15He speaks in dreams, in visions of the night,

when deep sleep falls on people

as they lie in their beds.

16He whispers in their ears

and terrifies them with warnings.

17He makes them turn from doing wrong;

he keeps them from pride.

18He protects them from the grave,

from crossing over the river of death.

19“Or God disciplines people with pain on their sickbeds,

with ceaseless aching in their bones.

20They lose their appetite

for even the most delicious food.

21Their flesh wastes away,

and their bones stick out.

22They are at death’s door;

the angels of death wait for them.

23“But if an angel from heaven appears—

a special messenger to intercede for a person

and declare that he is upright—

24he will be gracious and say,

‘Rescue him from the grave,

for I have found a ransom for his life.’

25Then his body will become as healthy as a child’s,

firm and youthful again.

26When he prays to God,

he will be accepted.

And God will receive him with joy

and restore him to good standing.

27He will declare to his friends,

‘I sinned and twisted the truth,

but it was not worth it.*33:27 Greek version reads but he [God] did not punish me as my sin deserved.

28God rescued me from the grave,

and now my life is filled with light.’