The Rhythm of Job

Job 33

1 “Wherefore then Job, I prayeth thee
hearken to my speeches.
Take ye heed of all of my words;
observe what I preacheth.

2 “Behold, I have opened my mouth.
Hear my exposition.
In my mouth my tongue hath spoken,
this, my admonition.

3 “My words shall be of uprightness,
the order of my heart,
and my lips shall utter knowledge
and with clarity impart.

4 “The spirit of God hath made me
and formed me by His hand,
for the breath of the Almighty,
my life it doth command.

5 “If thou canst answer me, do so.
Prepare now your response.
Set thy words in order ’fore me;
stand up ye for the nonce.

6 “I am according to thy wish
equal with thee ’fore God.
I, too, am molded out of clay,
crafted from the same clod.

7 “Behold, my terror shall not make
thee tremble or afraid.
Nor shall my hand be heavy ’pon
thy shoulder, be it laid.

8 “Thou hast spoken in my hearing,
and I have heard thy voice.
Thy words have tumbled from thy lips—
a flawed defense thy choice.

9 “‘I am clean without transgression,’
of this I heard ye say.
‘I am innocent without sin;
I have not gone astray.

10 “‘Behold, He findeth fault in me
and tabulates the score.
He counts me for His enemy
and doth blockade His door.

11 “‘He putts my feet into the stocks
and binds them with shackles.
He doth marketh all of my paths,
watching where I travel.’

12 “Behold, in this thou art not just,
thy argument unsound.
For God is surely greater than
the pauper and the crowned.

13 “Why dost thou struggle against Him,
airing noisy chatter?
He giveth not an account of
any of His matters.

14 “For God doth speaketh once, yea twice,
in tender or harsh tone,
yet man doth not perceive His speech—
to him its but a drone.

15 “In a dream or in a vision,
when sleep doth fall upon,
men of the night caught slumbering
on beds before the dawn.

16 “He openeth the ears of men,
rouses them in the morn’,
and He shall seal their instruction—
the men be duly warned.

17 “That upon His whim He withdraws
man from his intention
and hides the lustful pride from man.
He gives His prevention.

18 “He keepeth back the soul of man
from out the fiery pit
and saves his life from perishing
as the sword doth remit.

19 “He is chastened also with grief
when ’pon his bed be laid,
and the multitude of his bones,
with great pain, they decay.

20 “So that his life abhorreth bread,
his stomach turning sour,
and his soul spurns the dainty meat;
he weakens every hour.

21 “His flesh slowly consumed away
’til it cannot be seen,
and his bones that had been hidden,
protruding, now obscene.

22 “Yea, his soul draweth near unto
the waiting, darkened grave,
and his life to the destroyers.

To death he is a slave.

23 “If a messenger be with him
as one among the horde,
an interpreter to show man,
his uprightness restored.

24 “Then He is gracious unto him,
cries out to deliver
the man from going to the pit,
redeemed from the Giver.

25 “His flesh be fresher than a child’s
without blemish renewed,
returning to the days of youth,
aged years of his preclude.

26 “He shall pray to the Almighty
and with Him find favor.
With joy he shall gaze ’pon God’s face,
His righteousness savor.

27 “He looketh upon other men
and sayeth, ‘I have sinned
and perverted that which was right—
all my profits rescind.’

28 “He will deliver his soul from
going into the pit,
and his life shall perceive the light
and thus his spirit lift.

29 “Lo, all these things are works of God.
How great be His mercy.
How often man reaps such rewards,
though he be unworthy.

30 “He brings back his soul from the pit,
reaching down in rescue
to be enlightened with the light
of the living’s virtue.

31 “Mark well, O Job, hearken to me.
Consider my critique;
clench thy teeth and hold firm thy tongue.
I have yet more to speak.

32 “If thou hast anything to say
or conjure an answer,
speak; for I shall justify you
and settle this matter.

33 “If not, then hearken unto me;
refrain from speech and hear.
I shall instruct thee with wisdom;
your charge shall disappear.”