Job 33
New Catholic Bible
Chapter 33
God Is Greater Than Any Human Being[a]
1 “Therefore, O Job, listen to my words
and pay careful attention to everything I have to say.
2 Behold, I have opened my mouth;
the words are on the tip of my tongue.
3 My words issue forth from an upright heart,
and my lips will be sincere in what I say.
4 The Spirit of God has made me,
and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.
5 “Refute me if you are able to do so;
prepare your arguments and confront me.
6 In the sight of God I am just like you;
like you, I was formed from a piece of clay.
7 Therefore, no fear of me should frighten you,
nor should you feel any pressure on my account.
8 “You have offered your defense in my presence,
and I have listened carefully to the words you spoke.
9 You said, ‘I am pure and without sin;
I am clean, and there is no fault in me.
10 Yet God continues to invent excuses against me
and regards me as his enemy.
11 He fastens my feet in shackles
and watches everything I do.’
12 “In regard to this, I tell you, you are completely wrong.
God is greater than any human being.
13 Why then do you utter endless complaints
that he will not explain his decisions to you?
God Speaks in Many Ways[b]
14 “For God does speak, first in one way and then in another,
although we do not always perceive it.
15 “In dreams and in visions of the night,
when deep sleep falls upon men
as they slumber on their beds,
16 God then opens their ears
and issues warnings that strike them with terror,
17 so that he may turn man away from evil
and check his pride.
18 In this way he spares his soul from the pit[c]
and his life from a violent death.
19 “Or again, he chastens him with pain upon his bed
and with unceasing agony in his bones,
20 so that he regards food with loathing
and rejects the choicest dishes.
21 His flesh is so wasted away that it cannot be seen,
and his bones that once were invisible now begin to show.
22 His soul draws nearer to the pit
and his life to the abode of the dead.
23 “But then, if there should be an angel on his side,
one out of a thousand, a mediator,
to show him what is right for him
and expound God’s righteousness to him,
24 he will take pity on him and say,
‘Spare him from going down into the pit;
I have the ransom for his life.’
25 Then his flesh will regain its boyish freshness,
and he will return to the days of his youthful vigor.
26 “Then, if he entreats God to show him favor
and allow him to enter his presence with joy,
27 he will affirm before everyone,
‘I sinned and departed from the path of righteousness,
but God has not punished me as I deserved.
28 He spared my soul from descending into the pit,
and I will behold the light of life.’
29 “God indeed does all these things
again and again[d] for a man,
30 bringing back his soul from the pit
so that he may see the light of life.
31 “Be attentive, Job, and listen to me;
be silent and I will speak.
32 If you have anything to say, then answer me;
speak, for I desire to justify you.
33 But if you have nothing to say, then listen to me;
be silent and I will teach you wisdom.”
Footnotes
- Job 33:1 As far as Elihu is concerned, Job is too sure of himself. One cannot discuss things with God as an equal. In addition, Elihu correctly brings out that Job’s perception of God as his enemy (v. 10; 13:24; 19:11) is wrong.
- Job 33:14 When God manifests himself, human beings tremble with a salutary fear (Gen 20:3; 28:17). God also speaks through sickness, which could be transformed into the moment for inner renewal that leads to hope for the joy of a cure. An angel translates this language for humans and successfully intervenes for them before God.
- Job 33:18 Pit: i.e., the grave (see also vv. 22, 24, 28, 30).
- Job 33:29 Again and again: literally, “twice . . . three times” (see note on Job 5:19).
Jó 33
O Livro
33 Por favor, Job, ouve o que tenho a dizer-te.
2 Já que comecei a falar, agora continuo.
3 Direi a verdade com toda a sinceridade,
e com todo o conhecimento que possuo.
4 Porque foi o Espírito de Deus que me fez,
o sopro do Todo-Poderoso deu-me vida.
5 Não hesites em responder-me, se puderes.
6 Diante de Deus sou tanto como tu;
eu também fui formado do barro.
7 Não precisas de recear;
não sou ninguém assim tão importante
que te ponha nervoso ou receoso.
8 Tu disseste, e repetiste várias vezes,
uma coisa que os meus ouvidos captaram claramente:
9 ‘Sou puro, estou inocente, não pequei!
10 Mas Deus busca pretextos contra mim
e trata-me como se fosse seu inimigo.
11 Prende-me os pés com cadeias
e observa todos os movimentos que faço!’
12 Pois bem, aqui está a minha resposta:
Nisso não tens razão, em falar de Deus dessa maneira,
porque Deus é maior do que os homens.
13 Por que razão contenderias tu com Deus?
Ele não é obrigado a responder ao que lhe perguntam.
14 Deus dirige-se repetidamente aos homens,
e de várias maneiras, mas não atentam no que ele diz.
15 Fala-lhes por meio de sonhos, em visões de noite,
quando caem em sono profundo, deitados nos seus leitos.
16 Abre os seus ouvidos e mete-lhes medo com os seus avisos,
17 fazendo-os mudar a mente,
apartando-os da soberba,
18 para impedir a sua alma de cair no abismo
e a sua vida de perecer pela espada.
19 Também os corrige com dores e com males
que os afligem sem parar.
20 O indivíduo perde o gosto de tudo, perde o apetite,
desinteressa-se até dos mais requintados pratos.
21 Emagrece, fica apenas com a pele e os ossos.
22 Fica às portas da morte,
já se avizinha do mundo dos mortos.
23 Mas se vier um mensageiro dos céus,
um entre os milhares de Deus,
para interceder por ele, como um amigo,
para lhe mostrar o que é reto,
24 então Deus terá compaixão e dirá ao intercessor:
‘Livra-o, para que não desça à cova;
tenho resgate para ele!’
25 Então o seu corpo se tornará tão saudável como o de um jovem:
firme e novamente robusto.
26 Quando orar a Deus, ele o ouvirá
e lhe responderá, recebendo-o com alegria e salvando-o.
27 A pessoa declarará aos seus amigos:
‘Pequei e perverti o direito.
Mas Deus não me castigou.
28 Livrou a minha alma de descer à cova.
Assim sei que verei a luz!’
29 Sim, Deus faz isto, frequentemente, ao homem!
30 Desvia a sua alma da perdição,
para que possa viver na luz da vida.
31 Escuta bem isto, Job!
Peço-te que me ouças e me deixes dizer ainda algo mais.
32 Contudo, se tiveres algo a acrescentar, fala;
gostaria de te ouvir, porque queria muito justificar-te.
33 Caso contrário, ouve-me então.
Cala-te e ensinar-te-ei a sabedoria!”
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.
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