Job 33

1 “But now [however, in contrast], O Job [the patriarch, a man of patience], hear [listen, give attention to] my speech [words, message], and listen [hearken, obey] to all [everything, every word] my words [sayings, teachings]. word study 2 Behold [look, see], I will open [to engrave, carve] my mouth; my address [words, speech] is on the tip [edge, lip] of my tongue [the instrument of speaking, language]. word study 3 My words [from the uprightness of my heart, uttering knowledge clearly] are from an upright [morally straight, doing what is right] heart, and my lips [speaking sincerely, uttering pure knowledge] speak sincerely [with pure sentence, from the heart] what I know [with knowledge, having understanding]. word study 4 The Spirit [breath of life] of God [the all-powerful One] has made [created, formed] me, and the breath [spirit] of the Almighty [the all-sufficient One] gives [sustains, quickens] me life [vitality, animation]. word study 5 Refute [answer, respond to] me if you can [are able, have power]; prepare [set in order, arrange] your case [words, argument] and confront [stand before, face] me [my presence, face to face]. word study 6 I am [just as you are, equal before Him] just like you before [the one true] God; I was also [cut off from, formed out of] formed from clay [the earth, a humble material]. word study 7 Surely no [absence of] fear [terror, dread] of me should [not] terrify [startle, frighten] you; nor will my hand [power, authority] be heavy [burdensome, weighed down] upon [on, above] you. word study 8 Surely [certainly, without a doubt] you have spoken [said, uttered words] in my hearing [within my range of listening, in my ears], and I have heard [listened to, given attention to] these very words [the voice of your speech, the sound of your voice]: word study 9 ‘I am [morally] pure [innocent, having a clear conscience], without [free from] transgression [rebellion, sin]; I am [spiritually] clean [innocent, with a clean heart], with [characterized by] no [absence of] iniquity [moral evil, sin] in me. word study 10 Yet God [the Almighty, our Creator] finds [discovers, comes upon] occasions [reasons for complaint, opposition] against me; He counts [considers, regards] me as [treats me like] His enemy [adversary, one who opposes]. word study 11 He puts [binds, restrains] my feet [steps, paths] in the stocks [wooden blocks, restraints]; He watches over [guards, observes] all [every, each] my paths [ways, journeys].’ word study 12 Behold [look, take notice], you are not right [just, righteous] in this matter [situation, circumstance]. I will answer [respond, give an explanation] you, for God [Eloah, the one true deity] is greater [more powerful, superior] than man [human, mortal]. word study 13 Why [for what reason, on what grounds] do you complain [strive, contend] to Him [toward God, against Him] that He answers [responds, gives account] nothing [not at all, no response] a man [any person, humanity] asks [requests, inquires]? word study 14 For [because of this reason] God [Elohim, the supreme Being] speaks [communicates, reveals Himself] in one [a single, unique] way [manner, method] and in another [a second, different], yet [although, even though] no one [man, humanity] notices [perceives, pays attention to, sees] [regardeth it not, is not conscious of it]. word study 15 In a dream [a prophetic vision, through dreams and visions], in a vision [a revelation] in the night [a time of darkness, adversity], when deep sleep [a state of unconsciousness, trance] falls [comes upon, is laid] upon men [humanity, individuals] as they slumber [are in a state of drowsiness, lethargy] on their beds [places of rest, intimacy], word study 16 He opens [unveils, reveals] their ears [the ability to hear, listen] and terrifies [frightens, warns] them with warnings [discipline, correction, instruction] [to teach them, guide them] word study 17 to turn [withdraw, cause to depart] a man [the human, Adam] from wrongdoing [his evil deeds, purpose] and keep [hide, conceal] him from pride [arrogance, being lifted up], word study 18 to preserve [keep back, spare] his soul [living being, essence] from the Pit [underworld, corruption] and his life [being alive, spiritual existence] from perishing [passing away, destruction] by the sword [missile, violent death]. word study 19 A man is also chastened [reproved, corrected] on his bed [place of rest, sleep] with pain [sorrow, grief] and constant distress [strife, strong pain] in his bones [body, substance], word study 20 so that he detests [abhorreth, feels strong dislike for] his bread [food, especially grain], and his soul [the essence of a person, living being] loathes [has a strong dislike for, nauseated by] his favorite food [dainty meat, desirable dishes]. word study 21 His flesh [body, physical form] wastes away [is consumed, fails] from sight [from being seen, visibly], and his hidden [not seen, previously covered] bones [the substance of his body] protrude [stick out, become visible, are bared]. word study 22 He draws near [approaches, comes close to] to the Pit [grave, place of destruction], and his life [soul, living being] to the messengers [angels, destroyers] of death [corruption, eternal separation]. word study 23 Yet if [there exists, if it happens that] there is a messenger [angel, divine representative] on his side, one mediator [interpreter, advocate] in a thousand, to tell [declare, show openly] a man [Adam, humanity] what is right [uprightness, righteousness] for him, word study 24 to be gracious [show kindness, have mercy] to him and say, ‘Spare him [deliver, release] from going down [descending, falling] to the Pit [grave, place of destruction]; I have found [discovered, attained] his ransom [redemption price, payment for his life],’ word study 25 then his flesh [body, physical being] is refreshed [renewed, rejuvenated] like a child’s [in its prime, full of vigor]; he returns [to turn back, come again] to the days [periods of time, seasons] of his youth [early life, adolescence]. word study 26 He prays [to make supplication, with burning incense] to God [Eloah, the one true deity] and finds favor [is accepted, receives mercy]; he sees [to look after, with care] God’s face [presence, countenance] and shouts [with a loud cry, joyful noise] for joy, and God restores [to return, turn back] His righteousness [justice, moral virtue] to that man [human, mankind]. word study 27 Then he sings [makes a song, tells others] before men [human beings, individuals] with these words: ‘I have sinned [missed the mark, gone wrong] and perverted [twisted, done wrong] what was right [just, upright]; yet I did not get [receive, obtain] what I deserved [what was due to me, my punishment]. word study 28 He redeemed [saved, ransomed] my soul [the essence of a person] from going down [passing over, transitioning] to the Pit [a place of destruction, the grave, sheol], and I will live [enjoy being alive, have life] to see [behold, look upon] the light [divine illumination, happiness].’ word study 29 Behold [look, see, take notice], all these things God [the Almighty, divine strength] does [works, brings about] to a man [a great man], two [twice, repeatedly] or even [yea, indeed] three [thrice, a complete set] times [occurrences, events, or experiences], word study 30 to bring back [return, turn back] his soul [the essence of a person] from the Pit [the grave, a place of destruction], that he may be enlightened [given spiritual light] with the light [happiness, spiritual understanding] of life [physical and spiritual existence, being alive]. word study 31 Pay attention [mark well, take note], Job [the patriarch famous for his patience], and listen [hearken, give ear] to me; be silent [hold thy peace, keep quiet], and I [the speaker, referring to oneself] will speak [communicate, express thoughts]. word study 32 But if [there is a condition, whether] you have something [a matter, a word] to say, answer [respond, turn back] me; speak up [declare, communicate], for [because, since] I would like [desire, delight in] to vindicate [justify, declare righteous] you [make you appear just, show you innocent]. word study 33 But if not [there is no other way, nothing more to say], then listen [hear and obey, give attention] to me; be quiet [hold your peace, keep silent], and I will teach [guide, instruct, impart knowledge] you wisdom [prudence, good judgment, spiritual insight].” word study