33
1 And yet, I pray thee, O Job, Hear my speech and [to] all my  words give ear.
2 Lo, I pray thee, I have opened my mouth, My tongue hath  spoken in the palate.
3 Of the uprightness of my heart [are] my sayings, And  knowledge have my lips clearly spoken.
4 The Spirit of God hath made me, And the breath of the  Mighty doth quicken me.
5 If thou art able -- answer me, Set in array before me --  station thyself.
6 Lo, I [am], according to thy word, for God, From the clay I  -- I also, have been formed.
7 Lo, my terror doth not frighten thee, And my burden on thee  is not heavy.
8 Surely -- thou hast said in mine ears, And the sounds of  words I hear:
9 `Pure [am] I, without transgression, Innocent [am] I, and I  have no iniquity.
10 Lo, occasions against me He doth find, He doth reckon me  for an enemy to Him,
11 He doth put in the stocks my feet, He doth watch all my  paths.'
12 Lo, [in] this thou hast not been righteous, I answer thee,  that greater is God than man.
13 Wherefore against Him hast thou striven, When [for] all  His matters He answereth not?
14 For once doth God speak, and twice, (He doth not behold  it.)
15 In a dream -- a vision of night, In the falling of deep  sleep on men, In slumberings on a bed.
16 Then He uncovereth the ear of men, And for their  instruction sealeth:
17 To turn aside man [from] doing, And pride from man He  concealeth.
18 He keepeth back his soul from corruption, And his life  from passing away by a dart.
19 And he hath been reproved With pain on his bed, And the  strife of his bones [is] enduring.
20 And his life hath nauseated bread, And his soul desirable  food.
21 His flesh is consumed from being seen, And high are his  bones, they were not seen!
22 And draw near to the pit doth his soul, And his life to  those causing death.
23 If there is by him a messenger, An interpreter -- one of a  thousand, To declare for man his uprightness:
24 Then He doth favour him and saith, `Ransom him from going  down to the pit, I have found an atonement.'
25 Fresher [is] his flesh than a child's, He returneth to the  days of his youth.
26 He maketh supplication unto God, And He accepteth him.  And he seeth His face with shouting, And He returneth to man  His righteousness.
27 He looketh on men, and saith, `I sinned, And uprightness I  have perverted, And it hath not been profitable to me.
28 He hath ransomed my soul From going over into the pit, And  my life on the light looketh.'
29 Lo, all these doth God work, Twice -- thrice with man,
30 To bring back his soul from the pit, To be enlightened  with the light of the living.
31 Attend, O Job, hearken to me, Keep silent, and I -- I do  speak.
32 If there are words -- answer me, Speak, for I have a  desire to justify thee.
33 If there are not -- hearken thou to me, Keep silent, and I  teach thee wisdom.