Elihu Rebukes Job
1Wherefore, Job, I pray thee, hear my speeches, and hearken to all my words.
2Behold, now I have opened my mouth, my tongue hath spoken in my mouth.
3My words shall be of the uprightness of my heart: and my lips shall utter knowledge clearly.
4The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life.
5If thou canst answer me, set thy words in order before me, stand up.
6Behold, I am according to thy wish in God's stead: I also am formed out of the clay.
7Behold, my terror shall not make thee afraid, neither shall my hand be heavy upon thee.
8Surely thou hast spoken in mine hearing, and I have heard the voice of thy words, saying,
9I am clean without transgression, I am innocent; neither is there iniquity in me.
10Behold, he findeth occasions against me, he counteth me for his enemy,
11He putteth my feet in the stocks, he marketh all my paths.
12Behold, in this thou art not just: I will answer thee, that God is greater than man.
13Why dost thou strive against him? for he giveth not account of any of his matters.
14For God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not.
15In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed;
16Then he openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction,
17That he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man.
18He keepeth back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword.
19He is chastened also with pain upon his bed, and the multitude of his bones with strong pain:
20So that his life abhorreth bread, and his soul dainty meat.
21His flesh is consumed away, that it cannot be seen; and his bones that were not seen stick out.
22Yea, his soul draweth near unto the grave, and his life to the destroyers.
23If there be a messenger with him, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to shew unto man his uprightness:
24Then he is gracious unto him, and saith, Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom.
25His flesh shall be fresher than a child's: he shall return to the days of his youth:
26He shall pray unto God, and he will be favourable unto him: and he shall see his face with joy: for he will render unto man his righteousness.
27He looketh upon men, and if any say, I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it profited me not;
28He will deliver his soul from going into the pit, and his life shall see the light.
29Lo, all these things worketh God oftentimes with man,
30To bring back his soul from the pit, to be enlightened with the light of the living.
31Mark well, O Job, hearken unto me: hold thy peace, and I will speak.
32If thou hast any thing to say, answer me: speak, for I desire to justify thee.
33If not, hearken unto me: hold thy peace, and I shall teach thee wisdom.
King James Bible
Text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.
Elihu Rebukes Job
1 “However, Job, please hear my speech, and listen to all my words.
2 See now, I have opened my mouth. My tongue has spoken in my mouth.
3 My words shall utter the uprightness of my heart. That which my lips know they shall speak sincerely.
4 The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.
5 If you can, answer me. Set your words in order before me, and stand forth.
6 Behold, I am toward God even as you are. I am also formed out of the clay.
7 Behold, my terror shall not make you afraid, neither shall my pressure be heavy on you.
8 “Surely you have spoken in my hearing, I have heard the voice of your words, saying,
9 ‘I am clean, without disobedience. I am innocent, neither is there iniquity in me.
10 Behold, he finds occasions against me. He counts me for his enemy.
11 He puts my feet in the stocks. He marks all my paths.’
12 “Behold, I will answer you. In this you are not just, for God is greater than man.
13 Why do you strive against him, because he doesn’t give account of any of his matters?
14 For God speaks once, yes twice, though man pays no attention.
15 In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on men, in slumbering on the bed;
16 Then he opens the ears of men, and seals their instruction,
17 That he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man.
18 He keeps back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword.
19 He is chastened also with pain on his bed, with continual strife in his bones;
20 So that his life abhors bread, and his soul dainty food.
21 His flesh is so consumed away, that it can’t be seen. His bones that were not seen stick out.
22 Yes, his soul draws near to the pit, and his life to the destroyers.
23 “If there is beside him an angel, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to show to man what is right for him;
24 then God is gracious to him, and says, ‘Deliver him from going down to the pit, I have found a ransom.’
25 His flesh shall be fresher than a child’s. He returns to the days of his youth.
26 He prays to God, and he is favorable to him, so that he sees his face with joy. He restores to man his righteousness.
27 He sings before men, and says, ‘I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it didn’t profit me.
28 He has redeemed my soul from going into the pit. My life shall see the light.’
29 “Behold, God works all these things, twice, yes three times, with a man,
30 to bring back his soul from the pit, that he may be enlightened with the light of the living.
31 Mark well, Job, and listen to me. Hold your peace, and I will speak.
32 If you have anything to say, answer me. Speak, for I desire to justify you.
33 If not, listen to me. Hold your peace, and I will teach you wisdom.”
Elihu Rebukes Job
1 “But now, O Job, hear my speech,
and listen to all my words.
2 Behold, I will open my mouth;
my address is on the tip of my tongue.
3 My words are from an upright heart,
and my lips speak sincerely what I know.
4 The Spirit of God has made me,
and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.
5 Refute me if you can;
prepare your case and confront me.
6 I am just like you before God;
I was also formed from clay.
7 Surely no fear of me should terrify you;
nor will my hand be heavy upon you.
8 Surely you have spoken in my hearing,
and I have heard these very words:
9 ‘I am pure, without transgression;
I am clean, with no iniquity in me.
10 Yet God finds occasions against me;
He counts me as His enemy.
11 He puts my feet in the stocks;
He watches over all my paths.’
12 Behold, you are not right in this matter.
I will answer you, for God is greater than man.
13 Why do you complain to Him
that He answers nothing a man asks? a
14 For God speaks in one way and in another,
yet no one notices.
15 In a dream,
in a vision in the night,
when deep sleep falls upon men
as they slumber on their beds,
16 He opens their ears
and terrifies them with warnings
17 to turn a man from wrongdoing
and keep him from pride,
18 to preserve his soul from the Pit
and his life from perishing by the sword.
19 A man is also chastened on his bed
with pain and constant distress in his bones,
20 so that he detests his bread,
and his soul loathes his favorite food.
21 His flesh wastes away from sight,
and his hidden bones protrude.
22 He draws near to the Pit,
and his life to the messengers of death.
23 Yet if there is a messenger on his side,
one mediator in a thousand,
to tell a man what is right for him,
24 to be gracious to him and say,
‘Spare him from going down to the Pit;
I have found his ransom,’
25 then his flesh is refreshed like a child’s;
he returns to the days of his youth.
26 He prays to God and finds favor;
he sees God’s face and shouts for joy,
and God restores His righteousness
to that man.
27 Then he sings before b men
with these words:
‘I have sinned and perverted what was right;
yet I did not get what I deserved.
28 He redeemed my soul from going down to the Pit,
and I will live to see the light.’
29 Behold, all these things God does to a man,
two or even three times,
30 to bring back his soul from the Pit,
that he may be enlightened with the light of life.
31 Pay attention, Job, and listen to me;
be silent, and I will speak.
32 But if you have something to say, answer me;
speak up, for I would like to vindicate you.
33 But if not, then listen to me;
be quiet, and I will teach you wisdom.”
Footnotes:
13 a Or that He answers for none of His actions
27 b Or Then he looks upon
Elihu Rebukes Job
1And yet, I pray thee, O Job, Hear my speech and to all my words give ear.
2Lo, I pray thee, I have opened my mouth, My tongue hath spoken in the palate.
3Of the uprightness of my heart are my sayings, And knowledge have my lips clearly spoken.
4The Spirit of God hath made me, And the breath of the Mighty doth quicken me.
5If thou art able -- answer me, Set in array before me -- station thyself.
6Lo, I am, according to thy word, for God, From the clay I -- I also, have been formed.
7Lo, my terror doth not frighten thee, And my burden on thee is not heavy.
8Surely -- thou hast said in mine ears, And the sounds of words I hear:
9Pure am I, without transgression, Innocent am I, and I have no iniquity.
10Lo, occasions against me He doth find, He doth reckon me for an enemy to Him,
11He doth put in the stocks my feet, He doth watch all my paths.'
12Lo, in this thou hast not been righteous, I answer thee, that greater is God than man.
13Wherefore against Him hast thou striven, When for all His matters He answereth not?
14For once doth God speak, and twice, (He doth not behold it.)
15In a dream -- a vision of night, In the falling of deep sleep on men, In slumberings on a bed.
16Then He uncovereth the ear of men, And for their instruction sealeth:
17To turn aside man from doing, And pride from man He concealeth.
18He keepeth back his soul from corruption, And his life from passing away by a dart.
19And he hath been reproved With pain on his bed, And the strife of his bones is enduring.
20And his life hath nauseated bread, And his soul desirable food.
21His flesh is consumed from being seen, And high are his bones, they were not seen!
22And draw near to the pit doth his soul, And his life to those causing death.
23If there is by him a messenger, An interpreter -- one of a thousand, To declare for man his uprightness:
24Then He doth favour him and saith, 'Ransom him from going down to the pit, I have found an atonement.'
25Fresher is his flesh than a child's, He returneth to the days of his youth.
26He maketh supplication unto God, And He accepteth him. And he seeth His face with shouting, And He returneth to man His righteousness.
27He looketh on men, and saith, 'I sinned, And uprightness I have perverted, And it hath not been profitable to me.
28He hath ransomed my soul From going over into the pit, And my life on the light looketh.'
29Lo, all these doth God work, Twice -- thrice with man,
30To bring back his soul from the pit, To be enlightened with the light of the living.
31Attend, O Job, hearken to me, Keep silent, and I -- I do speak.
32If there are words -- answer me, Speak, for I have a desire to justify thee.
33If there are not -- hearken thou to me, Keep silent, and I teach thee wisdom.
