Elihu Asserts God's Justice

34 Then Elihu answered and said:

“Hear my words, you wise men,
    and give ear to me, you who know;
for (A)the ear tests words
    as the palate tastes food.
Let us choose (B)what is right;
    let us know among ourselves what is good.
For Job has said, ‘I am (C)in the right,
    and (D)God has taken away my right;
in spite of my right I am counted a liar;
    my wound is incurable, though I am (E)without transgression.’
What man is like Job,
    who (F)drinks up scoffing like water,
who travels in company with evildoers
    and walks (G)with wicked men?
For (H)he has said, ‘It profits a man nothing
    that he should take delight in God.’

10 “Therefore, hear me, you men of understanding:
    far be it from God that he should (I)do wickedness,
    and from the Almighty that he should do wrong.
11 For according to (J)the work of a man he will repay him,
    and (K)according to his ways he will make it befall him.
12 Of a truth, God will not do wickedly,
    and (L)the Almighty will not pervert justice.
13 Who gave him charge over the earth,
    and who (M)laid on him[a] the whole world?
14 If he should (N)set his heart to it
    and (O)gather to himself his (P)spirit and his breath,
15 all flesh would perish together,
    and man would (Q)return to dust.

16 “If you have understanding, hear this;
    listen to what I say.
17 (R)Shall one who hates justice govern?
    Will you condemn him who is righteous and mighty,
18 who (S)says to a king, ‘Worthless one,’
    and to nobles, ‘Wicked man,’
19 who (T)shows no partiality to princes,
    nor regards the rich (U)more than the poor,
    for (V)they are all the work of his hands?
20 In a moment (W)they die;
    at (X)midnight the people are shaken and pass away,
    and the mighty are taken away by (Y)no human hand.

21 “For his eyes are on (Z)the ways of a man,
    and he sees all his (AA)steps.
22 There is no (AB)gloom or (AC)deep darkness
    where evildoers may hide themselves.
23 For God[b] has no need to consider a man further,
    that he should go before God in (AD)judgment.
24 He (AE)shatters the mighty without investigation
    and sets (AF)others in their place.
25 Thus, knowing their works,
    he (AG)overturns them in the night, and they are crushed.
26 He strikes them for their wickedness
    in a place for all to see,
27 because they turned aside from (AH)following him
    and had no regard for any of his ways,
28 so that they (AI)caused the cry of the poor to come to him,
    and he (AJ)heard the cry of the afflicted—
29 When he is quiet, who can condemn?
    When he hides his face, who can behold him,
    whether it be a nation or a man?—
30 that a godless man should not reign,
    that he should not ensnare the people.

31 “For has anyone said to God,
    ‘I have borne punishment; I will not offend any more;
32 (AK)teach me what I do not see;
    if I have done iniquity, I will do it no more’?
33 Will he then make repayment to suit you,
    because you reject it?
For you must choose, and not I;
    therefore (AL)declare what you know.[c]
34 Men of understanding will say to me,
    and the wise man who hears me will say:
35 ‘Job (AM)speaks without knowledge;
    his words are without insight.’
36 Would that Job were tried to the end,
    because he answers like wicked men.
37 For he adds rebellion to his sin;
    he (AN)claps his hands among us
    and multiplies his words against God.”

Footnotes

  1. Job 34:13 Hebrew lacks on him
  2. Job 34:23 Hebrew he
  3. Job 34:33 The meaning of the Hebrew in verses 29–33 is uncertain

34 Then Elihu said:

“Hear my words, you wise men;
    listen to me,(A) you men of learning.
For the ear tests words
    as the tongue tastes food.(B)
Let us discern for ourselves what is right;(C)
    let us learn together what is good.(D)

“Job says, ‘I am innocent,(E)
    but God denies me justice.(F)
Although I am right,
    I am considered a liar;(G)
although I am guiltless,(H)
    his arrow inflicts an incurable wound.’(I)
Is there anyone like Job,
    who drinks scorn like water?(J)
He keeps company with evildoers;
    he associates with the wicked.(K)
For he says, ‘There is no profit
    in trying to please God.’(L)

10 “So listen to me,(M) you men of understanding.(N)
    Far be it from God to do evil,(O)
    from the Almighty to do wrong.(P)
11 He repays everyone for what they have done;(Q)
    he brings on them what their conduct deserves.(R)
12 It is unthinkable that God would do wrong,(S)
    that the Almighty would pervert justice.(T)
13 Who appointed(U) him over the earth?
    Who put him in charge of the whole world?(V)
14 If it were his intention
    and he withdrew his spirit[a](W) and breath,(X)
15 all humanity would perish(Y) together
    and mankind would return to the dust.(Z)

16 “If you have understanding,(AA) hear this;
    listen to what I say.(AB)
17 Can someone who hates justice govern?(AC)
    Will you condemn the just and mighty One?(AD)
18 Is he not the One who says to kings, ‘You are worthless,’
    and to nobles,(AE) ‘You are wicked,’(AF)
19 who shows no partiality(AG) to princes
    and does not favor the rich over the poor,(AH)
    for they are all the work of his hands?(AI)
20 They die in an instant, in the middle of the night;(AJ)
    the people are shaken and they pass away;
    the mighty are removed without human hand.(AK)

21 “His eyes are on the ways of mortals;(AL)
    he sees their every step.(AM)
22 There is no deep shadow,(AN) no utter darkness,(AO)
    where evildoers can hide.(AP)
23 God has no need to examine people further,(AQ)
    that they should come before him for judgment.(AR)
24 Without inquiry he shatters(AS) the mighty(AT)
    and sets up others in their place.(AU)
25 Because he takes note of their deeds,(AV)
    he overthrows them in the night(AW) and they are crushed.(AX)
26 He punishes them for their wickedness(AY)
    where everyone can see them,
27 because they turned from following him(AZ)
    and had no regard for any of his ways.(BA)
28 They caused the cry of the poor to come before him,
    so that he heard the cry of the needy.(BB)
29 But if he remains silent,(BC) who can condemn him?(BD)
    If he hides his face,(BE) who can see him?
Yet he is over individual and nation alike,(BF)
30     to keep the godless(BG) from ruling,(BH)
    from laying snares for the people.(BI)

31 “Suppose someone says to God,
    ‘I am guilty(BJ) but will offend no more.
32 Teach me what I cannot see;(BK)
    if I have done wrong, I will not do so again.’(BL)
33 Should God then reward you on your terms,
    when you refuse to repent?(BM)
You must decide, not I;
    so tell me what you know.

34 “Men of understanding declare,
    wise men who hear me say to me,
35 ‘Job speaks without knowledge;(BN)
    his words lack insight.’(BO)
36 Oh, that Job might be tested to the utmost
    for answering like a wicked man!(BP)
37 To his sin he adds rebellion;
    scornfully he claps his hands(BQ) among us
    and multiplies his words(BR) against God.”(BS)

Footnotes

  1. Job 34:14 Or Spirit

The Ministry of Apostles

This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and (A)stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful. But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. (B)For I am not aware of anything against myself, (C)but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me. Therefore (D)do not pronounce judgment before the time, (E)before the Lord comes, (F)who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. (G)Then each one will receive his commendation from God.

I have applied all these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, brothers,[a] that you may learn by us not to go beyond what is written, that none of you may (H)be puffed up in favor of one against another. For who sees anything different in you? (I)What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?

Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich! Without us you have become kings! And would that you did reign, so that we might share the rule with you! For I think that God has exhibited us apostles as last of all, (J)like men sentenced to death, because we (K)have become a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men. 10 (L)We are fools for Christ's sake, but (M)you are wise in Christ. (N)We are weak, but you are strong. You are held in honor, but we in disrepute. 11 To the present hour (O)we hunger and thirst, we are poorly dressed and (P)buffeted and (Q)homeless, 12 and we (R)labor, working with our own hands. (S)When reviled, we bless; (T)when persecuted, we endure; 13 when slandered, we entreat. (U)We have become, and are still, like the scum of the world, (V)the refuse of all things.

14 I do not write these things (W)to make you ashamed, but to admonish you (X)as my beloved children. 15 For (Y)though you have countless[b] guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For (Z)I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel. 16 I urge you, then, (AA)be imitators of me. 17 That is why (AB)I sent[c] you Timothy, (AC)my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, to remind you of my ways in Christ,[d] (AD)as I teach them everywhere in every church. 18 Some are (AE)arrogant, (AF)as though I were not coming to you. 19 But (AG)I will come to you soon, if the Lord wills, and I will find out not the talk of these arrogant people but their power. 20 For (AH)the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power. 21 What do you wish? (AI)Shall I come to you with a rod, or with love in a spirit of gentleness?

Sexual Immorality Defiles the Church

It is actually reported that there is (AJ)sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is not tolerated even among pagans, (AK)for a man has his father's wife. And (AL)you are arrogant! Ought you (AM)not rather to mourn? Let him who has done this be removed from among you.

For though (AN)absent in body, I am present in spirit; and as if present, I have already pronounced judgment on the one who did such a thing. When you are assembled (AO)in the name of the Lord Jesus and my spirit is present, with the power of our Lord Jesus, you are (AP)to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so (AQ)that his spirit may be saved (AR)in the day of the Lord.[e]

(AS)Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that (AT)a little leaven leavens the whole lump? Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. Let us therefore celebrate the festival, (AU)not with the old leaven, (AV)the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

I wrote to you in my letter (AW)not to associate with sexually immoral people— 10 (AX)not at all meaning (AY)the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, (AZ)since then you would need to go out of the world. 11 But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone (BA)who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one. 12 For what have I to do with judging (BB)outsiders? (BC)Is it not those inside the church[f] whom you are to judge? 13 God judges[g] those outside. (BD)“Purge the evil person from among you.”

Lawsuits Against Believers

When one of you has a grievance against another, does he dare go to law before the unrighteous (BE)instead of the saints? Or do you not know that (BF)the saints will judge the world? And if the world is to be judged by you, are you incompetent to try trivial cases? Do you not know that we are to judge angels? How much more, then, matters pertaining to this life! So if you have such cases, (BG)why do you lay them before those who have no standing in the church? (BH)I say this to your shame. Can it be that there is no one among you wise enough to settle a dispute between the brothers, but brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers? To have lawsuits at all with one another is already a defeat for you. (BI)Why not rather suffer wrong? Why not rather be defrauded? But you yourselves wrong and defraud—even (BJ)your own brothers![h]

Or do you not know that the unrighteous[i] will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: (BK)neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality,[j] 10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And (BL)such were some of you. But (BM)you were washed, (BN)you were sanctified, (BO)you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

Flee Sexual Immorality

12 (BP)“All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be dominated by anything. 13 (BQ)“Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food”—and God will destroy both one (BR)and the other. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but (BS)for the Lord, and (BT)the Lord for the body. 14 And (BU)God raised the Lord and (BV)will also raise us up (BW)by his power. 15 Do you not know that (BX)your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never! 16 Or do you not know that he who is joined[k] to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For, as it is written, (BY)“The two will become one flesh.” 17 But he who is joined to the Lord (BZ)becomes one spirit with him. 18 (CA)Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin[l] a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person (CB)sins against his own body. 19 Or (CC)do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? (CD)You are not your own, 20 (CE)for you were bought with a price. (CF)So glorify God in your body.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 4:6 Or brothers and sisters
  2. 1 Corinthians 4:15 Greek you have ten thousand
  3. 1 Corinthians 4:17 Or am sending
  4. 1 Corinthians 4:17 Some manuscripts add Jesus
  5. 1 Corinthians 5:5 Some manuscripts add Jesus
  6. 1 Corinthians 5:12 Greek those inside
  7. 1 Corinthians 5:13 Or will judge
  8. 1 Corinthians 6:8 Or brothers and sisters
  9. 1 Corinthians 6:9 Or wrongdoers
  10. 1 Corinthians 6:9 The two Greek terms translated by this phrase refer to the passive and active partners in consensual homosexual acts
  11. 1 Corinthians 6:16 Or who holds fast (compare Genesis 2:24 and Deuteronomy 10:20); also verse 17
  12. 1 Corinthians 6:18 Or Every sin

The Nature of True Apostleship

This, then, is how you ought to regard us: as servants(A) of Christ and as those entrusted(B) with the mysteries(C) God has revealed. Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful. I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself. My conscience(D) is clear, but that does not make me innocent.(E) It is the Lord who judges me.(F) Therefore judge nothing(G) before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes.(H) He will bring to light(I) what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart. At that time each will receive their praise from God.(J)

Now, brothers and sisters, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us the meaning of the saying, “Do not go beyond what is written.”(K) Then you will not be puffed up in being a follower of one of us over against the other.(L) For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive?(M) And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?

Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich!(N) You have begun to reign—and that without us! How I wish that you really had begun to reign so that we also might reign with you! For it seems to me that God has put us apostles on display at the end of the procession, like those condemned to die(O) in the arena. We have been made a spectacle(P) to the whole universe, to angels as well as to human beings. 10 We are fools for Christ,(Q) but you are so wise in Christ!(R) We are weak, but you are strong!(S) You are honored, we are dishonored! 11 To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally treated, we are homeless.(T) 12 We work hard with our own hands.(U) When we are cursed, we bless;(V) when we are persecuted,(W) we endure it; 13 when we are slandered, we answer kindly. We have become the scum of the earth, the garbage(X) of the world—right up to this moment.

Paul’s Appeal and Warning

14 I am writing this not to shame you(Y) but to warn you as my dear children.(Z) 15 Even if you had ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father(AA) through the gospel.(AB) 16 Therefore I urge you to imitate me.(AC) 17 For this reason I have sent to you(AD) Timothy,(AE) my son(AF) whom I love, who is faithful in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which agrees with what I teach everywhere in every church.(AG)

18 Some of you have become arrogant,(AH) as if I were not coming to you.(AI) 19 But I will come to you very soon,(AJ) if the Lord is willing,(AK) and then I will find out not only how these arrogant people are talking, but what power they have. 20 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of(AL) talk but of power.(AM) 21 What do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a rod of discipline,(AN) or shall I come in love and with a gentle spirit?

Dealing With a Case of Incest

It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that even pagans do not tolerate: A man is sleeping with his father’s wife.(AO) And you are proud! Shouldn’t you rather have gone into mourning(AP) and have put out of your fellowship(AQ) the man who has been doing this? For my part, even though I am not physically present, I am with you in spirit.(AR) As one who is present with you in this way, I have already passed judgment in the name of our Lord Jesus(AS) on the one who has been doing this. So when you are assembled and I am with you in spirit, and the power of our Lord Jesus is present, hand this man over(AT) to Satan(AU) for the destruction of the flesh,[a][b] so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord.(AV)

Your boasting is not good.(AW) Don’t you know that a little yeast(AX) leavens the whole batch of dough?(AY) Get rid of the old yeast, so that you may be a new unleavened batch—as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.(AZ) Therefore let us keep the Festival, not with the old bread leavened with malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread(BA) of sincerity and truth.

I wrote to you in my letter not to associate(BB) with sexually immoral people— 10 not at all meaning the people of this world(BC) who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. 11 But now I am writing to you that you must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister[c](BD) but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater(BE) or slanderer, a drunkard or swindler. Do not even eat with such people.(BF)

12 What business is it of mine to judge those outside(BG) the church? Are you not to judge those inside?(BH) 13 God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked person from among you.”[d](BI)

Lawsuits Among Believers

If any of you has a dispute with another, do you dare to take it before the ungodly for judgment instead of before the Lord’s people?(BJ) Or do you not know that the Lord’s people will judge the world?(BK) And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases? Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more the things of this life! Therefore, if you have disputes about such matters, do you ask for a ruling from those whose way of life is scorned in the church? I say this to shame you.(BL) Is it possible that there is nobody among you wise enough to judge a dispute between believers?(BM) But instead, one brother(BN) takes another to court—and this in front of unbelievers!(BO)

The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means you have been completely defeated already. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated?(BP) Instead, you yourselves cheat and do wrong, and you do this to your brothers and sisters.(BQ) Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God?(BR) Do not be deceived:(BS) Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers(BT) nor men who have sex with men[e](BU) 10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers(BV) will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And that is what some of you were.(BW) But you were washed,(BX) you were sanctified,(BY) you were justified(BZ) in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

Sexual Immorality

12 “I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial.(CA) “I have the right to do anything”—but I will not be mastered by anything. 13 You say, “Food for the stomach and the stomach for food, and God will destroy them both.”(CB) The body, however, is not meant for sexual immorality but for the Lord,(CC) and the Lord for the body. 14 By his power God raised the Lord from the dead,(CD) and he will raise us also.(CE) 15 Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself?(CF) Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never! 16 Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, “The two will become one flesh.”[f](CG) 17 But whoever is united with the Lord is one with him in spirit.[g](CH)

18 Flee from sexual immorality.(CI) All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body.(CJ) 19 Do you not know that your bodies are temples(CK) of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;(CL) 20 you were bought at a price.(CM) Therefore honor God with your bodies.(CN)

Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 5:5 In contexts like this, the Greek word for flesh (sarx) refers to the sinful state of human beings, often presented as a power in opposition to the Spirit.
  2. 1 Corinthians 5:5 Or of his body
  3. 1 Corinthians 5:11 The Greek word for brother or sister (adelphos) refers here to a believer, whether man or woman, as part of God’s family; also in 8:11, 13.
  4. 1 Corinthians 5:13 Deut. 13:5; 17:7; 19:19; 21:21; 22:21,24; 24:7
  5. 1 Corinthians 6:9 The words men who have sex with men translate two Greek words that refer to the passive and active participants in homosexual acts.
  6. 1 Corinthians 6:16 Gen. 2:24
  7. 1 Corinthians 6:17 Or in the Spirit