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.

 4 God’s own spirit made me,+

And the Almighty’s own breath brought me to life.+

 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.’+

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.+

18 God spares his soul* from the pit,*+

His life from perishing by the sword.*

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,

And he* rejects even fine food.+

21 His flesh wastes away from sight,

And his bones that were hidden now protrude.*

22 His soul* draws near to the pit;*

His life to those who bring death.

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,

‘Spare him from going down into the pit!*+

25 Let his flesh become fresher* than in youth;+

Let him return to the days of his youthful vigor.’+

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.*

28 He has redeemed my soul* from going into the pit,*+

And my life will see the light.’

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.+

33 If you have nothing to say, you should listen to me;

Keep silent, and I will teach you wisdom.”