Bible in Basic English
See, now my mouth is open, my tongue gives out words.
My heart is overflowing with knowledge, my lips say what is true.
The spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Ruler of all gives me life.
If you are able, give me an answer; put your cause in order, and come forward.
See, I am the same as you are in the eyes of God; I was cut off from the same bit of wet earth.
Fear of me will not overcome you, and my hand will not be hard on you.
But you said in my hearing, and your voice came to my ears:
I am clean, without sin; I am washed, and there is no evil in me:
See, he is looking for something against me; in his eyes I am as one of his haters;
He puts chains on my feet; he is watching all my ways.
Truly, in saying this you are wrong; for God is greater than man.
Why do you put forward your cause against him, saying, He gives no answer to any of my words?
For God gives his word in one way, even in two, and man is not conscious of it:
In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep comes on men, while they take their rest on their beds;
Then he makes his secrets clear to men, so that they are full of fear at what they see;
In order that man may be turned from his evil works, and that pride may be taken away from him;
To keep back his soul from the underworld, and his life from destruction.
Pain is sent on him as a punishment, while he is on his bed; there is no end to the trouble in his bones;
He has no desire for food, and his soul is turned away from delicate meat;
His flesh is so wasted away, that it may not be seen, and his bones. ...
And his soul comes near to the underworld, and his life to the angels of death.
If now there may be an angel sent to him, one of the thousands which there are to be between him and God, and to make clear to man what is right for him;
And if he has mercy on him, and says, Let him not go down to the underworld, I have given the price for his life:
Then his flesh becomes young again, and he comes back to the days of his early strength;
He makes his prayer to God, and he has mercy on him; he sees God's face with cries of joy; he gives news of his righteousness to men;
He makes a song, saying, I did wrong, turning from the straight way, but he did not give me the reward of my sin.
He kept my soul from the underworld, and my life sees the light in full measure.
Truly, God does all these things to man, twice and three times,
Keeping back his soul from the underworld, so that he may see the light of life.
Take note O Job, give ear to me; keep quiet, while I say what is in my mind.
If you have anything to say, give me an answer; for it is my desire that you may be judged free from sin.
If not, give attention to me, and keep quiet, and I will give you wisdom.
— Job 33:2-1964, Bible in Basic English
“Behold, now I have opened my mouth, my tongue hath spoken in my mouth. My words shall be of the uprightness of my heart: and my lips shall utter knowledge clearly. The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life. If thou canst answer me, set thy words in order before me, stand up. Behold, I am according to thy wish in God’s stead: I also am formed out of the clay. Behold, my terror shall not make thee afraid, neither shall my hand be heavy upon thee. Surely thou hast spoken in mine hearing, and I have heard the voice of thy words, saying, I am clean without transgression, I am innocent; neither is there iniquity in me. Behold, he findeth occasions against me, he counteth me for his enemy, He putteth my feet in the stocks, he marketh all my paths. Behold, in this thou art not just: I will answer thee, that God is greater than man. Why dost thou strive against him? for he giveth not account of any of his matters. For God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not. In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed; Then he openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction, That he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man. He keepeth back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword. He is chastened also with pain upon his bed, and the multitude of his bones with strong pain: So that his life abhorreth bread, and his soul dainty meat. His flesh is consumed away, that it cannot be seen; and his bones that were not seen stick out. Yea, his soul draweth near unto the grave, and his life to the destroyers. If there be a messenger with him, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to shew unto man his uprightness: Then he is gracious unto him, and saith, Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom. His flesh shall be fresher than a child’s: he shall return to the days of his youth: He shall pray unto God, and he will be favourable unto him: and he shall see his face with joy: for he will render unto man his righteousness. He looketh upon men, and if any say, I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it profited me not; He will deliver his soul from going into the pit, and his life shall see the light. Lo, all these things worketh God oftentimes with man, To bring back his soul from the pit, to be enlightened with the light of the living. Mark well, O Job, hearken unto me: hold thy peace, and I will speak. If thou hast any thing to say, answer me: speak, for I desire to justify thee. If not, hearken unto me: hold thy peace, and I shall teach thee wisdom. ”
“See now, I have opened my mouth. My tongue has spoken in my mouth. My words shall utter the uprightness of my heart. That which my lips know they shall speak sincerely. The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life. If you can, answer me. Set your words in order before me, and stand forth. Behold, I am toward God even as you are. I am also formed out of the clay. Behold, my terror shall not make you afraid, neither shall my pressure be heavy on you. "Surely you have spoken in my hearing, I have heard the voice of your words, saying, 'I am clean, without disobedience. I am innocent, neither is there iniquity in me. Behold, he finds occasions against me. He counts me for his enemy. He puts my feet in the stocks. He marks all my paths.' "Behold, I will answer you. In this you are not just, for God is greater than man. Why do you strive against him, because he doesn't give account of any of his matters? For God speaks once, yes twice, though man pays no attention. In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on men, in slumbering on the bed; Then he opens the ears of men, and seals their instruction, That he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man. He keeps back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword. He is chastened also with pain on his bed, with continual strife in his bones; So that his life abhors bread, and his soul dainty food. His flesh is so consumed away, that it can't be seen. His bones that were not seen stick out. Yes, his soul draws near to the pit, and his life to the destroyers. "If there is beside him an angel, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to show to man what is right for him; then God is gracious to him, and says, 'Deliver him from going down to the pit, I have found a ransom.' His flesh shall be fresher than a child's. He returns to the days of his youth. He prays to God, and he is favorable to him, so that he sees his face with joy. He restores to man his righteousness. He sings before men, and says, 'I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it didn't profit me. He has redeemed my soul from going into the pit. My life shall see the light.' "Behold, God works all these things, twice, yes three times, with a man, to bring back his soul from the pit, that he may be enlightened with the light of the living. Mark well, Job, and listen to me. Hold your peace, and I will speak. If you have anything to say, answer me. Speak, for I desire to justify you. If not, listen to me. Hold your peace, and I will teach you wisdom."”
And now, O Job, give ear to my words, and take note of all I say.
See, now my mouth is open, my tongue gives out words.
My heart is overflowing with knowledge, my lips say what is true.
The spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Ruler of all gives me life.
If you are able, give me an answer; put your cause in order, and come forward.
See, I am the same as you are in the eyes of God; I was cut off from the same bit of wet earth.
Fear of me will not overcome you, and my hand will not be hard on you.
But you said in my hearing, and your voice came to my ears:
I am clean, without sin; I am washed, and there is no evil in me:
See, he is looking for something against me; in his eyes I am as one of his haters;
He puts chains on my feet; he is watching all my ways.
Truly, in saying this you are wrong; for God is greater than man.
Why do you put forward your cause against him, saying, He gives no answer to any of my words?
For God gives his word in one way, even in two, and man is not conscious of it:
In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep comes on men, while they take their rest on their beds;
Then he makes his secrets clear to men, so that they are full of fear at what they see;
In order that man may be turned from his evil works, and that pride may be taken away from him;
To keep back his soul from the underworld, and his life from destruction.
Pain is sent on him as a punishment, while he is on his bed; there is no end to the trouble in his bones;
He has no desire for food, and his soul is turned away from delicate meat;
His flesh is so wasted away, that it may not be seen, and his bones. ...
And his soul comes near to the underworld, and his life to the angels of death.
If now there may be an angel sent to him, one of the thousands which there are to be between him and God, and to make clear to man what is right for him;
And if he has mercy on him, and says, Let him not go down to the underworld, I have given the price for his life:
Then his flesh becomes young again, and he comes back to the days of his early strength;
He makes his prayer to God, and he has mercy on him; he sees God's face with cries of joy; he gives news of his righteousness to men;
He makes a song, saying, I did wrong, turning from the straight way, but he did not give me the reward of my sin.
He kept my soul from the underworld, and my life sees the light in full measure.
Truly, God does all these things to man, twice and three times,
Keeping back his soul from the underworld, so that he may see the light of life.
Take note O Job, give ear to me; keep quiet, while I say what is in my mind.
If you have anything to say, give me an answer; for it is my desire that you may be judged free from sin.
If not, give attention to me, and keep quiet, and I will give you wisdom.