17. to turn them from a deedand to smother human pride.
18. He keeps one from the pit,a life from perishing by the sword.
19. Or a person may be disciplined by painwhile in bed, bones ever aching
20. until a person loathes food,an appetite rejects a delicacy;
21. the flesh wastes away, no longer visible;the bones, once hidden, protrude.
22. A life approaches the pit;its very being draws near the death dealers.
23. Surely there’s a messenger for this person,a mediator, one out of a thousandto declare one’s integrity to another
24. so that God has compassion on that person and says,"Rescue this one from going down to the pit;I have found a ransom."
25. That person’s flesh is renewed like a child’s;they regain their youth.
26. They pray to God, and God is pleased with them;they behold God’s presencewith a joyful shout.God rewards a person’s righteousness.
27. They sing before people and say:"I have sinned, perverted justice,but didn’t experience the consequences.
28. He ransomed me from crossing into the pit;my life beholds light."