Job 33:1–33

¹ “But now, O Job, hear my speech, and listen to all my words. ² Behold, I will open my mouth; my address is on the tip of my tongue. ³ My words are from an upright heart, and my lips speak sincerely what I know. ⁴ The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life. ⁵ Refute me if you can; prepare your case and confront me. ⁶ I am just like you before God; I was also formed from clay. ⁷ Surely no fear of me should terrify you; nor will my hand be heavy upon you. ⁸ Surely you have spoken in my hearing, and I have heard these very words: ⁹ ‘I am pure, without transgression; I am clean, with no iniquity in me. ¹⁰ Yet God finds occasions against me; He counts me as His enemy. ¹¹ He puts my feet in the stocks; He watches over all my paths.’ ¹² Behold, you are not right in this matter. I will answer you, for God is greater than man. ¹³ Why do you complain to Him that He answers nothing a man asks? ¹⁴ For God speaks in one way and in another, yet no one notices. ¹⁵ In a dream, in a vision in the night, when deep sleep falls upon men as they slumber on their beds, ¹⁶ He opens their ears and terrifies them with warnings ¹⁷ to turn a man from wrongdoing and keep him from pride, ¹⁸ to preserve his soul from the Pit and his life from perishing by the sword. ¹⁹ A man is also chastened on his bed with pain and constant distress in his bones, ²⁰ so that he detests his bread, and his soul loathes his favorite food. ²¹ His flesh wastes away from sight, and his hidden bones protrude. ²² He draws near to the Pit, and his life to the messengers of death. ²³ Yet if there is a messenger on his side, one mediator in a thousand, to tell a man what is right for him, ²⁴ to be gracious to him and say, ‘Spare him from going down to the Pit; I have found his ransom,’ ²⁵ then his flesh is refreshed like a child’s; he returns to the days of his youth. ²⁶ He prays to God and finds favor; he sees God’s face and shouts for joy, and God restores His righteousness to that man. ²⁷ Then he sings before men with these words: ‘I have sinned and perverted what was right; yet I did not get what I deserved. ²⁸ He redeemed my soul from going down to the Pit, and I will live to see the light.’ ²⁹ Behold, all these things God does to a man, two or even three times, ³⁰ to bring back his soul from the Pit, that he may be enlightened with the light of life. ³¹ Pay attention, Job, and listen to me; be silent, and I will speak. ³² But if you have something to say, answer me; speak up, for I would like to vindicate you. ³³ But if not, then listen to me; be quiet, and I will teach you wisdom.”