Chapter 33

  Howbeit, Job, I pray thee, hear mine utterances, and hearken to all my words.  

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  Behold now, I have opened my mouth, my tongue speaketh in my palate,  

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  My words shall be of the uprightness of my heart, and my lips shall utter knowledge purely.  

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  The Spirit of ùGod hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life.  

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  If thou canst, answer me; array [thy words] before me: take thy stand.  

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  Behold, before ùGod I am as thou; I also am formed out of the clay.  

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  Behold, my terror shall not make thee afraid, nor my burden be heavy upon thee.  

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  Surely thou hast spoken in my hearing, and I have heard the voice of [thy] words: --  

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  I am clean without transgression; I am pure, and there is no iniquity in me;  

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  Lo, he findeth occasions of hostility against me, he counteth me for his enemy;  

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  He putteth my feet in the stocks, he marketh all my paths.  

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  Behold, I will answer thee in this, thou art not right; for +God is greater than man.  

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  Why dost thou strive against him? for he giveth not account of any of his matters.  

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  For ùGod speaketh once, and twice, -- [and man] perceiveth it not --  

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  In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed;  

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  Then he openeth men's ears, and sealeth their instruction,  

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  That he may withdraw man [from his] work, and hide pride from man.  

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  He keepeth back his soul from the pit, and his life from passing away by the sword.  

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  He is chastened also with pain upon his bed, and with constant strife in his bones;  

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  And his life abhorreth bread, and his soul dainty food;  

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  His flesh is consumed away from view, and his bones that were not seen stick out;  

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  And his soul draweth near to the pit, and his life to the destroyers.  

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  If there be a messenger with him, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to shew unto man his duty;  

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  Then he will be gracious unto him, and say, Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom.  

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  His flesh shall be fresher than in childhood; he shall return to the days of his youth.  

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  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.  

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  He will sing before men, and say, I have sinned, and perverted what was right, and it hath not been requited to me;  

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  He hath delivered my soul from going into the pit, and my life shall see the light.  

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  Lo, all these [things] worketh ùGod twice, thrice, with man,  

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  To bring back his soul from the pit, that he may be enlightened with the light of the living.  

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  Mark well, Job, hearken unto me; be silent, and I will speak.  

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  If thou hast anything to say, answer me; speak, for I desire to justify thee.  

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  If not, hearken thou unto me; be silent, and I will teach thee wisdom.  

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