his bones,
20 so that his
life abhors bread,
and his soul
dainty food.
21 His
flesh is so
consumed away that
it can’t be
seen.
His bones that
were not seen
stick out.
22 Yes, his
soul draws near
to the pit,
and his life
to the destroyers.
23 “If
there is beside
him an angel,
an interpreter,
one among
a thousand,
to show to man
what is right
for him,
24 then God
is gracious to
him, and says,
‘Deliver him from
going down to
the pit,
I have found
a ransom.’
25 His
flesh will be
fresher than a
child’s.
He returns to
the days of
his youth.
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 He sings
before men, and says,
‘I have sinned,
and perverted that
which was right,
and it didn’t
profit me.
28 He
has redeemed my
soul from going
into the pit.
My life will
see the light.’
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 the
living.
31 Mark well,
Job, and listen to
me.
Hold your peace,
and I will
speak.
32 If
you have anything
to say, answer
me.
Speak, for I
desire to justify
you.
33 If not,
listen to me.
Hold your peace,
and I will teach
you wisdom.”