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33 “However, Job, please hear my speech,
    and listen to all my words.
See now, I have opened my mouth.
    My tongue has spoken in my mouth.
My words will utter the uprightness of my heart.
    That which my lips know they will speak sincerely.
The Spirit of God has made me,
    and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.
If you can, answer me.
    Set your words in order before me, and stand up.
Behold, I am toward God even as you are.
    I am also formed out of the clay.
Behold, my terror will not make you afraid,
    neither will my pressure be heavy on you.

“Surely you have spoken in my hearing,
    I have heard the voice of your words, saying,
‘I am clean, without disobedience.
    I am innocent, neither 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 marks all my paths.’

12 “Behold, I will answer you. In this you are not just,
    for God is greater than man.
13 Why do you strive against him,
    because he doesn’t give account of any of his matters?
14 For God speaks once,
    yes twice, though man pays no attention.
15 In a dream, in a vision of the night,
    when deep sleep falls on men,
    in slumbering on the bed;
16 Then he opens the ears of men,
    and seals their instruction,
17 that he may withdraw man from his purpose,
    and hide pride from man.
18 He keeps back his soul from the pit,
    and his life from perishing by the sword.

19 “He is chastened also with pain on his bed,
    with continual strife in his bones,
20 so that his life abhors bread,
    and his soul dainty food.
21 His flesh is so consumed away that it can’t be seen.
    His bones that were not seen stick out.
22 Yes, his soul draws near to the pit,
    and his life to the destroyers.

23 “If there is beside him an angel,
    an interpreter, one among a thousand,
    to show to man what is right for him;
24 then God 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 returns to the days of his youth.
26 He prays to God, and he is favorable to him,
    so that he sees his face with joy.
    He restores to man his righteousness.
27 He sings before men, and says,
    ‘I have sinned, and perverted that which was right,
    and it didn’t profit me.
28 He has redeemed my soul from going into the pit.
    My life will see the light.’

29 “Behold, God does all these things,
    twice, yes three times, with a man,
30 to bring back his soul from the pit,
    that he may be enlightened with the light of the living.
31 Mark well, Job, and 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.”

Elihu Contradicts Job

33 “But please, Job, hear my speech,
And listen to all my words.
Now, I open my mouth;
My tongue speaks in my mouth.
My words come from my upright heart;
My lips utter pure knowledge.
(A)The Spirit of God has made me,
And the breath of the Almighty gives me life.
If you can answer me,
Set your words in order before me;
Take your stand.
(B)Truly I am [a]as your spokesman before God;
I also have been formed out of clay.
(C)Surely no fear of me will terrify you,
Nor will my hand be heavy on you.

“Surely you have spoken [b]in my hearing,
And I have heard the sound of your words, saying,
‘I(D) am pure, without transgression;
I am innocent, and there is no iniquity in me.
10 Yet He finds occasions against me,
(E)He counts me as His enemy;
11 (F)He puts my feet in the stocks,
He watches all my paths.’

12 “Look, in this you are not righteous.
I will answer you,
For God is greater than man.
13 Why do you (G)contend with Him?
For He does not give an accounting of any of His words.
14 (H)For God may speak in one way, or in another,
Yet man does not perceive it.
15 (I)In a dream, in a vision of the night,
When deep sleep falls upon men,
While slumbering on their beds,
16 (J)Then He opens the ears of men,
And seals their instruction.
17 In order to turn man from his deed,
And conceal pride from man,
18 He keeps back his soul from the Pit,
And his life from [c]perishing by the sword.

19 Man is also chastened with pain on his (K)bed,
And with strong pain in many of his bones,
20 (L)So that his life abhors (M)bread,
And his soul [d]succulent food.
21 His flesh wastes away from sight,
And his bones stick out which once were not seen.
22 Yes, his soul draws near the Pit,
And his life to the executioners.

23 “If there is a messenger for him,
A mediator, one among a thousand,
To show man His uprightness,
24 Then He is gracious to him, and says,
‘Deliver him from going down to the Pit;
I have found [e]a ransom’;
25 His flesh shall be young like a child’s,
He shall return to the days of his youth.
26 He shall pray to God, and He will delight in him,
He shall see His face with joy,
For He restores to man His righteousness.
27 Then he looks at men and (N)says,
‘I have sinned, and perverted what was right,
And it (O)did not profit me.’
28 He will (P)redeem [f]his soul from going down to the Pit,
And his life shall see the light.

29 “Behold, God works all these things,
Twice, in fact, three times with a man,
30 (Q)To bring back his soul from the Pit,
That he may be enlightened with the light of life.

31 “Give ear, 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, (R)listen to me;
[g]Hold your peace, and I will teach you wisdom.”

Footnotes

  1. Job 33:6 Lit. as your mouth
  2. Job 33:8 Lit. in my ears
  3. Job 33:18 Lit. passing
  4. Job 33:20 desirable
  5. Job 33:24 an atonement
  6. Job 33:28 Kt. my
  7. Job 33:33 Keep silent