XXXIII. Wherefore, Job, I pray thee, hear my speeches,

And hearken to all my words.

2  aBehold now I have opened my mouth,

My tongue hath spoken * in my mouth.

3  bMy words shall be of the uprightness of my heart:

And my lips shall utter knowledge clearly.

4  The Spirit of God hath made me,

And cthe breath of the Almighty hath given me life.

5  If thou canst, danswer me,

Set ethy words in order before me, stand up.

6  Behold, I am * according to thy wish in God’s stead:

I also am * formed out of fthe clay.

7  Behold, gmy terror shall not make thee afraid,

Neither shall hmy hand be heavy upon thee.

8  Surely thou hast spoken * in mine hearing,

And I have heard the voice of thy words, saying,

9  iI am clean jwithout transgression,

I am innocent; neither is there iniquity in me.

10  Behold, he findeth koccasions against me,

lHe counteth me for his enemy,

11  mHe putteth my feet in the stocks,

mnHe marketh all my paths.

12  Behold, in this thou art not just: I will answer thee,

That God is greater than man.

13  Why dost thou ostrive against him?

For * he giveth not account of any of his matters.

14  For God speaketh once,

Yea twice, yet man pperceiveth it not.

15  qIn a dream, rin a vision of the night,

rWhen deep sleep falleth upon men,

In slumberings upon the bed;

16  Then * he openeth the ears of men,

And ssealeth their instruction.

17  That he may withdraw man from his * purpose,

And hide tpride from man.

18  He keepeth back his soul from the pit,

And his life * from perishing by uthe sword.

19  He is chastened also with pain upon his bed,

And the multitude of his bones with strong pain:

20  So that whis 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 xstick out.

22  Yea, his ysoul draweth near unto the grave,

And his ylife to the destroyers.

23  If there be a zmessenger with him, an ainterpreter,

bOne among ca thousand,

To shew unto man dhis uprightness:

24  Then he is gracious unto him, and saith,

Deliver him from going down to the pit:

I have efound * a ransom.

25  fHis flesh shall be fresher * than a child’s:

He fshall return to the days of his youth:

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

And hhe shall see his face iwith joy:

For he will render unto man his righteousness.

27  * He klooketh upon men, and if any lsay,

I mhave sinned, and mperverted that which was right,

And it profited me not;

28  * He will deliver nhis soul from going into the pit,

And his life oshall see the light.

29  Lo, all these things worketh God

* Oftentimes with man,

30  pTo bring back his soul from the pit,

To be enlightened qwith the light of the living.

31  Mark well, O Job, hearken unto me:

Hold thy peace, and I will speak.

32  If thou hast any thing to say, ranswer me:

sSpeak, for I desire to justify thee.

33  If not, hearken unto me:

Hold thy peace, and I shall tteach thee wisdom.