Job 33:19-34:9

English Standard Version

¹⁹ “Man is also rebuked with pain on his bed
    and with continual strife in his ^(A)bones,
²⁰ so that his ^(B)life loathes bread,
    and his appetite ^(C)the choicest food.
²¹ His flesh is so wasted away that it cannot be seen,
    and his bones that were not seen ^(D)stick out.
²² His soul draws near ^(E)the pit,
    and his life to ^(F)those who bring death.
²³ If there be for him ^(G)an angel,
    ^(H)a mediator, ^(I)one of the thousand,
    to declare to man what is ^(J)right for him,
²⁴ and he is merciful to him, and says,
    ‘Deliver him from going down into the pit;
    I have found ^(K)a ransom;
²⁵ let his flesh ^(L)become fresh with youth;
    let him return to the days of his youthful vigor’;
²⁶ then man^{[a] (M)}prays to God, and he accepts him;
    he ^(N)sees his face with a shout of joy,
and he ^(O)restores to man his righteousness.
²⁷     He sings before men and says:
‘I ^(P)sinned and perverted what was right,
    and it was not repaid to me.
²⁸ He has redeemed my ^(Q)soul from going down ^(R)into the pit,
    and my life shall ^(S)look upon the light.’

²⁹ “Behold, God does all these things,
    twice, ^(T)three times, with a man,
³⁰ to bring back his soul from the pit,
    that he may be lighted with ^(U)the light of life.
³¹ Pay attention, O Job, listen to me;
    be silent, and I will speak.
³² If you have any words, ^(V)answer me;
    ^(W)speak, for I desire to justify you.
³³ If not, ^(X)listen to me;
    be silent, and I will teach you wisdom.”

² “Hear my words, you wise men,
    and give ear to me, you who know;
³ for ^(Y)the ear tests words
    as the palate tastes food.
⁴ Let us choose ^(Z)what is right;
    let us know among ourselves what is good.
⁵ For Job has said, ‘I am ^(AA)in the right,
    and ^(AB)God has taken away my right;
⁶ in spite of my right I am counted a liar;
    my wound is incurable, though I am ^(AC)without transgression.’
⁷ What man is like Job,
    who ^(AD)drinks up scoffing like water,
⁸ who travels in company with evildoers
    and walks ^(AE)with wicked men?
⁹ For ^(AF)he has said, ‘It profits a man nothing
    that he should take delight in God.’