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 upright e heart,

and my lips speak with sincerity what they know.

4 The Spirit of God has made me,

and the breath of the * Almighty f gives me life. g

5 Refute me if you can.

Prepare h your case against me; take your stand. i

6 I am just like you before God;

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

7 Fear k of me should not terrify you;

the pressure I exert l against you will be light.

8 Surely you have spoken in my hearing,

and I have heard these very m words:

9 “I am pure, without transgression;

I am * clean and have no * guilt. n

10 But He finds reasons to oppose me;

He regards me as His enemy. o

11 He puts my feet in the stocks;

He stands watch p over all my paths.”

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

since God is greater than man. q

13 Why do you take r Him to court

for not answering anything a person asks? s

14 For God speaks time and again,

but a person may not notice it.

15 In a dream, a vision t in the night,

when deep sleep falls on people u

as they slumber on their beds,

16 He uncovers their ears v at that time

and terrifies them w with warnings,

17 in order to turn a person from his actions

and suppress his pride. x

18 God spares his soul from the * Pit, y

his life from crossing the river of death. z

19 A person may be disciplined on his bed a with pain

and constant distress in his bones, b

20 so that he detests bread,

and his soul despises his favorite food. c

21 His flesh wastes away to nothing, d

and his unseen bones stick out.

22 He draws near to the Pit,

and his life to the executioners.

23 If there is an angel e on his side,

one mediator out of a thousand,

to tell a person what is right for him f

24 and to be gracious to him and say,

“Spare him from going down to the Pit;

I have found a ransom,” g

25 then his flesh will be healthier h than in his youth,

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

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

That man will see His face j with a shout of joy,

and God will restore his righteousness to him. k

27 He will look at men and say,

“I have sinned and perverted what was right;

yet I did not get what I deserved. l

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 man

30 in order to turn him back from the Pit,

so he may shine with the light of life. m

31 Pay attention, Job, and listen to me.

Be quiet, and I will speak.

32 But if you have something to say, n 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.