Job 33:1-33 NIrV

[1] “Job, listen now to my words. Pay attention to everything I say. [2] I’m about to open my mouth. My words are on the tip of my tongue. [3] What I say comes from an honest heart. My lips speak only what I know is true. [4] The Spirit of God has made me. The breath of the Mighty One gives me life. [5] So answer me if you can. Stand up and argue your case in front of me. [6] To God I’m just the same as you. I too am a piece of clay. [7] You don’t have to be afraid of me. My hand won’t be too heavy on you. [8] “But I heard what you said. And here are the exact words I heard. [9] You said, ‘I’m pure. I have done no wrong. I’m clean. I’m free from sin. [10] But God has found fault with me. He thinks I’m his enemy. [11] He puts my feet in chains. He watches every step I take.’ [12] “But I’m telling you that you aren’t right when you talk like that. After all, God is greater than any human being. [13] Why do you claim that God never answers anybody’s questions? [14] He speaks in one way and then another. But we do not even realize it. [15] He might speak in a dream or in a vision at night. That’s when people are sound asleep in their beds. [16] He might speak in their ears. His warnings might terrify them. [17] He warns them in order to turn them away from sinning. He wants to keep them from being proud. [18] He wants to stop them from going down into the grave. He doesn’t want them to be killed by swords. [19] Someone might be punished by suffering in bed. The pain in their bones might never go away. [20] They might feel so bad they can’t eat anything. They might even hate the finest food. [21] Their body might waste away to nothing. Their bones might have been hidden. But now they stick out. [22] They might approach the very edge of the grave. The messengers of death might come for them. [23] “But suppose there is an angel who will speak up for him. The angel is very special. He’s one out of a thousand. He will tell that person how to do what is right. [24] That angel will be gracious to them. He’ll say to God, ‘Spare them from going down into the grave. I know a way that can set them free.’ [25] Then their body is made like new again. They become as strong and healthy as when they were young. [26] Then that person can pray to God and be blessed by him. They will see God’s face and shout for joy. God will make them well and happy again. [27] Then that person will come to others and say, ‘I sinned. I made what is wrong appear to be right. But I wasn’t punished as I should have been. [28] God has set me free. He has kept me from going down into the darkness of the grave. So I’ll live to enjoy the light of life.’ [29] “God does all these things to people. In fact, he does them again and again. [30] He wants to stop people from going down into the darkness of the grave. Then the light of life will shine on them. [31] “Pay attention, Job! Listen to me! Be quiet so I can speak. [32] If you have anything to say, answer me. Speak up. I want to help you be cleared of all charges. [33] But if you don’t have anything to say, listen to me. Be quiet so I can teach you how to be wise.”