Job, 33

¹ “But now, Job, please hear my words; Listen to everything I say.

² Look, please! I must open my mouth; My tongue^*1 must speak.

³ My words declare the uprightness of my heart, And my lips sincerely tell what I know.

⁴ God’s own spirit made me, And the Almighty’s own breath brought me to life.

⁵ Reply to me if you are able; Present your arguments before me; take your position.

⁶ Look! I am just like you before the true God; From the clay I too was shaped.

⁷ So no fear of me should terrify you, And no pressure from me should overwhelm you.

⁸ But you said in my hearing, Yes, I kept hearing these words,

⁹ ‘I am pure, without transgression; I am clean, without error.

¹⁰ But God finds reasons to oppose me; He considers me his enemy.

¹¹ He puts my feet in stocks; He scrutinizes all my paths.’

¹² But you are not right in saying this, so I will answer you: God is far greater than mortal man.

¹³ Why do you complain against Him? Is it because he did not answer all your words?

¹⁴ For God speaks once and a second time, But no one pays attention,

¹⁵ In a dream, a vision of the night, When deep sleep falls upon people While they sleep in their beds.

¹⁶ Then he uncovers their ears And impresses^*1 his instruction upon them,

¹⁷ To turn a person away from wrongdoing And to protect a man from pride.

¹⁸ God spares his soul^*1 from the pit,^*2 His life from perishing by the sword.^*3

¹⁹ A person is also reproved by pain on his bed And by the constant distress of his bones,

²⁰ So that his very being^*1 loathes bread, And he^*2 rejects even fine food.

²¹ His flesh wastes away from sight, And his bones that were hidden now protrude.^*1

²² His soul^*1 draws near to the pit;^*2 His life to those who bring death.

²³ If there is a messenger^*1 for him, One advocate out of a thousand, To tell to man what is upright,

²⁴ Then God shows him favor and says, ‘Spare him from going down into the pit!^*1 I have found a ransom!

²⁵ Let his flesh become fresher^*1 than in youth; Let him return to the days of his youthful vigor.’

²⁶ He will entreat God, who will accept him, And he will see His face with shouts of joy, And He will restore His righteousness to mortal man.

²⁷ That person will declare^*1 to men, ‘I have sinned and distorted what is right, But I did not receive what I deserved.^*2

²⁸ He has redeemed my soul^*1 from going into the pit,^*2 And my life will see the light.’

²⁹ Indeed, God does all these things Twice, three times, for a man,

³⁰ To bring him^*1 back from the pit,^*2 So that he may be enlightened with the light of life.

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

³² If you have something to say, reply to me. Speak, for I want to prove you right.

³³ If you have nothing to say, you should listen to me; Keep silent, and I will teach you wisdom.”