Job 33
Living Bible
33 “Please listen, Job, to what I have to say. 2 I have begun to speak; now let me continue. 3 I will speak the truth with all sincerity. 4 For the Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life. 5 Don’t hesitate to answer me if you can.
6 “Look, I am the one you were wishing for, someone to stand between you and God and to be both his representative and yours. 7 You need not be frightened of me. I am not some person of renown to make you nervous and afraid. I, too, am made of common clay.
8 “You have said it in my hearing, yes, you’ve said it again and again— 9 ‘I am pure, I am innocent; I have not sinned.’ 10 You say God is using a fine-tooth comb to try to find a single fault, and so to count you as his enemy. 11 ‘And he puts my feet in the stocks,’ you say, ‘and watches every move I make.’
12 “All right, here is my reply: In this very thing, you have sinned by speaking of God that way. For God is greater than man. 13 Why should you fight against him just because he does not give account to you of what he does?
14 “For God speaks again and again, 15 in dreams, in visions of the night when deep sleep falls on men as they lie on their beds. 16 He opens their ears in times like that and gives them wisdom and instruction, 17-18 causing them to change their minds, and keeping them from pride, and warning them of the penalties of sin, and keeping them from falling into some trap.
19 “Or God sends sickness and pain, even though no bone is broken, 20 so that a man loses all taste and appetite for food and doesn’t care for even the daintiest dessert. 21 He becomes thin, mere skin and bones, 22 and draws near to death.
23-24 “But if a messenger from heaven is there to intercede for him as a friend, to show him what is right, then God pities him and says,[a] ‘Set him free. Do not make him die, for I have found a substitute.’ 25 Then his body will become as healthy as a child’s, firm and youthful again. 26 And when he prays to God, God will hear and answer and receive him with joy, and return him to his duties. 27 And he will declare to his friends, ‘I sinned, but God let me go. 28 He did not let me die. I will go on living in the realm of light.’
29 “Yes, God often does these things for man— 30 brings back his soul from the pit, so that he may live in the light of the living. 31 Mark this well, O Job. Listen to me, and let me say more. 32 But if you have anything to say at this point, go ahead. I want to hear it, for I am anxious to justify you. 33 But if not, then listen to me. Keep silence and I will teach you wisdom!”
Footnotes
- Job 33:23 then God pities him and says, or “and if the Angel says.”
Job 33
King James Version
33 Wherefore, Job, I pray thee, hear my speeches, and hearken to all my words.
2 Behold, now I have opened my mouth, my tongue hath spoken in my mouth.
3 My words shall be of the uprightness of my heart: and my lips shall utter knowledge clearly.
4 The spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life.
5 If thou canst answer me, set thy words in order before me, stand up.
6 Behold, I am according to thy wish in God's stead: I also am formed out of the clay.
7 Behold, my terror shall not make thee afraid, neither shall my hand be heavy upon thee.
8 Surely thou hast spoken in mine hearing, and I have heard the voice of thy words, saying,
9 I am clean without transgression, I am innocent; neither is there iniquity in me.
10 Behold, he findeth occasions against me, he counteth me for his enemy,
11 He putteth my feet in the stocks, he marketh all my paths.
12 Behold, in this thou art not just: I will answer thee, that God is greater than man.
13 Why dost thou strive against him? for he giveth not account of any of his matters.
14 For God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not.
15 In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed;
16 Then he openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction,
17 That he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man.
18 He keepeth back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword.
19 He is chastened also with pain upon his bed, and the multitude of his bones with strong pain:
20 So that his life abhorreth bread, and his soul dainty meat.
21 His flesh is consumed away, that it cannot be seen; and his bones that were not seen stick out.
22 Yea, his soul draweth near unto the grave, and his life to the destroyers.
23 If there be a messenger with him, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to shew unto man his uprightness:
24 Then he is gracious unto him, and saith, Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom.
25 His flesh shall be fresher than a child's: he shall return to the days of his youth:
26 He shall pray unto God, and he will be favourable unto him: and he shall see his face with joy: for he will render unto man his righteousness.
27 He looketh upon men, and if any say, I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it profited me not;
28 He will deliver his soul from going into the pit, and his life shall see the light.
29 Lo, all these things worketh God oftentimes with man,
30 To bring back his soul from the pit, to be enlightened with the light of the living.
31 Mark well, O Job, hearken unto me: hold thy peace, and I will speak.
32 If thou hast anything to say, answer me: speak, for I desire to justify thee.
33 If not, hearken unto me: hold thy peace, and I shall teach thee wisdom.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.