JPS - Job - 33

33:1  Howbeit, Job, I pray thee, hear my speech, and hearken to all my words.

33:2  Behold now, I have opened my mouth, my tongue hath spoken in my mouth.

33:3  My words shall utter the uprightness of my heart; and that which my lips know they shall speak sincerely.

33:4  The spirit of G-d hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty given me life.

33:5  If thou canst, answer thou me, set thy words in order before me, stand forth.

33:6  Behold, I am toward G-d even as thou art; I also am formed out of the clay.

33:7  Behold, my terror shall not make thee afraid, neither shall my pressure be heavy upon thee.

33:8  Surely thou hast spoken in my hearing, and I have heard the voice of thy words;

33:9  'I am clean, without transgression, I am innocent, neither is there iniquity in me;

33:10  Behold, He findeth occasions against me, He counteth me for His enemy;

33:11  He putteth my feet in the stocks, He marketh all my paths.'

33:12  Behold, I answer thee: In this thou art not right, that G-d is too great for man;

33:13  Why hast thou striven against Him? seeing that He will not answer any of his words.

33:14  For G-d speaketh in one way, yea in two, though man perceiveth it not.

33:15  In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed;

33:16  Then He openeth the ears of men, and by their chastisement sealeth the decree,

33:17  That men may put away their purpose, and that He may hide pride from man;

33:18  That He may keep back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword.

33:19  He is chastened also with pain upon his bed, and all his bones grow stiff;

33:20  So that his life maketh him to abhor bread, and his soul dainty food.

33:21  His flesh is consumed away, that it cannot be seen; and his bones corrode to unsightliness.

33:22  Yea, his soul draweth near unto the pit, and his life to the destroyers.

33:23  If there be for him an angel, an intercessor, one among a thousand, to vouch for a man's uprightness;

33:24  Then He is gracious unto him, and saith: 'Deliver him from going down to the pit, I have found a ransom.'

33:25  His flesh is tenderer than a child's; he returneth to the days of his youth;

33:26  He prayeth unto G-d, and He is favourable unto him; so that he seeth His face with joy; and He restoreth unto man his righteousness.

33:27  He cometh before men, and saith: 'I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it profited me not.'

33:28  So He redeemeth his soul from going into the pit, and his life beholdeth the light.

33:29  Lo, all these things doth G-d work, twice, yea thrice, with a man,

33:30  To bring back his soul from the pit, that he may be enlightened with the light of the living.

33:31  Mark well, O Job, hearken unto me; hold thy peace, and I will speak.

33:32  If thou hast any thing to say, answer me; speak, for I desire to justify thee.

33:33  If not, hearken thou unto me; hold thy peace, and I will teach thee wisdom.