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Elihu Speaks: Job’s Three Friends Rebuked
32 So these three men ceased answering Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. 2 Then the wrath of Elihu the son of Barakel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, was aroused; his wrath was aroused against Job because he justified himself rather than God. 3 His wrath was aroused also against his three friends because they had found no answer and yet had condemned Job. 4 Now Elihu had waited until Job had spoken because they were older than he. 5 When Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, then his wrath was aroused.
6 Elihu the son of Barakel the Buzite answered:
“I am young,
and you are very old;
therefore I was afraid
and dared not show you my opinion.
7 I said, ‘Age should speak,
and multitude of years should teach wisdom.’
8 But there is a spirit in man,
and the breath of the Almighty gives him understanding.
9 Great men are not always wise,
nor do the aged always understand judgment.
10 “Therefore I say,
‘Listen to me; I will also declare my opinion.’
11 Indeed, I waited for your words;
I listened to your reasons,
while you searched out what to say.
12 Yes, I paid attention to you;
and surely none of you convinced Job
or answered his words.
13 Lest you say, ‘We have found wisdom’;
God will subdue him, not man.
14 Now he has not directed his words against me,
so I will not answer him with your speeches.
15 “They are amazed; they answer no more;
they cease speaking.
16 And I have waited,
(for they did not speak, but stood still and answered no more).
17 I said, ‘I also will answer my part;
I too will show my opinion.’
18 For I am full of words;
the spirit within me compels me.
19 See, my belly is like wine that has no vent;
it is ready to burst like new wineskins.
20 I will speak, that I may be refreshed;
I will open my lips and answer.
21 Let me not, I pray, show partiality to anyone,
nor let me give flattering titles to man.
22 For I do not know how to give flattering titles;
in so doing my Maker would soon take me away.
Elihu Addresses Job
33 “Therefore, Job, I pray, hear my speeches,
and listen to all my words.
2 Behold, now I have opened my mouth;
my tongue has spoken in my mouth.
3 My words will be from the uprightness of my heart,
and my lips will utter knowledge clearly.
4 The Spirit of God has made me,
and the breath of the Almighty has given me life.
5 If you can answer me,
set your words in order before me; stand up.
6 Surely I am before God like you;
I also am formed out of the clay.
7 Indeed, no dread of me will make you afraid,
nor will my hand be heavy upon you.
8 “Surely you have spoken in my hearing,
and I have heard the sound of your words, saying,
9 ‘I am clean, without transgression;
I am innocent, nor 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 watches all my paths.’
12 “Look, in this you are not just.
I will answer you, that God is greater than man.
13 Why do you strive against Him?
For He does not give an accounting for any of His words.
14 For God speaks once, yes twice,
yet man does not perceive it.
15 In a dream, in a vision of the night,
when deep sleep falls upon men,
in slumber on their beds,
16 then He opens the ears of men,
and seals their instruction,
17 that He might turn aside man from his purpose,
and conceal pride from man.
18 He keeps back his soul from the pit,
and his life from perishing by the sword.
19 “He is also chastened with pain on his bed,
and with strong pain in many of his bones,
20 so that his life abhors bread,
and his soul dainty food.
21 His flesh is consumed away that it cannot be seen,
and his bones that were not seen stick out.
22 Yes, his soul draws near to the grave,
and his life to the executioners.
23 If there is a messenger for him,
an interpreter, one among a thousand,
to show to man what is right for him,
24 then He 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 will return to the days of his youth;
26 he will pray to God, and He will be favorable unto him,
and he will see His face with joy,
for He will render unto man His righteousness.
27 Then he looks at men and says,
‘I have sinned and perverted what was right,
and it did not profit me.’
28 He will deliver his soul from going down to the pit,
and his life will see the light.
29 “Behold, God works all these things,
twice, three times with man,
30 to bring back his soul from the pit,
to be enlightened with the light of the living.
31 “Pay attention, Job, 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 Proclaims God’s Justice
34 Furthermore Elihu answered and said:
2 “Hear my words, O you wise men;
and give ear unto me, you that have knowledge.
3 For the ear tests words,
as the mouth tastes food.
4 Let us choose justice for ourselves;
let us know among ourselves what is good.
5 “For Job has said, ‘I am righteous,
but God has taken away my judgment.
6 Should I lie concerning my right?
My wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.’
7 What man is like Job,
who drinks scorn like water,
8 who goes in company with the workers of iniquity
and walks with wicked men?
9 For he has said, ‘It profits a man nothing
that he should delight himself in God.’
10 “Therefore listen to me, you men of understanding:
Far be it from God that He should do wickedness,
and from the Almighty that He should commit iniquity.
11 He will repay a man for his work,
and cause every man to find what is according to his ways.
12 Yes, surely God will not do wickedly,
nor will the Almighty pervert judgment.
13 Who has given Him charge over the earth?
Or who has set in order the whole world?
14 If He sets His heart on man,
if He gathers unto Himself His Spirit and His breath,
15 all flesh will perish together,
and man will turn again to dust.
16 “If now you have understanding, hear this;
listen to the voice of my words:
17 Should he who hates justice govern?
And will you condemn Him who is most just?
18 Is it fitting to say to a king, ‘You are wicked’?
And to princes, ‘You are ungodly’?
19 Yet He is not partial to princes,
nor does He regard the rich more than the poor.
For they all are the work of His hands.
20 In a moment they will die,
and the people will be troubled at midnight and pass away,
and the mighty will be taken away without a hand.
21 “For His eyes are upon the ways of man,
and He sees all his goings.
22 There is no darkness nor shadow of death
where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.
23 For He will not lay upon man more than right,
that he should enter into judgment with God.
24 He will break in pieces mighty men without number,
and set others in their place.
25 Therefore He knows their works,
and He overturns them in the night
so that they are destroyed.
26 He strikes them as wicked men
in the open sight of others,
27 because they turned back from Him
and would not consider any of His ways,
28 so that they cause the cry of the poor to come unto Him;
and He hears the cry of the afflicted.
29 When He gives quietness, who then can make trouble?
And when He hides His face, who then can behold Him,
whether it is done against a nation or against a man only?
30 That the hypocrite should not reign,
lest the people be ensnared.
31 “Should anyone say to God,
‘I have borne chastisement, I will offend no more;
32 teach me what I do not see;
if I have done iniquity, I will do no more’?
33 Should it be according to your mind?
He will repay it, whether you refuse or whether you choose,
and not I; therefore speak what you know.
34 “Let men of understanding say to me,
wise men who listen to me:
35 ‘Job has spoken without knowledge,
and his words were without wisdom.’
36 My desire is that Job may be tried unto the end,
because he answers like wicked men.
37 For he adds rebellion unto his sin;
he claps his hands among us,
and multiplies his words against God.”
The Holy Bible, Modern English Version. Copyright © 2014 by Military Bible Association. Published and distributed by Charisma House.