1‘Job, listen now to my words. Pay attention to everything I say.2I’m about to open my mouth. My words are on the tip of my tongue.3What I say comes from an honest heart. My lips speak only what I know is true.4The Spirit of God has made me. The breath of the Mighty One gives me life.5So answer me if you can. Stand up and argue your case in front of me.6To God I’m just the same as you. I too am a piece of clay.7You don’t have to be afraid of me. My hand won’t be too heavy on you.8‘But I heard what you said. And here are the exact words I heard.9You said, “I’m pure. I have done no wrong. I’m clean. I’m free from sin.10But God has found fault with me. He thinks I’m his enemy.11He puts my feet in chains. He watches every step I take.”12‘But I’m telling you that you aren’t right when you talk like that. After all, God is greater than any human being.13Why do you claim that God never answers anybody’s questions?14He speaks in one way and then another. But we do not even realise it.15He might speak in a dream or in a vision at night. That’s when people are sound asleep in their beds.16He might speak in their ears. His warnings might terrify them.17He warns them in order to turn them away from sinning. He wants to keep them from being proud.18He wants to stop them from going down into the grave. He doesn’t want them to be killed by swords.19Someone might be punished by suffering in bed. The pain in their bones might never go away.20They might feel so bad they can’t eat anything. They might even hate the finest food.21Their body might waste away to nothing. Their bones might have been hidden. But now they stick out.22They might approach the very edge of the grave. The messengers of death might come for them.23‘But suppose there is an angel who will speak up for him. The angel is very special. He’s one out of a thousand. He will tell that person how to do what is right.24That angel will be gracious to them. He’ll say to God, “Spare them from going down into the grave. I know a way that can set them free.”25Then their body is made like new again. They become as strong and healthy as when they were young.26Then that person can pray to God and be blessed by him. They will see God’s face and shout for joy. God will make them well and happy again.27Then that person will come to others and say, “I sinned. I made what is wrong appear to be right. But I wasn’t punished as I should have been.28God has set me free. He has kept me from going down into the darkness of the grave. So I’ll live to enjoy the light of life.”29‘God does all these things to people. In fact, he does them again and again.30He wants to stop people from going down into the darkness of the grave. Then the light of life will shine on them.31‘Pay attention, Job! Listen to me! Be quiet so I can speak.32If you have anything to say, answer me. Speak up. I want to help you be cleared of all charges.33But if you don’t have anything to say, listen to me. Be quiet so I can teach you how to be wise.’
Job 33
English Standard Version
Elihu Rebukes Job
1“But now, hear my speech, O Job, and listen to all my words.2Behold, I open my mouth; the tongue in my mouth speaks. (Job 3:1)3My words declare the uprightness of my heart, and what my lips know they speak sincerely.4The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life. (Ge 2:7; Job 27:3; Job 32:8; Eze 37:9; Ac 17:25)5Answer me, if you can; set your words in order before me; take your stand. (Job 13:18; Job 23:4; Job 33:32; Ps 5:3)6Behold, I am toward God as you are; I too was pinched off from a piece of clay. (Job 4:19)7Behold, no fear of me need terrify you; my pressure will not be heavy upon you. (Job 9:34; Job 13:21; Job 23:2)8“Surely you have spoken in my ears, and I have heard the sound of your words.9You say, ‘I am pure, without transgression; I am clean, and there is no iniquity in me. (Job 9:21; Job 10:7; Job 11:4; Job 12:4; Job 13:18; Job 16:17; Job 23:10; Job 27:5; Job 29:14; Job 32:1; Job 34:5; Job 34:6)10Behold, he finds occasions against me, he counts me as his enemy, (Job 13:24)11he puts my feet in the stocks and watches all my paths.’ (Job 10:14; Job 13:27; Job 14:16; Job 31:4)12“Behold, in this you are not right. I will answer you, for God is greater than man.13Why do you contend against him, saying, ‘He will answer none of man’s[1] words’?[2] (Job 9:12; Job 13:3; Job 16:21; Job 31:35; Job 40:2)14For God speaks in one way, and in two, though man does not perceive it. (1Sa 3:4; 1Sa 3:6; Job 33:29; Job 40:5; Ps 62:11)15In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on men, while they slumber on their beds, (Nu 12:6; Job 4:13; Ps 17:3)16then he opens the ears of men and terrifies[3] them with warnings, (Job 36:10; Job 36:15; Ps 40:6; Isa 50:5)17that he may turn man aside from his deed and conceal pride from a man; (Job 36:9)18he keeps back his soul from the pit, his life from perishing by the sword. (Job 36:12)19“Man is also rebuked with pain on his bed and with continual strife in his bones, (Job 30:17)20so that his life loathes bread, and his appetite the choicest food. (Ps 107:18; Pr 23:3)21His flesh is so wasted away that it cannot be seen, and his bones that were not seen stick out. (Ps 22:17)22His soul draws near the pit, and his life to those who bring death. (2Sa 24:16; Job 33:24; Job 33:28; Ps 78:49)23If there be for him an angel, a mediator, one of the thousand, to declare to man what is right for him, (Ge 16:7; Ge 22:11; Ge 42:23; Ge 48:16; Ps 34:7; Pr 14:2; Ec 7:28; So 5:10; Isa 43:27; Isa 63:9; Eze 18:21; Mal 3:1)24and he is merciful to him, and says, ‘Deliver him from going down into the pit; I have found a ransom; (Job 36:18; Ps 49:7)25let his flesh become fresh with youth; let him return to the days of his youthful vigor’; (2Ki 5:14; Heb 9:12)26then man[4] prays to God, and he accepts him; he sees his face with a shout of joy, and he restores to man his righteousness. (2Sa 12:13; Job 22:27; Ps 17:15; Pr 28:13; Lu 15:21; 1Jo 1:9)27He sings before men and says: ‘I sinned and perverted what was right, and it was not repaid to me. (Ps 106:6; Ro 6:21)28He has redeemed my soul from going down into the pit, and my life shall look upon the light.’ (Job 3:9; Job 33:22; Job 33:24; Isa 38:17)29“Behold, God does all these things, twice, three times, with a man, (Job 33:14)30to bring back his soul from the pit, that he may be lighted with the light of life. (Ps 56:13)31Pay attention, O Job, listen to me; be silent, and I will speak.32If you have any words, answer me; speak, for I desire to justify you. (Job 33:5; Job 34:33)33If not, listen to me; be silent, and I will teach you wisdom.” (Ps 34:11)