Job

The book of Job, chapter 33, New English Translation and King James Version

Chapter 33 New English Translation

Elihu Invites Job's Attention

   1 "But now, O Job, listen to my words, and hear everything I have to say!
   2 See now, I have opened my mouth; my tongue in my mouth has spoken.
   3 My words come from the uprightness of my heart, and my lips will utter knowledge sincerely.
   4 The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.
   5 Reply to me, if you can; set your arguments in order before me and take your stand!
   6 Look, I am just like you in relation to God;I too have been molded from clay.
   7 Therefore no fear of me should terrify you, nor should my pressure be heavy on you.

Elihu Rejects Job's Plea of Innocence

   8 "Indeed, you have said in my hearing (I heard the sound of the words!):
   9 'I am pure, without transgression; I am clean and have no iniquity.
   10 Yet God finds occasions with me; he regards me as his enemy!
   11 He puts my feet in shackles; he watches closely all my paths.'
   12 Now in this, you are not right - I answer you, for God is greater than a human being.
   13 Why do you contend against him, that he does not answer all a person's words?

Elihu Disagrees With Job's View of God

   14 "For God speaks, the first time in one way, the second time in another, though a person does not perceive it.
   15 In a dream, a night vision, when deep sleep falls on people as they sleep in their beds.
   16 Then he gives a revelation to people, and terrifies them with warnings,
   17 to turn a person from his sin, and to cover a person's pride.
   18 He spares a person's life from corruption, his very life from crossing over the river.
   19 Or a person is chastened by pain on his bed, and with the continual strife of his bones,
   20 so that his life loathes food, and his soul rejects appetizing fare.
   21 His flesh wastes away from sight, and his bones, which were not seen, are easily visible.
   22 He draws near to the place of corruption, and his life to the messengers of death.
   23 If there is an angel beside him, one mediator out of a thousand, to tell a person what constitutes his uprightness;
   24 and if God is gracious to him and says, 'Spare him from going down to the place of corruption, I have found a ransom for him,'
   25 then his flesh is restored like a youth's; he returns to the days of his youthful vigor.
   26 He entreats God, and God delights in him, he sees God's face with rejoicing, and God restores to him his righteousness.
   27 That person sings to others, saying: 'I have sinned and falsified what is right, but I was not punished according to what I deserved.
   28 He redeemed my life from going down to the place of corruption, and my life sees the light!'

Elihu's Appeal to Job

   29 "Indeed, God does all these things, twice, three times, in his dealings with a person,
   30 to turn back his life from the place of corruption, that he may be enlightened with the light of life.
   31 Pay attention, Job - listen to me; be silent, and I will speak.
   32 If you have any words, reply to me; speak, for I want to justify you.
   33 If not, you listen to me; be silent, and I will teach you wisdom."

King James Version

   1 Wherefore, Job, I pray thee, hear my speeches, and hearken to all my words.
   2 Behold, now I have opened my mouth, my tongue hath spoken in my mouth.
   3 My 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 the breath of the Almighty hath given me life.
   5 If thou canst answer me, set thy 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 the clay.
   7 Behold, my terror shall not make thee afraid, neither shall my hand be heavy upon thee.
   8 Surely thou hast spoken in mine hearing, and I have heard the voice of thy words, saying,
   9 I am clean without transgression, I am innocent; neither is there iniquity in me.
   10 Behold, he findeth occasions against me, he counteth me for his enemy,
   11 He putteth my feet in the stocks, he 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 strive against him? for he giveth not account of any of his matters.
   14 For God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not.
   15 In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed;
   16 Then he openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction,
   17 That he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man.
   18 He keepeth back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword.
   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.
   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.
   31 Mark well, O Job, hearken unto me: hold thy peace, and I will speak.
   32 If thou hast any thing to say, answer me: speak, for I desire to justify thee.
   33 If not, hearken unto me: hold thy peace, and I shall teach thee wisdom.