Job 33:8-27

¶“Surely you have spoken in my hearing, And I have heard the sound of your words, saying: ‘I am pure, without transgression; I am innocent and there is no guilt in me. ‘Behold, God finds pretexts against me; He counts me as His enemy. ‘He puts my feet in the stocks [to hinder and humiliate me]; He [suspiciously] watches all my paths,’ [you say]. “Look, let me answer you, in this you are not right or just; For God is greater and far superior to man. ¶“Why do you complain against Him? That He does not answer [you with] all His doings. “For God speaks once, And even twice, yet no one notices it [including you, Job]. “In a dream, a vision of the night [one may hear God’s voice], When deep sleep falls on men While slumbering upon the bed, Then He opens the ears of men And seals their instruction, That He may turn man aside from his conduct, And keep him from pride; He holds back his soul from the pit [of destruction], And his life from passing over into Sheol (the nether world, the place of the dead). ¶“Man is also disciplined with pain on his bed, And with unceasing complaint in his bones, So that his life makes him loathe food, And his soul [loathe] even his favorite dishes. “His flesh is so wasted away that it cannot be seen, And his bones which were not seen now stick out. “Then his soul draws near to the pit [of destruction], And his life to those who bring death (the destroyers). ¶“If there is an angel as a mediator for him, One out of a thousand, To explain to a man what is right for him [that is, how to be in right standing with God], Then the angel is gracious to him, and says, ‘Spare him from going down to the pit [of destruction]; I have found a ransom [a consideration, or reason for redemption, an atonement]!’ “Let his flesh be restored and become fresher than in youth; Let him return to the days of his youthful strength. “He will pray to God, and He shall be favorable to him, So that he looks at His face with joy; For God restores to man His righteousness [that is, his right standing with God—with its joys]. “He sings out to other men, ‘I have sinned and perverted that which was right, And it was not proper for me!