Chapter 33

  And yet, I pray thee, O Job, Hear my speech and [to] all my words give ear.  

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  Lo, I pray thee, I have opened my mouth, My tongue hath spoken in the palate.  

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  Of the uprightness of my heart [are] my sayings, And knowledge have my lips clearly spoken.  

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  The Spirit of God hath made me, And the breath of the Mighty doth quicken me.  

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  If thou art able -- answer me, Set in array before me -- station thyself.  

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  Lo, I [am], according to thy word, for God, From the clay I -- I also, have been formed.  

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  Lo, my terror doth not frighten thee, And my burden on thee is not heavy.  

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  Surely -- thou hast said in mine ears, And the sounds of words I hear:  

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  'Pure [am] I, without transgression, Innocent [am] I, and I have no iniquity.  

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  Lo, occasions against me He doth find, He doth reckon me for an enemy to Him,  

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  He doth put in the stocks my feet, He doth watch all my paths.'  

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  Lo, [in] this thou hast not been righteous, I answer thee, that greater is God than man.  

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  Wherefore against Him hast thou striven, When [for] all His matters He answereth not?  

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  For once doth God speak, and twice, (He doth not behold it.)  

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  In a dream -- a vision of night, In the falling of deep sleep on men, In slumberings on a bed.  

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  Then He uncovereth the ear of men, And for their instruction sealeth:  

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  To turn aside man [from] doing, And pride from man He concealeth.  

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  He keepeth back his soul from corruption, And his life from passing away by a dart.  

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  And he hath been reproved With pain on his bed, And the strife of his bones [is] enduring.  

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  And his life hath nauseated bread, And his soul desirable food.  

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  His flesh is consumed from being seen, And high are his bones, they were not seen!  

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  And draw near to the pit doth his soul, And his life to those causing death.  

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  If there is by him a messenger, An interpreter -- one of a thousand, To declare for man his uprightness:  

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  Then He doth favour him and saith, 'Ransom him from going down to the pit, I have found an atonement.'  

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  Fresher [is] his flesh than a child's, He returneth to the days of his youth.  

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  He maketh supplication unto God, And He accepteth him. And he seeth His face with shouting, And He returneth to man His righteousness.  

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  He looketh on men, and saith, 'I sinned, And uprightness I have perverted, And it hath not been profitable to me.  

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  He hath ransomed my soul From going over into the pit, And my life on the light looketh.'  

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  Lo, all these doth God work, Twice -- thrice with man,  

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

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  Attend, O Job, hearken to me, Keep silent, and I -- I do speak.  

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  If there are words -- answer me, Speak, for I have a desire to justify thee.  

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  If there are not -- hearken thou to me, Keep silent, and I teach thee wisdom.  

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