Chapter 33

  Hear therefore, O Job, my speeches, and hearken to all my words.  

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  Behold now I have opened my mouth, let my tongue speak within my jaws.  

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  My words are from my upright heart, and my lips shall speak a pure sentence.  

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  The spirit of God made me, and the breath of the Almighty gave me life.  

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  If thou canst, answer me, and stand up against my face.  

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  Behold God hath made me as well as thee, and of the same clay I also was formed.  

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  But yet let not my wonder terrify thee, and let not my eloquence be burdensome to thee.  

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  Now thou has said in my hearing, and I have heard the voice of thy words :  

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  I am clean, and without sin : I am unspotted, and there is no iniquity in me.  

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  Because he hath found complaints against me, therefore he hath counted me for his enemy.  

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  He hath put my feet in the stocks, he hath observed all my paths.  

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  Now this is the thing in which thou art not justified : I will answer thee, that God is greater than man.  

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  Dost thou strive against him, because he hath not answered thee to all words?  

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  God speaketh once, and repeateth not the selfsame thing the second time.  

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  By a dream in a vision by night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, and they are sleeping in their beds :  

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  Then he openeth the ears of men, and teaching instructeth them in what they are to learn.  

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  That he may withdraw a man from the things he is doing, and may deliver him from pride.  

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  Rescuing his soul from corruption : and his life from passing to the sword.  

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  He rebuketh also by sorrow in the bed, and he maketh all his bones to wither.  

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  Bread becometh abominable to him in his life, and to his soul the meat which before he desired.  

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  His flesh shall be consumed away, and his bones that were covered shall be made bare.  

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  His soul hath drawn near to corruption, and his life to the destroyers.  

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  If there shall be an angel speaking for him, one among thousands, to declare man's uprightness,  

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  He shall have mercy on him, and shall say : Deliver him, that he may not go down to corruption : I have found wherein I may be merciful to him.  

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  His flesh is consumed with punishment, let him return to the days of his youth.  

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  He shall pray to God, and he will be gracious to him : and he shall see his face with joy, and he will render to man his justice.  

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  He shall look upon men, and shall say : I have sinned, and indeed I have offended, and I have not received what I have deserved.  

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  He hath delivered his soul from going into destruction, that it may live and see the light.  

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  Behold, all these things God worketh three times within every one.  

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  That he may withdraw their souls from corruption, and enlighten them with the light of the living.  

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  Attend, Job, and hearken to me : and hold thy peace, whilst I speak.  

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  But if thou hast any thing to say, answer me, speak : for I would have thee to appear just.  

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  And if thou have not, hear me : hold thy peace, and I will teach thee wisdom.  

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