Job 33

Elihu Confronts Job

1 But now, Job, pay attention to my speech,

and listen to all my words.

2 I am going to open my mouth;

my tongue will form words on my palate.

3 My words come from my upright  * 33:3 1Kg 9:4; Ps 25:21; 119:7  heart,

and my lips speak with sincerity what they know.

4 The Spirit of God has made me,

and the breath of the Almighty  * 33:4 Jb 27:2; 32:8; 35:13 gives me life.  * 33:4 Gn 2:7; Jb 27:3; Is 30:33

5 Refute me if you can.

Prepare  * 33:5 Jb 23:4; 32:14; 37:19 your case against me; take your stand.  * 33:5 1Sm 17:16; Ps 2:2; Jr 46:4,14

6 I am just like you before God;

I was also pinched off from a piece of clay.  * 33:6 Jb 4:19; 10:9; 13:12

7 Fear  * 33:7 Jb 20:25; Ps 55:4; 88:15 of me should not terrify you;

no pressure from me should weigh you down.

8 Surely you have spoken in my hearing,

and I have heard these very  * 33:8 Lit heard a sound of  words:

9 "I am pure, without transgression;

I am clean and have no iniquity.  * 33:9 Jb 9:21; 11:4; 34:6

10 But he finds reasons to oppose me;

he regards me as his enemy.  * 33:10 Jb 13:24; 19:11; Lm 2:5

11 He puts my feet in the stocks;

he stands watch  * 33:11 Jb 10:14; 14:16; Ps 130:3 over all my paths."

12 But I tell you that you are wrong in this matter,

since God is greater than man.  * 33:12 Jb 4:17; 9:2; 15:14

13 Why do you take  * 33:13 Jb 9:3; 13:19; 40:2  him to court

for not answering anything a person asks?  * 33:13 Lit court, for he does not answer all his words

14 For God speaks time and again,

but a person may not notice it.

15 In a dream, a vision  * 33:15 Jb 4:13; 7:14; 20:8 in the night,

when deep sleep comes over people  * 33:15 Gn 2:21; 15:12; Jb 4:13

as they slumber on their beds,

16 he uncovers their ears  * 33:16 Jb 4:12; 13:1; 36:10,15

and terrifies them  * 33:16 LXX; MT reads and seals with warnings,

17 in order to turn a person from his actions

and suppress the pride of a person.

18 God spares his soul from the Pit,  * 33:18 Jb 33:28,30; 36:16; Ps 30:9

his life from crossing the river of death.  * 33:18 Or from perishing by the sword

19 A person may be disciplined on his bed  * 33:19 Jb 7:13; Ps 41:3; Hs 7:14 with pain

and constant distress in his bones,  * 33:19 Jb 30:17; Ps 6:2; 38:3

20 so that he detests bread,

and his soul despises his favorite food.  * 33:20 Jb 3:24; 6:7; Ps 102:4

21 His flesh wastes away to nothing,  * 33:21 Lit away from sight

and his unseen bones stick out.

22 He draws near to the Pit,

and his life to the executioners.

23 If there is an angel  * 33:23 Ex 23:20,23; Ps 34:7; Is 63:9 on his side,

one mediator out of a thousand,

to tell a person what is right for him  * 33:23 Or to vouch for a person’s uprightness

24 and to be gracious to him and say,

"Spare him from going down to the Pit;

I have found a ransom,"  * 33:24 Ex 30:12; Ps 49:7; Pr 21:18

25 then his flesh will be healthier  * 33:25 Hb obscure than in his youth,

and he will return to the days of his youthful vigor.  * 33:25 Dt 34:7; 2Kg 5:14; Jb 20:11

26 He will pray to God, and God will delight in him.

That person will see his face  * 33:26 Gn 33:10; Ps 11:7; 17:15 with a shout of joy,

and God will restore his righteousness to him.  * 33:26 Ps 23:3; 51:12; 1Jn 1:9

27 He will look at men and say,

"I have sinned and perverted what was right;

yet I did not get what I deserved.  * 33:27 Lit and the same was not to me

28 He redeemed my soul from going down to the Pit,

and I will continue to see the light."

29 God certainly does all these things

two or three times to a person

30 in order to turn him back from the Pit,

so he may shine with the light of life.  * 33:30 Ps 56:13; Jn 1:4,9

31 Pay attention, Job, and listen to me.

Be quiet, and I will speak.

32 But if you have something to say,  * 33:32 Lit If there are words answer me;

speak, for I would like to justify you.

33 If not, then listen to me;

be quiet, and I will teach you wisdom.