Job 33-34

New International Version

33 “But now, Job, listen^(A) to my words;
    pay attention to everything I say.^(B)
2 I am about to open my mouth;
    my words are on the tip of my tongue.
³ My words come from an upright heart;^(C)
    my lips sincerely speak what I know.^(D)
4 The Spirit^(E) of God has made me;^(F)
    the breath of the Almighty^(G) gives me life.^(H)
5 Answer me^(I) then, if you can;
    stand up^(J) and argue your case before me.^(K)
6 I am the same as you in God’s sight;^(L)
    I too am a piece of clay.^(M)
7 No fear of me should alarm you,
    nor should my hand be heavy on you.^(N)

⁸ “But you have said in my hearing—
    I heard the very words—
⁹ ‘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)”

² “Hear my words, you wise men;
    listen to me,^(BW) you men of learning.
³ For the ear tests words
    as the tongue tastes food.^(BX)
4 Let us discern for ourselves what is right;^(BY)
    let us learn together what is good.^(BZ)

⁵ “Job says, ‘I am innocent,^(CA)
    but God denies me justice.^(CB)
6 Although I am right,
    I am considered a liar;^(CC)
although I am guiltless,^(CD)
    his arrow inflicts an incurable wound.’^(CE)
7 Is there anyone like Job,
    who drinks scorn like water?^(CF)
8 He keeps company with evildoers;
    he associates with the wicked.^(CG)
9 For he says, ‘There is no profit
    in trying to please God.’^(CH)

¹⁰ “So listen to me,^(CI) you men of understanding.^(CJ)
    Far be it from God to do evil,^(CK)
    from the Almighty to do wrong.^(CL)
11 He repays everyone for what they have done;^(CM)
    he brings on them what their conduct deserves.^(CN)
12 It is unthinkable that God would do wrong,^(CO)
    that the Almighty would pervert justice.^(CP)
13 Who appointed^(CQ) him over the earth?
    Who put him in charge of the whole world?^(CR)
14 If it were his intention
    and he withdrew his spirit^[d](CS) and breath,^(CT)
15 all humanity would perish^(CU) together
    and mankind would return to the dust.^(CV)

¹⁶ “If you have understanding,^(CW) hear this;
    listen to what I say.^(CX)
17 Can someone who hates justice govern?^(CY)
    Will you condemn the just and mighty One?^(CZ)
18 Is he not the One who says to kings, ‘You are worthless,’
    and to nobles,^(DA) ‘You are wicked,’^(DB)
19 who shows no partiality^(DC) to princes
    and does not favor the rich over the poor,^(DD)
    for they are all the work of his hands?^(DE)
20 They die in an instant, in the middle of the night;^(DF)
    the people are shaken and they pass away;
    the mighty are removed without human hand.^(DG)

²¹ “His eyes are on the ways of mortals;^(DH)
    he sees their every step.^(DI)
22 There is no deep shadow,^(DJ) no utter darkness,^(DK)
    where evildoers can hide.^(DL)
23 God has no need to examine people further,^(DM)
    that they should come before him for judgment.^(DN)
24 Without inquiry he shatters^(DO) the mighty^(DP)
    and sets up others in their place.^(DQ)
25 Because he takes note of their deeds,^(DR)
    he overthrows them in the night^(DS) and they are crushed.^(DT)
26 He punishes them for their wickedness^(DU)
    where everyone can see them,
²⁷ because they turned from following him^(DV)
    and had no regard for any of his ways.^(DW)
28 They caused the cry of the poor to come before him,
    so that he heard the cry of the needy.^(DX)
29 But if he remains silent,^(DY) who can condemn him?^(DZ)
    If he hides his face,^(EA) who can see him?
Yet he is over individual and nation alike,^(EB)
30     to keep the godless^(EC) from ruling,^(ED)
    from laying snares for the people.^(EE)

³¹ “Suppose someone says to God,
    ‘I am guilty^(EF) but will offend no more.
³² Teach me what I cannot see;^(EG)
    if I have done wrong, I will not do so again.’^(EH)
33 Should God then reward you on your terms,
    when you refuse to repent?^(EI)
You must decide, not I;
    so tell me what you know.

³⁴ “Men of understanding declare,
    wise men who hear me say to me,
³⁵ ‘Job speaks without knowledge;^(EJ)
    his words lack insight.’^(EK)
36 Oh, that Job might be tested to the utmost
    for answering like a wicked man!^(EL)
37 To his sin he adds rebellion;
    scornfully he claps his hands^(EM) among us
    and multiplies his words^(EN) against God.”^(EO)