The Book of Job
33: 1Howbeit, Job, I pray thee, hear my speech,
And hearken to all my words.
33:2Behold now, I have opened my mouth;
My tongue hath spoken in my mouth.
33:3My words shall utter the uprightness of my heart;
And that which my lips know they shall speak sincerely.
33:4The Spirit of God hath made me,
And the breath of the Almighty giveth me life.
33:5If thou canst, answer thou me;
Set thy words in order before me, stand forth.
33:6Behold, I am toward God even as thou art:
I also am formed out of the clay.
33:7Behold, my terror shall not make thee afraid,
Neither shall my pressure be heavy upon thee.
33:8Surely thou hast spoken in my hearing,
And I have heard the voice of thy words, saying,
33:9I am clean, without transgression;
I am innocent, neither is there iniquity in me:
33:10Behold, he findeth occasions against me,
He counteth me for his enemy:
33:11He putteth my feet in the stocks,
He marketh all my paths.
33:12Behold, I will answer thee, in this thou art not just;
For God is greater than man.
33:13Why dost thou strive against him,
For that he giveth not account of any of his matters?
33:14For God speaketh once,
Yea twice, though man regardeth it not.
33:15In a dream, in a vision of the night,
When deep sleep falleth upon men,
In slumberings upon the bed;
33:16Then he openeth the ears of men,
And sealeth their instruction,
33:17That he may withdraw man from his purpose,
And hide pride from man;
33:18He keepeth back his soul from the pit,
And his life from perishing by the sword.
33:19He is chastened also with pain upon his bed,
And with continual strife in his bones;
33:20So that his life abhorreth bread,
And his soul dainty food.
33:21His flesh is consumed away, that it cannot be seen;
And his bones that were not seen stick out.
33:22Yea, his soul draweth near unto the pit,
And his life to the destroyers.
33:23If there be with him an angel,
An interpreter, one among a thousand,
To show unto man what is right for him;
33:24Then God is gracious unto him, and saith,
Deliver him from going down to the pit,
I have found a ransom.
33:25His flesh shall be fresher than a child's;
He returneth to the days of his youth.
33:26He prayeth unto God, and he is favorable unto him,
So that he seeth his face with joy:
And he restoreth unto man his righteousness.
33:27He singeth before men, and saith,
I have sinned, and perverted that which was right,
And it profited me not:
33:28He hath redeemed my soul from going into the pit,
And my life shall behold the light.
33:29Lo, all these things doth God work,
Twice, yea thrice, with a man,
33:30To bring back his soul from the pit,
That he may be enlightened with the light of the living.
33:31Mark well, O Job, hearken unto me:
Hold thy peace, and I will speak.
33:32If thou hast anything to say, answer me:
Speak, for I desire to justify thee.
33:33If not, hearken thou unto me:
Hold thy peace, and I will teach thee wisdom.