Job, 33

¹ “Now, however, O Job, please hear my words,^*1 And to all my speaking^*2 do give ear.

² Look, please! I have to open my mouth; My tongue with my palate has to speak.

³ My sayings are the uprightness of my heart, And knowledge is what my lips do utter sincerely.

⁴ God’s own spirit^*1 made me, And the Almighty’s own breath proceeded to bring me to life.

⁵ If you are able, make reply to me, Array [words] before me; do take your station.

⁶ Look! I am to the [true] God just what you are; From the clay I was shaped, I too.

⁷ Look! No frightfulness in me will terrify you, And no pressure by me will be heavy upon you.

⁸ Only you have said in my ears, And the sound of [your] words I kept hearing,

⁹ ‘I am pure without transgression; Clean I am, and I have no error.

¹⁰ Look! Occasions for opposition to me he finds, He takes me for an enemy of his.

¹¹ He puts my feet in the stocks, He watches all my paths.’

¹² Look! In this you have not been in the right, I answer you; For God^*1 is much more than mortal man.

¹³ Why is it against him that you contended, Because all your words he does not answer?

¹⁴ For God^*1 speaks once, And twice—though one does not regard it—

¹⁵ In a dream, a vision of the night, When deep sleep falls upon men, During slumbers upon the bed.

¹⁶ It is then that he uncovers the ear of men, And on exhortation to them he puts his seal,

¹⁷ To turn aside a man^*1 from his deed, And that he may cover pride itself from an able-bodied man.^*2

¹⁸ He keeps his soul back from the pit And his life from passing away by a missile.^*1

¹⁹ And he is actually reproved with pain upon his bed, And the quarreling of his bones is continual.

²⁰ And his life certainly makes bread loathsome, And his own soul desirable food.

²¹ His flesh wastes away from sight, And his bones that were not seen certainly grow bare.

²² And his soul draws near to the pit, And his life to those inflicting death.^*1

²³ If there exists for him a messenger,^*1 A spokesman,^*2 one out of a thousand, To tell to man his uprightness,^*3

²⁴ Then he favors him and says, ‘Let him off from going down into the pit! I have found a ransom!^*1

²⁵ Let his flesh become fresher than in youth; Let him return to the days of his youthful vigor.’

²⁶ He will make entreaty to God^*1 that he may take pleasure in him, And he will see his face with joyful shouting, And He will restore His righteousness to mortal man.^*2

²⁷ He will sing to men and say, ‘I have sinned; and what is upright I have perverted, And it certainly was not the proper thing for me.

²⁸ He has redeemed my^*1 soul from passing into the pit, And my life itself will see the light.’

²⁹ Look! All these things God^*1 performs, Two times, three times, in the case of an able-bodied man,

³⁰ To turn his soul back from the pit, That he may be enlightened with the light^*1 of those living.

³¹ Pay attention, O Job! Listen to me! Keep silent, and I myself shall continue speaking.

³² If there are any words [to say], make reply to me; Speak, for I have taken delight in your righteousness.

³³ If there are none, you yourself listen to me; Keep silent, and I shall teach you wisdom.”