Job - Chapter 33 - A Conservative Version
- However, Job, I pray thee, hear my speech, and hearken to all my words.
- Behold now, I have opened my mouth. My tongue has spoken in my mouth.
- My words [shall utter] the uprightness of my heart, and that which my lips know they shall speak sincerely.
- The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.
- If thou can, answer thou me. Set [thy words] in order before me. Stand forth.
- Behold, I am toward God even as thou are. I also am formed out of the clay.
- Behold, my terror shall not make thee afraid, nor shall my pressure be heavy upon thee.
- Surely thou have spoken in my hearing, and I have heard the voice of [thy] words, [saying],
- I am clean, without transgression. I am innocent, neither is there iniquity in me.
- [Thou say,] Behold, he finds occasions against me. He counts me for his enemy.
- He puts my feet in the stocks. He marks all my paths.
- Behold, I will answer thee. In this thou are not just, for God is greater than man.
- Why do thou strive against him because he does not give of any of his matters?
- For God speaks once, yea twice, [though man] does not regard it.
- In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls upon men, in slumberings upon the bed.
- Then he opens the ears of men, and seals their instruction
- that he may withdraw man [from his] purpose, and hide pride from man.
- He keeps back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword.
- He also is chastened with pain upon his bed, and with continual strife in his bones,
- so that his life abhors bread, and his soul dainty food.
- His flesh is consumed away that it cannot be seen. And his bones that were not seen stick out.
- Yea, his soul draws near to the pit, and his life to the destroyers.
- If there be with him a [heavenly] agent, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to show to man what is right for him,
- then [God] is gracious to him, and says, Deliver him from going down to the pit; I have found a ransom.
- His flesh shall be fresher than a child's. He returns to the days of his youth.
- He prays to God, and he is favorable to him, so that he sees his face with joy, and he restores to man his righteousness.
- He sings before men, and says, I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it did not profit me.
- He has redeemed my soul from going into the pit, and my life shall behold the light.
- Lo, all these things God works twice, [yea] thrice, with a man,
- to bring back his soul from the pit, that he may be enlightened with the light of the living.
- Mark well, O Job, hearken to me. Keep silent, and I will speak.
- If thou have anything to say, answer me. Speak, for I desire to justify thee.
- If not, hearken thou to me. Keep silent, and I will teach thee.