¹⁴ For God does speak^(A)—now one way, now another^(B)—
    though no one perceives it.^(C)
15 In a dream,^(D) in a vision^(E) of the night,^(F)
    when deep sleep^(G) falls on people
    as they slumber in their beds,
¹⁶ he may speak^(H) in their ears
    and terrify them^(I) with warnings,^(J)
17 to turn them from wrongdoing
    and keep them from pride,^(K)
18 to preserve them from the pit,^(L)
    their lives from perishing by the sword.^[a](M)

¹⁹ “Or someone may be chastened^(N) on a bed of pain^(O)
    with constant distress in their bones,^(P)
20 so that their body finds food^(Q) repulsive
    and their soul loathes the choicest meal.^(R)
21 Their flesh wastes away to nothing,
    and their bones,^(S) once hidden, now stick out.^(T)
22 They draw near to the pit,^(U)
    and their life to the messengers of death.^[b](V)
23 Yet if there is an angel at their side,
    a messenger,^(W) one out of a thousand,
    sent to tell them how to be upright,^(X)
24 and he is gracious to that person and says to God,
    ‘Spare them from going down to the pit;^(Y)
    I have found a ransom for them^(Z)—
²⁵ let their flesh be renewed^(AA) like a child’s;
    let them be restored as in the days of their youth’^(AB)—
²⁶ then that person can pray to God and find favor with him,^(AC)
    they will see God’s face and shout for joy;^(AD)
    he will restore them to full well-being.^(AE)
27 And they will go to others and say,
    ‘I have sinned,^(AF) I have perverted what is right,^(AG)
    but I did not get what I deserved.^(AH)
28 God has delivered^(AI) me from going down to the pit,^(AJ)
    and I shall live to enjoy the light of life.’^(AK)

²⁹ “God does all these things to a person^(AL)—
    twice, even three times^(AM)—
³⁰ to turn them back^(AN) from the pit,^(AO)
    that the light of life^(AP) may shine on them.^(AQ)

² Through the praise of children and infants
    you have established a stronghold^(A) against your enemies,
    to silence the foe^(B) and the avenger.