Elihu Rebukes Job
1 “But now, hear my speech, O Job,
and listen to all my words.
1 “But now, hear my speech, O Job,
and listen to all my words.
2 Behold, I open my mouth;
the tongue in my mouth speaks.
the tongue in my mouth speaks.
3 My words declare the uprightness of my heart,
and what my lips know they speak sincerely.
and what my lips know they speak sincerely.
4 The Spirit of God has made me,
and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.
and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.
5 Answer me, if you can;
set your words in order before me; take your stand.
set your words in order before me; take your stand.
6 Behold, I am toward God as you are;
I too was pinched off from a piece of clay.
I too was pinched off from a piece of clay.
7 Behold, no fear of me need terrify you;
my pressure will not be heavy upon you.
my pressure will not be heavy upon you.
8 “Surely you have spoken in my ears,
and I have heard the sound of your words.
and I have heard the sound of your words.
9 You say, ‘I am pure, without transgression;
I am clean, and there is no iniquity in me.
I am clean, and there is no iniquity in me.
10 Behold, he finds occasions against me,
he counts me as his enemy,
he counts me as his enemy,
11 he puts my feet in the stocks
and watches all my paths.’
and watches all my paths.’
12 “Behold, in this you are not right. I will answer you,
for God is greater than man.
for God is greater than man.
13 Why do you contend against him,
saying, ‘He will answer none of man’sa words’?b
saying, ‘He will answer none of man’sa words’?b
14 For God speaks in one way,
and in two, though man does not perceive it.
and in two, though man does not perceive it.
15 In a dream, in a vision of the night,
when deep sleep falls on men,
while they slumber on their beds,
when deep sleep falls on men,
while they slumber on their beds,
16 then he opens the ears of men
and terrifiesc them with warnings,
and terrifiesc them with warnings,
17 that he may turn man aside from his deed
and conceal pride from a man;
and conceal pride from a man;
18 he keeps back his soul from the pit,
his life from perishing by the sword.
his life from perishing by the sword.
19 “Man is also rebuked with pain on his bed
and with continual strife in his bones,
and with continual strife in his bones,
20 so that his life loathes bread,
and his appetite the choicest food.
and his appetite the choicest food.
21 His flesh is so wasted away that it cannot be seen,
and his bones that were not seen stick out.
and his bones that were not seen stick out.
22 His soul draws near the pit,
and his life to those who bring death.
and his life to those who bring death.
23 If there be for him an angel,
a mediator, one of the thousand,
to declare to man what is right for him,
a mediator, one of the thousand,
to declare to man what is right for him,
24 and he is merciful to him, and says,
‘Deliver him from going down into the pit;
I have found a ransom;
‘Deliver him from going down into the pit;
I have found a ransom;
25 let his flesh become fresh with youth;
let him return to the days of his youthful vigor’;
let him return to the days of his youthful vigor’;
26 then mand prays to God, and he accepts him;
he sees his face with a shout of joy,
and he restores to man his righteousness.
he sees his face with a shout of joy,
and he restores to man his righteousness.
27 He sings before men and says:
‘I sinned and perverted what was right,
and it was not repaid to me.
‘I sinned and perverted what was right,
and it was not repaid to me.
28 He has redeemed my soul from going down into the pit,
and my life shall look upon the light.’
and my life shall look upon the light.’
29 “Behold, God does all these things,
twice, three times, with a man,
twice, three times, with a man,
30 to bring back his soul from the pit,
that he may be lighted with the light of life.
that he may be lighted with the light of life.
31 Pay attention, O Job, listen to me;
be silent, and I will speak.
be silent, and I will speak.
32 If you have any words, answer me;
speak, for I desire to justify you.
speak, for I desire to justify you.
33 If not, listen to me;
be silent, and I will teach you wisdom.”
be silent, and I will teach you wisdom.”