Job 32–37

Chapter 32

So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he seemed just to himself.

²And Eliu the son of Barachel the Buzite of the kindred of Ram, was angry and was moved to indignation: now he was angry against Job, because he said he was just before God.

³And he was angry with his friends, because they had not found a reasonable answer, but only had condemned Job.

⁴So Eliu waited while Job was speaking because they were his elders that were speaking.

⁵But when he saw that the three were not able to answer, he was exceedingly angry.

⁶Then Eliu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered, and said: I am younger in days, and you are more ancient, therefore hanging down my head, I was afraid to shew you my opinion.

⁷For I hoped that greater age would speak, and that a multitude of years would teach wisdom.

⁸But, as I see, there is a spirit in men, and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth understanding.

⁹They that are aged are not the wise men, neither do the ancients understand judgment.

¹⁰Therefore I will speak: Hearken to me, I also will shew you my wisdom.

¹¹For I have waited for your words, I have given ear to your wisdom, as long as you were disputing in words.

¹²And as long as I thought you said some thing, I considered: but, as I see, there is none of you that can convince Job, and answer his words.

¹³Lest you should say: We have found wisdom, God hath cast him down, not man.

¹⁴He hath spoken nothing to me, and I will not answer him according to your words.

¹⁵They were afraid, and answered no more, and they left off speaking.

¹⁶Therefore because I have waited, and they have not spoken: they stood, and answered no more:

¹⁷I also will answer my part, and will shew my knowledge.

¹⁸For I am full of matter to speak of, and the spirit of my bowels straiteneth me.

¹⁹Behold, my belly is as new wine which wanteth vent, which bursteth the new vessels.

²⁰I will speak and take breath a little: I will open my lips, and will answer.

²¹I will not accept the person of man, and I will not level God with man.

²²For I know not how long I shall continue, and whether after a while my Maker may take me away.

Chapter 33

Hear therefore, O Job, my speeches, and hearken to all my words.

²Behold now I have opened my mouth, let my tongue speak within my jaws.

³My words are from my upright heart, and my lips shall speak a pure sentence.

⁴The spirit of God made me, and the breath of the Almighty gave me life.

⁵If thou canst, answer me, and stand up against my face.

⁶Behold God hath made me as well as thee, and of the same clay I also was formed.

⁷But yet let not my wonder terrify thee, and let not my eloquence be burdensome to thee.

⁸Now thou hast said in my hearing, and I have heard the voice of thy words:

⁹I am clean, and without sin: I am unspotted, and there is no iniquity in me.

¹⁰Because he hath found complaints against me, therefore he hath counted me for his enemy.

¹¹He hath put my feet in the stocks, he hath observed all my paths.

¹²Now this is the thing in which thou art not justified: I will answer thee, that God is greater than man.

¹³Dost thou strive against him, because he hath not answered thee to all words?

¹⁴God speaketh once, and repeateth not the selfsame thing the second time.

¹⁵By a dream in a vision by night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, and they are sleeping in their beds:

¹⁶Then he openeth the ears of men, and teaching instructeth them in what they are to learn.

¹⁷That he may withdraw a man from the things he is doing, and may deliver him from pride.

¹⁸Rescuing his soul from corruption: and his life from passing to the sword.

¹⁹He rebuketh also by sorrow in the bed, and he maketh all his bones to wither.

²⁰Bread becometh abominable to him in his life, and to his soul the meat which before he desired.

²¹His flesh shall be consumed away, and his bones that were covered shall be made bare.

²²His soul hath drawn near to corruption, and his life to the destroyers.

²³If there shall be an angel speaking for him, one among thousands, to declare man’s uprightness,

²⁴He shall have mercy on him, and shall say: Deliver him, that he may not go down to corruption: I have found wherein I may be merciful to him.

²⁵His flesh is consumed with punishments, let him return to the days of his youth.

²⁶He shall pray to God, and he will be gracious to him: and he shall see his face with joy, and he will render to man his justice.

²⁷He shall look upon men, and shall say: I have sinned, and indeed I have offended, and I have not received what I have deserved.

²⁸He hath delivered his soul from going into destruction, that it may live and see the light.

²⁹Behold, all these things God worketh three times within every one.

³⁰That he may withdraw their souls from corruption, and enlighten them with the light of the living.

³¹Attend, Job, and hearken to me, and hold thy peace, whilst I speak.

³²But if thou hast any thing to say, answer me, speak: for I would have thee to appear just.

³³And if thou have not, hear me: hold thy peace, and I will teach thee wisdom.

Chapter 34

And Eliu continued his discourse, and said:

²Hear ye, wise men, my words, and ye learned, hearken to me:

³For the ear trieth words, and the mouth discerneth meats by the taste.

⁴Let us choose to us judgment, and let us see among ourselves what is the best.

⁵For Job hath said: I am just, and God hath overthrown my judgment.

⁶For in judging me there is a lie: my arrow is violent without any sin.

⁷What man is there like Job, who drinketh up scorning like water?

⁸Who goeth in company with them that work iniquity, and walketh with wicked men?

⁹For he hath said: Man shall not please God, although he run with him.

¹⁰Therefore, ye men of understanding, hear me: far from God be wickedness, and iniquity from the Almighty.

¹¹For he will render to a man his work, and according to the ways of every one he will reward them.

¹²For in very deed God will not condemn without cause, neither will the Almighty pervert judgment.

¹³What other hath he appointed over the earth? or whom hath he set over the world which he made?

¹⁴If he turn his heart to him, he shall draw his spirit and breath unto himself.

¹⁵All flesh shall perish together, and man shall return into ashes.

¹⁶If then thou hast understanding, hear what is said, and hearken to the voice of my words.

¹⁷Can he be healed that loveth not judgment? and how dost thou so far condemn him that is just?

¹⁸Who saith to the king: Thou art an apostate: who calleth rulers ungodly:

¹⁹Who accepteth not the persons of princes: nor hath regarded the tyrant, when he contended against the poor man: for all are the work of his hands.

²⁰They shall suddenly die, and the people shall be troubled at midnight, and they shall pass, and take away the violent without hand.

²¹For his eyes are upon the ways of men, and he considereth all their steps.

²²There is no darkness, and there is no shadow of death, where they may be hid who work iniquity.

²³For it is no longer in the power of man to enter into judgment with God.

²⁴He shall break in pieces many and innumerable, and shall make others to stand in their stead.

²⁵For he knoweth their works: and therefore he shall bring night on them, and they shall be destroyed.

²⁶He hath struck them, as being wicked, in open sight.

²⁷Who as it were on purpose have revolted from him, and would not understand all his ways:

²⁸So that they caused the cry of the needy to come to him, and he heard the voice of the poor.

²⁹For when he granteth peace, who is there that can condemn? When he hideth his countenance, who is there that can behold him, whether it regard nations, or all men?

³⁰Who maketh a man that is a hypocrite to reign for the sins of the people?

³¹Seeing then I have spoken of God, I will not hinder thee in thy turn.

³²If I have erred, teach thou me: if I have spoken iniquity, I will add no more.

³³Doth God require it of thee, because it hath displeased thee? for thou begannest to speak, and not I: but if thou know any thing better, speak.

³⁴Let men of understanding speak to me, and let a wise man hearken to me.

³⁵But Job hath spoken foolishly, and his words sound not discipline.

³⁶My father, let Job be tried even to the end: cease not from the man of iniquity.

³⁷Because he addeth blasphemy upon his sins, let him be tied fast in the mean time amongst us: and then let him provoke God to judgment with his speeches.

Chapter 35

Moreover Eliu spoke these words:

²Doth thy thought seem right to thee, that thou shouldst say: I am more just than God?

³For thou saidst: That which is right doth not please thee: or what will it profit thee if I sin?

⁴Therefore I will answer thy words, and thy friends with thee.

⁵Look up to heaven and see, and behold the sky, that it is higher than thee.

⁶If thou sin, what shalt thou hurt him? and if thy iniquities be multiplied, what shalt thou do against him?

⁷And if thou do justly, what shalt thou give him, or what shall he receive of thy hand?

⁸Thy wickedness may hurt a man that is like thee: and thy justice may help the son of man.

⁹By reason of the multitude of oppressors they shall cry out: and shall wail for the violence of the arm of tyrants.

¹⁰And he hath not said: Where is God, who made me, who hath given songs in the night?

¹¹Who teacheth us more than the beasts of the earth, and instructeth us more than the fowls of the air.

¹²There shall they cry, and he will not hear, because of the pride of evil men.

¹³God therefore will not hear in vain, and the Almighty will look into the causes of every one.

¹⁴Yea, when thou shalt say: He considereth not: be judged before him, and expect him.

¹⁵For he doth not now bring on his fury, neither doth he revenge wickedness exceedingly.

¹⁶Therefore Job openeth his mouth in vain, and multiplieth words without knowledge.

Chapter 36

Eliu also proceeded, and said:

²Suffer me a little, and I will shew thee: for I have yet somewhat to speak in God’s behalf. …