Job 32-37
Amplified Bible, Classic Edition
32 So 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.]
2 Elihu 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].
3 Also 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].
4 Now Elihu had waited to speak to Job because the others were older than he.
5 But when Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouths of these three men, he became angry.
6 Then 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.
7 I said, Age should speak, and a multitude of years should teach wisdom [so let it be heard].
8 But there is [a vital force] a spirit [of intelligence] in man, and the breath of the Almighty gives men understanding.(A)
9 It is not the great [necessarily] who are wise, nor [always] the aged who understand justice.
10 So I say, Listen to me; I also will give you my opinion [about Job’s situation] and my knowledge.
11 You see, I waited for your words, I listened to your wise reasons, while you searched out what to say.
12 Yes, 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].
13 Beware lest you say, We have found wisdom; God thrusts [Job] down [justly], not man [God alone is dealing with him].
14 Now [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].
16 And shall I wait, because they say nothing but stand still and answer no more?
17 I also will answer my [God-assigned] part; I also will declare my opinion and my knowledge.
18 For I am full of words; the spirit within me constrains me.
19 My breast is as wine that has no vent; like new wineskins, it is ready to burst.
20 I must speak, that I may get relief and be refreshed; I will open my lips and answer.
21 I will not [I warn you] be influenced by respect for any man’s person and show partiality, neither will I flatter any man.
22 For I know not how to flatter, [wasting my time in mere formalities, for then] my Maker would soon take me away.
33 Be that as it may, Job, I beg of you to hear what I have to say and give heed to all my words.
2 Behold, here I am with open mouth; here is my tongue talking.
3 My 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].
5 Answer me now, if you can; set your words in order before me; take your stand.
6 Behold, 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].
7 See 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.
8 Surely you have spoken in my hearing, and I have heard the voice of your words, saying,
9 I am clean, without transgression; I am innocent, neither is there iniquity in me.
10 But behold, God finds occasions against me and causes of alienation and indifference; He counts me as His enemy.
11 He puts my feet in the stocks; He [untrustingly] watches all my paths [you say].
12 I reply to you, Behold, in this you are not just; God is superior to man.
13 Why 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.]
14 For 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,
16 Then He opens the ears of men and seals their instruction [terrifying them with warnings],
17 That He may withdraw man from his purpose and cut off pride from him [disgusting him with his own disappointing self-sufficiency].
18 He 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,
20 So that his desire makes him loathe food, and even dainty dishes [nauseate him].
21 His flesh is so wasted away that it cannot be seen, and his bones that were not seen stick out.
22 Yes, 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],
24 Then [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.
26 He 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).
27 He 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,
30 To bring back his life from the pit [of destruction], that he may be enlightened with the light of the living.
31 Give heed, O 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 [you do] not [have anything to say], listen to me; hold your peace, and I will teach you wisdom.
34 Elihu answered (continued his discourse) and said,
2 Hear my words, you wise men, and give ear to me, you who have [so much] knowledge.
3 For the ear tries words 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 [innocent and uncompromisingly] righteous, but God has taken away my right;(B)
6 Would I lie against my right? Yet, notwithstanding my right, I am counted a liar. My wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.
7 What man is like Job, who drinks up scoffing and scorning like water,
8 Who goes in company with the workers of iniquity and walks with wicked men?
9 For he has said, It profits a man nothing that he should delight himself with God and consent to Him.
10 Therefore 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.
11 For 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.
12 Truly God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert justice.
13 Who put [God] in charge over the earth? Or who laid on Him the whole world?
14 If [God] should set His heart upon him [man] and withdraw His [life-giving] spirit and His breath [from man] to Himself,
15 All flesh would perish together, and man would turn again to dust.(C)
16 If now you have understanding, hear this; listen to my words.
17 Is 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.
20 In a moment they die; even at midnight the people are shaken and pass away, and the mighty are taken away by no [human] hand.
21 For [God’s] eyes are upon the ways of a man, and He sees all his steps.(D)
22 There 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.
24 He breaks in pieces mighty men without inquiry [before a jury] and in ways past finding out and sets others in their stead.(E)
25 Therefore He takes knowledge of their works, and He overturns them in the night, so that they are crushed and destroyed.
26 God strikes them down as wicked men in the open sight of beholders,
27 Because they turned aside from Him and would not consider or show regard for any of His ways,(F)
28 So that they caused the cry of the poor to come to Him, and He heard the cry of the afflicted.(G)
29 When 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?—
30 That the godless man may not reign, that there be no one to ensnare the people.
31 For has anyone said to God, I have borne my chastisement; I will not offend any more;
32 Teach me what I do not see [in regard to how I have sinned]; if I have done iniquity, I will do it no more?
33 Should [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.
34 Men of understanding will tell me, indeed, every wise man who hears me [will agree],
35 That 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!
37 For 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.
35 Elihu spoke further [to Job] and said,
2 Do you think this is your right, or are you saying, My righteousness is more than God’s,
3 That you ask, What advantage have you? How am I profited more 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 higher than you.
6 If you have sinned, how does that affect God? And if your transgressions are multiplied, what have you done to Him?
7 If you are righteous, what do you [by that] give God? Or what does He receive from your hand?
8 Your wickedness touches and affects a man such as you are, and your righteousness is for yourself, one of the human race [but it cannot touch God, Who is above such influence].
9 Because of the multitudes of oppressions the people cry out; they cry for help because of the violence of the mighty.
10 But no one says, Where is God my Maker, Who gives songs of rejoicing in the night,(H)
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 because of the pride of evil men, but He does not answer.
13 Surely God will refuse to answer [the cry which is] vanity (vain and empty—instead of abiding trust); neither will the Almighty regard it—
14 How much less when [missing His righteous judgment on earth] you say that you do not see Him, that your cause is before Him, and you are waiting for Him!
15 But now because God has not [speedily] punished in His anger and seems to be unaware of the wrong and oppression [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].
36 Elihu proceeded and said,
2 Bear with me and wait a little longer, and I will show you, for I have something still 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 shall not be false; He Who is perfect in knowledge is with you.
5 Behold! God is mighty, and yet despises no one nor regards anything as trivial; He is mighty in power of understanding and heart.
6 He does not prolong the life of the wicked, but gives the needy and afflicted their right.
7 He withdraws not His eyes from the righteous (the upright in right standing with God); but He sets them forever with kings upon the throne, and they are exalted.
8 And if they are bound in fetters [of adversity] and held by cords of affliction,(I)
9 Then He shows to them [the true character of] their deeds and their transgressions, that they have acted arrogantly [with presumption and self-sufficiency].
10 He also opens their ears to instruction and discipline, and commands that they return from iniquity.
11 If they obey and serve Him, they shall spend their days in prosperity and their years in pleasantness and joy.
12 But if they obey not, they shall perish by the sword [of God’s destructive judgments], and they shall die in ignorance of true knowledge.
13 But the godless and profane in heart heap up anger [at the divine discipline]; they do not cry to Him when He binds them [with cords of affliction].(J)
14 They die in youth, and their life perishes among the unclean (those who are sodomites).
15 He delivers the afflicted in their affliction and opens their ears [to His voice] in adversity.
16 Indeed, God would have allured you out of the mouth of distress into a broad place where there is no situation of perplexity or privation; and that which would be set on your table would be full of fatness.
17 But if you [Job] are filled with the judgment of the wicked, judgment and justice will keep hold on you.
18 For let not wrath entice you into scorning chastisements; and let not the greatness of the ransom [the suffering, if rightly endured] turn you aside.
19 Will your cry be sufficient to keep you from distress, or will all the force of your strength do it?
20 Desire not the night, when peoples are cut off from their places;
21 Take heed, turn not to iniquity, for this [the iniquity of complaining against God] you have chosen rather than [submission in] affliction.
22 Behold, God exalts and does loftily in His power; who is a ruler or a teacher like Him?
23 Who has appointed God His way? Or who can say, You have done unrighteousness?
24 Remember that [by submission] you magnify God’s work, of which men have sung.
25 All men have looked upon God’s work; man may behold it afar off.
26 Behold, God is great, and we know Him not! The number of His years is unsearchable.(K)
27 For He draws up the drops of water, which distil as rain from His vapor,
28 Which the skies pour down and drop abundantly upon [the multitudes of] mankind.
29 Not only that, but can anyone understand the spreadings of the clouds or the thunderings of His pavilion?(L)
30 Behold, He spreads His lightning against the dark clouds and covers the roots of the sea.
31 For by [His clouds] God executes judgment upon the peoples; He gives food in abundance.
32 He covers His hands with the lightning and commands it to strike the mark.
33 His thunderings speak [awesomely] concerning Him; the cattle are told of His coming storm.
37 Indeed, [at His thunderings] my heart also trembles and leaps out of its place.
2 Hear, oh, hear the roar of His voice and the sound of rumbling that goes out of His mouth!
3 Under the whole heaven He lets it loose, and His lightning to the ends of the earth.
4 After it His voice roars; He thunders with the voice of His majesty, and He restrains not [His lightnings against His adversaries] when His voice is heard.
5 God thunders marvelously with His voice; He does great things which we cannot comprehend.
6 For He says to the snow, Fall on the earth; likewise He speaks to the showers and to the downpour of His mighty rains.
7 God seals up (stops, brings to a standstill by severe weather) the hand of every man [and now under His seal their hands are forced to inactivity], that all men whom He has made may know His doings (His sovereign power and their subjection to it).
8 Then the beasts go into dens and remain in their lairs.
9 Out of its chamber comes the whirlwind, and cold from the scattering winds.
10 By the breath of God ice is given, and the breadth of the waters is frozen over.(M)
11 He loads the thick cloud with moisture; He scatters the cloud of His lightning.
12 And it is turned round about by His guidance, that they may do whatever He commands them upon the face of the habitable earth.
13 Whether it be for correction or for His earth [generally] or for His mercy and loving-kindness, He causes it to come.(N)
14 Hear this, O Job; stand still and consider the wondrous works of God.
15 Do you know how God lays His command upon them and causes the lightning of His [storm] cloud to shine?
16 Do you know how the clouds are balanced [and poised in the heavens], the wonderful works of Him Who is perfect in knowledge?
17 [Or] why your garments are hot when He quiets the earth [in sultry summer] with the [oppressive] south wind?
18 Can you along with Him spread out the sky, [which is] strong as a molten mirror?
19 Tell us [Job] with what words of man we may address such a Being; we cannot state our case because we are in the dark [in the presence of the unsearchable God].
20 So shall it be told Him that I wish to speak? If a man speaks, shall he be swallowed up?
21 And now men cannot look upon the light when it is bright in the skies, when the wind has passed and cleared them.
22 Golden brightness and splendor come out of the north; [if men can scarcely look upon it, how much less upon the] terrible splendor and majesty God has upon Himself!
23 Touching the Almighty, we cannot find Him out; He is excellent in power; and to justice and plenteous righteousness He does no violence [He will disregard no right].(O)
24 Men therefore [reverently] fear Him; He regards and respects not any who are wise in heart [in their own understanding and conceit].(P)
Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation
Bible Gateway Recommends
