Job 32-34 (Amplified Bible)

Job 32

 ¹SO THESE three men ceased to answer Job, because he was [rigidly] righteous (upright and in right standing with God) in his own eyes. [But there was a fifth man there also.]

    ²Elihu son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, became indignant. His indignation was kindled against Job because he justified himself rather than God [even made himself out to be better than God].

    ³Also against [Job's] three friends was [Elihu's] anger kindled, because they had found no answer [were unable to show his real error], and yet they had declared him to be in the wrong [and responsible for his own afflictions].

    ⁴Now Elihu had waited to speak to Job because the others were older than he.

    ⁵But when Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouths of these three men, he became angry.

    ⁶Then Elihu son of Barachel the Buzite said, I am young, and you are aged; for that reason I was timid and restrained and dared not declare my opinion to you.

    ⁷I said, Age should speak, and a multitude of years should teach wisdom [so let it be heard].

    ⁸But there is [a vital force] a spirit [of intelligence] in man, and the breath of the Almighty gives men understanding.^(A)

    ⁹It is not the great [necessarily] who are wise, nor [always] the aged who understand justice.

    ¹⁰So I say, Listen to me; I also will give you my opinion [about Job's situation] and my knowledge.

    ¹¹You see, I waited for your words, I listened to your wise reasons, while you searched out what to say.

    ¹²Yes, I paid attention to what you said, and behold, not one of you convinced Job or made [satisfactory] replies to his words [you could not refute him].

    ¹³Beware lest you say, We have found wisdom; God thrusts [Job] down [justly], not man [God alone is dealing with him].

    ¹⁴Now [Job] has not directed his words against me [therefore I have no cause for irritation], neither will I answer him with speeches like yours. [I speak for truth, not for revenge.]

    ¹⁵[Job's friends] are amazed and embarrassed, they answer no more; they have not a thing to say [reports Elihu].

    ¹⁶And shall I wait, because they say nothing but stand still and answer no more?

    ¹⁷I also will answer my [God-assigned] part; I also will declare my opinion and my knowledge.

    ¹⁸For I am full of words; the spirit within me constrains me.

    ¹⁹My breast is as wine that has no vent; like new wineskins, it is ready to burst.

    ²⁰I must speak, that I may get relief and be refreshed; I will open my lips and answer.

    ²¹I will not [I warn you] be influenced by respect for any man's person and show partiality, neither will I flatter any man.

    ²²For I know not how to flatter, [wasting my time in mere formalities, for then] my Maker would soon take me away.

   

Job 33

 ¹BE THAT as it may, Job, I beg of you to hear what I have to say and give heed to all my words.

    ²Behold, here I am with open mouth; here is my tongue talking.

    ³My words shall express the uprightness of my heart, and my lips shall speak what they know with utter sincerity.

    ⁴[It is] the Spirit of God that made me [which has stirred me up], and the breath of the Almighty that gives me life [which inspires me].

    ⁵Answer me now, if you can; set your words in order before me; take your stand.

    ⁶Behold, I am toward God and before Him even as you are; I also am formed out of the clay [though I speak with abnormal wisdom because of a divine illumination].

    ⁷See my terror [for I am only a fellow mortal, not God]; I shall not make you afraid, neither shall my pressure be heavy upon you.

    ⁸Surely you have spoken in my hearing, and I have heard the voice of your words, saying,

    ⁹I am clean, without transgression; I am innocent, neither is there iniquity in me.

    ¹⁰But behold, God finds occasions against me and causes of alienation and indifference; He counts me as His enemy.

    ¹¹He puts my feet in the stocks; He [untrustingly] watches all my paths [you say].

    ¹²I reply to you, Behold, in this you are not just; God is superior to man.

    ¹³Why do you contend against Him? For He does not give account of any of His actions. [Sufficient for us it should be to know that it is He Who does them.]

    ¹⁴For God [does reveal His will; He] speaks not only once, but more than once, even though men do not regard it [including you, Job].

    ¹⁵[One may hear God's voice] in a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on men while slumbering upon the bed,

    ¹⁶Then He opens the ears of men and seals their instruction [terrifying them with warnings],

    ¹⁷That He may withdraw man from his purpose and cut off pride from him [disgusting him with his own disappointing self-sufficiency].

    ¹⁸He holds him back from the pit [of destruction], and his life from perishing by the sword [of God's destructive judgments].

    ¹⁹[God's voice may be heard by man when] he is chastened with pain upon his bed and with continual strife in his bones or while all his bones are firmly set,

    ²⁰So that his desire makes him loathe food, and even dainty dishes [nauseate him].

    ²¹His flesh is so wasted away that it cannot be seen, and his bones that were not seen stick out.

    ²²Yes, his soul draws near to corruption, and his life to the inflicters of death (the destroyers).

    ²³[God's voice may be heard] if there is for the hearer a messenger or an angel, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to show to man what is right for him [how to be upright and in right standing with God],

    ²⁴Then [God] is gracious to him and says, Deliver him from going down into the pit [of destruction]; I have found a ransom (a price of redemption, an atonement)!

    ²⁵[Then the man's] flesh shall be restored; it becomes fresher and more tender than a child's; he returns to the days of his youth.

    ²⁶He prays to God, and He is favorable to him, so that he sees His face with joy; for [God] restores to him his righteousness (his uprightness and right standing with God--with its joys).

    ²⁷He looks upon other men or sings out to them, I have sinned and perverted that which was right, and it did not profit me, or He did not requite me [according to my iniquity]!

    ²⁸[God] has redeemed my life from going down to the pit [of destruction], and my life shall see the light!

    ²⁹[Elihu comments] Behold, God does all these things twice, yes, three times, with a man,

    ³⁰To bring back his life from the pit [of destruction], that he may be enlightened with the light of the living.

    ³¹Give heed, O Job, listen to me; hold your peace, and I will speak.

    ³²If you have anything to say, answer me; speak, for I desire to justify you.

    ³³If [you do] not [have anything to say], listen to me; hold your peace, and I will teach you wisdom.

   

Job 34

 ¹ELIHU ANSWERED (continued his discourse) and said,

    ²Hear my words, you wise men, and give ear to me, you who have [so much] knowledge.

    ³For the ear tries words as the palate tastes food.

    ⁴Let us choose for ourselves that which is right; let us know among ourselves what is good.

    ⁵For Job has said, I am [innocent and uncompromisingly] righteous, but God has taken away my right;^(B)

    ⁶Would I lie against my right? Yet, notwithstanding my right, I am counted a liar. My wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.

    ⁷What man is like Job, who drinks up scoffing and scorning like water,

    ⁸Who goes in company with the workers of iniquity and walks with wicked men?

    ⁹For he has said, It profits a man nothing that he should delight himself with God and consent to Him.

    ¹⁰Therefore hear me, you men of understanding. Far be it from God that He should do wickedness, and from the Almighty that He should commit iniquity.

    ¹¹For according to the deeds of a man God will [exactly] proportion his pay, and He will cause every man to find [recompense] according to his ways.

    ¹²Truly God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert justice.

    ¹³Who put [God] in charge over the earth? Or who laid on Him the whole world?

    ¹⁴If [God] should set His heart upon him [man] and withdraw His [life-giving] spirit and His breath [from man] to Himself,

    ¹⁵All flesh would perish together, and man would turn again to dust.^(C)

    ¹⁶If now you have understanding, hear this; listen to my words.

    ¹⁷Is it possible that an enemy of right should 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 ungodly and evil?

    ¹⁹[God] is not partial to princes, nor does He regard the rich more than the poor, for they all are the work of His hands.

    ²⁰In a moment they die; even at midnight the people are shaken and pass away, and the mighty are taken away by no [human] hand.

    ²¹For [God's] eyes are upon the ways of a man, and He sees all his steps.^(D)

    ²²There is no darkness nor thick gloom where the evildoers may hide themselves.

    ²³[God] sets before man no appointed time, that he should appear before [Him] in judgment.

    ²⁴He breaks in pieces mighty men without inquiry [before a jury] and in ways past finding out and sets others in their stead.^(E)

    ²⁵Therefore He takes knowledge of their works, and He overturns them in the night, so that they are crushed and destroyed.

    ²⁶God strikes them down as wicked men in the open sight of beholders,

    ²⁷Because they turned aside from Him and would not consider or show regard for any of His ways,^(F)

    ²⁸So that they caused the cry of the poor to come to Him, and He heard the cry of the afflicted.^(G)

    ²⁹When He gives quietness (peace and security from oppression), who then can condemn? When He hides His face [withdrawing His favor and help], who then can behold Him [and make Him gracious], whether it be a nation or a man by himself?--

    ³⁰That the godless man may not reign, that there be no one to ensnare the people.

    ³¹For has anyone said to God, I have borne my chastisement; I will not offend any more;

    ³²Teach me what I do not see [in regard to how I have sinned]; if I have done iniquity, I will do it no more?

    ³³Should [God's] recompense [for your sins] be as you will it, when you refuse to accept it? For you must do the choosing, and not I; therefore say what is your truthful conclusion.

    ³⁴Men of understanding will tell me, indeed, every wise man who hears me [will agree],

    ³⁵That Job speaks without knowledge, and his words are without wisdom and insight.

    ³⁶[Would that Job's afflictions be continued and] he be tried to the end because of his answering like wicked men!

    ³⁷For he adds rebellion [in his unsubmissive, defiant attitude toward God] to his unacknowledged sin; he claps his hands [in open mockery and contempt of God] among us, and he multiplies his words of accusation against God.