12 Heb “in my ears.”
14 The word is a ; hap is from חָפַף (khafaf). It is used in New Hebrew in expressions like “to wash” the head. Cognates in and Akkadian support the meaning “to wash; to clean.”
16 Heb “he”; the referent (God) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
17 The Hebrew means “frustrations” or “oppositions.” The has “displeasure,” “faults,” and “occasions.” Rashi chose the word found in Judg 14:4—with metathesis—meaning “pretexts” (תֹּאֲנוֹת, to’anot); this is followed by , .
19 The meaning of this verb is “this is my answer to you.”
20 The has “he that is above men is eternal.” Elihu is saying that God is far above Job’s petty problems.
21 The has “all his words.” This must refer to “man” in the previous verse. But many wish to change it to “my words,” since it would be summarizing Job’s complaint to God.

Cross references

13 See Job 9:21; 10:7; 23:7; 27:4; ch. 31.
15 See Job 10:13ff.; 19:6ff.; and 13:24.
18 See Job 13:27.

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

“Surely you have spoken in my ears,

and I have heard the sound of your words.

You say, ‘I am pure, without transgression;

I am clean, and there is no iniquity in me.

Behold, he finds occasions against me,

he counts me as his enemy,

he puts my feet in the stocks

and watches all my paths.’

“Behold, in this you are not right. I will answer you,

for God is greater than man.

Why do you contend against him,

saying, ‘He will answer none of man’s words’?

NIVNew International Version (2011)

“But you have said in my hearing—

I heard the very words—

‘I am pure, I have done no wrong;

I am clean and free from sin.

Yet God has found fault with me;

he considers me his enemy.

He fastens my feet in shackles;

he keeps close watch on all my paths.’

“But I tell you, in this you are not right,

for God is greater than any mortal.

Why do you complain to him

that he responds to no one’s words?

CSBChristian Standard Bible

Surely you have spoken in my hearing,

and I have heard these very words:

“I am pure, without transgression;

I am clean and have no iniquity.

But he finds reasons to oppose me;

he regards me as his enemy.

He puts my feet in the stocks;

he stands watch over all my paths.”

But I tell you that you are wrong in this matter,

since God is greater than man.

Why do you take him to court

for not answering anything a person asks?

NLTNew Living Translation

“You have spoken in my hearing,

and I have heard your very words.

You said, ‘I am pure; I am without sin;

I am innocent; I have no guilt.

God is picking a quarrel with me,

and he considers me his enemy.

He puts my feet in the stocks

and watches my every move.’

“But you are wrong, and I will show you why.

For God is greater than any human being.

So why are you bringing a charge against him?

Why say he does not respond to people’s complaints?

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

“Surely you have spoken in my ears,

and I have heard the sound of your words:

‘I am clean, without transgression;

I am pure, and there is no guilt in me.

Look, he finds fault against me;

he reckons me as his enemy;

he puts my feet in the block;

he watches all my paths.’

“Look, in this you are not right—I will answer you:

Indeed, God is greater than a human being.

Why do you contend against him,

that he will not answer all a person’s words?

KJV 1900King James Version

Surely thou hast spoken in mine hearing,

And I have heard the voice of thy words, saying,

I am clean without transgression,

I am innocent; neither is there iniquity in me.

Behold, he findeth occasions against me,

He counteth me for his enemy,

He putteth my feet in the stocks,

He marketh all my paths.

Behold, in this thou art not just: I will answer thee,

That God is greater than man.

Why dost thou strive against him?

For he giveth not account of any of his matters.

Public Domain