Job 33

But now Job, hear my words,

   Pat attention to everything I say.

Behold, I open my mouth,

   My tongue forms words in my mouth.

My heart proclaims words of wisdom,

   My lips declare the truth.

The spirit of EL (God) has made me,

   The breath of Shaddai (the Almighty) gives me life.

Have a response for me, if you are able,

   Prepare to contend with me, to take your stand.

Behold, I am no better than you before God,

   I too have been pinched from clay.

Surely dread of me does not terrify you,

   My hand does not weigh upon you.

Indeed, you have spoken in my hearing –

I heard the sound of your words –

You say, ‘I am clean, without transgression,

   I am innocent, without guilt.

Yet God invents pretext against me,

   Treats me as His enemy.

He puts my feet in stocks,

   Watches all my ways.’

In this regard, you are not right, I will tell you,

   ‘God is greater than man.’

Why do you content against Him, saying,

   ‘He answers none of my words.’?

For God speaks in one way,

   Then in two, no one perceives.

In a dream, in a vision of the night,

   When deep sleep falls on mortals,

      While they slumber on their beds.

Then He opens their ears,

   As a warning, terrifies them.

To turn one away from selfish deeds,

   To suppress pride in themselves.

To spare them from the pit,

His spirit from crossing the river of death,

Or chastened by pain upon their bed,

   With continued aching in their bones.

So that his being loathes his meals,

   His appetite, even succulent delicacies.

His flesh wastes away so that it cannot be seen,

   And his bowels protrude and cannot be looked upon.

His being draws near to the pit,

   His life to the emissaries of death.

Then, if there should have an advocate,

   One advocate, however rare and difficult to find,

      To vouch for a man’s uprightness.

Then, God would be merciful to him and command,

   ‘Free him from descending to the pit,

      I have obtained a ransom for him.’

Then his flesh becomes fresh as in youth,

   He returns to the days of his vigor.

Then he shall appeal to God and find favor,

   He shall come into His presence joyfully,

      He will recount to men God’s righteousness.

He sings out to others, saying,

   ‘I have sinned, perverted the right,

      But it availed me nothing.

He has redeemed my soul from going down to the pit,

   So that my spirit might enjoy the light of life.’

Behold, God does all these things,

   Twice – Yes, three times with a man.

To redeem their souls from the pit,

   So that they may bask in the light of life.

Pay attention, Job, listen to me,

   Be silent, and let me speak.

Then, if you have anymore to say, answer me;

   Speak out, for I would love to declare you right.

But if not, then listen to me;

   Be silent, let me teach you wisdom.

Job 321