Job

33 But in very deed hear, I pray thee, Job, my discourse, And to all my words give thou ear.

2 Lo! I pray thee, I have opened my mouth, My tongue with my palate hath spoken,

3 Mine utterances come straight from mine own heart, And what I know my lips have truly spoken;

4 The spirit of God hath made me, And the inspiration of the Almighty giveth me life.

5 If thou art able to answer me Set in order before me—take thy stand!

6 Lo! I am like thyself toward God, From clay have I been nipped off even I!

7 Lo! my terror will not startle thee, Nor my hand upon thee be heavy.

8 But thou hast spoken in mine ears, And the sound of words I heard:—

9 Pure am I, without transgression,—Clean am I, and have no iniquity;

10 Lo! occasions of hostility would he find against me, He counteth me an enemy to him;

11 He putteth—in the stocks—my feet, He watcheth all my paths.

12 Lo! in this thou hast not been right—let me answer thee, For God is greater than man.

13 Wherefore against him hast thou contended? For with none of his reasons will he respond.

14 For in one way God may speak,—And in a second way one may not heed it:—

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

16 Then uncovereth he the ear of men, And on their correction affixeth a seal;

17 To turn a son of earth from his deed, While yet pride from man he concealeth:

18 He keepeth back his soul from the pit, And his life from passing away by a weapon.

19 Or he is chastised with pain upon his bed, And the strife of his bones is unceasing!

20 So that his life maketh loathsome [his] food, And his soul dainty meat;

21 His flesh wasteth away out of sight, And bared are the bones once unseen;

22 So doth his soul draw near to the pit, And his life to the inflicters of death:

23 If there hath been near him a messenger who could interpret—One of a thousand, To declare to the son of earth His uprightness

24 Then hath he shewed him favour and said, Set him free from going down to the pit, I have found a price of redemption!

25 His flesh hath been made fresher than a child’s, He hath returned to the days of his youth;

26 He made supplication unto God, who hath accepted him, And he hath beheld his face with a shout of triumph, Thus hath he given back to man his righteousness.

27 He sang before men and said, I sinned and uprightness I perverted, Yet he requited me not;

28 He hath ransomed my soul from passing away into the pit,—And my life in the light shall have vision.

29 Lo! all these things doth God work, Two ways, three, with a man;

30 To bring back his soul from the pit, To enlighten with the light of the living.

31 Mark well, O Job, and hearken to me, Be silent, and I will speak:

32 If there is anything to say reply to me, Speak, for I desire to justify thee;

33 If not do thou hearken unto me, Be silent, that I may teach thee wisdom.