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33:1  “Job, listen now to my words. Pay attention to everything I say.
33:2  I’m about to open my mouth. My words are on the tip of my tongue.
33:3  What I say comes from an honest heart. My lips speak only what I know is true.
33:4  The Spirit of God has made me. The breath of the Mighty One gives me life.
33:5  So answer me if you can. Stand up and argue your case in front of me.
33:6  To God I’m just the same as you. I too am a piece of clay.
33:7  You don’t have to be afraid of me. My hand won’t be too heavy on you.
33:8  “But I heard what you said. And here are the exact words I heard.
33:9  You said, ‘I’m pure. I have done no wrong. I’m clean. I’m free from sin.
33:10  But God has found fault with me. He thinks I’m his enemy.
33:11  He puts my feet in chains. He watches every step I take.’
33:12  “But I’m telling you that you aren’t right when you talk like that. After all, God is greater than any human being.
33:13  Why do you claim that God never answers anybody’s questions?
33:14  He speaks in one way and then another. But we do not even realize it.
33:15  He might speak in a dream or in a vision at night. That’s when people are sound asleep in their beds.
33:16  He might speak in their ears. His warnings might terrify them.
33:17  He warns them in order to turn them away from sinning. He wants to keep them from being proud.
33:18  He wants to stop them from going down into the grave. He doesn’t want them to be killed by swords.
33:19  Someone might be punished by suffering in bed. The pain in their bones might never go away.
33:20  They might feel so bad they can’t eat anything. They might even hate the finest food.
33:21  Their body might waste away to nothing. Their bones might have been hidden. But now they stick out.
33:22  They might approach the very edge of the grave. The messengers of death might come for them.
33:23  “But suppose there is an angel who will speak up for him. The angel is very special. He’s one out of a thousand. He will tell that person how to do what is right.
33:24  That angel will be gracious to them. He’ll say to God, ‘Spare them from going down into the grave. I know a way that can set them free.’
33:25  Then their body is made like new again. They become as strong and healthy as when they were young.
33:26  Then that person can pray to God and be blessed by him. They will see God’s face and shout for joy. God will make them well and happy again.
33:27  Then that person will come to others and say, ‘I sinned. I made what is wrong appear to be right. But I wasn’t punished as I should have been.
33:28  God has set me free. He has kept me from going down into the darkness of the grave. So I’ll live to enjoy the light of life.’
33:29  “God does all these things to people. In fact, he does them again and again.
33:30  He wants to stop people from going down into the darkness of the grave. Then the light of life will shine on them.
33:31  “Pay attention, Job! Listen to me! Be quiet so I can speak.
33:32  If you have anything to say, answer me. Speak up. I want to help you be cleared of all charges.
33:33  But if you don’t have anything to say, listen to me. Be quiet so I can teach you how to be wise.”