Job, 33

1. So, Job, please listen to my words and attend to all I have to say.

1. "But now, hear my speech, O Job, and listen to all my words.

2. Now as I open my mouth, and my tongue shapes words against my palate,

2. Behold, I open my mouth; the tongue in my mouth speaks.

3. I shall utter words of wisdom from the heart, my lips will speak in all sincerity.

3. My words declare the uprightness of my heart, and what my lips know they speak sincerely.

4. God's was the spirit that made me, Shaddai's the breath that gave me life.

4. The spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.

5. Refute me, if you can. Prepare yourself, take up your position!

5. Answer me, if you can; set your words in order before me; take your stand.

6. Look, I am your equal, not some god, like you I was moulded out of clay.

6. Behold, I am toward God as you are; I too was formed from a piece of clay.

7. No fear of me, therefore, need affright you, my hand will not lie heavy over you.

7. Behold, no fear of me need terrify you; my pressure will not be heavy upon you.

8. How could you say in my hearing -- for the sound of your words did not escape me-

8. "Surely, you have spoken in my hearing, and I have heard the sound of your words.

9. 'I am clean, and sinless, I am pure, without fault.

9. You say, `I am clean, without transgression; I am pure, and there is no iniquity in me.

10. But he keeps inventing excuses against me and regards me as his enemy.

10. Behold, he finds occasions against me, he counts me as his enemy;

11. He puts me in the stocks, he watches my every path'?

11. he puts my feet in the stocks, and watches all my paths.'

12. In saying so, I tell you, you are wrong: for God is greater than any human being.

12. "Behold, in this you are not right. I will answer you. God is greater than man.

13. Why then quarrel with him for not replying to you, word for word?

13. Why do you contend against him, saying, `He will answer none of my words'?

14. God speaks first in one way, and then in another, although we do not realise it.

14. For God speaks in one way, and in two, though man does not perceive it.

15. In dreams and in night-visions, when slumber has settled on humanity and people are asleep in bed,

15. In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls upon men, while they slumber on their beds,

16. he speaks in someone's ear, frightens him with apparitions

16. then he opens the ears of men, and terrifies them with warnings,

17. to turn him from what he is doing and to put an end to his pride.

17. that he may turn man aside from his deed, and cut off pride from man;

18. And thus he preserves his soul from the abyss, his life from passing down the Canal.

18. he keeps back his soul from the Pit, his life from perishing by the sword.

19. Or again, he corrects by the sufferings of the sick-bed, when someone's bones tremble continuously

19. "Man is also chastened with pain upon his bed, and with continual strife in his bones;

20. and the thought of food revolts him, however tasty it is,

20. so that his life loathes bread, and his appetite dainty food.

21. and his flesh rots away while you watch it and the bones beneath begin to show,

21. His flesh is so wasted away that it cannot be seen; and his bones which were not seen stick out.

22. and his soul is drawing nearer to the abyss and his life to the dwelling of the dead.

22. His soul draws near the Pit, and his life to those who bring death.

23. Then, if there is an Angel near him, a Mediator, one in a thousand, to remind him where his duty lies,

23. If there be for him an angel, a mediator, one of the thousand, to declare to man what is right for him;

24. to take pity on him and to say, 'Spare him from going down to the abyss: I have found the ransom for his life,'

24. and he is gracious to him, and says, `Deliver him from going down into the Pit, I have found a ransom;

25. his flesh will recover its childhood freshness, he will return to the days of his youth.

25. let his flesh become fresh with youth; let him return to the days of his youthful vigor';

26. He will pray to God who has restored him to favour, and will come into his presence with joy. He will tell others how he has received saving justice

26. then man prays to God, and he accepts him, he comes into his presence with joy. He recounts to men his salvation,

27. and sing this hymn before his companions, 'I sinned and left the path of right, but God has not punished me as my sin deserved.

27. and he sings before men, and says: `I sinned and perverted what was right, and it was not requited to me.

28. He has spared my soul from going down to the abyss and is making my life see the light.'

28. He has redeemed my soul from going down into the Pit, and my life shall see the light.'

29. All this is what God keeps doing again and yet again for human beings,

29. "Behold, God does all these things, twice, three times, with a man,

30. to snatch souls back from the abyss and to make the light of the living still shine.

30. to bring back his soul from the Pit, that he may see the light of life.

31. Pay attention, Job, listen to me: keep quiet, I have more to say.

31. Give heed, O Job, listen to me; be silent, and I will speak.

32. If you have anything to say, refute me, speak out, for I would gladly accept that you are upright.

32. If you have anything to say, answer me; speak, for I desire to justify you.

33. If not, then listen to me: keep quiet, and I will teach you wisdom.

33. If not, listen to me; be silent, and I will teach you wisdom."