Job 33

Elihu Rebukes Job

1 "But now, hear my speech, O Job,

and listen to all my words.

2 Behold, I *ch. 3:1open my mouth;

the tongue in my mouth speaks.

3 My words declare the uprightness of my heart,

and what my lips know they speak sincerely.

4 *ch. 27:3The Spirit of God has made me,

and *ch. 32:8;Gen. 2:7;[Ezek. 37:9;Acts 17:25]the breath of the Almighty gives me life.

5 *ver. 32Answer me, if you can;

*ch. 13:18;23:4;[Ps. 5:3]set your words in order before me; take your stand.

6 Behold, I am toward God as you are;

I too was pinched off from a piece of *See ch. 4:19clay.

7 Behold, no *ch. 9:34,35;13:21fear of me need terrify you;

my *[ch. 23:2]pressure will not be heavy upon you.

8 "Surely you have spoken in my ears,

and I have heard the sound of your words.

9 You say, ‘I am *ch. 9:21;10:7;11:4;12:4;13:18;16:17;23:10,11;27:5;29:14;32:1;34:5pure, without *ch. 34:6transgression;

I am clean, and there is no iniquity in me.

10 Behold, he finds occasions against me,

he *See ch. 13:24counts me as his enemy,

11 he *ch. 13:27puts my feet in the stocks

and *ch. 10:14;14:16;31:4watches all my paths.’

12 "Behold, in this you are not right. I will answer you,

for God is greater than man.

13 Why do you *ch. 13:3;16:21;31:35;40:2contend against him,

saying, ‘He *See ch. 9:12will answer none of man’s*33:13 Hebrew his words’?*33:13 Or He will not answer for any of his own words

14 For God *[ch. 40:5;Ps. 62:11] speaks in one way,

*ver. 29and in two, though man *[1 Sam. 3:4,6]does not perceive it.

15 In *See Num. 12:6a dream, in *ch. 4:13a vision of *Ps. 17:3the night,

when *ch. 4:13deep sleep falls on men,

while they slumber on their beds,

16 then he *ch. 36:10,15;Ps. 40:6;Isa. 50:5opens the ears of men

and terrifies*33:16 Or seals them with warnings,

17 that he may turn man aside from his *ch. 36:9deed

and conceal pride from a man;

18 he keeps back his soul from the pit,

his life from *ch. 36:12perishing by the sword.

19 "Man is also rebuked with pain on his bed

and with continual strife in his *ch. 30:17bones,

20 so that his *Ps. 107:18life loathes bread,

and his appetite *Prov. 23:3the choicest food.

21 His flesh is so wasted away that it cannot be seen,

and his bones that were not seen *[Ps. 22:17]stick out.

22 His soul draws near *ver. 24, 28the pit,

and his life to *2 Sam. 24:16,17;Ps. 78:49those who bring death.

23 If there be for him *Gen. 16:7;22:11;48:16;Ps. 34:7;Isa. 63:9;[Mal. 3:1] an angel,

*Gen. 42:23;Isa. 43:27a mediator, *Eccles. 7:28;[Song 5:10] one of the thousand,

to declare to man what is *[Prov. 14:2;Ezek. 18:21,22]right for him,

24 and he is merciful to him, and says,

‘Deliver him from going down into the pit;

I have found *ch. 36:18;Ps. 49:7a ransom;

25 let his flesh *2 Kgs. 5:14;[Heb. 9:12]become fresh with youth;

let him return to the days of his youthful vigor’;

26 then man*33:26 Hebrew he*See ch. 22:27prays to God, and he accepts him;

he *Ps. 17:15sees his face with a shout of joy,

and he *[2 Sam. 12:13;Prov. 28:13;Luke 15:21-24;1 John 1:9]restores to man his righteousness.

27 He sings before men and says:

‘I *Ps. 106:6;[Rom. 6:21]sinned and perverted what was right,

and it was not repaid to me.

28 He has redeemed my *Isa. 38:17soul from going down *ver. 22, 24into the pit,

and my life shall *[ch. 3:9]look upon the light.’

29 "Behold, God does all these things,

twice, *ver. 14three times, with a man,

30 to bring back his soul from the pit,

that he may be lighted with *Ps. 56:13the light of life.

31 Pay attention, O Job, listen to me;

be silent, and I will speak.

32 If you have any words, *ver. 5answer me;

*ch. 34:33speak, for I desire to justify you.

33 If not, *Ps. 34:11listen to me;

be silent, and I will teach you wisdom."