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


33:1  "Please, Job, listen to my words and consider everything I say.
33:2  I've opened my mouth. The words are on the tip of my tongue.
33:3  My words are straight from the heart, and I sincerely speak the knowledge that is on my lips.
33:4  "God's Spirit has made me. The breath of the Almighty gives me life.
33:5  Answer me if you can. Present your case to me, and take your stand.
33:6  Indeed, I stand in front of God as you do. I, too, was formed from a piece of clay.
33:7  You certainly don't need to be terrified of me. I won't put too much pressure on you.
33:8  "But you spoke directly to me, and I listened to your words.
33:9  [You said,] 'I'm pure-without any rebellious acts [against God]. I'm clean; I have no sin.
33:10  God is only looking for an excuse to attack me. He considers me his enemy.
33:11  He puts my feet in the stocks and watches all my paths.'
33:12  You aren't right about this! I've got an answer for you: God is greater than any mortal.
33:13  Why do you quarrel with him since he doesn't answer any questions?
33:14  "God speaks in one way, even in two ways without people noticing it:
33:15  In a dream, a prophetic vision at night, when people fall into a deep sleep, when they sleep on their beds,
33:16  he opens people's ears and terrifies them with warnings.
33:17  [He warns them] to turn away from doing [wrong] and to stop being arrogant.
33:18  He keeps their souls from the pit and their lives from crossing the River [of Death].
33:19  In pain on their sickbeds, they are disciplined with endless aching in their bones
33:20  so that their whole being hates food and they lose their appetite for a delicious meal.
33:21  Their flesh becomes so thin that it can't be seen. Their bones, not seen before, will be exposed.
33:22  Their souls approach the pit. Their lives come close to those already dead.
33:23  "If they have a messenger for them, a spokesman, one in a thousand, to tell people what is right for them,
33:24  then he will have pity on them and say, 'Free them from going into the pit. I have found a ransom.'
33:25  Then their flesh will become softer than a child's. They will go back to the days of their youth.
33:26  They will pray to God, who will be pleased with them. They will see God's face and shout for joy as he restores their righteousness.
33:27  Each one sings in front of other people and says, 'I sinned and did wrong instead of what was right, and it did me no good.
33:28  The messenger has freed my soul from going into the pit, and my life will see the light.'
33:29  Truly, God does all this two or three times with people
33:30  to turn their souls away from the pit and to enlighten them with the light of life.
33:31  "Pay attention, Job! Listen to me! Keep quiet, and let me speak.
33:32  If you have a response, answer me. Speak, because I'd be happy if you were right.
33:33  If not, you listen to me. Keep quiet, and I'll teach you wisdom."