[12] “But I tell you, in this you are not right, for God is greater than any mortal. [13] Why do you complain to him that he responds to no one’s words? [14] For God does speak—now one way, now another—though no one perceives it. [15] In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on people as they slumber in their beds, [16] he may speak in their ears and terrify them with warnings, [17] to turn them from wrongdoing and keep them from pride, [18] to preserve them from the pit, their lives from perishing by the sword. [19] “Or someone may be chastened on a bed of pain with constant distress in their bones, [20] so that their body finds food repulsive and their soul loathes the choicest meal. [21] Their flesh wastes away to nothing, and their bones, once hidden, now stick out. [22] They draw near to the pit, and their life to the messengers of death. [23] Yet if there is an angel at their side, a messenger, one out of a thousand, sent to tell them how to be upright, [24] and he is gracious to that person and says to God, ‘Spare them from going down to the pit; I have found a ransom for them— [25] let their flesh be renewed like a child’s; let them be restored as in the days of their youth’— [26] then that person can pray to God and find favor with him, they will see God’s face and shout for joy; he will restore them to full well-being. [27] And they will go to others and say, ‘I have sinned, I have perverted what is right, but I did not get what I deserved. [28] God has delivered me from going down to the pit, and I shall live to enjoy the light of life.’ [29] “God does all these things to a person—twice, even three times— [30] to turn them back from the pit, that the light of life may shine on them. [31] “Pay attention, Job, and listen to me; be silent, and I will speak. [32] If you have anything to say, answer me; speak up, for I want to vindicate you. [33] But if not, then listen to me; be silent, and I will teach you wisdom.”
