Elihu Sharply Rebukes Job

35 Then Elihu continued and said,

“Do you think this is in accordance with (A)justice?
Do you say, ‘My righteousness is more than God’s’?
For you say, ‘(B)What advantage will it be to [a]You?
(C)What benefit will I have, more than if I had sinned?’
I will answer you,
And your friends with you.
(D)Look at the heavens and see;
And look at (E)the clouds—they are higher than you.
If you have sinned, (F)what do you accomplish against Him?
And if your wrongdoings are many, what do you do to Him?
If you are righteous, (G)what do you give to Him,
Or what does He receive from your hand?
Your wickedness is for a man like yourself,
And your righteousness is for a son of man.

“Because of the (H)multitude of oppressions they cry out;
They cry for help because of the arm (I)of the mighty.
10 But (J)no one says, ‘Where is God my Maker,
Who (K)gives songs in the night,
11 Who (L)teaches us more than the animals of the earth
And makes us wiser than the birds of the sky?’
12 There (M)they cry out, but He does not answer
Because of the pride of evil people.
13 (N)God certainly will not listen to [b]an empty cry,
Nor will the Almighty regard it.
14 How much less when (O)you say you do not look at Him,
The (P)case is before Him, and you must wait for Him!
15 And now, because He has not avenged His anger,
Nor has He acknowledged [c]wrongdoing well,
16 So Job opens his mouth with empty words;
He multiplies words (Q)without knowledge.”

Elihu Speaks of God’s Dealings with Mankind

36 Then Elihu continued and said,

“Wait for me a little, and I will show you
That there [d]is still more to be said on God’s behalf.
I will bring my knowledge from afar,
And ascribe (R)righteousness to my Maker.
For truly (S)my words are not false;
One who is (T)perfect in knowledge is with you.
Behold, God is mighty but does not (U)reject anyone;
He is (V)mighty in strength of understanding.
He does not (W)keep the wicked alive,
But gives justice to (X)the afflicted.
He does not (Y)withdraw His eyes from the righteous,
But (Z)with kings on the throne
He has seated them forever, and they are exalted.
And if they are bound in shackles,
And are caught in the snares of (AA)misery,
Then He declares to them their work
And their wrongdoings, that they have (AB)been arrogant.
10 (AC)He opens their ears to instruction,
And (AD)commands that they return from injustice.
11 If they listen and serve Him,
They will (AE)end their days in prosperity,
And their years in (AF)happiness.
12 But if they do not listen, they will [e]perish (AG)by the sword,
And (AH)die without knowledge.
13 But the godless in heart nurture anger;
They do not call for help when He binds them.
14 [f]They die in youth,
And their life perishes among the (AI)cult prostitutes.
15 He rescues the afflicted in [g]their (AJ)misery,
And (AK)opens their ears in time of oppression.
16 Then indeed, He induced you away from the mouth of distress,
And instead of it, a broad place with no constraint;
And your table was full of [h]rich food.

17 “But you were full of (AL)judgment on the wicked;
Judgment and justice take hold of you.
18 Beware that (AM)wrath does not entice you to mockery;
And do not let the greatness of the (AN)ransom turn you aside.
19 Will your cry for help keep you from distress,
Or all the exertions of your strength?
20 Do not long for (AO)the night,
When people [i]vanish in their places.
21 Be careful, do (AP)not turn to evil,
For you preferred this to (AQ)misery.
22 Behold, God is exalted in His power;
Who is a (AR)teacher like Him?
23 Who has appointed Him His way,
And who has said, ‘(AS)You have done wrong’?

24 “Remember that you are to (AT)exalt His work,
Of which people have (AU)sung.
25 All people have seen it;
Mankind looks at it from afar.
26 Behold, God is (AV)exalted, and (AW)we do not know Him;
The (AX)number of His years is unsearchable.
27 For (AY)He draws up the drops of water;
They distill rain from its [j]celestial stream,
28 Which clouds pour down;
They drip upon mankind abundantly.
29 Can anyone understand the (AZ)spreading of the clouds,
The (BA)thundering of His [k]pavilion?
30 Behold, He spreads His [l]lightning about Him,
And He covers the depths of the sea.
31 For by them He (BB)judges peoples;
He (BC)gives food in abundance.
32 He covers His hands with the [m]lightning,
And (BD)commands it to strike the target.
33 Its (BE)thundering voice declares [n]His presence;
The livestock also, concerning what is coming up.

Footnotes

  1. Job 35:3 Or me
  2. Job 35:13 Or falsehood
  3. Job 35:15 Or arrogance
  4. Job 36:2 Lit are yet words for God
  5. Job 36:12 Lit pass away
  6. Job 36:14 Lit Their soul dies
  7. Job 36:15 Lit his
  8. Job 36:16 Or fatness
  9. Job 36:20 Lit go up
  10. Job 36:27 Or mist
  11. Job 36:29 Lit booth
  12. Job 36:30 Lit light
  13. Job 36:32 Lit light
  14. Job 36:33 Lit concerning Him

35 Then Elihu said:

“Do you think this is just?
    You say, ‘I am in the right,(A) not God.’(B)
Yet you ask him, ‘What profit is it to me,[a]
    and what do I gain by not sinning?’(C)

“I would like to reply to you
    and to your friends with you.
Look up at the heavens(D) and see;
    gaze at the clouds so high above you.(E)
If you sin, how does that affect him?
    If your sins are many, what does that do to him?(F)
If you are righteous, what do you give to him,(G)
    or what does he receive(H) from your hand?(I)
Your wickedness only affects humans like yourself,(J)
    and your righteousness only other people.(K)

“People cry out(L) under a load of oppression;(M)
    they plead for relief from the arm of the powerful.(N)
10 But no one says, ‘Where is God my Maker,(O)
    who gives songs(P) in the night,(Q)
11 who teaches(R) us(S) more than he teaches[b] the beasts of the earth
    and makes us wiser than[c] the birds in the sky?’
12 He does not answer(T) when people cry out
    because of the arrogance(U) of the wicked.(V)
13 Indeed, God does not listen to their empty plea;
    the Almighty pays no attention to it.(W)
14 How much less, then, will he listen
    when you say that you do not see him,(X)
that your case(Y) is before him
    and you must wait for him,(Z)
15 and further, that his anger never punishes(AA)
    and he does not take the least notice of wickedness.[d](AB)
16 So Job opens his mouth with empty talk;(AC)
    without knowledge he multiplies words.”(AD)

36 Elihu continued:

“Bear with me a little longer and I will show you
    that there is more to be said in God’s behalf.
I get my knowledge from afar;(AE)
    I will ascribe justice to my Maker.(AF)
Be assured that my words are not false;(AG)
    one who has perfect knowledge(AH) is with you.(AI)

“God is mighty,(AJ) but despises no one;(AK)
    he is mighty, and firm in his purpose.(AL)
He does not keep the wicked alive(AM)
    but gives the afflicted their rights.(AN)
He does not take his eyes off the righteous;(AO)
    he enthrones them with kings(AP)
    and exalts them forever.(AQ)
But if people are bound in chains,(AR)
    held fast by cords of affliction,(AS)
he tells them what they have done—
    that they have sinned arrogantly.(AT)
10 He makes them listen(AU) to correction(AV)
    and commands them to repent of their evil.(AW)
11 If they obey and serve him,(AX)
    they will spend the rest of their days in prosperity(AY)
    and their years in contentment.(AZ)
12 But if they do not listen,
    they will perish by the sword[e](BA)
    and die without knowledge.(BB)

13 “The godless in heart(BC) harbor resentment;(BD)
    even when he fetters them, they do not cry for help.(BE)
14 They die in their youth,(BF)
    among male prostitutes of the shrines.(BG)
15 But those who suffer(BH) he delivers in their suffering;(BI)
    he speaks(BJ) to them in their affliction.(BK)

16 “He is wooing(BL) you from the jaws of distress
    to a spacious place(BM) free from restriction,(BN)
    to the comfort of your table(BO) laden with choice food.(BP)
17 But now you are laden with the judgment due the wicked;(BQ)
    judgment and justice have taken hold of you.(BR)
18 Be careful that no one entices you by riches;
    do not let a large bribe(BS) turn you aside.(BT)
19 Would your wealth(BU) or even all your mighty efforts
    sustain you so you would not be in distress?
20 Do not long for the night,(BV)
    to drag people away from their homes.[f]
21 Beware of turning to evil,(BW)
    which you seem to prefer to affliction.(BX)

22 “God is exalted in his power.(BY)
    Who is a teacher like him?(BZ)
23 Who has prescribed his ways(CA) for him,(CB)
    or said to him, ‘You have done wrong’?(CC)
24 Remember to extol his work,(CD)
    which people have praised in song.(CE)
25 All humanity has seen it;(CF)
    mortals gaze on it from afar.
26 How great is God—beyond our understanding!(CG)
    The number of his years is past finding out.(CH)

27 “He draws up the drops of water,(CI)
    which distill as rain to the streams[g];(CJ)
28 the clouds pour down their moisture
    and abundant showers(CK) fall on mankind.(CL)
29 Who can understand how he spreads out the clouds,
    how he thunders(CM) from his pavilion?(CN)
30 See how he scatters his lightning(CO) about him,
    bathing the depths of the sea.(CP)
31 This is the way he governs[h] the nations(CQ)
    and provides food(CR) in abundance.(CS)
32 He fills his hands with lightning
    and commands it to strike its mark.(CT)
33 His thunder announces the coming storm;(CU)
    even the cattle make known its approach.[i](CV)

Footnotes

  1. Job 35:3 Or you
  2. Job 35:11 Or night, / 11 who teaches us by
  3. Job 35:11 Or us wise by
  4. Job 35:15 Symmachus, Theodotion and Vulgate; the meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain.
  5. Job 36:12 Or will cross the river
  6. Job 36:20 The meaning of the Hebrew for verses 18-20 is uncertain.
  7. Job 36:27 Or distill from the mist as rain
  8. Job 36:31 Or nourishes
  9. Job 36:33 Or announces his coming— / the One zealous against evil

10 Listen, my son, and (A)accept my sayings,
And the (B)years of your life will be many.
11 I have (C)instructed you in the way of wisdom;
I have led you in upright paths.
12 When you walk, your (D)steps will not be hampered;
And if you run, you (E)will not stumble.
13 (F)Take hold of instruction; do not let go.
Guard her, for she is your (G)life.
14 (H)Do not enter the path of the wicked
And do not proceed in the way of evil people.
15 Avoid it, do not pass by it;
Turn away from it and pass on.
16 For they (I)cannot sleep unless they do evil;
And [a]they are robbed of sleep unless they make someone stumble.
17 For they (J)eat the bread of wickedness,
And drink the wine of violence.
18 But the (K)path of the righteous is like the (L)light of dawn
That (M)shines brighter and brighter until the (N)full day.
19 The (O)way of the wicked is like darkness;
They do not know over what they [b](P)stumble.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 4:16 Lit their sleep is robbed
  2. Proverbs 4:19 Or may stumble

10 Listen, my son,(A) accept what I say,
    and the years of your life will be many.(B)
11 I instruct(C) you in the way of wisdom
    and lead you along straight paths.(D)
12 When you walk, your steps will not be hampered;
    when you run, you will not stumble.(E)
13 Hold on to instruction, do not let it go;
    guard it well, for it is your life.(F)
14 Do not set foot on the path of the wicked
    or walk in the way of evildoers.(G)
15 Avoid it, do not travel on it;
    turn from it and go on your way.
16 For they cannot rest until they do evil;(H)
    they are robbed of sleep till they make someone stumble.
17 They eat the bread of wickedness
    and drink the wine of violence.(I)

18 The path of the righteous(J) is like the morning sun,(K)
    shining ever brighter till the full light of day.(L)
19 But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness;(M)
    they do not know what makes them stumble.(N)

Read full chapter

John’s Questions

11 (A)When Jesus had finished [a]giving instructions to His twelve disciples, He went on from there (B)to teach and [b]preach in their cities.

(C)Now while in prison, (D)John heard about the works of Christ, and he sent word by his disciples, and said to Him, “Are You (E)the Coming One, or are we to [c]look for someone else?” Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and report to John what you hear and see: (F)those who are blind receive sight and those who limp walk, those with leprosy are cleansed and those who are deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the (G)poor have the [d]gospel preached to them. And blessed is [e]any person who (H)does not [f]take offense at Me.”

Jesus’ Tribute to John

As these disciples of John were going away, Jesus began speaking to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into (I)the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? [g]But what did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ [h]palaces! [i]But what did you go out to see? (J)A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and one who is more than a prophet. 10 This is the one about whom it [j]is written:

(K)Behold, I am sending My messenger [k]ahead of You,
Who will prepare Your way before You.’

11 Truly I say to you, among those born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptist! Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12 And (L)from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has been treated violently, and violent men take it by force. 13 For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John. 14 And if you are willing to accept it, John himself is (M)Elijah who [l]was to come. 15 (N)The one who has ears to hear, [m]let him hear.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Matthew 11:1 Or commanding
  2. Matthew 11:1 Or proclaim
  3. Matthew 11:3 Or wait for
  4. Matthew 11:5 Or good news
  5. Matthew 11:6 Lit whoever
  6. Matthew 11:6 Or stumble over Me
  7. Matthew 11:8 Or Well then,
  8. Matthew 11:8 Lit houses
  9. Matthew 11:9 Or Well then,
  10. Matthew 11:10 Lit has been written
  11. Matthew 11:10 Lit before Your face
  12. Matthew 11:14 Or is going to come
  13. Matthew 11:15 Or hear! Or listen!

Jesus and John the Baptist(A)

11 After Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples,(B) he went on from there to teach and preach in the towns of Galilee.[a]

When John,(C) who was in prison,(D) heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples to ask him, “Are you the one who is to come,(E) or should we expect someone else?”

Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy[b] are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor.(F) Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.”(G)

As John’s(H) disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness(I) to see? A reed swayed by the wind? If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear fine clothes are in kings’ palaces. Then what did you go out to see? A prophet?(J) Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 10 This is the one about whom it is written:

“‘I will send my messenger ahead of you,(K)
    who will prepare your way before you.’[c](L)

11 Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12 From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been subjected to violence,[d] and violent people have been raiding it. 13 For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John.(M) 14 And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come.(N) 15 Whoever has ears, let them hear.(O)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Matthew 11:1 Greek in their towns
  2. Matthew 11:5 The Greek word traditionally translated leprosy was used for various diseases affecting the skin.
  3. Matthew 11:10 Mal. 3:1
  4. Matthew 11:12 Or been forcefully advancing