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—

25 let their flesh be renewed like a child’s;

let them be restored as in the days of their youth’—

26 then that person can pray to God and find favor with him,

they will see God’s face and shout for joy;

he will restore them to full well-being.

27 And they will go to others and say,

‘I have sinned, I have perverted what is right,

but I did not get what I deserved.

28 God has delivered me from going down to the pit,

and I shall live to enjoy the light of life.’

29 “God does all these things to a person—

twice, even three times—

30 to turn them back from the pit,

that the light of life may shine on them.

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.

25 His flesh shall be fresher than a child’s:

He shall return to the days of his youth:

26 He shall pray unto God, and he will be favourable unto him:

And he shall see his face with joy:

For he will render unto man his righteousness.

27 He looketh upon men, and if any say,

I have sinned, and perverted that which was right,

And it profited me not;

28 He will deliver his soul from going into the pit,

And his life shall see the light.

29 Lo, all these things worketh God

Oftentimes with man,

30 To bring back his soul from the pit,

To be enlightened with the light of the living.

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.’

25 Then his body will become as healthy as a child’s,

firm and youthful again.

26 When he prays to God,

he will be accepted.

And God will receive him with joy

and restore him to good standing.

27 He will declare to his friends,

‘I sinned and twisted the truth,

but it was not worth it.

28 God rescued me from the grave,

and now my life is filled with light.’

29 “Yes, God does these things

again and again for people.

30 He rescues them from the grave

so they may enjoy the light of life.

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’;

25 His flesh shall be young like a child’s,

He shall return to the days of his youth.

26 He shall pray to God, and He will delight in him,

He shall see His face with joy,

For He restores to 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 redeem his soul from going down to the Pit,

And his life shall see the light.

29 “Behold, God works all these things,

Twice, in fact, three times with a man,

30 To bring back his soul from the Pit,

That he may be enlightened with the light of life.

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.’

25 Then his body is made new like a child’s.

It will return 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 he will say to others,

‘I sinned and twisted what was right,

but I did not receive the punishment I should have received.

28 God bought my life back from death,

and I will continue to enjoy life.’

29 “God does all these things to a person

two or even three times

30 so he won’t die as punishment for his sins

and so he may still enjoy life.

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.

25 His flesh shall be fresher than a child’s;

He returneth to the days of his youth.

26 He prayeth unto God, and he is favorable unto him,

So that he seeth his face with joy:

And he restoreth unto man his righteousness.

27 He singeth before men, and saith,

I have sinned, and perverted that which was right,

And it profited me not:

28 He hath redeemed my soul from going into the pit,

And my life shall behold the light.

29 Lo, all these things doth God work,

Twice, yea thrice, with a man,

30 To bring back his soul from the pit,

That he may be enlightened with the light of the living.

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. 25 His flesh shall be fresher than in childhood; he shall return to the days of his youth. 26 He shall pray unto †God, and he will receive him with favour; and he shall see his face with shoutings, and he will render unto man his righteousness. 27 He will sing before men, and say, I have sinned, and perverted what was right, and it hath not been requited to me; 28 He hath delivered my soul from going into the pit, and my life shall see the light.

29 Lo, all these things worketh •God twice, thrice, with man, 30 To bring back his soul from the pit, that he may be enlightened with the light of the living.

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.’ 

25 Then their flesh will become softer than a child’s. 

They will go back to the days of their youth. 

26 They will pray to God, who will be pleased with them. 

They will see God’s face and shout for joy 

as he restores their righteousness.

27 Each one sings in front of other people and says, 

‘I sinned and did wrong instead of what was right, 

and it did me no good. 

28 The messenger has freed my soul from going into the pit, 

and my life will see the light.’ 

29 Truly, God does all this two or three times with people 

30 to turn their souls away from the pit 

and to enlighten them with the light of life. 

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,”

25 then his flesh will be healthier than in his youth,

and he will return to the days of his youthful vigor.

26 He will pray to God, and God will delight in him.

That man will see His face with a shout of joy,

and God will restore his righteousness to him.

27 He will look at men and say,

“I have sinned and perverted what was right;

yet I did not get what I deserved.

28 He redeemed my soul from going down to the Pit,

and I will continue to see the light.”

29 God certainly does all these things

two or three times to a man

30 in order to turn him back from the Pit,

so he may shine with the light of life.

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 vigor’;

26 then he prays to God, and is accepted by him,

he comes into his presence with joy,

and God 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.

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.’

25 His flesh is renewed with his youth;

he returns to the days of his youthful strength.

26 He prays to God, then he accepts him,

and he sees his face with a shout of joy,

and he repays to the human being his righteousness.

27 “He will sing to men, and he will say,

‘I have sinned and have perverted what is right,

and it was not paid back to me.

28 He redeemed my life from going down into the pit,

so I will enjoy the light.’

29 Look, God does all these things

twice, three times with a person

30 to bring his life back from the pit

so that he may enjoy the light of life.

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.’

25 Then his body is made like new again.

He becomes as strong and healthy as when he was young.

26 He prays to God and finds favor with him.

He sees God’s face and shouts with joy.

God makes him right with himself again.

27 Then the person comes to others and says,

‘I sinned. I made what was wrong appear to be right.

But I wasn’t punished as I should have been.

28 God set me free. He kept me from going down into the grave.

So I’ll live to enjoy the light that leads to life.’

29 “God does all of those things to people.

In fact, he does them again and again.

30 He wants to stop people from going down into the grave.

Then the light that leads to life will shine on them.

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’;

25 Let his flesh become fresher than in youth,

Let him return to the days of his youthful vigor;

26 Then he will pray to God, and He will accept him,

That he may see His face with joy,

And He may restore His righteousness to man.

27 “He will sing to men and say,

‘I have sinned and perverted what is right,

And it is not proper for me.

28 ‘He has redeemed my soul from going to the pit,

And my life shall see the light.’

29 “Behold, God does all these oftentimes with men,

30 To bring back his soul from the pit,

That he may be enlightened with the light of life.