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.