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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.(A) Then Elihu son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, became angry. He was angry at Job because he justified himself rather than God;(B) he was angry also at Job’s three friends because they had found no answer, though they had declared Job to be in the wrong.[a](C) Now Elihu had waited to speak to Job because they were older than he. But when Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouths of these three men, he became angry.

Elihu son of Barachel the Buzite answered:

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

11 “See, I waited for your words;
    I listened for your wise sayings
    while you searched out what to say.(G)
12 I gave you my attention,
    but there was, in fact, no one who confuted Job,
    no one among you who answered his words.
13 Yet do not say, ‘We have found wisdom;
    God may vanquish him, not a human.’(H)
14 He has not directed his words against me,
    and I will not answer him with your speeches.

15 “They are dismayed; they answer no more;
    they have not a word to say.
16 And am I to 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.(I)
19 My belly is indeed like wine that has no vent;
    like new wineskins, it is ready to burst.(J)
20 I must speak, so 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 anyone.(K)
22 For I do not know how to flatter—
    or my Maker would soon put an end to me!(L)

Footnotes

  1. 32.3 Or answer, and had put God in the wrong
  2. 32.8 Traditional rendering of Heb Shaddai
  3. 32.9 Gk Syr Vg: Heb many

Elihu

32 So these three men stopped answering Job,(A) because he was righteous in his own eyes.(B) But Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite,(C) of the family of Ram, became very angry with Job for justifying himself(D) rather than God.(E) He was also angry with the three friends,(F) because they had found no way to refute Job,(G) and yet had condemned him.[a](H) Now Elihu had waited before speaking to Job because they were older than he.(I) But when he saw that the three men had nothing more to say, his anger was aroused.

So Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite said:

“I am young in years,
    and you are old;(J)
that is why I was fearful,
    not daring to tell you what I know.
I thought, ‘Age should speak;
    advanced years should teach wisdom.’(K)
But it is the spirit[b](L) in a person,
    the breath of the Almighty,(M) that gives them understanding.(N)
It is not only the old[c] who are wise,(O)
    not only the aged(P) who understand what is right.(Q)

10 “Therefore I say: Listen to me;(R)
    I too will tell you what I know.(S)
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.(T)
13 Do not say, ‘We have found wisdom;(U)
    let God, not a man, refute(V) him.’
14 But Job has not marshaled his words against me,(W)
    and I will not answer him with your arguments.

15 “They are dismayed and have no more to say;
    words have failed them.(X)
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.(Y)
18 For I am full of words,
    and the spirit(Z) within me compels me;(AA)
19 inside I am like bottled-up wine,
    like new wineskins ready to burst.(AB)
20 I must speak and find relief;
    I must open my lips and reply.(AC)
21 I will show no partiality,(AD)
    nor will I flatter anyone;(AE)
22 for if I were skilled in flattery,
    my Maker(AF) would soon take me away.(AG)

Footnotes

  1. Job 32:3 Masoretic Text; an ancient Hebrew scribal tradition Job, and so had condemned God
  2. Job 32:8 Or Spirit; also in verse 18
  3. Job 32:9 Or many; or great

The Promise of the Lord’s Coming

This is now, beloved, the second letter I am writing to you; in them I am trying to arouse your sincere intention by reminding you that you should remember the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior spoken through your apostles. First of all you must understand this, that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and indulging their own lusts(A) and saying, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since our ancestors died,[a] all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation!”(B) They deliberately ignore this fact, that by the word of God heavens existed long ago and an earth was formed out of water and by means of water,(C) through which the world of that time was deluged with water and perished.(D) But by the same word the present heavens and earth have been reserved for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the godless.(E)

But do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like one day.(F) The Lord is not slow about his promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient with you,[b] not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance.(G) 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 destroyed with fire, and the earth and everything that is done on it will be disclosed.[c](H)

11 Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of persons ought you to be in leading lives of holiness and godliness, 12 waiting for and hastening[d] the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set ablaze and destroyed and the elements will melt with fire? 13 But, in accordance with his promise, we wait for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness is at home.(I)

Final Exhortation and Doxology

14 Therefore, beloved, while you are waiting for these things, strive to be found by him at peace, without spot or blemish,(J) 15 and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation. So also our beloved brother Paul wrote to you according to the wisdom given him,(K) 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[e] to their own destruction, as they do the other scriptures. 17 You therefore, beloved, since you are forewarned, beware that you are not carried away with the error of the lawless and lose your own stability.(L) 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.[f]

Footnotes

  1. 3.4 Gk our fathers fell asleep
  2. 3.9 Other ancient authorities read on your account
  3. 3.10 Other ancient authorities read will not be found or will be burned up
  4. 3.12 Or earnestly desiring
  5. 3.16 Other ancient authorities read will twist
  6. 3.18 Other ancient authorities lack Amen

The Day of the Lord

Dear friends,(A) this is now my second letter to you. I have written both of them as reminders(B) to stimulate you to wholesome thinking. I want you to recall the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets(C) and the command given by our Lord and Savior through your apostles.(D)

Above all, you must understand that in the last days(E) scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires.(F) They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised?(G) Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.”(H) But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word(I) the heavens came into being and the earth was formed out of water and by water.(J) By these waters also the world of that time(K) was deluged and destroyed.(L) By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire,(M) being kept for the day of judgment(N) and destruction of the ungodly.

But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.(O) The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise,(P) as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient(Q) with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.(R)

10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief.(S) The heavens will disappear with a roar;(T) the elements will be destroyed by fire,(U) and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.[a](V)

11 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 12 as you look forward(W) to the day of God and speed its coming.[b](X) That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat.(Y) 13 But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth,(Z) where righteousness dwells.

14 So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless(AA) and at peace with him. 15 Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience(AB) means salvation,(AC) just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him.(AD) 16 He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable(AE) people distort,(AF) as they do the other Scriptures,(AG) to their own destruction.

17 Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard(AH) so that you may not be carried away by the error(AI) of the lawless(AJ) and fall from your secure position.(AK) 18 But grow in the grace(AL) and knowledge(AM) of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.(AN) To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.(AO)

Footnotes

  1. 2 Peter 3:10 Some manuscripts be burned up
  2. 2 Peter 3:12 Or as you wait eagerly for the day of God to come

Elihu Rebukes Job

33 “But now, hear my speech, O Job,
    and listen to all my words.
See, 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.(A)
The spirit of God has made me,
    and the breath of the Almighty[a] gives me life.(B)
Answer me, if you can;
    set your words in order before me; take your stand.(C)
See, before God I am as you are;
    I, too, was formed from a piece of clay.
No fear of me need terrify you;
    my pressure will not be heavy on you.(D)

“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.(E)
10 Look, he finds occasions against me;
    he counts me as his enemy;(F)
11 he puts my feet in the stocks
    and watches all my paths.’(G)

12 “But in this you are not right. I will answer you:
    God is greater than any mortal.
13 Why do you contend against him,
    saying, ‘He will answer none of my[b] words’?(H)
14 For God speaks in one way
    and in two, though people do not perceive it.(I)
15 In a dream, in a vision of the night,
    when deep sleep falls on mortals,
    while they slumber on their beds,(J)
16 then he opens their ears
    and terrifies them with warnings,(K)
17 that he may turn them aside from their deeds
    and keep them from pride,
18 to spare their souls from the Pit,
    their lives from traversing the River.
19 They are also chastened with pain upon their beds
    and with continual strife in their bones,(L)
20 so that their lives loathe bread
    and their appetites dainty food.(M)
21 Their flesh is so wasted away that it cannot be seen,
    and their bones, once invisible, now stick out.(N)
22 Their souls draw near the Pit
    and their lives to those who bring death.(O)
23 Then, if there should be for one of them an angel,
    a mediator, one of a thousand,
    one who declares a person upright,(P)
24 and he is gracious to that person and says,
    ‘Deliver him from going down into the Pit;
    I have found a ransom;(Q)
25 let his flesh become fresh with youth;
    let him return to the days of his youthful vigor,’(R)
26 then he prays to God and is accepted by him;
    he comes into his presence with joy,
and God[c] repays him for his righteousness.(S)
27     That person sings to others and says,
‘I sinned and perverted what was right,
    and it was not paid back to me.(T)
28 He has redeemed my soul from going down to the Pit,
    and my life shall see the light.’(U)

29 “God indeed does all these things,
    twice, three times, with mortals,(V)
30 to bring back their souls from the Pit,
    so that they may see the light of life.[d](W)
31 Pay heed, 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.”(X)

Footnotes

  1. 33.4 Traditional rendering of Heb Shaddai
  2. 33.13 Compare Gk: Heb his
  3. 33.26 Heb he
  4. 33.30 Syr: Heb to be lighted with the light of life

33 “But now, Job, listen(A) to my words;
    pay attention to everything I say.(B)
I am about to open my mouth;
    my words are on the tip of my tongue.
My words come from an upright heart;(C)
    my lips sincerely speak what I know.(D)
The Spirit(E) of God has made me;(F)
    the breath of the Almighty(G) gives me life.(H)
Answer me(I) then, if you can;
    stand up(J) and argue your case before me.(K)
I am the same as you in God’s sight;(L)
    I too am a piece of clay.(M)
No fear of me should alarm you,
    nor should my hand be heavy on you.(N)

“But you have said in my hearing—
    I heard the very words—
‘I am pure,(O) I have done no wrong;(P)
    I am clean and free from sin.(Q)
10 Yet God has found fault with me;
    he considers me his enemy.(R)
11 He fastens my feet in shackles;(S)
    he keeps close watch on all my paths.’(T)

12 “But I tell you, in this you are not right,
    for God is greater than any mortal.(U)
13 Why do you complain to him(V)
    that he responds to no one’s words[a]?(W)
14 For God does speak(X)—now one way, now another(Y)
    though no one perceives it.(Z)
15 In a dream,(AA) in a vision(AB) of the night,(AC)
    when deep sleep(AD) falls on people
    as they slumber in their beds,
16 he may speak(AE) in their ears
    and terrify them(AF) with warnings,(AG)
17 to turn them from wrongdoing
    and keep them from pride,(AH)
18 to preserve them from the pit,(AI)
    their lives from perishing by the sword.[b](AJ)

19 “Or someone may be chastened(AK) on a bed of pain(AL)
    with constant distress in their bones,(AM)
20 so that their body finds food(AN) repulsive
    and their soul loathes the choicest meal.(AO)
21 Their flesh wastes away to nothing,
    and their bones,(AP) once hidden, now stick out.(AQ)
22 They draw near to the pit,(AR)
    and their life to the messengers of death.[c](AS)
23 Yet if there is an angel at their side,
    a messenger,(AT) one out of a thousand,
    sent to tell them how to be upright,(AU)
24 and he is gracious to that person and says to God,
    ‘Spare them from going down to the pit;(AV)
    I have found a ransom for them(AW)
25 let their flesh be renewed(AX) like a child’s;
    let them be restored as in the days of their youth’(AY)
26 then that person can pray to God and find favor with him,(AZ)
    they will see God’s face and shout for joy;(BA)
    he will restore them to full well-being.(BB)
27 And they will go to others and say,
    ‘I have sinned,(BC) I have perverted what is right,(BD)
    but I did not get what I deserved.(BE)
28 God has delivered(BF) me from going down to the pit,(BG)
    and I shall live to enjoy the light of life.’(BH)

29 “God does all these things to a person(BI)
    twice, even three times(BJ)
30 to turn them back(BK) from the pit,(BL)
    that the light of life(BM) may shine on them.(BN)

31 “Pay attention, Job, and listen(BO) to me;(BP)
    be silent,(BQ) and I will speak.
32 If you have anything to say, answer me;(BR)
    speak up, for I want to vindicate you.(BS)
33 But if not, then listen to me;(BT)
    be silent,(BU) and I will teach you wisdom.(BV)

Footnotes

  1. Job 33:13 Or that he does not answer for any of his actions
  2. Job 33:18 Or from crossing the river
  3. Job 33:22 Or to the place of the dead

Jesus Again Foretells His Death and Resurrection

30 They went on from there and passed through Galilee. He did not want anyone to know it, 31 for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, “The Son of Man is to be betrayed into human hands, and they will kill him, and three days after being killed, he will rise again.”(A) 32 But they did not understand what he was saying and were afraid to ask him.(B)

Who Is the Greatest?

33 Then they came to Capernaum, and when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the way?” 34 But they were silent, for on the way they had argued with one another who was the greatest.(C) 35 He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, “Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.”(D) 36 Then he took a little child and put it among them, and taking it in his arms he said to them,(E) 37 “Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me.”(F)

Another Exorcist

38 John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name,[a] and we tried to stop him because he was not following us.”(G) 39 But Jesus said, “Do not stop him, for no one who does a deed of power in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. 40 Whoever is not against us is for us.(H) 41 For truly I tell you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you bear the name of Christ will by no means lose the reward.(I)

Temptations to Sin

42 “If any of you cause one of these little ones who believe in me[b] to sin,[c] it would be better for you if a great millstone were hung around your neck and you were thrown into the sea.(J) 43 If your hand causes you to sin,[d] cut it off; it is better for you to enter life maimed than to have two hands and to go to hell,[e] to the unquenchable fire.[f](K) 45 And if your foot causes you to sin,[g] cut it off; it is better for you to enter life lame than to have two feet and to be thrown into hell.[h][i](L) 47 And if your eye causes you to sin,[j] tear it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and to be thrown into hell,[k](M) 48 where their worm never dies and the fire is never quenched.(N)

49 “For everyone will be salted with fire.[l](O) 50 Salt is good, but if salt has lost its saltiness, how can you season it?[m] Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”(P)

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Footnotes

  1. 9.38 Other ancient authorities add who does not follow us
  2. 9.42 Other ancient authorities lack in me
  3. 9.42 Or stumble
  4. 9.43 Or stumble
  5. 9.43 Gk Gehenna
  6. 9.43 Other ancient authorities add 9.44 and 9.46, which are identical to 9.48
  7. 9.45 Or stumble
  8. 9.45 Gk Gehenna
  9. 9.45 Other ancient authorities add 9.44 and 9.46, which are identical to 9.48
  10. 9.47 Or stumble
  11. 9.47 Gk Gehenna
  12. 9.49 Other ancient authorities add or substitute and every sacrifice will be salted with salt
  13. 9.50 Or how can you restore its saltiness?

Jesus Predicts His Death a Second Time(A)

30 They left that place and passed through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know where they were, 31 because he was teaching his disciples. He said to them, “The Son of Man(B) is going to be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill him,(C) and after three days(D) he will rise.”(E) 32 But they did not understand what he meant(F) and were afraid to ask him about it.

33 They came to Capernaum.(G) When he was in the house,(H) he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the road?” 34 But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest.(I)

35 Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.”(J)

36 He took a little child whom he placed among them. Taking the child in his arms,(K) he said to them, 37 “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.”(L)

Whoever Is Not Against Us Is for Us(M)

38 “Teacher,” said John, “we saw someone driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us.”(N)

39 “Do not stop him,” Jesus said. “For no one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, 40 for whoever is not against us is for us.(O) 41 Truly I tell you, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to the Messiah will certainly not lose their reward.(P)

Causing to Stumble

42 “If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble,(Q) it would be better for them if a large millstone were hung around their neck and they were thrown into the sea.(R) 43 If your hand causes you to stumble,(S) cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell,(T) where the fire never goes out.(U) [44] [a] 45 And if your foot causes you to stumble,(V) cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into hell.(W) [46] [b] 47 And if your eye causes you to stumble,(X) pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell,(Y) 48 where

“‘the worms that eat them do not die,
    and the fire is not quenched.’[c](Z)

49 Everyone will be salted(AA) with fire.

50 “Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again?(AB) Have salt among yourselves,(AC) and be at peace with each other.”(AD)

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Footnotes

  1. Mark 9:44 Some manuscripts include here the words of verse 48.
  2. Mark 9:46 Some manuscripts include here the words of verse 48.
  3. Mark 9:48 Isaiah 66:24