Beginning
32 So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he esteemed himself just.
2 Then the wrath of Elihu, the son of Barachel the [b]Buzite, of the family of Ram, was kindled. His wrath was kindled against Job, because he justified himself more than God.
3 Also, his anger was kindled against his three friends, because they could not find an answer, yet condemned Job.
4 (Now Elihu had waited until Job had spoken. For they were older than he.)
5 So when Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of the three men, his wrath was kindled.
6 Therefore, Elihu, the son of Barachel the Buzite, answered and said, “I am young in years, and you are ancient. Therefore, I doubted and was afraid to show you my opinion.
7 “I said, ‘The days shall speak. And the multitude of years shall teach wisdom.’
8 “Surely, there is a spirit in man. But the inspiration of the Almighty gives understanding.
9 “Men of many years may not be wise, nor might the aged understand judgment.
10 “Therefore, I say, hear me. I will show my opinion also.
11 “Behold, I waited upon your words, listened to your knowledge, while you sought out reasons.
12 “Yea, when I had considered you, lo, there were none of you that reproved Job, nor answered his words.
13 “Lest you would say, ‘We have found wisdom. God has cast him down, not man.’
14 “Still, he has not directed his words to me. Nor will I answer him by your words.”
15 “They, fearing, answered no more, but left off their talk.
16 “When I had waited (for they did not speak, but stood still and answered no more),
17 “I answered in my turn, and I showed my opinion.
18 “For I am full of matter. The spirit within me compels me.
19 “Behold, my belly is as the wine which has no vent, like the new bottles that burst.
20 “I will speak, so that I may take breath. I will open my lips and will answer.
21 “I will not, now, accept the person of any man, nor will I give titles to man.
22 “For I may not give titles, lest my Maker should take me away suddenly.”
33 “Therefore, Job, please hear my talk and listen to all my words.
2 “Behold, now, I have opened my mouth. My tongue has spoken in my mouth.
3 “My words are in the uprightness of my heart. And my lips shall speak pure knowledge.
4 “The Spirit of God has made me. And the breath of the Almighty has given me life.
5 “If you can give me an answer, prepare yourself. Stand before me.
6 “Behold, I am as your mouth before God. I am also formed from the clay.
7 “Behold, my terror shall not scare you, nor shall my hand be heavy upon you.
8 “Doubtless you have spoken in my ears, and I have heard the voice of your words.
9 “I am clean, without sin. I am innocent and there is no iniquity in me.
10 “Lo, He has found occasions against me, and counted me for His enemy.
11 “He has put my feet in the stocks, and looks narrowly to all my paths.
12 “Behold, in this you have not done right. I will answer you, for God is greater than man.
13 “Why do you strive against Him? For He does not give account of all His matters.
14 “For God speaks once or twice, and one does not see it.
15 “In dreams and visions of the night, when sleep falls upon men, and they sleep upon beds,
16 “then He opens the ears of men, even by their corrections which He had sealed,
17 “so that He might cause man to turn away from his enterprise, and that He might hide the pride of man,
18 “and keep back his soul from the pit, and that his life should not pass by the sword.
19 “He is also stricken with sorrow upon his bed, and the grief of his bones is great,
20 “so that his life causes him to abhor bread, and his soul desirable food.
21 “His flesh fails, so that it cannot be seen. And his bones, which were not seen, clatter.
22 “So his soul draws to the grave, and his life to the executioner.
23 “If there is a messenger with him, an interpreter, one of a thousand to declare to man his righteousness,
24 “then He will have mercy upon him, and will say, ‘Deliver him, so that he does not go down into the pit. For I have received a reconciliation.’
25 “Then shall his flesh be as fresh as a child’s, and shall return as in the days of his youth.
26 “He shall pray to God, and he will be favorable to Him, and he shall see His Face with joy. For He will render to man His righteousness.
27 “He looks upon men. And if one says, ‘I have sinned, and perverted righteousness, and it did not profit me,’
28 “He will deliver his soul from going into the pit. And his life shall see the light.
29 “Lo, all these things will God work twice or three times with a man,
30 “so that He may turn back his soul from the pit, to be illuminated in the light of the living.
31 “Mark well, O Job. Hear me! Keep silent, and I will speak.
32 “If there is something, answer me, and speak. For I desire to justify you.
33 “If you have nothing, hear me. Hold your tongue, and I will teach you wisdom.”
34 Moreover Elihu answered and said,
2 “Hear my words, you wise men. And listen to me, you who have knowledge.
3 “For the ear tests the words, as the mouth tastes food.
4 “Let us seek judgment among us. And let us know among ourselves what is good.
5 “For Job has said, ‘I am righteous, and God has taken away my judgment.
6 Should I lie regarding my right? My wound of the arrow is grievous, though without my sin.
7 “What man is like Job, who drinks scornfulness like water,
8 “who goes in the company of those who work iniquity, and walks with wicked men?
9 “For he has said, ‘It profits a man nothing that he should walk with God.’
10 “Therefore, listen to me, you men of wisdom. Far be it from God to do wickedness, or that there is iniquity in the Almighty.
11 “For He will render to man according to his work, and cause everyone to find it according to his way.
12 “And certainly God will not do wickedly. Nor will the Almighty pervert judgment.
13 “Whom has He appointed over the Earth besides Himself? Or who has made the whole world?
14 “If He sets His Heart upon it, and gathers to Himself His Spirit and His breath,
15 “all flesh shall perish together, and man shall return to dust.
16 “And if you have understanding, hear this. Listen to the voice of my words.
17 “Shall he who hates judgment, govern? And will you judge Him wicked Who is most just?
18 “Will you say to a king, ‘You are wicked,’ or to princes, ‘You are ungodly?’
19 “How much less to Him Who does not accept the persons of princes or regard the rich more than the poor? For they are all the work of His Hands.
20 “They shall die suddenly. And the people shall be troubled at midnight. And they shall pass forth and take away the mighty without power.
21 “For His Eyes are upon the ways of man, and He sees all his goings.
22 “There is no darkness or shadow of death, in which the workers of iniquity might be hidden.
23 “For He will not lay on man so much that he would enter into judgment with God.
24 “He shall break the mighty without seeking and shall set up others in their place.
25 “Therefore, He shall declare their works. He shall turn the night, and they shall be destroyed.
26 “He strikes them as wicked men, in the places of the seers,
27 “because they have turned back from Him, and would not consider all His ways,
28 “so that they have caused the voice of the poor to come to Him. And He has heard the cry of the afflicted.
29 “And when He gives quietness, who can make trouble? And when He hides His Face, who can behold Him, whether upon nations or upon a single man,
30 “so that the hypocrite does not reign and ensnare the people.
31 “Surely it is like God to say, ‘I have pardoned, I will not destroy.’
32 “So, if I do not see, teach me. If I have done wickedly, I will do no more.
33 “Yet, will He perform the thing through you simply because you have reproved it? You must choose, and not me. Therefore, say what you know.
34 “Let men of understanding tell me. And let a wise man listen to me.
35 “Job has not spoken of knowledge, nor were his words according to wisdom.
36 “I desire that Job may be tested to the utmost, because his answers are for wicked men!
37 “For he adds rebellion to his sin. He claps his hands among us and multiplies his words against God.”
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