321 Then these three men ceased answering Job , because he was righteous in his own eyes . 2 But the anger of Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite , of the family of Ram burned ; against Job his anger burned because he justified himself before God . 3 And his anger burned against his three friends because e they had found no answer , and yet had condemned Job . 4 Now Elihu had waited to speak to Job because they were years older than he. 5 And when Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of the three men his anger burned .
6 So Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite spoke out and said , "I am young in years and you are old ; Therefore e I was shy and afraid to tell you what I think . 7 "I thought age should speak , And increased years should teach wisdom . 8 "But it is a spirit in man , And the breath of the Almighty gives them understanding . 9 "The abundant in years may not be wise , Nor may elders understand justice . 10 "So I say , 'Listen to me, I too will tell what I think .' 11 "Behold , I waited for your words , I listened to your reasonings , While you pondered what to say . 12 "I even paid close attention to you; Indeed , there was no one who refuted Job , Not one of you who answered his words . 13 "Do not say , ' We have found wisdom ; God will rout him, not man .' 14 "For he has not arranged his words against me, Nor will I reply to him with your arguments .
15 "They are dismayed , they no longer answer ; Words have failed them. 16 "Shall I wait , because they do not speak , Because they stop and no longer answer ? 17 "I too will answer my share , I also will tell my opinion . 18 "For I am full of words ; The spirit within me constrains me. 19 "Behold , my belly is like unvented wine , Like new wineskins it is about to burst . 20 "Let me speak that I may get relief ; Let me open my lips and answer . 21 "Let me now be partial e to no one , Nor flatter any man . 22 "For I do not know how to flatter , Else my Maker would soon take me away.
331 "However now, Job , please hear my speech , And listen to all my words . 2 "Behold now , I open my mouth , My tongue in my mouth speaks . 3 "My words are from the uprightness of my heart , And my lips speak knowledge sincerely . 4 "The Spirit of God has made me, And the breath of the Almighty gives me life . 5 " Refute me if you can ; Array yourselves before me, take your stand . 6 "Behold , I belong to God like you; I too have been formed out of the clay . 7 "Behold , no fear of me should terrify you, Nor should my pressure weigh heavily on you.
8 "Surely you have spoken in my hearing , And I have heard the sound of your words : 9 'I am pure , without transgression ; I am innocent and there is no guilt in me. 10 'Behold , He invents pretexts against me; He counts me as His enemy . 11 'He puts my feet in the stocks ; He watches all my paths .' 12 "Behold , let me tell you, you are not right in this , For God is greater than man . 13 "Why do you complain against Him That He does not give an account of all His doings ?
14 "Indeed God speaks once , Or twice , yet no one notices it. 15 "In a dream , a vision of the night , When sound sleep falls on men , While they slumber in their beds , 16 Then He opens the ears of men , And seals their instruction , 17 That He may turn man aside from his conduct , And keep man from pride ; 18 He keeps back his soul from the pit , And his life from passing over into Sheol .
19 "Man is also chastened with pain on his bed , And with unceasing complaint in his bones ; 20 So that his life loathes bread , And his soul favorite food . 21 "His flesh wastes away from sight , And his bones which were not seen stick out. 22 "Then his soul draws near to the pit , And his life to those who bring death . 23 "If there is an angel as mediator for him, One out of a thousand , To remind a man what is right for him, 24 Then let him be gracious to him, and say , 'Deliver him from going down to the pit , I have found a ransom '; 25 Let his flesh become fresher than in youth , Let him return to the days of his youthful vigor ; 26 Then he will pray to God , and He will accept him, That he may see His face with joy , And He may restore His righteousness to man . 27 "He will sing to men and say , 'I have sinned and perverted what is right , And it is not proper for me. 28 'He has redeemed my soul from going to the pit , And my life shall see the light .'
29 "Behold , God does all these oftentimes e with men , 30 To bring back his soul from the pit , That he may be enlightened with the light of life . 31 "Pay attention , O Job , listen to me; Keep silent , and let me speak . 32 "Then if you have anything to say , answer me; Speak , for I desire to justify you. 33 "If not, listen to me; Keep silent , and I will teach you wisdom ."
341 Then Elihu continued and said , 2 "Hear my words , you wise men , And listen to me, you who know . 3 "For the ear tests words As the palate tastes food . 4 "Let us choose for ourselves what is right ; Let us know among ourselves what is good . 5 "For Job has said , ' I am righteous , But God has taken away my right ; 6 Should I lie concerning my right ? My wound is incurable , though I am without transgression .' 7 "What man is like Job , Who drinks up derision like water , 8 Who goes in company with the workers of iniquity , And walks with wicked men ? 9 "For he has said , ' It profits a man nothing When he is pleased with God .'
10 "Therefore , listen to me, you men of understanding . Far be it from God to do wickedness , And from the Almighty to do wrong . 11 "For He pays a man according to his work , And makes him find it according to his way . 12 "Surely e , God will not act wickedly , And the Almighty will not pervert justice . 13 "Who gave Him authority over the earth ? And who has laid on Him the whole world ? 14 "If He should determine e to do so, If He should gather to Himself His spirit and His breath , 15 All flesh would perish together , And man would return to dust .
16 "But if you have understanding , hear this ; Listen to the sound of my words . 17 "Shall one who hates justice rule ? And will you condemn the righteous mighty One , 18 Who says to a king , 'Worthless one ,' To nobles , 'Wicked ones '; 19 Who shows no partiality e to princes Nor regards the rich above the poor , For they all are the work of His hands ? 20 "In a moment they die , and at midnight e People are shaken and pass away , And the mighty are taken away without a hand . 21 "For His eyes are upon the ways of a man , And He sees all his steps . 22 "There is no darkness or deep shadow Where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves. 23 "For He does not need to consider a man further , That he should go before God in judgment . 24 "He breaks in pieces mighty men without inquiry , And sets others in their place . 25 "Therefore He knows their works , And He overthrows them in the night , And they are crushed . 26 "He strikes them like the wicked In a public place , 27 Because e e they turned aside from following Him, And had no regard for any of His ways ; 28 So that they caused the cry of the poor to come to Him, And that He might hear the cry of the afflicted - 29 When He keeps quiet , who then can condemn ? And when He hides His face , who then can behold Him, That is, in regard to both nation and man ?- 30 So that godless men would not rule Nor be snares of the people .
31 "For has anyone said to God , 'I have borne chastisement; I will not offend anymore; 32 Teach me what I do not see ; If I have done iniquity , I will not do it again '? 33 "Shall He recompense on your terms , because you have rejected it? For you must choose , and not I; Therefore declare what you know . 34 "Men of understanding will say to me, And a wise man who hears me, 35 'Job speaks without knowledge , And his words are without wisdom . 36 'Job ought to be tried to the limit , Because he answers like wicked men . 37 'For he adds rebellion to his sin ; He claps his hands among us, And multiplies his words against God .' "
