15. He may speak in a dream, or in a vision at night, when people are in a deep sleep lying in their beds.
16. He may whisper something in their ear, and they are frightened when they hear his warnings.
17. God warns people to stop them from doing wrong and to keep them from becoming proud.
18. He does this to save them from death. He wants to keep them from being destroyed.
19. “Or those who are sick in bed might be suffering punishment from God. The pain that makes their bones ache might be a warning from him.
20. They feel so bad they cannot eat. Even the best food makes them sick.
21. Their bodies might waste away until they become thin and all their bones stick out.
22. They might be close to death, their lives about to end.
23. But maybe one of God’s thousands of angels is watching over them, to speak for them and tell about the good things they have done.
24. Maybe the angel will be kind and say to God, ‘Save this one from the place of death! I have found a way to pay for his life.’
25. Then that person’s body will become young and strong again. He will be as he was when he was young.
26. He will pray and God will answer. He will worship God and shout with joy. He will again stand as right before God.
27. He will tell everyone, ‘I sinned. I changed good into bad, but God didn’t give me the punishment I deserved!