Job 32:1–34:37
Elihu Contradicts Job’s Friends
32 So these three men ceased answering Job, because he was arighteous in his own eyes. 2 Then the wrath of Elihu, the son of Barachel the bBuzite, of the family of Ram, was aroused against Job; his wrath was aroused because he cjustified himself rather than God. 3 Also against his three friends his wrath was aroused, because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job.
4 Now because they were years older than he, Elihu had waited 1to speak to Job. 5 When Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, his wrath was aroused.
6 So Elihu, the son of Barachel the Buzite, answered and said:
“I am dyoung in years, and you are very old;
Therefore I was afraid,
And dared not declare my opinion to you.
7 I said, 2‘Age should speak,
And multitude of years should teach wisdom.’
8 But there is a spirit in man,
And ethe breath of the Almighty gives him understanding.
9 fGreat 3men are not always wise,
Nor do the aged always understand justice.
10 “Therefore I say, ‘Listen to me,
I also will declare my opinion.’
11 Indeed I waited for your words,
I listened to your reasonings, while you searched out what to say.
12 I paid close attention to you;
And surely not one of you convinced Job,
Or answered his words—
13 gLest you say,
‘We have found wisdom’;
God will vanquish him, not man.
14 Now he has not 4directed his words against me;
So I will not answer him with your words.
15 “They are dismayed and answer no more;
Words escape them.
16 And I have waited, because they did not speak,
Because they stood still and answered no more.
17 I also will answer my part,
I too will declare my opinion.
The spirit within me compels me.
19 Indeed my 5belly is like wine that has no 6vent;
It is ready to burst like new wineskins.
20 I will speak, that I may find relief;
I must open my lips and answer.
21 Let me not, I pray, show partiality to anyone;
Nor let me flatter any man.
22 For I do not know how to flatter,
Else my Maker would soon take me haway.
33 “But please, Job, hear my speech, And listen to all my words.
My tongue speaks in my mouth.
3 My words come from my upright heart;
My lips utter pure knowledge.
4 aThe Spirit of God has made me,
And the breath of the Almighty gives me life.
Set your words in order before me;
Take your stand.
6 bTruly I am 1as your spokesman before God;
I also have been formed out of clay.
7 cSurely no fear of me will terrify you,
Nor will my hand be heavy on you.
8 “Surely you have spoken 2in my hearing,
And I have heard the sound of your words, saying,
9 ‘I dam pure, without transgression;
I am innocent, and there is no iniquity in me.
10 Yet He finds occasions against me,
eHe counts me as His enemy;
11 fHe puts my feet in the stocks,
He watches all my paths.’
12 “Look, in this you are not righteous.
I will answer you,
For God is greater than man.
13 Why do you gcontend with Him?
For He does not give an accounting of any of His words.
14 hFor God may speak in one way, or in another,
Yet man does not perceive it.
15 iIn a dream, in a vision of the night,
When deep sleep falls upon men,
While slumbering on their beds,
16 jThen He opens the ears of men,
And seals their instruction.
17 In order to turn man from his deed,
And conceal pride from man,
18 He keeps back his soul from the Pit,
And his life from 3perishing by the sword.
19 “Man is also chastened with pain on his kbed,
And with strong pain in many of his bones,
20 lSo that his life abhors mbread,
And his soul 4succulent food.
21 His flesh wastes away from sight,
And his bones stick out which once were not seen.
22 Yes, his soul draws near the Pit,
And his life to the executioners.
23 “If there is a messenger for him,
A mediator, one among a thousand,
To show man His uprightness,
24 Then He is gracious to him, and says,
‘Deliver him from going down to the Pit;
I have found 5a ransom’;
25 His flesh shall be young like a child’s,
He shall return to the days of his youth.
26 He shall pray to God, and He will delight in him,
He shall see His face with joy,
For He restores to man His righteousness.
27 Then he looks at men and nsays,
‘I have sinned, and perverted what was right,
And it odid not profit me.’
28 He will predeem 6his soul from going down to the Pit,
And 6his life shall see the light.
29 “Behold, God works all these things,
Twice, in fact, three times with a man,
30 qTo bring back his soul from the Pit,
That he may be enlightened with the light of life.
31 “Give ear, Job, listen to me;
Hold your peace, and I will speak.
32 If you have anything to say, answer me;
Speak, for I desire to justify you.
33 If not, rlisten to me;
7Hold your peace, and I will teach you wisdom.”
34 Elihu further answered and said:
2 “Hear my words, you wise men;
Give ear to me, you who have knowledge.
3 aFor the ear tests words
As the palate tastes food.
4 Let us choose justice for ourselves;
Let us know among ourselves what is good.
5 “For Job has said, b‘I am righteous,
But cGod has taken away my justice;
6 dShould I lie concerning my right?
My 1wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.’
eWho drinks 2scorn like water,
8 Who goes in company with the workers of iniquity,
And walks with wicked men?
9 For fhe has said, ‘It profits a man nothing
That he should delight in God.’
10 “Therefore listen to me, you 3men of understanding:
gFar be it from God to do wickedness,
And from the Almighty to commit iniquity.
11 hFor He repays man according to his work,
And makes man to find a reward according to his way.
12 Surely God will never do wickedly,
Nor will the Almighty ipervert justice.
13 Who gave Him charge over the earth?
Or who appointed Him over the whole world?
14 If He should set His heart on it,
If He should jgather to Himself His Spirit and His breath,
15 kAll flesh would perish together,
And man would return to dust.
16 “If you have understanding, hear this;
Listen to the sound of my words:
17 lShould one who hates justice govern?
Will you mcondemn Him who is most just?
18 nIs it fitting to say to a king, ‘You are worthless,’
And to nobles, ‘You are wicked’?
19 Yet He ois not partial to princes,
Nor does He regard the rich more than the poor;
For pthey are all the work of His hands.
20 In a moment they die, qin the middle of the night;
The people are shaken and pass away;
The mighty are taken away without a hand.
21 “For rHis eyes are on the ways of man,
And He sees all his steps.
22 sThere is no darkness nor shadow of death
Where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.
23 For He need not further consider a man,
That he should go before God in judgment.
24 tHe breaks in pieces mighty men without inquiry,
And sets others in their place.
25 Therefore He knows their works;
He overthrows them in the night,
And they are crushed.
26 He strikes them as wicked men
In the open sight of others,
27 Because they uturned back from Him,
And vwould not consider any of His ways,
28 So that they wcaused the cry of the poor to come to Him;
For He xhears the cry of the afflicted.
29 When He gives quietness, who then can make trouble?
And when He hides His face, who then can see Him,
Whether it is against a nation or a man alone?—
30 That the hypocrite should not reign,
Lest the people be ensnared.
31 “For has anyone said to God,
‘I have borne chastening;
I will offend no more;
32 Teach me what I do not see;
If I have done iniquity, I will do no more’?
33 Should He repay it according to your terms,
Just because you disavow it?
You must choose, and not I;
Therefore speak what you know.
34 “Men of understanding say to me,
Wise men who listen to me:
35 ‘Job yspeaks without knowledge,
His words are without wisdom.’
36 Oh, that Job were tried to the utmost,
Because his answers are like those of wicked men!
37 For he adds zrebellion to his sin;
He claps his hands among us,
And multiplies his words against God.”