Job 33
International Children’s Bible
33 “But now, Job, listen to my words.
Pay attention to everything I say.
2 I open my mouth.
I am ready to speak.
3 My words come from an honest heart.
I am sincere when I speak what I know.
4 The Spirit of God created me.
The breath of God All-Powerful gave me life.
5 Answer me if you can.
Get yourself ready and stand before me.
6 I am just like you before God.
I was also made out of clay.
7 Don’t be afraid of me.
I will not be hard on you.
8 “But I heard what you have said.
I heard every word.
9 You said, ‘I am pure and without sin.
I am innocent and free from guilt.
10 But God has found fault with me.
He considers me his enemy.
11 He locks my feet in chains.
He closely watches everywhere I go.’
12 “But I tell you, you are not right in saying this.
God is greater than we are!
13 Why do you accuse God
of not answering man’s complaints?
14 God does speak—sometimes one way and sometimes another.
He speaks even though men may not understand it.
15 God may speak in a dream or a vision of the night.
This is when men are in a deep sleep
and lying in their beds.
16 He may speak in their ears
and frighten them with warnings.
17 He warns them to turn away from doing wrong.
And he warns them not to be proud.
18 God does this to save a man’s soul from death.
He does it to keep him from dying.
19 A man may be corrected while on his bed in great pain.
He may have continual pain in his very bones.
20 He may be in such pain that he even hates food.
He may hate even the very best meal.
21 His body becomes so thin there is almost nothing left of it.
And his bones that were hidden by flesh now stick out.
22 His soul is near the place of death.
His life is almost over.
23 “But there may be an angel on his side.
The angel may be one out of a thousand who will speak for the man.
He will tell the man what he should do.
24 The angel will beg for mercy and say:
‘Save this man from the place of death.
I have found a way to pay for his life.’
25 Then his body is made new like a child’s body.
It will be returned to the way it was when he was young.
26 That person will pray to God, and God will listen to him.
He will see God’s face and will shout with happiness.
And God will set things right for him again.
27 Then the man will say to other people,
‘I sinned and twisted what was right.
But I did not receive the punishment I should have received.
28 God bought back my life from death.
And I will continue to enjoy life.’
29 “God does all these things to a man.
He does them two times or even three.
30 He does them so a person won’t die as punishment for his sins.
He does it so the man may still enjoy life.
31 “Job, pay attention and listen to me.
Be quiet, and I will speak.
32 If you have anything to say, answer me.
Speak up, because I want you to be shown as right.
33 But if you have nothing to say, then listen to me.
Be quiet, and I will teach you wisdom.”
Job 33
Modern English Version
Elihu Addresses Job
33 “Therefore, Job, I pray, hear my speeches,
and listen to all my words.
2 Behold, now I have opened my mouth;
my tongue has spoken in my mouth.
3 My words will be from the uprightness of my heart,
and my lips will utter knowledge clearly.
4 The Spirit of God has made me,
and the breath of the Almighty has given me life.
5 If you can answer me,
set your words in order before me; stand up.
6 Surely I am before God like you;
I also am formed out of the clay.
7 Indeed, no dread of me will make you afraid,
nor will my hand be heavy upon you.
8 “Surely you have spoken in my hearing,
and I have heard the sound of your words, saying,
9 ‘I am clean, without transgression;
I am innocent, nor 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 watches all my paths.’
12 “Look, in this you are not just.
I will answer you, that God is greater than man.
13 Why do you strive against Him?
For He does not give an accounting for any of His words.
14 For God speaks once, yes twice,
yet man does not perceive it.
15 In a dream, in a vision of the night,
when deep sleep falls upon men,
in slumber on their beds,
16 then He opens the ears of men,
and seals their instruction,
17 that He might turn aside man from his purpose,
and conceal pride from man.
18 He keeps back his soul from the pit,
and his life from perishing by the sword.
19 “He is also chastened with pain on his bed,
and with strong pain in many of his bones,
20 so that his life abhors bread,
and his soul dainty food.
21 His flesh is consumed away that it cannot be seen,
and his bones that were not seen stick out.
22 Yes, his soul draws near to the grave,
and his life to the executioners.
23 If there is a messenger for him,
an interpreter, one among a thousand,
to show to man what is right for him,
24 then He 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 will return to the days of his youth;
26 he will pray to God, and He will be favorable unto him,
and he will see His face with joy,
for He will render unto man His righteousness.
27 Then he looks at men and says,
‘I have sinned and perverted what was right,
and it did not profit me.’
28 He will deliver his soul from going down to the pit,
and his life will see the light.
29 “Behold, God works all these things,
twice, three times with man,
30 to bring back his soul from the pit,
to be enlightened with the light of the living.
31 “Pay attention, 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, listen to me; hold your peace,
and I will teach you wisdom.”
The Holy Bible, International Children’s Bible® Copyright© 1986, 1988, 1999, 2015 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission.
The Holy Bible, Modern English Version. Copyright © 2014 by Military Bible Association. Published and distributed by Charisma House.