Chapter 33

  Howbeit, Job, I pray thee, hear my speech, And hearken to all my words.  

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  Behold now, I have opened my mouth; My tongue hath spoken in my mouth.  

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  My words [shall utter] the uprightness of my heart; And that which my lips know they shall speak sincerely.  

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  The Spirit of God hath made me, And the breath of the Almighty giveth me life.  

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  If thou canst, answer thou me; Set [thy words] in order before me, stand forth.  

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  Behold, I am toward God even as thou art: I also am formed out of the clay.  

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  Behold, my terror shall not make thee afraid, Neither shall my pressure be heavy upon thee.  

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  Surely thou hast spoken in my hearing, And I have heard the voice of [thy] words, [saying],  

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  I am clean, without transgression; I am innocent, neither is there iniquity in me:  

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  Behold, he findeth occasions against me, He counteth me for his enemy:  

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  He putteth my feet in the stocks, He marketh all my paths.  

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  Behold, I will answer thee, in this thou art not just; For God is greater than man.  

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  Why dost thou strive against him, For that he giveth not account of any of his matters?  

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  For God speaketh once, Yea twice, [though man] regardeth it not.  

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  In a dream, in a vision of the night, When deep sleep falleth upon men, In slumberings upon the bed;  

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  Then he openeth the ears of men, And sealeth their instruction,  

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  That he may withdraw man [from his] purpose, And hide pride from man;  

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  He keepeth back his soul from the pit, And his life from perishing by the sword.  

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  He is chastened also with pain upon his bed, And with continual strife in his bones;  

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  So that his life abhorreth bread, And his soul dainty food.  

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  His flesh is consumed away, that it cannot be seen; And his bones that were not seen stick out.  

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  Yea, his soul draweth near unto the pit, And his life to the destroyers.  

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  If there be with him an angel, An interpreter, one among a thousand, To show unto man what is right for him;  

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  Then [God] is gracious unto him, and saith, Deliver him from going down to the pit, I have found a ransom.  

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  His flesh shall be fresher than a child's; He returneth to the days of his youth.  

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  He prayeth unto God, and he is favorable unto him, So that he seeth his face with joy: And he restoreth unto man his righteousness.  

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  He singeth before men, and saith, I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, And it profited me not:  

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  He hath redeemed my soul from going into the pit, And my life shall behold the light.  

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  Lo, all these things doth God work, Twice, [yea] thrice, with a man,  

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  To bring back his soul from the pit, That he may be enlightened with the light of the living.  

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  Mark well, O Job, hearken unto me: Hold thy peace, and I will speak.  

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  If thou hast anything to say, answer me: Speak, for I desire to justify thee.  

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  If not, hearken thou unto me: Hold thy peace, and I will teach thee wisdom.  

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