Job 33:1-21 ▼

1 |Now please listen to what I have to say, Job. Listen to every word!

2 Look! I've begun to speak, and I'm fashioning my words.

3 I speak from the innocence of my heart; and my lips will utter what I sincerely know.

4 |The spirit of God fashioned me; and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.

5 Answer me, if you can! Present your case! Take your stand in my presence!

6 Look! As far as God is concerned, I'm just like you are— I, too, have been pinched off from a piece of clay.

7 Don't be afraid of me; I'll go easy on you.|

8 |You spoke clearly so I could hear; I've heard what you've said:

9 I'm pure. I'm without sin; I'm innocent. I'm harboring no iniquity inside of me.

10 Nevertheless, God has found a pretext to attack me; he considers me his enemy.

11 He has bound my feet in shackles, and keeps watching everything I do.'|

12 |You aren't right about this; My response is that God is greater than human beings.

13 Why are you arguing with him? He doesn't have to give explanations for what he does to you!

14 |God speaks time and time again — but nobody notices—

15 in a dream or night vision, when a deep sleep falls on mankind while they sleep on their beds.

16 That's when he opens the ear of mankind, authenticating his messages to them,

17 turning a person from his actions, keeping him from pride,

18 sparing his soul from the Pit and his life from violent death.

19 |He is being reproved by painful bed rest, with continual aching in his bones.

20 He cannot stand his food, and he has no desire for appetizing food.

21 His flesh wastes away; his bones, which once couldn't be seen, are visible.