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Elihu Rebukes Job’s Friends

32 So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. Then Eli′hu the son of Bar′achel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, became angry. He was angry at Job because he justified himself rather than God; he was angry also at Job’s three friends because they had found no answer, although they had declared Job to be in the wrong. Now Eli′hu had waited to speak to Job because they were older than he. And when Eli′hu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, he became angry.

And Eli′hu the son of Bar′achel the Buzite answered:

“I am young in years,
    and you are aged;
therefore I was timid and afraid
    to declare my opinion to you.
I said, ‘Let days speak,
    and many years teach wisdom.’
But it is the spirit in a man,
    the breath of the Almighty, that makes him understand.
It is not the old[a] that are wise,
    nor the aged that understand what is right.
10 Therefore I say, ‘Listen to me;
    let me also declare my opinion.’

11 “Behold, I waited for your words,
    I listened for your wise sayings,
    while you searched out what to say.
12 I gave you my attention,
    and, behold, there was none that confuted Job,
    or that answered his words, among you.
13 Beware lest you say, ‘We have found wisdom;
    God may vanquish him, not man.’
14 He has not directed his words against me,
    and I will not answer him with your speeches.

15 “They are discomfited, they answer no more;
    they have not a word to say.
16 And shall I wait, because they do not speak,
    because they stand there, and answer no more?
17 I also will give my answer;
    I also will declare my opinion.
18 For I am full of words,
    the spirit within me constrains me.
19 Behold, my heart is like wine that has no vent;
    like new wineskins, it is ready to burst.
20 I must speak, that I may find relief;
    I must open my lips and answer.
21 I will not show partiality to any person
    or use flattery toward any man.
22 For I do not know how to flatter,
    else would my Maker soon put an end to me.

Footnotes

  1. Job 32:9 Gk Syr Vg: Heb many

The Promise of the Lord’s Coming

This is now the second letter that I have written to you, beloved, and in both of them I have aroused your sincere mind by way of reminder; that you should remember the predictions of the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles. First of all you must understand this, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own passions and saying, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things have continued as they were from the beginning of creation.” They deliberately ignore this fact, that by the word of God heavens existed long ago, and an earth formed out of water and by means of water, through which the world that then existed was deluged with water and perished. But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist have been stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.

But do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow about his promise as some count slowness, but is forbearing toward you,[a] not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fire, and the earth and the works that are upon it will be burned up.

11 Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of persons ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, 12 waiting for and hastening[b] the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be kindled and dissolved, and the elements will melt with fire! 13 But according to his promise we wait for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.

Final Exhortation and Doxology

14 Therefore, beloved, since you wait for these, be zealous to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace. 15 And count the forbearance of our Lord as salvation. So also our beloved brother Paul wrote to you according to the wisdom given him, 16 speaking of this as he does in all his letters. There are some things in them hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other scriptures. 17 You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, beware lest you be carried away with the error of lawless men and lose your own stability. 18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Peter 3:9 Other ancient authorities read on your account
  2. 2 Peter 3:12 Or earnestly desiring

Elihu Rebukes Job

33 “But now, hear my speech, O Job,
    and listen to all my words.
Behold, I open my mouth;
    the tongue in my mouth speaks.
My words declare the uprightness of my heart,
    and what my lips know they speak sincerely.
The spirit of God has made me,
    and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.
Answer me, if you can;
    set your words in order before me; take your stand.
Behold, I am toward God as you are;
    I too was formed from a piece of clay.
Behold, no fear of me need terrify you;
    my pressure will not be heavy upon you.

“Surely, you have spoken in my hearing,
    and I have heard the sound of your words.
You say, ‘I am clean, without transgression;
    I am pure, and there is no iniquity in me.
10 Behold, he finds occasions against me,
    he counts me as his enemy;
11 he puts my feet in the stocks,
    and watches all my paths.’

12 “Behold, in this you are not right. I will answer you.
    God is greater than man.
13 Why do you contend against him,
    saying, ‘He will answer none of my[a] words’?
14 For God speaks in one way,
    and in two, though man does not perceive it.
15 In a dream, in a vision of the night,
    when deep sleep falls upon men,
    while they slumber on their beds,
16 then he opens the ears of men,
    and terrifies them with warnings,
17 that he may turn man aside from his deed,
    and cut off[b] pride from man;
18 he keeps back his soul from the Pit,
    his life from perishing by the sword.

19 “Man is also chastened with pain upon his bed,
    and with continual strife in his bones;
20 so that his life loathes bread,
    and his appetite dainty food.
21 His flesh is so wasted away that it cannot be seen;
    and his bones which were not seen stick out.
22 His soul draws near the Pit,
    and his life to those who bring death.
23 If there be for him an angel,
    a mediator, one of the thousand,
    to declare to man what is right for him;
24 and he is gracious to him, and says,
    ‘Deliver him from going down into the Pit,
    I have found a ransom;
25 let his flesh become fresh with youth;
    let him return to the days of his youthful vigor’;
26 then man prays to God, and he accepts him,
    he comes into his presence with joy.
He recounts[c] to men his salvation,
27     and he sings before men, and says:
‘I sinned, and perverted what was right,
    and it was not requited to me.
28 He has redeemed my soul from going down into the Pit,
    and my life shall see the light.’

29 “Behold, God does all these things,
    twice, three times, with a man,
30 to bring back his soul from the Pit,
    that he may see the light of life.[d]
31 Give heed, O Job, listen to me;
    be silent, and I will speak.
32 If you have anything to say, answer me;
    speak, for I desire to justify you.
33 If not, listen to me;
    be silent, and I will teach you wisdom.”

Footnotes

  1. Job 33:13 Compare Gk: Heb his
  2. Job 33:17 Cn: Heb hide
  3. Job 33:26 Cn: Heb returns
  4. Job 33:30 Syr: Heb to be lighted with the light of life

Jesus Again Foretells His Death and Resurrection

30 They went on from there and passed through Galilee. And he would not have any one know it; 31 for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, “The Son of man will be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him; and when he is killed, after three days he will rise.” 32 But they did not understand the saying, and they were afraid to ask him.

Who Is the Greatest?

33 And they came to Caper′na-um; and when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you discussing on the way?” 34 But they were silent; for on the way they had discussed with one another who was the greatest. 35 And he sat down and called the twelve; and he said to them, “If any one would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.” 36 And he took a child, and put him in the midst of them; and taking him in his arms, he said to them, 37 “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me; and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me.”

Another Exorcist

38 John said to him, “Teacher, we saw a man casting out demons in your name,[a] and we forbade him, because he was not following us.” 39 But Jesus said, “Do not forbid him; for no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon after to speak evil of me. 40 For he that is not against us is for us. 41 For truly, I say to you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you bear the name of Christ, will by no means lose his reward.

Temptations to Sin

42 “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin,[b] it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung round his neck and he were thrown into the sea. 43 And if your hand causes you to sin,[c] cut it off; it is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go to hell,[d] to the unquenchable fire.[e] 45 And if your foot causes you to sin,[f] cut it off; it is better for you to enter life lame than with two feet to be thrown into hell.[g][h] 47 And if your eye causes you to sin,[i] pluck it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell,[j] 48 where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched. 49 For every one will be salted with fire.[k] 50 Salt is good; but if the salt has lost its saltness, how will you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”

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Footnotes

  1. Mark 9:38 Other ancient authorities add who does not follow us
  2. Mark 9:42 Greek stumble
  3. Mark 9:43 Greek stumble
  4. Mark 9:43 Greek Gehenna
  5. Mark 9:43 Verses 44 and 46 (which are identical with verse 48) are omitted by the best ancient authorities
  6. Mark 9:45 Greek stumble
  7. Mark 9:45 Greek Gehenna
  8. Mark 9:45 Verses 44 and 46 (which are identical with verse 48) are omitted by the best ancient authorities
  9. Mark 9:47 Greek stumble
  10. Mark 9:47 Greek Gehenna
  11. Mark 9:49 Other ancient authorities add and every sacrifice will be salted with salt

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