ELIHU CONFRONTS JOB

33 But now, Job, pay attention to my speech,

and listen to all my words.

2 I am going to open my mouth;

my tongue will form words on my palate.

3 My words come from my uprightf heart,

and my lips speak with sincerity what they know.

4 The Spirit of God has made me,

and the breath of the Almightyg gives me life.h

5 Refute me if you can.

Preparei your case against me; take your stand.j

6 I am just like you before God;

I was also pinched off from a piece of clay.k

7 Fearl of me should not terrify you;

no pressure from me should weigh you down.

8 Surely you have spoken in my hearing,

and I have heard these veryD words:

9 “I am pure, without transgression;

I am clean and have no iniquity.m

10 But he finds reasons to oppose me;

he regards me as his enemy.n

11 He puts my feet in the stocks;

he stands watcho over all my paths.”

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

since God is greater than man.p

13 Why do you takeq him to court

for not answering anything a person asks?E

14 For God speaks time and again,

but a person may not notice it.

15 In a dream, a visionr in the night,

when deep sleep comes over peoples

as they slumber on their beds,

16 he uncovers their earst

and terrifies themF with warnings,

17 in order to turn a person from his actions

and suppress the pride of a person.

18 God spares his soul from the Pit,u

his life from crossing the river of death.G

19 A person may be disciplined on his bedv with pain

and constant distress in his bones,a

20 so that he detests bread,

and his soul despises his favorite food.b

21 His flesh wastes away to nothing,A

and his unseen bones stick out.

22 He draws near to the Pit,

and his life to the executioners.

23 If there is an angelc on his side,

one mediator out of a thousand,

to tell a person what is right for himB

24 and to be gracious to him and say,

“Spare him from going down to the Pit;

I have found a ransom,”d

25 then his flesh will be healthierC than in his youth,

and he will return to the days of his youthful vigor.e

26 He will pray to God, and God will delight in him.

That person will see his facef with a shout of joy,

and God will restore his righteousness to him.g

27 He will look at men and say,

“I have sinned and perverted what was right;

yet I did not get what I deserved.D

28 He redeemed my soul from going down to the Pit,

and I will continue to see the light.”

29 God certainly does all these things

two or three times to a person

30 in order to turn him back from the Pit,

so he may shine with the light of life.h

31 Pay attention, Job, and listen to me.

Be quiet, and I will speak.

32 But if you have something to say,E answer me;

speak, for I would like to justify you.

33 If not, then listen to me;

be quiet, and I will teach you wisdom.