Job 33
American Standard Version
33 Howbeit, Job, I pray thee, hear my speech,
And hearken to all my words.
2 Behold now, I have opened my mouth;
My tongue hath spoken in my [a]mouth.
3 My words shall utter the uprightness of my heart;
And that which my lips know they shall speak sincerely.
4 The Spirit of God hath made me,
And the breath of the Almighty giveth me life.
5 If thou canst, answer thou me;
Set thy words in order before me, stand forth.
6 Behold, [b]I am toward God even as thou art:
I also am formed out of the clay.
7 Behold, my terror shall not make thee afraid,
Neither shall my pressure be heavy upon thee.
8 Surely thou hast spoken in my 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 [c]occasions against me,
He counteth me for his enemy;
11 He putteth my feet in the stocks,
He marketh all my paths.
12 Behold, [d]I will answer thee, in this thou art not just;
For God is greater than man.
13 Why dost thou strive against him,
For that he giveth not account of any of his matters?
14 For God speaketh [e]once,
Yea twice, though man regardeth 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 [f]openeth the ears of men,
And sealeth their instruction,
17 [g]That he may withdraw man from his purpose,
And hide pride from man;
18 [h]He keepeth back his soul from the pit,
And his life from perishing by the [i]sword.
19 He is chastened also with pain upon his bed,
[j]And with continual strife in his bones;
20 So that his life abhorreth bread,
And his soul dainty food.
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 pit,
And his life to the destroyers.
23 If there be with him [k]an angel,
An interpreter, one [l]among a thousand,
To show unto man [m]what is right for him;
24 [n]Then God 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 returneth to the days of his youth.
26 He prayeth unto God, and he is favorable unto him,
So that he seeth his face with joy:
And he restoreth unto man his righteousness.
27 He [o]singeth before men, and saith,
I have sinned, and perverted that which was right,
And [p]it profited me not:
28 He hath redeemed my soul from going into the pit,
And my life shall behold the light.
29 Lo, all these things doth God work,
Twice, yea thrice, with a man,
30 To bring back his soul from the pit,
That he may be enlightened with the light of [q]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 thou unto me:
Hold thy peace, and I will teach thee wisdom.
Footnotes
- Job 33:2 Hebrew palate.
- Job 33:6 Or, I am according to thy wish in God’s stead
- Job 33:10 Or, causes of alienation
- Job 33:12 Or, in this thou art not just: I will answer thee; For etc.
- Job 33:14 Or, in one way, yea, in two
- Job 33:16 Hebrew uncovereth.
- Job 33:17 Or, That man may put away his purpose, And that he may hide
- Job 33:18 Or, That he may keep back
- Job 33:18 Or, weapons
- Job 33:19 Another reading is, While all his bones are firm.
- Job 33:23 Or, a messenger
- Job 33:23 Or, of the thousand
- Job 33:23 Or, his uprightness
- Job 33:24 Or, And he be gracious . . . and say . . . ransom: his flesh etc.
- Job 33:27 Or, looketh upon men
- Job 33:27 Or, it was not requited unto me. Or, it was not meet for me
- Job 33:30 Or, life
Job 33
New American Standard Bible 1995
Elihu Claims to Speak for God
33 “However now, Job, please (A)hear my speech,
And listen to all my words.
2 “Behold now, I open my mouth,
My tongue in my [a]mouth speaks.
3 “My words are from the uprightness of my heart,
And my lips speak (B)knowledge sincerely.
4 “The (C)Spirit of God has made me,
And the (D)breath of [b]the Almighty gives me life.
5 “(E)Refute me if you can;
Array yourselves before me, take your stand.
6 “Behold, I belong to God like you;
I too have been [c]formed out of the (F)clay.
7 “Behold, (G)no fear of me should terrify you,
Nor should my pressure weigh heavily on you.
8 “Surely you have spoken in my hearing,
And I have heard the sound of your words:
9 ‘I am (H)pure, (I)without transgression;
I am innocent and there (J)is no guilt in me.
10 ‘Behold, He [d]invents pretexts against me;
He (K)counts me as His enemy.
11 ‘He (L)puts my feet in the stocks;
He watches all my paths.’
12 “Behold, let me [e]tell you, (M)you are not right in this,
For God is greater than man.
13 “Why do you (N)complain against Him
That He does not give an account of all His doings?
14 “Indeed (O)God speaks once,
Or twice, yet no one notices it.
15 “In a (P)dream, a vision of the night,
When sound sleep falls on men,
While they slumber in their beds,
16 Then (Q)He opens the ears of men,
And seals their instruction,
17 That He may turn man aside from his conduct,
And [f]keep man from pride;
18 He (R)keeps back his soul from the pit,
And his life from [g]passing over (S)into Sheol.
19 “[h]Man is also chastened with (T)pain on his bed,
And with unceasing complaint in his bones;
20 So that his life (U)loathes bread,
And his soul favorite food.
21 “His (V)flesh wastes away from sight,
And his (W)bones which were not seen stick out.
22 “Then (X)his soul draws near to the pit,
And his life to those who bring death.
23 “If there is an angel as (Y)mediator for him,
One out of a thousand,
To remind a man what is [i]right for him,
24 Then let him be gracious to him, and say,
‘Deliver him from (Z)going down to the pit,
I have found a (AA)ransom’;
25 Let his flesh become fresher than in youth,
Let him return to the days of his youthful vigor;
26 Then he will (AB)pray to God, and He will accept him,
That (AC)he may see His face with joy,
And He may restore His righteousness to man.
27 “He will sing to men and say,
‘I (AD)have sinned and perverted what is right,
And it is not (AE)proper for me.
28 ‘He has redeemed my soul from going to the pit,
And my life shall (AF)see the light.’
29 “Behold, God does (AG)all these [j]oftentimes with men,
30 To (AH)bring back his soul from the pit,
That he may be enlightened with the light of life.
31 “Pay attention, O Job, listen to me;
Keep silent, and let me speak.
32 “Then if [k]you have anything to say, answer me;
Speak, for I desire to justify you.
33 “If not, (AI)listen to me;
Keep silent, and I will teach you wisdom.”
Public Domain (Why are modern Bible translations copyrighted?)
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
