NAS - Job Chapter 32 to 33

32 Elihu in Anger Rebukes Job

¹Then these three men ceased answering Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. ²But 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. ³And his anger burned against his three friends because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job. ⁴Now Elihu had waited to speak to Job because they were years older than he. ⁵And when Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of the three men his anger burned.

⁶So Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite spoke out and said, "I am young in years and you are old; Therefore 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 to no one, Nor flatter any man. ²²"For I do not know how to flatter, Else my Maker would soon take me away.

33 Elihu Claims to Speak for God

¹"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, ¹⁶Then 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, ²⁴Then let him be gracious to him, and say, `Deliver him from going down to the pit, I have found a ransom'; ²⁵Let 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 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."