Job 33:1-33 ERV

[1] "Now, Job, listen to me. Listen carefully to what I say. [2] I am ready to speak. [3] My heart is honest, so my words are sincere. 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 if you can. Get your arguments ready to face me. [6] You and I are the same before God. He used clay to make us both. [7] Don't be afraid of me. I will not be hard on you. [8] "But, Job, I heard what you said. These were your very words: [9] 'I am pure and innocent; I did nothing wrong; I am not guilty! [10] But God found an excuse to attack me. He treats 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 it to you. God knows more than any of us. [13] You are arguing with God! Why do you think he should explain everything to you? [14] But maybe God does explain what he does but speaks in ways that people don't understand. [15] He may speak in a dream, or in a vision at night, when people are in a deep sleep lying in their beds. [16] He may whisper something in their ear, and they are frightened when they hear his warnings. [17] God warns people to stop them from doing wrong and to keep them from becoming proud. [18] He does this to save them from death. He wants to keep them from being destroyed. [19] "Or those who are sick in bed might be suffering punishment from God. The pain that makes their bones ache might be a warning from him. [20] They feel so bad they cannot eat. Even the best food makes them sick. [21] Their bodies might waste away until they become thin and all their bones stick out. [22] They might be close to death, their lives about to end. [23] But maybe one of God's thousands of angels is watching over them, to speak for them and tell about the good things they have done. [24] Maybe the angel will be kind 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] He will pray and God will answer. He will worship God and shout with joy. He will again stand as right before God. [27] He will tell everyone, 'I sinned. I changed good into bad, but God didn't give me the punishment I deserved! [28] God saved me from going down to the place of death. Now I can enjoy life again.' [29] "God does all these things for people again and again. [30] He wants them to be saved from death so that they can enjoy life. [31] "Job, pay attention and listen to me. Be quiet and let me talk. [32] But if you have an answer, go ahead and speak. Tell me your argument. I would be happy to know that you are innocent! [33] But if you have nothing to say, then listen to me. Be quiet, and I will teach you wisdom."