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33 And now, Job, listen carefully
    to all that I have to say.
I am ready to say what's on my mind.
All my words are sincere,
    and I am speaking the truth.
God's spirit made me and gave me life.

Answer me if you can. Prepare your arguments.
You and I are the same in God's sight,
    both of us were formed from clay.
So you have no reason to fear me;
    I will not overpower you.

Now this is what I heard you say:
“I am not guilty; I have done nothing wrong.
    I am innocent and free from sin.
10 But God finds excuses for attacking me
    and treats me like an enemy.
11 (A)He binds chains on my feet;
    he watches every move I make.”

12 But I tell you, Job, you are wrong.
    God is greater than any human being.
13 Why do you accuse God
    of never answering our complaints?
14 Although God speaks again and again,
    no one pays attention to what he says.
15 (B)At night when people are asleep,
    God speaks in dreams and visions.
16 He makes them listen to what he says,
    and they are frightened at his warnings.
17 God speaks to make them stop their sinning
    and to save them from becoming proud.
18 He will not let them be destroyed;
    he saves them from death itself.
19 God corrects us by sending sickness
    and filling our bodies with pain.
20 Those who are sick lose their appetites,
    and even the finest food looks revolting.
21 Their bodies waste away to nothing;
    you can see all their bones;
22     they are about to go to the world of the dead.

23 Perhaps an angel may come to their aid—
    one of God's thousands of angels,
    who remind us of our duty.
24 In mercy the angel will say, “Release them!
    They are not to go down to the world of the dead.
    Here is the ransom to set them free.”
25 Their bodies will grow young and strong again;
26     when they pray, God will answer;
    they will worship God with joy;
    God will set things right for them again.
27 Each one will say in public, “I have sinned.
    I have not done right, but God spared me.
28 He kept me from going to the world of the dead,
    and I am still alive.”

29 God does all this again and again;
30     each one saves a person's life,
    and gives him the joy of living.

31 Now, Job, listen to what I am saying;
    be quiet and let me speak.
32 But if you have something to say, let me hear it;
    I would gladly admit you are in the right.
33 But if not, be quiet and listen to me,
    and I will teach you how to be wise.

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