Job 33
Modern English Version
Elihu Addresses Job
33 “Therefore, Job, I pray, hear my speeches,
and listen to all my words.
2 Behold, now I have opened my mouth;
my tongue has spoken in my mouth.
3 My words will be from the uprightness of my heart,
and my lips will utter knowledge clearly.
4 The Spirit of God has made me,
and the breath of the Almighty has given me life.
5 If you can answer me,
set your words in order before me; stand up.
6 Surely I am before God like you;
I also am formed out of the clay.
7 Indeed, no dread of me will make you afraid,
nor will my hand be heavy upon you.
8 “Surely you have spoken in my hearing,
and I have heard the sound of your words, saying,
9 ‘I am clean, without transgression;
I am innocent, nor is there iniquity in me.
10 Behold, He finds occasions against me,
He counts me for His enemy;
11 He puts my feet in the stocks,
He watches all my paths.’
12 “Look, in this you are not just.
I will answer you, that God is greater than man.
13 Why do you strive against Him?
For He does not give an accounting for any of His words.
14 For God speaks once, yes twice,
yet man does not perceive it.
15 In a dream, in a vision of the night,
when deep sleep falls upon men,
in slumber on their beds,
16 then He opens the ears of men,
and seals their instruction,
17 that He might turn aside man from his purpose,
and conceal pride from man.
18 He keeps back his soul from the pit,
and his life from perishing by the sword.
19 “He is also chastened with pain on his bed,
and with strong pain in many of his bones,
20 so that his life abhors 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 Yes, his soul draws near to the grave,
and his life to the executioners.
23 If there is a messenger for him,
an interpreter, one among a thousand,
to show to man what is right for him,
24 then He is gracious to him, and says,
‘Deliver him from going down to the pit;
I have found a ransom.’
25 His flesh will be fresher than a child’s;
he will return to the days of his youth;
26 he will pray to God, and He will be favorable unto him,
and he will see His face with joy,
for He will render unto man His righteousness.
27 Then he looks at men and says,
‘I have sinned and perverted what was right,
and it did not profit me.’
28 He will deliver his soul from going down to the pit,
and his life will see the light.
29 “Behold, God works all these things,
twice, three times with man,
30 to bring back his soul from the pit,
to be enlightened with the light of the living.
31 “Pay attention, Job, listen to me;
hold your peace, and I will speak.
32 If you have anything to say, answer me;
speak, for I desire to justify you.
33 If not, listen to me; hold your peace,
and I will teach you wisdom.”
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
The Holy Bible, Modern English Version. Copyright © 2014 by Military Bible Association. Published and distributed by Charisma House.
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