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Job 31-36
New International Version
Job 31-36
New International Version
31 “I made a covenant with my eyes(A)
not to look lustfully at a young woman.(B)
2 For what is our lot(C) from God above,
our heritage from the Almighty on high?(D)
3 Is it not ruin(E) for the wicked,
disaster(F) for those who do wrong?(G)
4 Does he not see my ways(H)
and count my every step?(I)
5 “If I have walked with falsehood
or my foot has hurried after deceit(J)—
6 let God weigh me(K) in honest scales(L)
and he will know that I am blameless(M)—
7 if my steps have turned from the path,(N)
if my heart has been led by my eyes,
or if my hands(O) have been defiled,(P)
8 then may others eat what I have sown,(Q)
and may my crops be uprooted.(R)
9 “If my heart has been enticed(S) by a woman,(T)
or if I have lurked at my neighbor’s door,
10 then may my wife grind(U) another man’s grain,
and may other men sleep with her.(V)
11 For that would have been wicked,(W)
a sin to be judged.(X)
12 It is a fire(Y) that burns to Destruction[a];(Z)
it would have uprooted my harvest.(AA)
13 “If I have denied justice to any of my servants,(AB)
whether male or female,
when they had a grievance against me,(AC)
14 what will I do when God confronts me?(AD)
What will I answer when called to account?(AE)
15 Did not he who made me in the womb make them?(AF)
Did not the same one form us both within our mothers?(AG)
16 “If I have denied the desires of the poor(AH)
or let the eyes of the widow(AI) grow weary,(AJ)
17 if I have kept my bread to myself,
not sharing it with the fatherless(AK)—
18 but from my youth I reared them as a father would,
and from my birth I guided the widow(AL)—
19 if I have seen anyone perishing for lack of clothing,(AM)
or the needy(AN) without garments,
20 and their hearts did not bless me(AO)
for warming them with the fleece(AP) from my sheep,
21 if I have raised my hand against the fatherless,(AQ)
knowing that I had influence in court,(AR)
22 then let my arm fall from the shoulder,
let it be broken off at the joint.(AS)
23 For I dreaded destruction from God,(AT)
and for fear of his splendor(AU) I could not do such things.(AV)
24 “If I have put my trust in gold(AW)
or said to pure gold, ‘You are my security,’(AX)
25 if I have rejoiced over my great wealth,(AY)
the fortune my hands had gained,(AZ)
26 if I have regarded the sun(BA) in its radiance
or the moon(BB) moving in splendor,
27 so that my heart was secretly enticed(BC)
and my hand offered them a kiss of homage,(BD)
28 then these also would be sins to be judged,(BE)
for I would have been unfaithful to God on high.(BF)
29 “If I have rejoiced at my enemy’s misfortune(BG)
or gloated over the trouble that came to him(BH)—
30 I have not allowed my mouth to sin
by invoking a curse against their life(BI)—
31 if those of my household have never said,
‘Who has not been filled with Job’s meat?’(BJ)—
32 but no stranger had to spend the night in the street,
for my door was always open to the traveler(BK)—
33 if I have concealed(BL) my sin as people do,[b]
by hiding(BM) my guilt in my heart
34 because I so feared the crowd(BN)
and so dreaded the contempt of the clans
that I kept silent(BO) and would not go outside—
35 (“Oh, that I had someone to hear me!(BP)
I sign now my defense—let the Almighty answer me;
let my accuser(BQ) put his indictment in writing.
36 Surely I would wear it on my shoulder,(BR)
I would put it on like a crown.(BS)
37 I would give him an account of my every step;(BT)
I would present it to him as to a ruler.(BU))—
38 “if my land cries out against me(BV)
and all its furrows are wet(BW) with tears,
39 if I have devoured its yield without payment(BX)
or broken the spirit of its tenants,(BY)
40 then let briers(BZ) come up instead of wheat
and stinkweed(CA) instead of barley.”
The words of Job are ended.(CB)
Elihu
32 So these three men stopped answering Job,(CC) because he was righteous in his own eyes.(CD) 2 But Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite,(CE) of the family of Ram, became very angry with Job for justifying himself(CF) rather than God.(CG) 3 He was also angry with the three friends,(CH) because they had found no way to refute Job,(CI) and yet had condemned him.[c](CJ) 4 Now Elihu had waited before speaking to Job because they were older than he.(CK) 5 But when he saw that the three men had nothing more to say, his anger was aroused.
6 So Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite said:
“I am young in years,
and you are old;(CL)
that is why I was fearful,
not daring to tell you what I know.
7 I thought, ‘Age should speak;
advanced years should teach wisdom.’(CM)
8 But it is the spirit[d](CN) in a person,
the breath of the Almighty,(CO) that gives them understanding.(CP)
9 It is not only the old[e] who are wise,(CQ)
not only the aged(CR) who understand what is right.(CS)
10 “Therefore I say: Listen to me;(CT)
I too will tell you what I know.(CU)
11 I waited while you spoke,
I listened to your reasoning;
while you were searching for words,
12 I gave you my full attention.
But not one of you has proved Job wrong;
none of you has answered his arguments.(CV)
13 Do not say, ‘We have found wisdom;(CW)
let God, not a man, refute(CX) him.’
14 But Job has not marshaled his words against me,(CY)
and I will not answer him with your arguments.
15 “They are dismayed and have no more to say;
words have failed them.(CZ)
16 Must I wait, now that they are silent,
now that they stand there with no reply?
17 I too will have my say;
I too will tell what I know.(DA)
18 For I am full of words,
and the spirit(DB) within me compels me;(DC)
19 inside I am like bottled-up wine,
like new wineskins ready to burst.(DD)
20 I must speak and find relief;
I must open my lips and reply.(DE)
21 I will show no partiality,(DF)
nor will I flatter anyone;(DG)
22 for if I were skilled in flattery,
my Maker(DH) would soon take me away.(DI)
33 “But now, Job, listen(DJ) to my words;
pay attention to everything I say.(DK)
2 I am about to open my mouth;
my words are on the tip of my tongue.
3 My words come from an upright heart;(DL)
my lips sincerely speak what I know.(DM)
4 The Spirit(DN) of God has made me;(DO)
the breath of the Almighty(DP) gives me life.(DQ)
5 Answer me(DR) then, if you can;
stand up(DS) and argue your case before me.(DT)
6 I am the same as you in God’s sight;(DU)
I too am a piece of clay.(DV)
7 No fear of me should alarm you,
nor should my hand be heavy on you.(DW)
8 “But you have said in my hearing—
I heard the very words—
9 ‘I am pure,(DX) I have done no wrong;(DY)
I am clean and free from sin.(DZ)
10 Yet God has found fault with me;
he considers me his enemy.(EA)
11 He fastens my feet in shackles;(EB)
he keeps close watch on all my paths.’(EC)
12 “But I tell you, in this you are not right,
for God is greater than any mortal.(ED)
13 Why do you complain to him(EE)
that he responds to no one’s words[f]?(EF)
14 For God does speak(EG)—now one way, now another(EH)—
though no one perceives it.(EI)
15 In a dream,(EJ) in a vision(EK) of the night,(EL)
when deep sleep(EM) falls on people
as they slumber in their beds,
16 he may speak(EN) in their ears
and terrify them(EO) with warnings,(EP)
17 to turn them from wrongdoing
and keep them from pride,(EQ)
18 to preserve them from the pit,(ER)
their lives from perishing by the sword.[g](ES)
19 “Or someone may be chastened(ET) on a bed of pain(EU)
with constant distress in their bones,(EV)
20 so that their body finds food(EW) repulsive
and their soul loathes the choicest meal.(EX)
21 Their flesh wastes away to nothing,
and their bones,(EY) once hidden, now stick out.(EZ)
22 They draw near to the pit,(FA)
and their life to the messengers of death.[h](FB)
23 Yet if there is an angel at their side,
a messenger,(FC) one out of a thousand,
sent to tell them how to be upright,(FD)
24 and he is gracious to that person and says to God,
‘Spare them from going down to the pit;(FE)
I have found a ransom for them(FF)—
25 let their flesh be renewed(FG) like a child’s;
let them be restored as in the days of their youth’(FH)—
26 then that person can pray to God and find favor with him,(FI)
they will see God’s face and shout for joy;(FJ)
he will restore them to full well-being.(FK)
27 And they will go to others and say,
‘I have sinned,(FL) I have perverted what is right,(FM)
but I did not get what I deserved.(FN)
28 God has delivered(FO) me from going down to the pit,(FP)
and I shall live to enjoy the light of life.’(FQ)
29 “God does all these things to a person(FR)—
twice, even three times(FS)—
30 to turn them back(FT) from the pit,(FU)
that the light of life(FV) may shine on them.(FW)
31 “Pay attention, Job, and listen(FX) to me;(FY)
be silent,(FZ) and I will speak.
32 If you have anything to say, answer me;(GA)
speak up, for I want to vindicate you.(GB)
33 But if not, then listen to me;(GC)
be silent,(GD) and I will teach you wisdom.(GE)”
34 Then Elihu said:
2 “Hear my words, you wise men;
listen to me,(GF) you men of learning.
3 For the ear tests words
as the tongue tastes food.(GG)
4 Let us discern for ourselves what is right;(GH)
let us learn together what is good.(GI)
5 “Job says, ‘I am innocent,(GJ)
but God denies me justice.(GK)
6 Although I am right,
I am considered a liar;(GL)
although I am guiltless,(GM)
his arrow inflicts an incurable wound.’(GN)
7 Is there anyone like Job,
who drinks scorn like water?(GO)
8 He keeps company with evildoers;
he associates with the wicked.(GP)
9 For he says, ‘There is no profit
in trying to please God.’(GQ)
10 “So listen to me,(GR) you men of understanding.(GS)
Far be it from God to do evil,(GT)
from the Almighty to do wrong.(GU)
11 He repays everyone for what they have done;(GV)
he brings on them what their conduct deserves.(GW)
12 It is unthinkable that God would do wrong,(GX)
that the Almighty would pervert justice.(GY)
13 Who appointed(GZ) him over the earth?
Who put him in charge of the whole world?(HA)
14 If it were his intention
and he withdrew his spirit[i](HB) and breath,(HC)
15 all humanity would perish(HD) together
and mankind would return to the dust.(HE)
16 “If you have understanding,(HF) hear this;
listen to what I say.(HG)
17 Can someone who hates justice govern?(HH)
Will you condemn the just and mighty One?(HI)
18 Is he not the One who says to kings, ‘You are worthless,’
and to nobles,(HJ) ‘You are wicked,’(HK)
19 who shows no partiality(HL) to princes
and does not favor the rich over the poor,(HM)
for they are all the work of his hands?(HN)
20 They die in an instant, in the middle of the night;(HO)
the people are shaken and they pass away;
the mighty are removed without human hand.(HP)
21 “His eyes are on the ways of mortals;(HQ)
he sees their every step.(HR)
22 There is no deep shadow,(HS) no utter darkness,(HT)
where evildoers can hide.(HU)
23 God has no need to examine people further,(HV)
that they should come before him for judgment.(HW)
24 Without inquiry he shatters(HX) the mighty(HY)
and sets up others in their place.(HZ)
25 Because he takes note of their deeds,(IA)
he overthrows them in the night(IB) and they are crushed.(IC)
26 He punishes them for their wickedness(ID)
where everyone can see them,
27 because they turned from following him(IE)
and had no regard for any of his ways.(IF)
28 They caused the cry of the poor to come before him,
so that he heard the cry of the needy.(IG)
29 But if he remains silent,(IH) who can condemn him?(II)
If he hides his face,(IJ) who can see him?
Yet he is over individual and nation alike,(IK)
30 to keep the godless(IL) from ruling,(IM)
from laying snares for the people.(IN)
31 “Suppose someone says to God,
‘I am guilty(IO) but will offend no more.
32 Teach me what I cannot see;(IP)
if I have done wrong, I will not do so again.’(IQ)
33 Should God then reward you on your terms,
when you refuse to repent?(IR)
You must decide, not I;
so tell me what you know.
34 “Men of understanding declare,
wise men who hear me say to me,
35 ‘Job speaks without knowledge;(IS)
his words lack insight.’(IT)
36 Oh, that Job might be tested to the utmost
for answering like a wicked man!(IU)
37 To his sin he adds rebellion;
scornfully he claps his hands(IV) among us
and multiplies his words(IW) against God.”(IX)
35 Then Elihu said:
2 “Do you think this is just?
You say, ‘I am in the right,(IY) not God.’(IZ)
3 Yet you ask him, ‘What profit is it to me,[j]
and what do I gain by not sinning?’(JA)
4 “I would like to reply to you
and to your friends with you.
5 Look up at the heavens(JB) and see;
gaze at the clouds so high above you.(JC)
6 If you sin, how does that affect him?
If your sins are many, what does that do to him?(JD)
7 If you are righteous, what do you give to him,(JE)
or what does he receive(JF) from your hand?(JG)
8 Your wickedness only affects humans like yourself,(JH)
and your righteousness only other people.(JI)
9 “People cry out(JJ) under a load of oppression;(JK)
they plead for relief from the arm of the powerful.(JL)
10 But no one says, ‘Where is God my Maker,(JM)
who gives songs(JN) in the night,(JO)
11 who teaches(JP) us(JQ) more than he teaches[k] the beasts of the earth
and makes us wiser than[l] the birds in the sky?’
12 He does not answer(JR) when people cry out
because of the arrogance(JS) of the wicked.(JT)
13 Indeed, God does not listen to their empty plea;
the Almighty pays no attention to it.(JU)
14 How much less, then, will he listen
when you say that you do not see him,(JV)
that your case(JW) is before him
and you must wait for him,(JX)
15 and further, that his anger never punishes(JY)
and he does not take the least notice of wickedness.[m](JZ)
16 So Job opens his mouth with empty talk;(KA)
without knowledge he multiplies words.”(KB)
36 Elihu continued:
2 “Bear with me a little longer and I will show you
that there is more to be said in God’s behalf.
3 I get my knowledge from afar;(KC)
I will ascribe justice to my Maker.(KD)
4 Be assured that my words are not false;(KE)
one who has perfect knowledge(KF) is with you.(KG)
5 “God is mighty,(KH) but despises no one;(KI)
he is mighty, and firm in his purpose.(KJ)
6 He does not keep the wicked alive(KK)
but gives the afflicted their rights.(KL)
7 He does not take his eyes off the righteous;(KM)
he enthrones them with kings(KN)
and exalts them forever.(KO)
8 But if people are bound in chains,(KP)
held fast by cords of affliction,(KQ)
9 he tells them what they have done—
that they have sinned arrogantly.(KR)
10 He makes them listen(KS) to correction(KT)
and commands them to repent of their evil.(KU)
11 If they obey and serve him,(KV)
they will spend the rest of their days in prosperity(KW)
and their years in contentment.(KX)
12 But if they do not listen,
they will perish by the sword[n](KY)
and die without knowledge.(KZ)
13 “The godless in heart(LA) harbor resentment;(LB)
even when he fetters them, they do not cry for help.(LC)
14 They die in their youth,(LD)
among male prostitutes of the shrines.(LE)
15 But those who suffer(LF) he delivers in their suffering;(LG)
he speaks(LH) to them in their affliction.(LI)
16 “He is wooing(LJ) you from the jaws of distress
to a spacious place(LK) free from restriction,(LL)
to the comfort of your table(LM) laden with choice food.(LN)
17 But now you are laden with the judgment due the wicked;(LO)
judgment and justice have taken hold of you.(LP)
18 Be careful that no one entices you by riches;
do not let a large bribe(LQ) turn you aside.(LR)
19 Would your wealth(LS) or even all your mighty efforts
sustain you so you would not be in distress?
20 Do not long for the night,(LT)
to drag people away from their homes.[o]
21 Beware of turning to evil,(LU)
which you seem to prefer to affliction.(LV)
22 “God is exalted in his power.(LW)
Who is a teacher like him?(LX)
23 Who has prescribed his ways(LY) for him,(LZ)
or said to him, ‘You have done wrong’?(MA)
24 Remember to extol his work,(MB)
which people have praised in song.(MC)
25 All humanity has seen it;(MD)
mortals gaze on it from afar.
26 How great is God—beyond our understanding!(ME)
The number of his years is past finding out.(MF)
27 “He draws up the drops of water,(MG)
which distill as rain to the streams[p];(MH)
28 the clouds pour down their moisture
and abundant showers(MI) fall on mankind.(MJ)
29 Who can understand how he spreads out the clouds,
how he thunders(MK) from his pavilion?(ML)
30 See how he scatters his lightning(MM) about him,
bathing the depths of the sea.(MN)
31 This is the way he governs[q] the nations(MO)
and provides food(MP) in abundance.(MQ)
32 He fills his hands with lightning
and commands it to strike its mark.(MR)
33 His thunder announces the coming storm;(MS)
even the cattle make known its approach.[r](MT)
Footnotes
- Job 31:12 Hebrew Abaddon
- Job 31:33 Or as Adam did
- Job 32:3 Masoretic Text; an ancient Hebrew scribal tradition Job, and so had condemned God
- Job 32:8 Or Spirit; also in verse 18
- Job 32:9 Or many; or great
- Job 33:13 Or that he does not answer for any of his actions
- Job 33:18 Or from crossing the river
- Job 33:22 Or to the place of the dead
- Job 34:14 Or Spirit
- Job 35:3 Or you
- Job 35:11 Or night, / 11 who teaches us by
- Job 35:11 Or us wise by
- Job 35:15 Symmachus, Theodotion and Vulgate; the meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain.
- Job 36:12 Or will cross the river
- Job 36:20 The meaning of the Hebrew for verses 18-20 is uncertain.
- Job 36:27 Or distill from the mist as rain
- Job 36:31 Or nourishes
- Job 36:33 Or announces his coming— / the One zealous against evil
Job 31-36
Amplified Bible
Job 31-36
Amplified Bible
Job Asserts His Integrity
31 “I have made a covenant (agreement) with my eyes;
How then could I gaze [lustfully] at a virgin?
2
“For what is the portion I would have from God above,
And what heritage from the Almighty on high?
3
“Does not tragedy fall [justly] on the unjust
And disaster to those who work wickedness?
4
“Does not God see my ways
And count all my steps?
5
“If I have walked with falsehood,
Or if my foot has chased after deceit,
6
Oh, let Him weigh me with accurate scales,
And let God know my integrity.
7
“If my step has turned away from the way [of God],
Or if my heart has [covetously] followed my eyes,
Or if any spot [of guilt] has stained my hands,
8
Then let me plant and [let] another eat [from the results of my labor],
And let my crops be uprooted and ruined.
9
“If my heart has been enticed and I was made a fool by a woman,
Or if I have [covetously] lurked at my neighbor’s door [until his departure],
10
Let my wife grind [meal, like a bond slave] for another [man],
And let others [a]kneel down over her.
11
“For adultery is a heinous and lustful crime;
Moreover, it would be a sin punishable by the judges.(A)
12
“For it is a fire which consumes to Abaddon (destruction, ruin, final torment);
And [illicit passion] would burn and rage and uproot all my [life’s] increase [destroying everything].
13
“If I have despised and rejected the claim of my male or female servants
When they filed a complaint against me,
14
What then could I do when God arises [to judge me]?
When He calls me to account, what will I answer Him?(B)
15
“Did not He who made me in the womb make my servant,
And did not the same One fashion us both in the womb?(C)
16
“If I have withheld from the poor what they desired,
Or have caused the eyes of the widow to look in vain [for relief],
17
Or have eaten my morsel [of food] alone,
And did not share it with the orphan
18
(But from my youth the orphan grew up with me as with a father,
And from my mother’s womb I have been the widow’s guide),
19
If I have seen anyone perish for lack of clothing,
Or any poor person without covering,
20
If his loins have not thanked and blessed me [for clothing them],
And if he was not warmed with the fleece of my sheep,
21
If I have lifted my hand against the orphan,
Because I saw [that the judges would be] my help at the [council] gate,
22
Then let my shoulder fall away from its socket,
And my arm be broken off at the elbow.
23
“For tragedy from God is a terror to me,
And because of His majesty and exaltation I can do nothing [nor endure facing Him].(D)
24
“If I have put my trust and confidence in gold,
Or have declared fine gold my hope and assurance,
25
If I gloated and rejoiced because my wealth was great,
And because my [powerful] hand [alone] had obtained so much,
26
If I beheld the sun [as an object of worship] when it shone
Or the moon going in its splendor,
27
And my heart became secretly enticed [by them],
And my hand threw a kiss from my mouth [in respect to them],
28
This also would have been [a heinous] sin calling for judgment,
For I would have denied God above.(E)
29
“Have I rejoiced at the destruction of the enemy [who hated me],
Or exulted [in malicious triumph] when evil overtook him?
30
“No, I have not allowed my mouth to sin
By cursing my enemy and asking for his life.
31
“I assure you, the men of my tent have said,
‘Who can find one [in need] who has not been satisfied with his meat’?
32
“The stranger has not lodged in the street,
Because I have opened my door to the traveler.
33
“Have I concealed my transgressions like Adam or like other men,
By hiding my wickedness in my bosom,
34
Because I feared the great multitude,
And the contempt of families terrified me,
So that I kept silence and did not acknowledge my sin and did not go out of the door?
35
“Oh, that I had one to listen to me!
Look, here is my signature (mark);
Let the Almighty answer me!
Let my adversary write out His indictment [and put His vague accusations in tangible form].
36
“Surely I would [proudly] bear it on my shoulder,
And bind the scroll around my head like a crown.
37
“I would count out to Him the number of my steps [with every detail of my life],
Approaching His presence as if I were a prince.
38
“For if my land has cried out against me,
And its furrows weep together;
39
If I have eaten its fruits without paying for them,
Or have caused its [rightful] owners to lose their lives,
40
Let thorns grow instead of wheat,
And stinkweed and cockleburs instead of barley.”
So the words of Job [with his friends] are finished.
Elihu Rebukes Job
32 So these three men ceased answering Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes [and could not be persuaded otherwise by them]. 2 But Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, became indignant. His indignation was kindled and burned and he became upset with Job because he justified himself rather than God [and even expressed doubts about God’s character]. 3 Elihu’s anger burned against Job’s three friends because they had found no answer [and were unable to determine Job’s error], and yet they had condemned Job and declared him to be in the wrong [and responsible for his own afflictions]. 4 Now Elihu had waited to speak to Job because the others were years older than he. 5 And when Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouths of these three men, he burned with anger.
6 Then Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite said,
“I am young, and you are aged;
For that reason I was anxious and dared not tell you what I think.
7
“I thought age should speak,
And a multitude of years should teach wisdom.
8
“But there is [a vital force and] a spirit [of intelligence] in man,
And the breath of the Almighty gives them understanding.(F)
9
“Those [who are] abundant in years may not [always] be wise,
Nor may the elders [always] understand justice.
10
“Therefore I say, ‘Listen to me;
I also will give you my opinion [about Job’s situation] and tell you plainly what I think.’
11
“You see, I waited for your words,
I listened to your [wise] reasons,
While you pondered and searched out what to say.
12
“I even paid close attention to [what] you [said],
Indeed, not one of you convinced Job [nor could you refute him],
Not one of you supplied [satisfactory] answers to his words.
13
“Beware if you say,
‘We have found wisdom;
God thrusts Job down [justly], not man [for God alone is dealing with him].’
14
“Now Job has not directed his words against me [therefore I have no reason to be offended],
Nor will I answer him with arguments like yours. [I speak for truth, not for revenge.]
15
“They (Job’s friends) are dismayed and embarrassed, they no longer answer;
The words have moved away and failed them,” [says Elihu].
16
“And shall I wait, because they say nothing,
But stand still and say no more?
17
“I too will give my share of answers;
I too will express my opinion and share my knowledge.
18
“For I am full of words;
The spirit within me constrains me.
19
“My belly is like unvented wine;
Like new wineskins it is about to burst.
20
“I must speak so that I may get relief;
I will open my lips and answer.
21
“I will not [I warn you] be partial to any man [that is, let my respect for you mitigate what I say];
Nor flatter any man.
22
“For I do not know how to flatter, [in an appropriate way, and I fear that],
My Maker would soon take me away.
Elihu Claims to Speak for God
33 “However, Job, please listen to my words,
And pay attention to everything I say.
2
“Behold, I have opened my mouth [to begin my speech];
My tongue in my mouth is going to speak.
3
“My words will express the uprightness of my heart,
And my lips will speak what they know with utter sincerity.
4
“The Spirit of God has made me,
And the breath of [b]the Almighty gives me life [which inspires me].
5
“Answer me, if you can;
Set yourselves before me, take your stand.
6
“Behold, I belong to God like you;
I too was formed out of the clay.
7
“Behold, I will not make you afraid or terrified of me [for I am only mortal and not God],
Nor should any pressure from me weigh heavily upon you.
8
“Surely you have spoken in my hearing,
And I have heard the sound of your words, saying:
9
‘I am pure, without transgression;
I am innocent and there is no guilt in me.
10
‘Behold, God finds pretexts against me;
He counts me as His enemy.
11
‘He puts my feet in the stocks [to hinder and humiliate me];
He [suspiciously] watches all my paths,’ [you say].
12
“Look, let me answer you, in this you are not right or just;
For God is greater and far superior to man.
13
“Why do you complain against Him?
That He does not answer [you with] all His doings.
14
“For God speaks once,
And even twice, yet no one notices it [including you, Job].
15
“In a dream, a vision of the night [one may hear God’s voice],
When deep sleep falls on men
While slumbering upon the bed,
16
Then He opens the ears of men
And seals their instruction,
17
That He may turn man aside from his conduct,
And keep him from pride;
18
He holds back his soul from the pit [of destruction],
And his life from passing over into Sheol (the nether world, the place of the dead).
19
“Man is also disciplined with pain on his bed,
And with unceasing complaint in his bones,
20
So that his life makes him loathe food,
And his soul [loathe] even his favorite dishes.
21
“His flesh is so wasted away that it cannot be seen,
And his bones which were not seen now stick out.
22
“Then his soul draws near to the pit [of destruction],
And his life to those who bring death (the destroyers).
23
“If there is an angel as a mediator for him,
One out of a thousand,
To explain to a man what is right for him [that is, how to be in right standing with God],
24
Then [c]the angel is gracious to him, and says,
‘Spare him from going down to the pit [of destruction];
I have found a ransom [a consideration, or reason for redemption, an atonement]!’
25
“Let his flesh be restored and become fresher than in youth;
Let him return to the days of his youthful strength.
26
“He will pray to God, and He shall be favorable to him,
So that he looks at His face with joy;
For God restores to man His righteousness [that is, his right standing with God—with its joys].
27
“He sings out to other men,
‘I have sinned and perverted that which was right,
And it was not proper for me!
28
‘God has redeemed my life from going to the pit [of destruction],
And my life shall see the light.’”
29
[Elihu comments,] “Behold, God does all these things [d]twice, yes, three times, with a man,
30
To bring his life back from the pit [of destruction],
That he may be enlightened with the light of the living.
31
“Pay attention, Job, listen to me;
Keep silent, and I will speak.
32
“If you have anything to say, answer me;
Speak, for I desire to justify you.
33
“If not [and you have nothing to say], listen to me;
Keep silent, and I will teach you wisdom.”
Elihu Vindicates God’s Justice
34 Elihu continued his discourse and said,
2
“Hear my words, you wise men,
And listen to me, you who have [so much] knowledge.
3
“For the ear puts words to the test
As the palate tastes food.
4
“Let us choose for ourselves that which is right;
Let us know among ourselves what is good.
5
“For Job has said, ‘I am righteous [and innocent],
But God has taken away my right;(G)
6
Although I am right, I am accounted a liar.
My wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.’
7
“What man is like Job,
Who drinks up derision like water,
8
Who goes in company with those who do evil
And walks with wicked men?
9
“For he has said, ‘It profits a man nothing
When he takes delight and is pleased with God and obeys Him.’
10
“Therefore hear me, you men of understanding.
Far be it from God that He would do wickedness,
And from the Almighty to do wrong.
11
“For God pays a man according to his work,
And He will make every man find [appropriate] compensation according to his way.
12
“Surely God will not act wickedly,
Nor will the Almighty pervert justice.
13
“Who put God in charge over the earth?
And who has laid on Him the whole world?
14
“If God should determine to do so,
If He should gather to Himself [that is, withdraw from man] His [life-giving] spirit and His breath,
15
All flesh would perish together,
And man would return to dust.(H)
16
“If you now have understanding, hear this;
Listen to the sound of my words.
17
“Shall one who hates justice [and is an enemy of right] govern?
And will you condemn Him who is just and mighty?
18
“God who says to a king, ‘You are worthless and vile,’
Or to princes and nobles, ‘You are wicked and evil’?
19
“Who is not partial to princes,
Nor does He regard the rich above the poor,
For they all are the work of His hands.
20
“In a moment they die, even at midnight
The people are shaken and pass away,
And the powerful are taken away without a [human] hand.
21
“For God’s eyes are on the ways of a man,
And He sees all his steps.(I)
22
“There is no darkness nor deep shadow
Where the evildoers may hide themselves.
23
“For He sets no appointed time for a man,
That he should appear before Him in judgment.
24
“He breaks mighty men without inquiry,
And sets others in their place.(J)
25
“Therefore He knows of their works,
And He overthrows them in the night,
So that they are crushed and destroyed.
26
“He strikes them like the wicked
In a public place,
27
Because they turned aside from following Him
And would not consider or show regard for any of His ways,(K)
28
So that they caused the cry of the poor to come to Him,
And He heard the cry of the afflicted.(L)
29
“When He keeps quiet, who then can condemn?
When He hides His face [withdrawing His favor and help], who then can behold Him [and make supplication to Him],
Whether it be a nation or a man by himself?—
30
So that godless men would not rule
Nor be snares for the people.
31
“For has anyone said to God,
‘I have endured my chastisement;
I will not offend anymore;
32
Teach me what I do not see [in regard to how I have sinned];
If I have done wrong (injustice, unrighteousness),
I will not do it again’?
33
“Shall God’s retribution [for your sins] be on your terms, because you refuse to accept it?
For you must do the choosing, and not I;
Therefore say what you [truthfully] know.
34
“Men of understanding will tell me,
Indeed, every wise man who hears me [will agree],
35
‘Job speaks without knowledge,
And his words are without wisdom and insight.
36
‘Job ought to be tried [e]to the limit
Because he answers like wicked men!
37
‘For he adds rebellion [in his unsubmissive, defiant attitude toward God] to his [unacknowledged] sin;
He claps his hands among us [in open mockery and contempt of God],
And he multiplies his words [of accusation] against God.’”
Elihu Sharply Reproves Job
35 Elihu continued speaking [to Job] and said,
2
“Do you think this is according to [your] justice?
Do you say, ‘My righteousness is more than God’s’?
3
“For you say, ‘What advantage have you [by living a righteous life]?
What profit will I have, more [by being righteous] than if I had sinned?’
4
“I will answer you,
And your companions with you.
5
“Look to the heavens and see;
And behold the skies which are [much] higher than you.
6
“If you have sinned, what do you accomplish against Him?
And if your transgressions are multiplied, what have you done to Him?
7
“If you are righteous, what do you give God,
Or what does He receive from your hand?
8
“Your wickedness affects only a man such as you,
And your righteousness affects only [f]a son of man [but it cannot affect God, who is sovereign].
9
“Because of the multitudes of oppressions the people cry out;
They cry for help because of the [violent] arm of the mighty.
10
“But no one says, ‘Where is God my Maker,
Who gives songs [of rejoicing] in the night,(M)
11
Who teaches us more than the beasts of the earth
And makes us wiser than the birds of the heavens?’
12
“The people cry out, but He does not answer
Because of the pride of evil men.
13
“Surely God will not listen to an empty cry [which lacks trust],
Nor will the Almighty regard it.
14
“Even though you say that you do not see Him [when missing His righteous judgment on earth],
Yet your case is before Him, and you must wait for Him!
15
“And now, because He has not [quickly] punished in His anger,
Nor has He acknowledged transgression and arrogance well [and seems unaware of the wrong of which a person is guilty],
16
Job uselessly opens his mouth
And multiplies words without knowledge [drawing the worthless conclusion that the righteous have no more advantage than the wicked].”
Elihu Speaks of God’s Dealings with Men
36 Elihu continued and said,
2
“Bear with me a little longer, and I will show you,
That there is yet more to say on God’s behalf.
3
“I will bring my knowledge from afar,
And will ascribe righteousness to my Maker.
4
“For truly my words are not false;
He who is perfect in knowledge is with you.
5
“Behold, God is mighty, and yet does not despise anyone [nor regard any as trivial];
He is mighty in the strength and power of understanding.
6
“He does not prolong the life of the wicked,
But gives the afflicted their justice.
7
“He does not withdraw His eyes from the righteous [those in right standing with Him];
But with kings upon the throne
He has seated them forever, and they are exalted.
8
“And if they are bound in bonds [of adversity],
And held by cords of affliction,(N)
9
Then He declares to them [the true character of] their deeds
And their transgressions, that they have acted arrogantly [with presumption and notions of self-sufficiency].
10
“He opens their ears to instruction and discipline,
And commands that they return from evil.
11
“If they hear and serve Him,
They will end their days in prosperity
And their years in pleasantness and joy.
12
“But if they do not hear and obey, they will die by the sword [of God’s destructive judgments]
And they will die [in ignorance] without [true] knowledge.
13
“But the godless in heart store up anger [at the divine discipline];
They do not cry [to Him] for help when He binds them [with cords of affliction].(O)
14
“They die in youth,
And their life ends among the [g]cult prostitutes.(P)
15
“He rescues the afflicted in their affliction,
And opens their ears [so that they pay attention to His voice] in times of oppression.
16
“Then indeed, He enticed you from the mouth of distress and confinement,
Into a broad place where there is no constraint or distress;
And that which was set on your table was full of fatness (rich food).
17
“But you [Job] were full of judgment on the wicked,
Judgment and justice take hold of you.
18
“Do not let wrath entice you into scoffing;
And do not let the greatness and the extent of the ransom turn you aside.
19
“Will your wealth [be sufficient to] keep you from [the confinement of] distress,
Or will all the force of your strength do it?
20
“Do not long for the night,
When people vanish from their places.
21
“Take heed and be careful, do not turn to wickedness,
For you have chosen this [the vice of complaining against God] rather than [learning from] affliction.
22
“Behold, God is exalted in His power;
Who is a ruler or a teacher like Him?
23
“Who has appointed God His way,
And who can say [to Him], ‘You have done wrong’?
24
“Remember that you should magnify God’s work,
Of which men have sung.
25
“All men have seen God’s work;
Man looks at it from a distance.
26
“Behold, God is exalted, and we do not know Him;
The number of His years is unsearchable.(Q)
27
“For He draws up the drops of water,
They distill rain from the mist,
28
Which the clouds pour down,
They drop abundantly upon mankind.”
29
“Can anyone understand the spreading of the clouds
Or the thundering of His pavilion?(R)
30
“Behold, He spreads His lightning around Him [against the dark clouds],
And He covers the depths of the sea.
31
“For by these [mighty acts] He judges the peoples;
He gives food in abundance.
32
“He covers His hands with the lightning,
And commands it to strike the mark.
33
“His thundering voice declares [awesomely] His presence;
The cattle also are told of His coming storm.
New International Version (NIV) 
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NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.
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