Job 33
Amplified Bible, Classic Edition
33 Be that as it may, Job, I beg of you to hear what I have to say and give heed to all my words.
2 Behold, here I am with open mouth; here is my tongue talking.
3 My words shall express the uprightness of my heart, and my lips shall speak what they know with utter sincerity.
4 [It is] the Spirit of God that made me [which has stirred me up], and the breath of the Almighty that gives me life [which inspires me].
5 Answer me now, if you can; set your words in order before me; take your stand.
6 Behold, I am toward God and before Him even as you are; I also am formed out of the clay [though I speak with abnormal wisdom because of a divine illumination].
7 See my terror [for I am only a fellow mortal, not God]; I shall not make you afraid, neither shall my pressure be heavy upon you.
8 Surely you have spoken in my hearing, and I have heard the voice of your words, saying,
9 I am clean, without transgression; I am innocent, neither is there iniquity in me.
10 But behold, God finds occasions against me and causes of alienation and indifference; He counts me as His enemy.
11 He puts my feet in the stocks; He [untrustingly] watches all my paths [you say].
12 I reply to you, Behold, in this you are not just; God is superior to man.
13 Why do you contend against Him? For He does not give account of any of His actions. [Sufficient for us it should be to know that it is He Who does them.]
14 For God [does reveal His will; He] speaks not only once, but more than once, even though men do not regard it [including you, Job].
15 [One may hear God’s voice] in a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on men while slumbering upon the bed,
16 Then He opens the ears of men and seals their instruction [terrifying them with warnings],
17 That He may withdraw man from his purpose and cut off pride from him [disgusting him with his own disappointing self-sufficiency].
18 He holds him back from the pit [of destruction], and his life from perishing by the sword [of God’s destructive judgments].
19 [God’s voice may be heard by man when] he is chastened with pain upon his bed and with continual strife in his bones or while all his bones are firmly set,
20 So that his desire makes him loathe food, and even dainty dishes [nauseate him].
21 His flesh is so wasted away that it cannot be seen, and his bones that were not seen stick out.
22 Yes, his soul draws near to corruption, and his life to the inflicters of death (the destroyers).
23 [God’s voice may be heard] if there is for the hearer a messenger or an angel, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to show to man what is right for him [how to be upright and in right standing with God],
24 Then [God] is gracious to him and says, Deliver him from going down into the pit [of destruction]; I have found a ransom (a price of redemption, an atonement)!
25 [Then the man’s] flesh shall be restored; it becomes fresher and more tender 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; for [God] restores to him his righteousness (his uprightness and right standing with God—with its joys).
27 He looks upon other men or sings out to them, I have sinned and perverted that which was right, and it did not profit me, or He did not requite me [according to my iniquity]!
28 [God] has redeemed my life from going down to the pit [of destruction], and my life shall see the light!
29 [Elihu comments] Behold, God does all these things twice, yes, three times, with a man,
30 To bring back his life from the pit [of destruction], that he may be enlightened with the light of the living.
31 Give heed, O 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 [you do] not [have anything to say], listen to me; hold your peace, and I will teach you wisdom.
Job 33
New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised
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.
4 The spirit of God has made me,
and the breath of the Almighty[a] gives me life.
5 Answer me, if you can;
set your words in order before me; take your stand.
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.
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.
10 Look, he finds occasions against me,
he counts me as his enemy;
11 he puts my feet in the stocks,
and watches all my paths.”
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”?
14 For God speaks in one way,
and in two, though people do not perceive it.
15 In a dream, in a vision of the night,
when deep sleep falls on mortals,
while they slumber on their beds,
16 then he opens their ears,
and terrifies them with warnings,
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,
20 so that their lives loathe bread,
and their appetites dainty food.
21 Their flesh is so wasted away that it cannot be seen;
and their bones, once invisible, now stick out.
22 Their souls draw near the Pit,
and their lives to those who bring death.
23 Then, if there should be for one of them an angel,
a mediator, one of a thousand,
one who declares a person upright,
24 and he is gracious to that person, and says,
“Deliver him from going down into the Pit;
I have found a ransom;
25 let his flesh become fresh with youth;
let him return to the days of his youthful vigour”;
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.
27 That person sings to others and says,
“I sinned, and perverted what was right,
and it was not paid back to me.
28 He has redeemed my soul from going down to the Pit,
and my life shall see the light.”
29 ‘God indeed does all these things,
twice, three times, with mortals,
30 to bring back their souls from the Pit,
so that they may see the light of life.[d]
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.’
Job 33
Lexham English Bible
Elihu Rebukes Job
33 “But now, please hear my speeches,[a] Job,
and hear[b] all my words.
2 Please look, I open my mouth;
my tongue in my mouth speaks.
3 My words declare my heart’s uprightness,
and my lips sincerely speak what my lips know.[c]
4 The Spirit of God has made me,
and the breath of Shaddai gives life to me.
5 “If you are able, answer me.
Present your argument before me;[d] take your stand.
6 Look, before God I am like you;[e]
I myself was also formed from clay.
7 Look, dread of me should not terrify you,
and my hand will not be heavy upon you.
8 “Surely you have spoken in my ears,
and I have heard the sound of your words:[f]
9 ‘I am clean, without transgression;
I am pure, and there is no guilt in me.
10 Look, he finds fault against me;
he reckons me as his enemy;
11 he puts my feet in the block;
he watches all my paths.’
12 “Look, in this you are not right—I will answer you:
Indeed, God is greater than a human being.
13 Why do you contend against him,
that he will not answer all a person’s words?
14 Indeed, God speaks in one way,
even[g] in two,[h] yet someone does not perceive it.
15 “In a dream, a vision of the night,
when a deep sleep falls on men slumbering on their bed,
16 then he opens the ear of men,
and he frightens them with a warning[i]
17 to turn human beings aside from their deeds,
and he keeps man from pride.
18 He spares his life from the pit
and his life from passing over the river of death.
19 “And he is reproved with pain on his bed,
even[j] with the strife of his bones continually,
20 so that[k] his life loathes bread,
and his inner self[l] loathes appetizing food.[m]
21 His flesh is wasted away from sight,
and his bones, which are invisible, are bared.
22 And he[n] draws near to the pit
and his life to the killers.
23 “If there is a messenger beside him, a mediator, one of a thousand,[o]
to declare to a human being his uprightness
24 so that[p] he is gracious to him, and he says,
‘Deliver him from descending into the pit;
I have found a ransom.’
25 His flesh is renewed with his youth;
he returns to the days of his youthful strength.
26 He prays to God, then he accepts him,
and he sees his face with a shout of joy,
and he repays to the human being his righteousness.
27 “He will sing to men, and he will say,
‘I have sinned and have perverted what is right,
and it was not paid back to me.
28 He redeemed my life from going down into the pit,
so[q] I will enjoy the light.’[r]
29 Look, God does all these things
twice, three times[s] with a person
30 to bring his life back from the pit
so that he may enjoy the light of life.[t]
31 “Listen attentively, Job; listen to me;
be silent, and I will speak.
32 If you have anything to say,[u] answer me;[v]
speak, for I desire to justify you.[w]
33 If not, you listen to me;
be silent, and I will teach you wisdom.”
Footnotes
- Job 33:1 Or “my sentences,” or “what I have to say”
- Job 33:1 Or “give ear to”
- Job 33:3 Literally “the knowledge of my lips”
- Job 33:5 Literally “to the face of me”
- Job 33:6 Literally “I am like your mouth”
- Job 33:8 Or “sentences,” or “what you say”
- Job 33:14 Hebrew “and”
- Job 33:14 Or “time and again” (NJPS, HCSB)
- Job 33:16 Literally “with their warning he frightens”
- Job 33:19 Hebrew “and”
- Job 33:20 Hebrew “and”
- Job 33:20 Or “soul”
- Job 33:20 Literally “food of desire”
- Job 33:22 Literally “his inner self/soul”
- Job 33:23 That is, “unique,” or “one of a kind”
- Job 33:24 Hebrew “and”
- Job 33:28 Hebrew “and”
- Job 33:28 Literally “my life in the light will see”
- Job 33:29 Or “time and again,” or “oftentimes” (NASB, NASU), or “several times”
- Job 33:30 Literally “to be lighted with the light of the life”
- Job 33:32 Literally “If there are words,” or “If there are sentences”
- Job 33:32 Literally “return to me”
- Job 33:32 Literally “your righteousness”
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