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33 Wherefore, Iyov, now, hear my speeches, and pay heed to all my words.

Hinei, now I have opened my mouth, my leshon hath spoken in my mouth.

My words shall be of my yosher lev (the uprightness of my heart), and my lips shall utter da’as that is pure.

The Ruach El [Ruach Hakodesh] hath made me, and the Neshamah of Shaddai hath given me life.

Im (If) thou canst, answer me; set thy words in order in my presence; take thy stand.

See, I am like thee, of El, from chomer (clay) was I taken also.

Hinei, my terror shall not make thee afraid, neither shall my pressure be heavy upon thee.

Surely thou hast spoken in my ozen, and I have heard the voice of thy words, saying,

I am pure without peysha; I am clean; neither is there avon in me [Yn 8:46].

10 Yet He findeth tenuot (occasions) against me, He counteth me for his oyev,

11 He putteth my raglayim in the stocks, He watcheth all my orkhot.

12 But in this thou art not right; I will answer thee, that Eloah is greater than enosh.

13 Why dost thou contend against Him? For He giveth not account of any of His matters.

14 For El speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not.

15 In a chalom, in a chezyon lailah, when deep sleep falleth upon anashim, in slumberings upon the mishkav (bed),

16 Then He openeth the ozen anashim, and sealeth their admonition

17 That He may turn them aside from their deeds, and hide pride from gever (man).

18 He keepeth back his nefesh from the shachat, and his life from the overthrow of the sword.

19 He is chastened also with pain upon his mishkav, and the continual strife in his atzmot;

20 So that his life abhorreth lechem, and his nefesh dainty food.

21 His basar is consumed away, that it cannot be seen; and his atzmot that were not seen stick out.

22 Yea, his nefesh draweth near unto the shachat, and his life to the ones bringing death.

23 If there be a malach (messenger, i.e., Malach HaBrit, HaAdon [see Malachi 3:1] ) as melitz (mediator) for him, one of a thousand, who declares a person yashar (upright, Isa 53:11),

24 Then he is gracious unto him, and saith, Deliver him from going down to the shachat (pit); I have found a kofer (ransom) [Mk 10:45].

25 His basar shall be restored like a na’ar; he shall return to the yamim of his youthful vigor;

26 He shall pray unto Eloah, and be accepted by Him, and he shall see His face with teruah (shouts of joy); thus He recompenseth unto enosh his tzedek.

27 He looketh upon anashim, and if any say, I have sinned, and perverted that which was yashar, and it was not recompensed to me,

28 He will redeem his nefesh from going into the shachat, and his life shall see the ohr.

29 Lo, all these things worketh El, twice, shalosh with gever (man)

30 To bring back his nefesh from the shachat (pit), to be enlightened with the Ohr HaChayyim (light of the living).

31 Mark well, O Iyov, pay heed unto me; hold thy peace, and I will speak.

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

33 If not, pay heed unto me; hold thy peace, and I shall teach thee chochmah.

33 “But now, Job, listen(A) to my words;
    pay attention to everything I say.(B)
I am about to open my mouth;
    my words are on the tip of my tongue.
My words come from an upright heart;(C)
    my lips sincerely speak what I know.(D)
The Spirit(E) of God has made me;(F)
    the breath of the Almighty(G) gives me life.(H)
Answer me(I) then, if you can;
    stand up(J) and argue your case before me.(K)
I am the same as you in God’s sight;(L)
    I too am a piece of clay.(M)
No fear of me should alarm you,
    nor should my hand be heavy on you.(N)

“But you have said in my hearing—
    I heard the very words—
‘I am pure,(O) I have done no wrong;(P)
    I am clean and free from sin.(Q)
10 Yet God has found fault with me;
    he considers me his enemy.(R)
11 He fastens my feet in shackles;(S)
    he keeps close watch on all my paths.’(T)

12 “But I tell you, in this you are not right,
    for God is greater than any mortal.(U)
13 Why do you complain to him(V)
    that he responds to no one’s words[a]?(W)
14 For God does speak(X)—now one way, now another(Y)
    though no one perceives it.(Z)
15 In a dream,(AA) in a vision(AB) of the night,(AC)
    when deep sleep(AD) falls on people
    as they slumber in their beds,
16 he may speak(AE) in their ears
    and terrify them(AF) with warnings,(AG)
17 to turn them from wrongdoing
    and keep them from pride,(AH)
18 to preserve them from the pit,(AI)
    their lives from perishing by the sword.[b](AJ)

19 “Or someone may be chastened(AK) on a bed of pain(AL)
    with constant distress in their bones,(AM)
20 so that their body finds food(AN) repulsive
    and their soul loathes the choicest meal.(AO)
21 Their flesh wastes away to nothing,
    and their bones,(AP) once hidden, now stick out.(AQ)
22 They draw near to the pit,(AR)
    and their life to the messengers of death.[c](AS)
23 Yet if there is an angel at their side,
    a messenger,(AT) one out of a thousand,
    sent to tell them how to be upright,(AU)
24 and he is gracious to that person and says to God,
    ‘Spare them from going down to the pit;(AV)
    I have found a ransom for them(AW)
25 let their flesh be renewed(AX) like a child’s;
    let them be restored as in the days of their youth’(AY)
26 then that person can pray to God and find favor with him,(AZ)
    they will see God’s face and shout for joy;(BA)
    he will restore them to full well-being.(BB)
27 And they will go to others and say,
    ‘I have sinned,(BC) I have perverted what is right,(BD)
    but I did not get what I deserved.(BE)
28 God has delivered(BF) me from going down to the pit,(BG)
    and I shall live to enjoy the light of life.’(BH)

29 “God does all these things to a person(BI)
    twice, even three times(BJ)
30 to turn them back(BK) from the pit,(BL)
    that the light of life(BM) may shine on them.(BN)

31 “Pay attention, Job, and listen(BO) to me;(BP)
    be silent,(BQ) and I will speak.
32 If you have anything to say, answer me;(BR)
    speak up, for I want to vindicate you.(BS)
33 But if not, then listen to me;(BT)
    be silent,(BU) and I will teach you wisdom.(BV)

Footnotes

  1. Job 33:13 Or that he does not answer for any of his actions
  2. Job 33:18 Or from crossing the river
  3. Job 33:22 Or to the place of the dead