Parallel Bible results for "job 33"

Job 33

New Revised Standard NRS

1 "But now, hear my speech, O Job, and listen to all my words.

2 See, I open my mouth; the tongue in my mouth speaks.

3 My words declare the uprightness of my heart, and what my lips know they speak sincerely.

4 The spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.

5 Answer me, if you can; set your words in order before me; take your stand.

6 See, before God I am as you are; I too was formed from a piece of clay.

7 No fear of me need terrify you; my pressure will not be heavy on you.

8 "Surely, you have spoken in my hearing, and I have heard the sound of your words.

9 You say, "I am clean, without transgression; I am pure, and there is no iniquity in me.

10 Look, he finds occasions against me, he counts me as his enemy;

11 he puts my feet in the stocks, and watches all my paths.'

12 "But in this you are not right. I will answer you: God is greater than any mortal.

13 Why do you contend against him, saying, "He will answer none of my words'?

14 For God speaks in one way, and in two, though people do not perceive it.

15 In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on mortals, while they slumber on their beds,

16 then he opens their ears, and terrifies them with warnings,

17 that he may turn them aside from their deeds, and keep them from pride,

18 to spare their souls from the Pit, their lives from traversing the River.

19 They are also chastened with pain upon their beds, and with continual strife in their bones,

20 so that their lives loathe bread, and their appetites dainty food.

21 Their flesh is so wasted away that it cannot be seen; and their bones, once invisible, now stick out.

22 Their souls draw near the Pit, and their lives to those who bring death.

23 Then, if there should be for one of them an angel, a mediator, one of a thousand, one who declares a person upright,

24 and he is gracious to that person, and says, "Deliver him from going down into the Pit; I have found a ransom;

25 let his flesh become fresh with youth; let him return to the days of his youthful vigor';

26 then he prays to God, and is accepted by him, he comes into his presence with joy, and God repays him for his righteousness.

27 That person sings to others and says, "I sinned, and perverted what was right, and it was not paid back to me.

28 He has redeemed my soul from going down to the Pit, and my life shall see the light.'

29 "God indeed does all these things, twice, three times, with mortals,

30 to bring back their souls from the Pit, so that they may see the light of life.

31 Pay heed, Job, listen to me; be silent, and I will speak.

32 If you have anything to say, answer me; speak, for I desire to justify you.

33 If not, listen to me; be silent, and I will teach you wisdom."

The Message Bible MSG

1 "So please, Job, hear me out, honor me by listening to me.

2 What I'm about to say has been carefully thought out.

3 I have no ulterior motives in this; I'm speaking honestly from my heart.

4 The Spirit of God made me what I am, the breath of God Almighty gave me life! God Always Answers, One Way or Another

5 "And if you think you can prove me wrong, do it. Lay out your arguments. Stand up for yourself!

6 Look, I'm human - no better than you; we're both made of the same kind of mud.

7 So let's work this through together; don't let my aggressiveness overwhelm you.

8 "Here's what you said. I heard you say it with my own ears.

9 You said, 'I'm pure - I've done nothing wrong. Believe me, I'm clean - my conscience is clear.

10 But God keeps picking on me; he treats me like I'm his enemy.

11 He's thrown me in jail; he keeps me under constant surveillance.'

12 "But let me tell you, Job, you're wrong, dead wrong! God is far greater than any human.

13 So how dare you haul him into court, and then complain that he won't answer your charges?

14 God always answers, one way or another, even when people don't recognize his presence.

15 "In a dream, for instance, a vision at night, when men and women are deep in sleep, fast asleep in their beds -

16 God opens their ears and impresses them with warnings

17 To turn them back from something bad they're planning, from some reckless choice,

18 And keep them from an early grave, from the river of no return.

19 "Or, God might get their attention through pain, by throwing them on a bed of suffering,

20 So they can't stand the sight of food, have no appetite for their favorite treats.

21 They lose weight, wasting away to nothing, reduced to a bag of bones.

22 They hang on the cliff-edge of death, knowing the next breath may be their last.

23 "But even then an angel could come, a champion - there are thousands of them! - to take up your cause,

24 A messenger who would mercifully intervene, canceling the death sentence with the words: 'I've come up with the ransom!'

25 Before you know it, you're healed, the very picture of health!

26 "Or, you may fall on your knees and pray - to God's delight! You'll see God's smile and celebrate, finding yourself set right with God.

27 You'll sing God's praises to everyone you meet, testifying, 'I messed up my life - and let me tell you, it wasn't worth it.

28 But God stepped in and saved me from certain death. I'm alive again! Once more I see the light!'

29 "This is the way God works. Over and over again

30 He pulls our souls back from certain destruction so we'll see the light - and live in the light!

31 "Keep listening, Job. Don't interrupt - I'm not finished yet.

32 But if you think of anything I should know, tell me. There's nothing I'd like better than to see your name cleared.

33 Meanwhile, keep listening. Don't distract me with interruptions. I'm going to teach you the basics of wisdom."