Elihu Rebukes Job

1‘But now, hear my speech, O Job,

and listen to all my words.

2See, I open my mouth;

the tongue in my mouth speaks.

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 Almighty33.4 Traditional rendering of Heb Shaddai gives me life.

5Answer me, if you can;

set your words in order before me; take your stand.

6See, before God I am as you are;

I too was formed from a piece of clay.

7No fear of me need terrify you;

my pressure will not be heavy on you.

8‘Surely, you have spoken in my hearing,

and I have heard the sound of your words.

9You say, “I am clean, without transgression;

I am pure, and there is no iniquity in me.

10Look, he finds occasions against me,

he counts me as his enemy;

11he puts my feet in the stocks,

and watches all my paths.”

12‘But in this you are not right. I will answer you:

God is greater than any mortal.

13Why do you contend against him,

saying, “He will answer none of my33.13 Compare Gk: Heb his words”?

14For God speaks in one way,

and in two, though people do not perceive it.

15In a dream, in a vision of the night,

when deep sleep falls on mortals,

while they slumber on their beds,

16then he opens their ears,

and terrifies them with warnings,

17that he may turn them aside from their deeds,

and keep them from pride,

18to spare their souls from the Pit,

their lives from traversing the River.

19They are also chastened with pain upon their beds,

and with continual strife in their bones,

20so that their lives loathe bread,

and their appetites dainty food.

21Their flesh is so wasted away that it cannot be seen;

and their bones, once invisible, now stick out.

22Their souls draw near the Pit,

and their lives to those who bring death.

23Then, if there should be for one of them an angel,

a mediator, one of a thousand,

one who declares a person upright,

24and he is gracious to that person, and says,

“Deliver him from going down into the Pit;

I have found a ransom;

25let his flesh become fresh with youth;

let him return to the days of his youthful vigour”;

26then he prays to God, and is accepted by him,

he comes into his presence with joy,

and God33.26 Heb he repays him for his righteousness.

27That person sings to others and says,

“I sinned, and perverted what was right,

and it was not paid back to me.

28He has redeemed my soul from going down to the Pit,

and my life shall see the light.”

29‘God indeed does all these things,

twice, three times, with mortals,

30to bring back their souls from the Pit,

so that they may see the light of life.33.30 Syr: Heb to be lighted with the light of life

31Pay heed, Job, listen to me;

be silent, and I will speak.

32If you have anything to say, answer me;

speak, for I desire to justify you.

33If not, listen to me;

be silent, and I will teach you wisdom.’