Job 33:31-34:4
New English Translation
31 Pay attention, Job—listen to me;
be silent, and I will speak.
32 If you have any words,[a] reply to me;
speak, for I want to justify you.[b]
33 If not, you listen to me;
be silent, and I will teach you wisdom.”
Elihu’s Second Speech[c]
34 Elihu answered:
2 “Listen to my words, you wise men;
hear[d] me, you learned men.[e]
3 For the ear assesses[f] words
as the mouth[g] tastes food.
4 Let us evaluate[h] for ourselves what is right;[i]
let us come to know among ourselves what is good.
Footnotes
- Job 33:32 tn Heb “if there are words.”
- Job 33:32 tn The infinitive construct serves as the complement or object of “I desire.” It could be rendered “to justify you” or “your justification,” namely, “that you be justified.”
- Job 34:1 sn This speech of Elihu focuses on defending God. It can be divided into these sections: Job is irreligious (2-9), God is just (10-15), God is impartial and omniscient (16-30), Job is foolish to rebel (31-37).
- Job 34:2 tn Heb “give ear to me.”
- Job 34:2 tn The Hebrew word means “the men who know,” and without a complement it means “to possess knowledge.”
- Job 34:3 tn Or “examines; tests; tries; discerns.”
- Job 34:3 tn Or “palate”; the Hebrew term refers to the tongue or to the mouth in general.
- Job 34:4 sn Elihu means “choose after careful examination.”
- Job 34:4 tn The word is מִשְׁפָּט (mishpat) again, with the sense of what is right or just.
Job 33:31-34:4
International Standard Version
Elihu Invites Job to Respond
31 “Job, pay attention! Listen to me!
Be silent and let me speak.
32 If you have anything to say, answer me;
speak up, because I’d be happy to vindicate you.
33 But if you have nothing to say, then at least listen to me!
Be quiet and learn some wisdom from me.”
Elihu Continues Speaking
34 Elihu continued speaking, and said:
2 “Listen to what I have to say, you wise men!
Pay attention to me, you educated people!
3 Since the ear tests words
like a palate tastes food,
4 let’s choose what’s right for us.
Let’s consider among ourselves what is good.”
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