17. in order to turn a man from his conduct and to cover a person’s pride.
18. He spares his soul from the Pit and his life from perishing by the sword.
19. Or a person is chastened with pain on his bed, with continual strife in his bones,
20. so that his life loathes bread, and his soul, desirable food.
21. His flesh wastes away from sight, and his bones, once unseen, now stick out.
22. His soul draws near to the Pit and his life to the messengers of death.
23. “If there is an angel beside him, a messenger, one out of a thousand, to declare to a man his uprightness,
24. then He is gracious to him, and says ‘Deliver him from going down to the Pit— I have found a ransom;’
25. let his flesh be restored like a child’s; let him return to the days of his youth.’
26. He entreats God and is accepted by Him; he sees His face with a shout of joy; He restores to the man his righteousness.