14 For God does speak—now
one way, now another—
though man may not perceive it.
15 In a dream, in a
vision of the night,
when deep sleep falls on men
as they slumber in their beds,
16 he may speak in
their ears
and terrify them with warnings,
17 to turn man from
wrongdoing
and keep him from pride,
18 to preserve his
soul from the pit, [b]
his life from perishing by the
sword. [c]
19 Or a man may be
chastened on a bed of pain
with constant distress in his
bones,
20 so that his very
being finds food repulsive
and his soul loathes the choicest
meal.
21 His flesh wastes
away to nothing,
and his bones, once hidden, now
stick out.
22 His soul draws
near to the pit, [d]
and his life to the messengers of
death. [e]
23 "Yet if there is
an angel on his side
as a mediator, one out of a
thousand,
to tell a man what is right for
him,
24 to be gracious
to him and say,
'Spare him from going down to the
pit [f] ;
I have found a ransom for him'-
25 then his flesh
is renewed like a child's;
it is restored as in the days of
his youth.
26 He prays to God
and finds favor with him,
he sees God's face and shouts for
joy;
he is restored by God to his
righteous state.
27 Then he comes to
men and says,
'I sinned, and perverted what was
right,
but I did not get what I deserved.
28 He redeemed my
soul from going down to the pit, [g]
and I will live to enjoy the
light.'
29 "God does all
these things to a man—
twice, even three times-
30 to turn back his
soul from the pit, [h]
that the light of life may shine
on him.
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 you to be
cleared.
33 But if not, then
listen to me;
be silent, and I will teach you
wisdom."