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Elihu Keeps On Speaking

33 “But now, Job, hear what I say. Listen to all my words. See, I open my mouth. My tongue in my mouth wants to speak. My words come from my heart that is right. My lips speak in truth what I know. The Spirit of God has made me. And the breath of the All-powerful gives me life. Prove me wrong if you can. Get ready to answer me, and take your stand. See, I belong to God like you. I also have been made from the clay. See, you have no reason to be afraid of me. I should not make it hard for you.

“For sure you have spoken in my hearing. I have heard all you have said. You said, ‘I am pure and without sin. I am not guilty, and there is no sin in me. 10 But see, God finds things against me. He thinks of me as someone who hates Him. 11 He puts my feet in chains, and watches all my paths.’ 12 See, I tell you, in this you are not right. For God is greater than man.

13 “Why do you complain against Him? He does not give a reason for all He does. 14 For God speaks once, or twice, and yet no one listens. 15 In a dream, a special dream of the night, when deep sleep comes upon men, while they sleep in their beds, 16 then He opens the ears of men. He teaches them and makes them afraid telling them of danger, 17 that He may turn man away from wrong-doing and keep him from pride. 18 He keeps his soul from going to the place of the dead. And He keeps his life from being destroyed by the sword.

19 “Man is also punished with pain on his bed and has pain all the time in his bones. 20 So he hates bread, and has no desire for fine foods. 21 His flesh is so wasted away that it cannot be seen. His bones which were not seen stick out. 22 His soul comes close to the grave, and his life to those who bring death.

23 “If there is an angel, one out of a thousand, to speak with God for him, and to show a man what is right for him, 24 then let him be kind to him, and say, ‘Save him from going down to the grave. I have found someone to pay the price to make him free. 25 Let his flesh become young again. Let him return to the days when he was young and strong.’ 26 Then he will pray to God, and God will be pleased with him. He will see His face with joy. And God will make man right with Him again. 27 He will sing to men and say, ‘I have sinned and have not done what is right, but He did not punish me. 28 He has kept my soul from going to the grave. And my life will see the light.’

29 “See, God does all these things twice, even three times, to a man, 30 to turn back his soul from the grave, that he may see the light of life. 31 Hear what I say, O Job, listen to me. Be quiet and let me speak. 32 If you have anything to say, answer me. Speak, for I want to make you right with God. 33 If not, listen to me. Be quiet, and I will teach you wisdom.”

Elihu Keeps On Speaking

34 Then Elihu said, “Hear my words, you wise men. Listen to me, you who know. For the ear tests words as the mouth tastes food. Let us choose for ourselves what is right. Let us know among ourselves what is good. For Job has said, ‘I am right and good, but God has taken away my right. Would I lie about my right? I have been hurt so that I cannot be healed, but I have done no wrong.’ What man is like Job, who drinks up words against him like water? He goes among those who do wrong, and walks with sinful men. For he has said, ‘A man gets nothing by trying to please God.’

10 “So listen to me, you men of understanding. Far be it from God to do what is sinful, and from the All-powerful to do wrong. 11 For He pays a man by the work he does. He will see that a man is paid for what he does. 12 For sure God will not do wrong. The All-powerful will not turn what is right into sin. 13 Who gave Him the power over the earth? Who gave Him the whole world to take care of? 14 If He should take back His spirit and His breath, 15 all flesh would die together, and man would return to dust.

16 “If you have understanding, hear this. Listen to what I say. 17 Should one who hates what is right be the one to rule? Will you say that He Who is right and good and strong is guilty? 18 Who says to a king, ‘You are of no worth,’ and to rulers, ‘You are sinful’? 19 Who shows no favor to princes, or thinks of the rich as more important than the poor? They are all the work of His hands. 20 In a short time they die. At midnight the people are shaken and pass away. And the powerful are taken away by no human hand.

21 “For God’s eyes are upon the ways of a man, and He sees all his steps. 22 There is no darkness or shadow where sinners can hide themselves. 23 For God does not need to set a time for man to go before Him and be judged. 24 He breaks powerful men in pieces without asking any reason, and puts others in their place. 25 For He knows their works. He puts them down in the night, and they are crushed. 26 God punishes them for their sin where everyone can see them. 27 Because they turned aside from following Him. They did not care about any of His ways. 28 So they caused the cry of the poor to come to Him. And He heard the cry of those in need. 29 When He keeps quiet, who can say He is wrong? When He hides His face, who can see Him? But He is over both nation and man. 30 So men without God should not rule and should not be a trap for the people.

31 “For has any one said to God, ‘I have suffered punishment, and will not cause any more trouble? 32 Teach me what I cannot see. If I have sinned, I will do it no more’? 33 Will God ask what you want to do, when you will not do what He says? You must decide, and not I. So tell what you know. 34 Men of understanding will say to me, and wise men who hear me say, 35 ‘Job speaks without much learning. His words are without wisdom. 36 Job should be tried to the end, because he answers like sinful men. 37 To his sin he adds a strong will against God. Making fun he claps his hands among us, and speaks many words against God.’”