Job 33
Complete Jewish Bible
33 “So, Iyov, please, hear my speech;
listen to all my words.
2 Look, I am opening my mouth;
the words are on the tip of my tongue.
3 I will say exactly what is on my mind;
what my lips know, they will speak sincerely.
4 It is the Spirit of God that made me,
the breath of Shaddai that gives me life.
5 So refute me, if you can;
organize your words, take your stand!
6 Look, before God I’m the same as you;
I too am fashioned from clay.
7 You don’t need to be afraid of me;
my pressure on you will not be heavy.
8 “You spoke within my hearing,
and I heard what you said —
9 ‘I am clean, without transgression;
I am innocent, not guilty.
10 Yet [God] finds pretexts for accusing me;
he regards me as his enemy.
11 He puts my feet in the stocks
and watches wherever I go.’
12 “But in this, you are wrong; I will answer you:
God is greater than any mortal.
13 Why do you strive against him?
He will not defend his words —
14 God speaks once, even twice,
and still the hearer misses the point.
15 “In a dream, in a vision at night,
when slumber falls upon people,
as they sleep in their beds,
16 he opens people’s ears
and seals the matter with a warning,
17 to turn a person away from his action
and protect a man from pride,
18 so that he will keep himself away from the pit
and from perishing by the sword.
19 “He is also warned by pain when in bed,
when all his bones are hurting;
20 so that he detests bread
as well as richer food.
21 His flesh wastes away, till one can’t stand to look;
his bones protrude and become unsightly.
22 His soul comes close to the pit
and his life to those who bring death.
23 “If there is for him an angel,
a mediator, one among a thousand,
who can vouch for the man’s uprightness;
24 then [God] is gracious to him and says,
‘Redeem him from going down to the pit;
I have found a ransom.’
25 His flesh becomes fresher than that of a child,
he returns to the days of his youth.
26 He prays to God and is accepted by him,
so that he sees [God’s] face with joy,
and [God] repays the man for his righteousness.
27 He declares before everyone, ‘I sinned;
I perverted what was right,
and it gained me nothing.
28 [God] redeemed me from going into the pit,
and now my life sees light.’
29 God will accomplish all these things
twice, even three times, with a man,
30 to bring him back from the pit,
so that he can enjoy the light of the living.
31 “Pay attention, Iyov, listen to me;
keep quiet, and I will keep speaking.
32 If you have something to say, answer me;
speak, because I want to show that you are right.
33 If not, then listen to me;
keep quiet, and I will teach you wisdom.”
Job 33
New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised Catholic 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.
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.’
Copyright © 1998 by David H. Stern. All rights reserved.
New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicised Catholic Edition, copyright © 1989, 1993, 1995 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.