Job 32

Elihu Responds to Job’s Friends

1Job’s three friends refused to reply further to him because he kept insisting on his innocence.

2Then Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite, of the clan of Ram, became angry. He was angry because Job refused to admit that he had sinned and that God was right in punishing him. 3He was also angry with Job’s three friends, for they made God*32:3 As in ancient Hebrew scribal tradition; the Masoretic Text reads Job. appear to be wrong by their inability to answer Job’s arguments. 4Elihu had waited for the others to speak to Job because they were older than he. 5But when he saw that they had no further reply, he spoke out angrily. 6Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite said,

“I am young and you are old,

so I held back from telling you what I think.

7I thought, ‘Those who are older should speak,

for wisdom comes with age.’

8But there is a spirit*32:8 Or Spirit; also in 32:18. within people,

the breath of the Almighty within them,

that makes them intelligent.

9Sometimes the elders are not wise.

Sometimes the aged do not understand justice.

10So listen to me,

and let me tell you what I think.

11“I have waited all this time,

listening very carefully to your arguments,

listening to you grope for words.

12I have listened,

but not one of you has refuted Job

or answered his arguments.

13And don’t tell me, ‘He is too wise for us.

Only God can convince him.’

14If Job had been arguing with me,

I would not answer with your kind of logic!

15You sit there baffled,

with nothing more to say.

16Should I continue to wait, now that you are silent?

Must I also remain silent?

17No, I will say my piece.

I will speak my mind.

18For I am full of pent-up words,

and the spirit within me urges me on.

19I am like a cask of wine without a vent,

like a new wineskin ready to burst!

20I must speak to find relief,

so let me give my answers.

21I won’t play favorites

or try to flatter anyone.

22For if I tried flattery,

my Creator would soon destroy me.

Job 33

Elihu Presents His Case against Job

1“Listen to my words, Job;

pay attention to what I have to say.

2Now that I have begun to speak,

let me continue.

3I speak with all sincerity;

I speak the truth.

4For the Spirit of God has made me,

and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.

5Answer me, if you can;

make your case and take your stand.

6Look, you and I both belong to God.

I, too, was formed from clay.

7So you don’t need to be afraid of me.

I won’t come down hard on you.

8“You have spoken in my hearing,

and I have heard your very words.

9You said, ‘I am pure; I am without sin;

I am innocent; I have no guilt.

10God is picking a quarrel with me,

and he considers me his enemy.

11He puts my feet in the stocks

and watches my every move.’

12“But you are wrong, and I will show you why.

For God is greater than any human being.

13So why are you bringing a charge against him?

Why say he does not respond to people’s complaints?

14For God speaks again and again,

though people do not recognize it.

15He speaks in dreams, in visions of the night,

when deep sleep falls on people

as they lie in their beds.

16He whispers in their ears

and terrifies them with warnings.

17He makes them turn from doing wrong;

he keeps them from pride.

18He protects them from the grave,

from crossing over the river of death.

19“Or God disciplines people with pain on their sickbeds,

with ceaseless aching in their bones.

20They lose their appetite

for even the most delicious food.

21Their flesh wastes away,

and their bones stick out.

22They are at death’s door;

the angels of death wait for them.

23“But if an angel from heaven appears—

a special messenger to intercede for a person

and declare that he is upright—

24he will be gracious and say,

‘Rescue him from the grave,

for I have found a ransom for his life.’

25Then his body will become as healthy as a child’s,

firm and youthful again.

26When he prays to God,

he will be accepted.

And God will receive him with joy

and restore him to good standing.

27He will declare to his friends,

‘I sinned and twisted the truth,

but it was not worth it.*33:27 Greek version reads but he [God] did not punish me as my sin deserved.

28God rescued me from the grave,

and now my life is filled with light.’

29“Yes, God does these things

again and again for people.

30He rescues them from the grave

so they may enjoy the light of life.

31Mark this well, Job. Listen to me,

for I have more to say.

32But if you have anything to say, go ahead.

Speak, for I am anxious to see you justified.

33But if not, then listen to me.

Keep silent and I will teach you wisdom!”

Job 34

Elihu Accuses Job of Arrogance

1Then Elihu said:

2“Listen to me, you wise men.

Pay attention, you who have knowledge.

3Job said, ‘The ear tests the words it hears

just as the mouth distinguishes between foods.’

4So let us discern for ourselves what is right;

let us learn together what is good.

5For Job also said, ‘I am innocent,

but God has taken away my rights.

6I am innocent, but they call me a liar.

My suffering is incurable, though I have not sinned.’

7“Tell me, has there ever been a man like Job,

with his thirst for irreverent talk?

8He chooses evil people as companions.

He spends his time with wicked men.

9He has even said, ‘Why waste time

trying to please God?’

10“Listen to me, you who have understanding.

Everyone knows that God doesn’t sin!

The Almighty can do no wrong.

11He repays people according to their deeds.

He treats people as they deserve.

12Truly, God will not do wrong.

The Almighty will not twist justice.

13Did someone else put the world in his care?

Who set the whole world in place?

14If God were to take back his spirit

and withdraw his breath,

15all life would cease,

and humanity would turn again to dust.

16“Now listen to me if you are wise.

Pay attention to what I say.

17Could God govern if he hated justice?

Are you going to condemn the almighty judge?

18For he says to kings, ‘You are wicked,’

and to nobles, ‘You are unjust.’

19He doesn’t care how great a person may be,

and he pays no more attention to the rich than to the poor.

He made them all.

20In a moment they die.

In the middle of the night they pass away;

the mighty are removed without human hand.

21“For God watches how people live;

he sees everything they do.

22No darkness is thick enough

to hide the wicked from his eyes.

23We don’t set the time

when we will come before God in judgment.

24He brings the mighty to ruin without asking anyone,

and he sets up others in their place.

25He knows what they do,

and in the night he overturns and destroys them.

26He strikes them down because they are wicked,

doing it openly for all to see.

27For they turned away from following him.

They have no respect for any of his ways.

28They cause the poor to cry out, catching God’s attention.

He hears the cries of the needy.

29But if he chooses to remain quiet,

who can criticize him?

When he hides his face, no one can find him,

whether an individual or a nation.

30He prevents the godless from ruling

so they cannot be a snare to the people.

31“Why don’t people say to God, ‘I have sinned,

but I will sin no more’?

32Or ‘I don’t know what evil I have done—tell me.

If I have done wrong, I will stop at once’?

33“Must God tailor his justice to your demands?

But you have rejected him!

The choice is yours, not mine.

Go ahead, share your wisdom with us.

34After all, bright people will tell me,

and wise people will hear me say,

35‘Job speaks out of ignorance;

his words lack insight.’

36Job, you deserve the maximum penalty

for the wicked way you have talked.

37For you have added rebellion to your sin;

you show no respect,

and you speak many angry words against God.”

Job 35

Elihu Reminds Job of God’s Justice

1Then Elihu said:

2“Do you think it is right for you to claim,

‘I am righteous before God’?

3For you also ask, ‘What’s in it for me?

What’s the use of living a righteous life?’

4“I will answer you

and all your friends, too.

5Look up into the sky,

and see the clouds high above you.

6If you sin, how does that affect God?

Even if you sin again and again,

what effect will it have on him?

7If you are good, is this some great gift to him?

What could you possibly give him?

8No, your sins affect only people like yourself,

and your good deeds also affect only humans.

9“People cry out when they are oppressed.

They groan beneath the power of the mighty.

10Yet they don’t ask, ‘Where is God my Creator,

the one who gives songs in the night?

11Where is the one who makes us smarter than the animals

and wiser than the birds of the sky?’

12And when they cry out, God does not answer

because of their pride.

13But it is wrong to say God doesn’t listen,

to say the Almighty isn’t concerned.

14You say you can’t see him,

but he will bring justice if you will only wait.*35:13-14 These verses can also be translated as follows: ¹³Indeed, God doesn’t listen to their empty plea; / the Almighty is not concerned. / ¹⁴How much less will he listen when you say you don’t see him, / and that your case is before him and you’re waiting for justice.

15You say he does not respond to sinners with anger

and is not greatly concerned about wickedness.*35:15 As in Greek and Latin versions; the meaning of this Hebrew word is uncertain.

16But you are talking nonsense, Job.

You have spoken like a fool.”

Job 36

1Elihu continued speaking:

2“Let me go on, and I will show you the truth.

For I have not finished defending God!

3I will present profound arguments

for the righteousness of my Creator.

4I am telling you nothing but the truth,

for I am a man of great knowledge.

5“God is mighty, but he does not despise anyone!

He is mighty in both power and understanding.

6He does not let the wicked live

but gives justice to the afflicted.

7He never takes his eyes off the innocent,

but he sets them on thrones with kings

and exalts them forever.

8If they are bound in chains

and caught up in a web of trouble,

9he shows them the reason.

He shows them their sins of pride.

10He gets their attention

and commands that they turn from evil.

11“If they listen and obey God,

they will be blessed with prosperity throughout their lives.

All their years will be pleasant.

12But if they refuse to listen to him,

they will cross over the river of death,

dying from lack of understanding.

13For the godless are full of resentment.

Even when he punishes them,

they refuse to cry out to him for help.

14They die when they are young,

after wasting their lives in immoral living.

15But by means of their suffering, he rescues those who suffer.

For he gets their attention through adversity.

16“God is leading you away from danger, Job,

to a place free from distress.

He is setting your table with the best food.

17But you are obsessed with whether the godless will be judged.

Don’t worry, judgment and justice will be upheld.

18But watch out, or you may be seduced by wealth.*36:18 Or But don’t let your anger lead you to mockery.

Don’t let yourself be bribed into sin.

19Could all your wealth*36:19 Or Could all your cries for help.

or all your mighty efforts

keep you from distress?

20Do not long for the cover of night,

for that is when people will be destroyed.*36:16-20 The meaning of the Hebrew in this passage is uncertain.

21Be on guard! Turn back from evil,

for God sent this suffering

to keep you from a life of evil.

Elihu Reminds Job of God’s Power

22“Look, God is all-powerful.

Who is a teacher like him?

23No one can tell him what to do,

or say to him, ‘You have done wrong.’

24Instead, glorify his mighty works,

singing songs of praise.

25Everyone has seen these things,

though only from a distance.

26“Look, God is greater than we can understand.

His years cannot be counted.

27He draws up the water vapor

and then distills it into rain.

28The rain pours down from the clouds,

and everyone benefits.

29Who can understand the spreading of the clouds

and the thunder that rolls forth from heaven?

30See how he spreads the lightning around him

and how it lights up the depths of the sea.

31By these mighty acts he nourishes*36:31 Or he governs. the people,

giving them food in abundance.

32He fills his hands with lightning bolts

and hurls each at its target.

33The thunder announces his presence;

the storm announces his indignant anger.*36:33 Or even the cattle know when a storm is coming. The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain.

Job 37

1“My heart pounds as I think of this.

It trembles within me.

2Listen carefully to the thunder of God’s voice

as it rolls from his mouth.

3It rolls across the heavens,

and his lightning flashes in every direction.

4Then comes the roaring of the thunder—

the tremendous voice of his majesty.

He does not restrain it when he speaks.

5God’s voice is glorious in the thunder.

We can’t even imagine the greatness of his power.

6“He directs the snow to fall on the earth

and tells the rain to pour down.

7Then everyone stops working

so they can watch his power.

8The wild animals take cover

and stay inside their dens.

9The stormy wind comes from its chamber,

and the driving winds bring the cold.

10God’s breath sends the ice,

freezing wide expanses of water.

11He loads the clouds with moisture,

and they flash with his lightning.

12The clouds churn about at his direction.

They do whatever he commands throughout the earth.

13He makes these things happen either to punish people

or to show his unfailing love.

14“Pay attention to this, Job.

Stop and consider the wonderful miracles of God!

15Do you know how God controls the storm

and causes the lightning to flash from his clouds?

16Do you understand how he moves the clouds

with wonderful perfection and skill?

17When you are sweltering in your clothes

and the south wind dies down and everything is still,

18he makes the skies reflect the heat like a bronze mirror.

Can you do that?

19“So teach the rest of us what to say to God.

We are too ignorant to make our own arguments.

20Should God be notified that I want to speak?

Can people even speak when they are confused?*37:20 Or speak without being swallowed up?

21We cannot look at the sun,

for it shines brightly in the sky

when the wind clears away the clouds.

22So also, golden splendor comes from the mountain of God.*37:22 Or from the north; or from the abode.

He is clothed in dazzling splendor.

23We cannot imagine the power of the Almighty;

but even though he is just and righteous,

he does not destroy us.

24No wonder people everywhere fear him.

All who are wise show him reverence.*37:24 As in Greek version; Hebrew reads He is not impressed by the wise.”