Home Master Index
←Prev   Job 33 as rendered by/in  Next→ 


33:1  ‘But now, Job, listen to the things that I will tell you. Listen carefully to everything that I will say.
33:2  I will speak to you now. I am ready to tell you what I think.
33:3  I am an honest man, so you can believe what I say. I will tell you what I know is true.
33:4  The Spirit of Almighty God has made me. His breath gives me life.
33:5  Answer me now, Job, if you can. Prepare yourself. Be ready to explain your problem to me.
33:6  Listen! When God looks at us, we are the same as each other. God used clay to make both of us.
33:7  So you should not be afraid of me. I will not do anything to hurt you.
33:8  I have heard the things that you have said, Job. This is what I heard you say:
33:9  “I am not guilty. I have not done anything that is wrong. I am pure and clean.
33:10  But God has decided to punish me! He attacks me as if I am his enemy.
33:11  He has tied my feet with chains. He always watches me to see where I go.”
33:12  But now I tell you this, Job: You are not right! God is greater than any human.
33:13  So you should not argue against him. You should not say, “God does not answer any of my questions.”
33:14  God does speak to people. He speaks to them in many different ways. But often people do not recognize his voice.
33:15  Sometimes God speaks to people in dreams and visions. He speaks to them at night, while they sleep in bed.
33:16  He tells them about things that will happen. He warns them about terrible things, so that they are afraid.
33:17  He tells them to turn away from their sins. He tells them not to be proud.
33:18  He keeps people safe from death, so that they do not go to their graves.
33:19  Or God may warn people with a painful illness. He may make their bodies hurt all the time.
33:20  Then they do not want to eat anything. They cannot eat even the best food.
33:21  Their bodies become very thin. People can even see their bones.
33:22  They will soon die and go to their graves. Death is waiting to take them away.
33:23  But perhaps an angel may come to help one of those people. He may speak on behalf of God, as a special angel among the many thousands of God's angels. The angel may tell that person how to live in a way that is right.
33:24  Then God will be kind to that person. God will say, “Save that person, so that he does not go to his grave. I have found someone to pay the price for his life. So keep him alive.”
33:25  Then that person's body will become healthy again. He will be strong, like a young man.
33:26  When he prays to God, God will be happy to answer him. He will again worship God with joy. And God will give him a good way of life again.
33:27  That person will say clearly to everyone, “I did things that were not right. I did wrong things, but God did not punish me as I deserved.
33:28  God rescued me from death, so that I did not go to my grave. Now I will enjoy life in the light.”
33:29  God does all these things for people. He does them many times.
33:30  He saves a person from death, so that he does not go to his grave. He gives light to that person, so that he may enjoy his life.
33:31  Job, listen carefully to me. Be quiet, and I will speak to you.
33:32  After that, you may answer me, if you have something to say. If I could say that you have not done anything wrong, that would make me happy.
33:33  But if you have nothing to say, then listen to me. Be quiet and I will teach you how to be wise.’