19 “Or someone may be chastened on a bed of pain

with constant distress in their bones,

20 so that their body finds food repulsive

and their soul loathes the choicest meal.

21 Their flesh wastes away to nothing,

and their bones, once hidden, now stick out.

22 They draw near to the pit,

and their life to the messengers of death.

23 Yet if there is an angel at their side,

a messenger, one out of a thousand,

sent to tell them how to be upright,

24 and he is gracious to that person and says to God,

‘Spare them from going down to the pit;

I have found a ransom for them—

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.

19 “Or God disciplines people with pain on their sickbeds,

with ceaseless aching in their bones.

20 They lose their appetite

for even the most delicious food.

21 Their flesh wastes away,

and their bones stick out.

22 They are at death’s door;

the angels of death wait for them.

23 “But if an angel from heaven appears—

a special messenger to intercede for a person

and declare that he is upright—

24 he will be gracious and say,

‘Rescue him from the grave,

for I have found a ransom for his life.’

19 “Man 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 succulent food.

21 His flesh wastes away from sight,

And his bones stick out which once were not seen.

22 Yes, his soul draws near the Pit,

And his life to the executioners.

23 “If there is a messenger for him,

A mediator, one among a thousand,

To show man His uprightness,

24 Then He is gracious to him, and says,

‘Deliver him from going down to the Pit;

I have found a ransom’;

19 People may be corrected while in bed in great pain;

they may have continual pain in their very bones.

20 They may be in such pain that they even hate food,

even the very best meal.

21 Their body becomes so thin there is almost nothing left of it,

and their bones that were hidden now stick out.

22 They are near death,

and their life is almost over.

23 “But there may be an angel to speak for him,

one out of a thousand, who will tell him what to do.

24 The angel will beg for mercy and say:

‘Save him from death.

I have found a way to pay for his life.’

19 He is chastened also with pain upon his bed,

And with continual strife in his bones;

20 So that his life abhorreth 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 Yea, his soul draweth near unto the pit,

And his life to the destroyers.

23 If there be with him an angel,

An interpreter, one among a thousand,

To show unto man what is right for him;

24 Then God is gracious unto him, and saith,

Deliver him from going down to the pit,

I have found a ransom.

19 He is chastened also with pain upon his bed, and with constant strife in his bones; 20 And his life abhorreth bread, and his soul dainty food; 21 His flesh is consumed away from view, and his bones that were not seen stick out; 22 And his soul draweth near to the pit, 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 duty; 24 Then he will be gracious unto him, and say, Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom.

19 In pain on their sickbeds, they are disciplined 

with endless aching in their bones 

20 so that their whole being hates food 

and they lose their appetite for a delicious meal. 

21 Their flesh becomes so thin that it can’t be seen. 

Their bones, not seen before, will be exposed. 

22 Their souls approach the pit. 

Their lives come close to those already dead. 

23 “If they have a messenger for them, 

a spokesman, one in a thousand, 

to tell people what is right for them, 

24 then he will have pity on them and say, 

‘Free them from going into the pit. 

I have found a ransom.’ 

19 A person may be disciplined on his bed with pain

and constant distress in his bones,

20 so that he detests bread,

and his soul despises his favorite food.

21 His flesh wastes away to nothing,

and his unseen bones stick out.

22 He draws near to the Pit,

and his life to the executioners.

23 If there is an angel on his side,

one mediator out of a thousand,

to tell a person what is right for him

24 and to be gracious to him and say,

“Spare him from going down to the Pit;

I have found a ransom,”

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;

19 “And he is reproved with pain on his bed,

even with the strife of his bones continually,

20 so that his life loathes bread,

and his inner self loathes appetizing food.

21 His flesh is wasted away from sight,

and his bones, which are invisible, are bared.

22 And he draws near to the pit

and his life to the killers.

23 “If there is a messenger beside him, a mediator, one of a thousand,

to declare to a human being his uprightness

24 so that he is gracious to him, and he says,

‘Deliver him from descending into the pit;

I have found a ransom.’

19 Someone might be punished by suffering in bed.

The pain in his bones might never go away.

20 He might feel so bad he can’t eat anything.

He might even hate the finest food.

21 His body might waste away to nothing.

His bones might have been hidden.

But now they stick out.

22 He might approach the very edge of the grave.

The messengers of death might come for him.

23 “But suppose there is an angel who will speak up for him.

The angel is very special. He’s one out of a thousand.

He will tell that person what is right for him.

24 He’ll be gracious to him. He’ll say to God,

‘Spare him from going down into the grave.

I know a way that can set him free.’

19 “Man is also chastened with pain on his bed,

And with unceasing complaint in his bones;

20 So that his life loathes bread,

And his soul favorite food.

21 “His flesh wastes away from sight,

And his bones which were not seen stick out.

22 “Then his soul draws near to the pit,

And his life to those who bring death.

23 “If there is an angel as mediator for him,

One out of a thousand,

To remind a man what is right for him,

24 Then let him be gracious to him, and say,

‘Deliver him from going down to the pit,

I have found a ransom’;