Job 33
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Elihu Rebukes Job
33 “But now, hear my speech, O Job,
and listen to all my words.
2 See, I open my mouth;
the tongue in my mouth speaks.
3 My words declare the uprightness of my heart,
and what my lips know they speak sincerely.(A)
4 The spirit of God has made me,
and the breath of the Almighty[a] gives me life.(B)
5 Answer me, if you can;
set your words in order before me; take your stand.(C)
6 See, before God I am as you are;
I, too, was formed from a piece of clay.
7 No fear of me need terrify you;
my pressure will not be heavy on you.(D)
8 “Surely, you have spoken in my hearing,
and I have heard the sound of your words.
9 You say, ‘I am clean, without transgression;
I am pure, and there is no iniquity in me.(E)
10 Look, he finds occasions against me;
he counts me as his enemy;(F)
11 he puts my feet in the stocks
and watches all my paths.’(G)
12 “But in this you are not right. I will answer you:
God is greater than any mortal.
13 Why do you contend against him,
saying, ‘He will answer none of my[b] words’?(H)
14 For God speaks in one way
and in two, though people do not perceive it.(I)
15 In a dream, in a vision of the night,
when deep sleep falls on mortals,
while they slumber on their beds,(J)
16 then he opens their ears
and terrifies them with warnings,(K)
17 that he may turn them aside from their deeds
and keep them from pride,
18 to spare their souls from the Pit,
their lives from traversing the River.
19 They are also chastened with pain upon their beds
and with continual strife in their bones,(L)
20 so that their lives loathe bread
and their appetites dainty food.(M)
21 Their flesh is so wasted away that it cannot be seen,
and their bones, once invisible, now stick out.(N)
22 Their souls draw near the Pit
and their lives to those who bring death.(O)
23 Then, if there should be for one of them an angel,
a mediator, one of a thousand,
one who declares a person upright,(P)
24 and he is gracious to that person and says,
‘Deliver him from going down into the Pit;
I have found a ransom;(Q)
25 let his flesh become fresh with youth;
let him return to the days of his youthful vigor,’(R)
26 then he prays to God and is accepted by him;
he comes into his presence with joy,
and God[c] repays him for his righteousness.(S)
27 That person sings to others and says,
‘I sinned and perverted what was right,
and it was not paid back to me.(T)
28 He has redeemed my soul from going down to the Pit,
and my life shall see the light.’(U)
29 “God indeed does all these things,
twice, three times, with mortals,(V)
30 to bring back their souls from the Pit,
so that they may see the light of life.[d](W)
31 Pay heed, Job, listen to me;
be silent, 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;
be silent, and I will teach you wisdom.”(X)
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.
New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.