Job 33

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33 <1> "Now, Job, listen to me.

Listen carefully to what I say.

<2> I am ready to speak.

<3> My heart is honest,

so I will speak honest words.

I will speak the truth about what I know.

<4> God's Spirit made me.

My life comes from God All-Powerful.

<5> Listen to me,

and answer me if you can.

Get your answers ready,

so you can argue with me.

<6> You and I are the same in front of God.

God used clay to make both of us.

<7> Don't be afraid of me.

I will not be hard on you.

<8> "But Job, I heard what you said.

<9> You said:

'I am pure.

I am innocent

I did nothing wrong.

I am not guilty!

<10> I did nothing wrong,

but God found an excuse to treat me like an enemy.

<11> He put chains on my feet

and watches everything I do.'

<12> "But you are wrong about this,

and I will prove you are wrong,

because God knows more than anyone.[81]

<13> You are arguing with God!

You think he should explain everything to you.

<14> But maybe God does explain what he does.

Maybe he speaks in ways that people don't understand.

<15-16> Maybe he speaks to people in a dream,

or in a vision[82] at night,

when they are in a deep sleep.

Then they become very afraid

when they hear his warnings.

<17> He warns people to stop them

from doing wrong things

and to stop them from becoming proud.

<18> God warns people so that he can save them

from going to the place of death.[83]

He does that to save a person

from being destroyed.

<19> "Or, those who are sick in bed

might be suffering a punishment from God.

That pain might be a warning from him.

The pain might be so strong that all their bones hurt.

<20> So they cannot eat

and they hate even the best food.

<21> Their bodies might waste away until they becomes thin

and all their bones stick out.

<22> They might be so close to the place of death

that their lives are about to end.

<23> God has thousands of angels.

Maybe one of them is watching over them.

That angel might speak for them

and tell about the good things they have done.

<24> Maybe that angel will be kind to him and say [to God],

'Save this one from the place of death!

I have found a way to pay for his life.'

<25> Then that person's body

will become young and strong again.

He will be as he was when he was young.

<26> Then he would pray to God,

and God would answer his prayer.

That person would shout with joy

and worship God.

He would live a good life again.

<27> Then he would confess to others,

'I sinned.

I changed good into bad,

but God didn't give me the punishment I deserved!

<28> God saved my soul from going down

to the place of death.

Now I can enjoy life again.'

<29> "God might do all these things

for those people again and again.

<30> Why would God do that?

To warn them and save their souls from death so that they can enjoy their lives.

<31> "Job, pay attention to me.

Listen to me.

Be quiet and let me talk.

<32> If you want to disagree with me,

go ahead and talk.

Tell me your argument.

I would be happy to know that you are innocent!

<33> But if you have nothing to say,

listen to me.

Be quiet, and I will teach you wisdom."