Hiob 33,14 | New International Reader’s Version

1 ‘Job, listen now to my words. Pay attention to everything I say. 2 I’m about to open my mouth. My words are on the tip of my tongue. 3 What I say comes from an honest heart. My lips speak only what I know is true. 4 The Spirit of God has made me. The breath of the Mighty One gives me life. 5 So answer me if you can. Stand up and argue your case in front of me. 6 To God I’m just the same as you. I too am a piece of clay. 7 You 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. 9 You said, “I’m pure. I have done no wrong. I’m clean. I’m free from sin. 10 But God has found fault with me. He thinks I’m his enemy. 11 He 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. 13 Why do you claim that God never answers anybody’s questions? 14 He speaks in one way and then another. But we do not even realise it. 15 He might speak in a dream or in a vision at night. That’s when people are sound asleep in their beds. 16 He might speak in their ears. His warnings might terrify them. 17 He warns them in order to turn them away from sinning. He wants to keep them from being proud. 18 He wants to stop them from going down into the grave. He doesn’t want them to be killed by swords. 19 Someone might be punished by suffering in bed. The pain in their bones might never go away. 20 They might feel so bad they can’t eat anything. They might even hate the finest food. 21 Their body might waste away to nothing. Their bones might have been hidden. But now they stick out. 22 They 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. 24 That 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.” 25 Then their body is made like new again. They become as strong and healthy as when they were young. 26 Then 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. 27 Then 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. 28 God 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. 30 He 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. 32 If you have anything to say, answer me. Speak up. I want to help you be cleared of all charges. 33 But if you don’t have anything to say, listen to me. Be quiet so I can teach you how to be wise.’

English Standard Version

Elihu Rebukes Job

1 “But now, hear my speech, O Job, and listen to all my words. 2 Behold, I open 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 The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life. 5 Answer me, if you can; 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 clay. 7 Behold, no fear of me need terrify you; my 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 pure, without transgression; I am clean, and there is no iniquity in me. 10 Behold, he finds occasions against me, he counts me as his enemy, 11 he puts my feet in the stocks and watches 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 contend against him, saying, ‘He will answer none of man’s* words’?* 14 For God speaks in one way, and in two, though man does not perceive it. 15 In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on men, while they slumber on their beds, 16 then he opens the ears of men and terrifies* them with warnings, 17 that he may turn man aside from his deed and conceal pride from a man; 18 he keeps back his soul from the pit, his life from perishing by the sword. 19 “Man is also rebuked with pain on his bed and with continual strife in his bones, 20 so that his life loathes bread, and his appetite the choicest food. 21 His flesh is so wasted away that it cannot be seen, and his bones that were not seen stick out. 22 His soul draws near the pit, and his life to those who bring death. 23 If there be for him an angel, a mediator, one of the thousand, to declare to man what is right for him, 24 and he is merciful to him, and says, ‘Deliver him from going down into the pit; I have found a ransom; 25 let his flesh become fresh with youth; let him return to the days of his youthful vigor’; 26 then man* prays to God, and he accepts him; he sees his face with a shout of joy, and he restores to man his righteousness. 27 He sings before men and says: ‘I sinned and perverted what was right, and it was not repaid to me. 28 He has redeemed my soul from going down into the pit, and my life shall look upon the light.’ 29 “Behold, God does all these things, twice, three times, with a man, 30 to bring back his soul from the pit, that he may be lighted with the light of life. 31 Pay attention, O Job, listen to me; be silent, and I will speak. 32 If you have any words, answer me; speak, for I desire to justify you. 33 If not, listen to me; be silent, and I will teach you wisdom.”

Hiob 33,14 | New International Reader’s Version English Standard Version

Elihu Rebukes Job