14 For God speaks time and again,
but a person may not notice it.
15 In a dream, a vision(A) in the night,
when deep sleep comes over people(B)
as they slumber on their beds,
16 he uncovers their ears(C)
and terrifies them[a] with warnings,
17 in order to turn a person from his actions
and suppress the pride of a person.
18 God spares his soul from the Pit,(D)
his life from crossing the river of death.[b]
19 A person may be disciplined on his bed(E) with pain
and constant distress in his bones,(F)
20 so that he detests bread,
and his soul despises his favorite food.(G)
21 His flesh wastes away to nothing,[c]
and his unseen bones stick out.
22 He draws near to the Pit,
and his life to the executioners.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 33:16 LXX; MT reads and seals
  2. 33:18 Or from perishing by the sword
  3. 33:21 Lit away from sight

14 For God speaks in one way
    and in two, though people do not perceive it.(A)
15 In a dream, in a vision of the night,
    when deep sleep falls on mortals,
    while they slumber on their beds,(B)
16 then he opens their ears
    and terrifies them with warnings,(C)
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,(D)
20 so that their lives loathe bread
    and their appetites dainty food.(E)
21 Their flesh is so wasted away that it cannot be seen,
    and their bones, once invisible, now stick out.(F)
22 Their souls draw near the Pit
    and their lives to those who bring death.(G)

Read full chapter