Job
33 “But now, Job, please hear my words;
Listen to everything I say.
2 Look, please! I must open my mouth;
My tongue* must speak.
3 My words declare the uprightness of my heart,+
And my lips sincerely tell what I know.
5 Reply to me if you are able;
Present your arguments before me; take your position.
6 Look! I am just like you before the true God;
From the clay I too was shaped.+
7 So no fear of me should terrify you,
And no pressure from me should overwhelm you.
8 But you said in my hearing,
Yes, I kept hearing these words,
9 ‘I am pure, without transgression;+
I am clean, without error.+
10 But God finds reasons to oppose me;
He considers me his enemy.+
11 He puts my feet in stocks;
He scrutinizes all my paths.’+
12 But you are not right in saying this, so I will answer you:
God is far greater than mortal man.+
13 Why do you complain against Him?+
Is it because he did not answer all your words?+
14 For God speaks once and a second time,
But no one pays attention,
15 In a dream, a vision of the night,+
When deep sleep falls upon people
While they sleep in their beds.
16 Then he uncovers their ears+
And impresses* his instruction upon them,
17 To turn a person away from wrongdoing+
And to protect a man from pride.+
19 A person is also reproved by pain on his bed
And by the constant distress of his bones,
20 So that his very being* loathes bread,
21 His flesh wastes away from sight,
And his bones that were hidden now protrude.*
23 If there is a messenger* for him,
One advocate out of a thousand,
To tell to man what is upright,
24 Then God shows him favor and says,
I have found a ransom!+
26 He will entreat God,+ who will accept him,
And he will see His face with shouts of joy,
And He will restore His righteousness to mortal man.
27 That person will declare* to men,
‘I have sinned+ and distorted what is right,
But I did not receive what I deserved.*
29 Indeed, God does all these things
Twice, three times, for a man,
30 To bring him* back from the pit,*
So that he may be enlightened with the light of life.+
31 Pay attention, Job! Listen to me!
Keep silent, and I will continue speaking.
32 If you have something to say, reply to me.
Speak, for I want to prove you right.
33 If you have nothing to say, you should listen to me;
Keep silent, and I will teach you wisdom.”