JOB 33 [†] “But now, hear my speech, O Job,

and listen to all my words.

2[†] Behold, I  j 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  k The Spirit of God has made me,

and  l the breath of the Almighty gives me life.

5  m Answer me, if you can;

 n set your words in order before me; take your stand.

6 Behold, I am toward God as you are;

I too was pinched off from a piece of  o clay.

7 Behold, no  p fear of me need terrify you;

my  q pressure will not be heavy upon you.

8 “Surely you have spoken in my ears,

and I have heard the sound of your words.

9[†] You say, ‘I am  r pure, without  s transgression;

I am clean, and there is no iniquity in me.

10 Behold, he finds occasions against me,

he  t counts me as his enemy,

11[†] he  u puts my feet in the stocks

and  v watches all my paths.’

12 “Behold, in this you are not right. I will answer you,

for God is greater than man.

13 Why do you  w contend against him,

saying, ‘He  x will answer none of man’s [1] words’? [2]

14[†] For God  y speaks in one way,

 z and in two, though man  a does not perceive it.

15 In  b a dream, in  c a vision of  d the night,

when  c deep sleep falls on men,

while they slumber on their beds,

16 then he  e opens the ears of men

and terrifies them with warnings,

17 that he may turn man aside from his  f deed

and conceal pride from a man;

18[†] he keeps back his soul from the pit,

his life from  g perishing by the sword.

19[†] “Man is also rebuked with pain on his bed

and with continual strife in his  h bones,

20 so that his  i life loathes bread,

and his appetite  j the choicest food.

21 His flesh is so wasted away that it cannot be seen,

and his bones that were not seen  k stick out.

22 His soul draws near  l the pit,

and his life to  m those who bring death.

23[^][†] If there be for him  n an angel,

 o a mediator,  p one of the thousand,

to declare to man what is  q right for him,

24 and he is merciful to him, and says,

‘Deliver him from going down into the pit;

I have found  r a ransom;

25 let his flesh  s become fresh with youth;

let him return to the days of his youthful vigor’;

26 then man [3]  t prays to God, and he accepts him;

he  u sees his face with a shout of joy,

and he  v restores to man his righteousness.

27 He sings before men and says:

‘I  w sinned and perverted what was right,

and it was not repaid to me.

28 He has redeemed my  x soul from going down  y into the pit,

and my life shall  z look upon the light.’

29 “Behold, God does all these things,

twice,  a three times, with a man,

30 to bring back his soul from the pit,

that he may be lighted with  b the light of life.

31 Pay attention, O Job, listen to me;

be silent, and I will speak.

32 If you have any words,  c answer me;

 d speak, for I desire to justify you.

33 If not,  e listen to me;

be silent, and I will teach you wisdom.”