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33 “However, Job, please hear my speech,
    and listen to all my words.
See now, I have opened my mouth.
    My tongue has spoken in my mouth.
My words will utter the uprightness of my heart.
    That which my lips know they will speak sincerely.
The Spirit of God has made me,
    and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.
If you can, answer me.
    Set your words in order before me, and stand up.
Behold, I am toward God even as you are.
    I am also formed out of the clay.
Behold, my terror will not make you afraid,
    neither will my pressure be heavy on you.

“Surely you have spoken in my hearing,
    I have heard the voice of your words, saying,
‘I am clean, without disobedience.
    I am innocent, neither is there iniquity in me.
10 Behold, he finds occasions against me.
    He counts me for his enemy.
11 He puts my feet in the stocks.
    He marks all my paths.’

12 “Behold, I will answer you. In this you are not just,
    for God is greater than man.
13 Why do you strive against him,
    because he doesn’t give account of any of his matters?
14 For God speaks once,
    yes twice, though man pays no attention.
15 In a dream, in a vision of the night,
    when deep sleep falls on men,
    in slumbering on the bed;
16 Then he opens the ears of men,
    and seals their instruction,
17 that he may withdraw man from his purpose,
    and hide pride from man.
18 He keeps back his soul from the pit,
    and his life from perishing by the sword.

19 “He is chastened also with pain on his bed,
    with continual strife in his bones,
20 so that his life abhors bread,
    and his soul dainty food.
21 His flesh is so consumed away that it can’t be seen.
    His bones that were not seen stick out.
22 Yes, his soul draws near to the pit,
    and his life to the destroyers.

23 “If there is beside him an angel,
    an interpreter, one among a thousand,
    to show to man what is right for him;
24 then God is gracious to him, and says,
    ‘Deliver him from going down to the pit,
    I have found a ransom.’
25 His flesh will be fresher 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.
    He restores to man his righteousness.
27 He sings before men, and says,
    ‘I have sinned, and perverted that which was right,
    and it didn’t profit me.
28 He has redeemed my soul from going into the pit.
    My life will see the light.’

29 “Behold, God does all these things,
    twice, yes three times, with a man,
30 to bring back his soul from the pit,
    that he may be enlightened with the light of the living.
31 Mark well, Job, and 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 not, listen to me.
    Hold your peace, and I will teach you wisdom.”

Elihu Claims to Speak for God

33 “However, please (A)hear my speech, Job,
And listen to all my words.
Behold now, I open my mouth,
My tongue in my [a]mouth speaks.
My words are from the integrity of my heart,
And my lips speak (B)knowledge sincerely.
The (C)Spirit of God has made me,
And the (D)breath of [b]the Almighty gives me life.
(E)Refute me if you can;
Line up against me, take your stand.
Behold, I belong to God, like you;
I too have been [c]formed out of the (F)clay.
Behold, (G)no fear of me should terrify you,
Nor should my pressure weigh heavily on you.

“You have in fact spoken [d]while I listened,
And I heard the sound of your words:
‘I am (H)pure, (I)without wrongdoing;
I am innocent and there (J)is no guilt in me.
10 Behold, He [e]invents [f]criticisms against me;
He (K)counts me as His enemy.
11 He (L)puts my feet in the stocks;
He watches all my paths.’
12 Behold, let me respond to you, (M)you are not right in this,
For God is greater than mankind.

13 “Why do you (N)complain to Him
That He does not give an account of all His doings?
14 Indeed (O)God speaks once,
Or twice, yet no one notices it.
15 In a (P)dream, a vision of the night,
When deep sleep falls on people,
While they slumber in their beds,
16 Then (Q)He opens the ears of people,
And horrifies them with warnings,
17 So that He may turn a person away from bad conduct,
And [g]keep a man from pride;
18 He (R)keeps his soul back from the pit,
And his life from perishing by the (S)spear.

19 A person is also rebuked by (T)pain in his bed,
And with constant complaint in his bones,
20 So that his life (U)loathes bread,
And his soul, food [h]that he should crave.
21 His (V)flesh wastes away from sight,
And his (W)bones, which were not seen, stick out.
22 Then (X)his soul comes near to the pit,
And his life to those who bring death.

23 “If there is an (Y)interceding angel for him,
One out of a thousand,
To remind a person of what is [i]right for him,
24 And he is gracious to him, and says,
‘Free him from (Z)going down to the pit,
I have found a (AA)ransom’;
25 Let his flesh become fresher than in youth,
Let him return to the days of his youthful vigor;
26 Then he will (AB)pray to God, and He will accept him,
So that (AC)he may see His face with joy,
And He will restore His righteousness to that person.
27 He will sing to people and say,
‘I (AD)have sinned and perverted what is right,
And it is not (AE)proper for me.
28 He has redeemed my soul from going to the pit,
And my life will (AF)see the light.’

29 “Behold, God does (AG)all these things for a man two or three times,
30 To (AH)bring back his soul from the pit,
So that he may be enlightened with the light of life.
31 Pay attention, Job, listen to me;
Keep silent, and let me speak.
32 Then if [j]you have anything to say, answer me;
Speak, for I would take pleasure in justifying you.
33 If not, (AI)listen to me;
Keep silent, and I will teach you wisdom.”

Footnotes

  1. Job 33:2 Lit palate
  2. Job 33:4 Heb Shaddai
  3. Job 33:6 Lit cut out of
  4. Job 33:8 Lit in my ears
  5. Job 33:10 Lit finds
  6. Job 33:10 Or complaints
  7. Job 33:17 Lit hide
  8. Job 33:20 Lit of craving
  9. Job 33:23 Lit his uprightness
  10. Job 33:32 Lit there are words