Study Desk

Look, I waited for your conclusions; I listened to your insights as you sought for words.

I paid close attention to you. Yet no one proved Job wrong; not one of you refuted his arguments.

So do not claim, "We have found wisdom; let God deal with him, not man."

But Job has not directed his argument to me, and I will not respond to him with your arguments.

Job's friends are dismayed and can no longer answer; words have left them.

Should I continue to wait now that they are silent, now that they stand there and no longer answer?

I too will answer;^[c] yes, I will tell what I know.

For I am full of words, and my spirit^[d] compels me to speak.^(f)

My heart^[e] is like unvented wine; it is about to burst like new wineskins.^(g)

I must speak so that I can find relief; I must open my lips and respond.

I will be partial to no one,^(h) and I will not give anyone an undeserved title.

For I do not know how to give such titles; otherwise, my Maker would remove me in an instant.

But now, Job, pay attention to my speech, and listen to all my words.

I am going to open my mouth; my tongue will form words on my palate.

My words come from my upright^(a) heart, and my lips speak with sincerity what they know.

The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty^(b) gives me life.^(c)

Refute me if you can. Prepare^(d) your case against me; take your stand.^(e)

I am just like you before God; I was also pinched off from a piece of clay.^(f)

Fear^(g) of me should not terrify you; the pressure I exert^[a] against you will be light.

Surely you have spoken in my hearing, and I have heard these very^[b] words:

"I am pure, without transgression; I am clean and have no guilt.^(h)

But He finds reasons to oppose me; He regards me as His enemy.⁽ⁱ⁾

He puts my feet in the stocks; He stands watch^(j) over all my paths."

But I tell you that you are wrong in this matter, since God is greater than man.^(k)

Why do you take^(l) Him to court for not answering anything a person asks?^[c]

For God speaks time and again, but a person may not notice it.

In a dream, a vision^(m) in the night, when deep sleep falls on people⁽ⁿ⁾ as they slumber on their beds,

He uncovers their ears^(o) at that time and terrifies them^[d] with warnings,

in order to turn a person from his actions and suppress his pride.^[e]

God spares his soul from the Pit,^(p) his life from crossing the river of death.^[f]

A person may be disciplined on his bed^(q) with pain and constant distress in his bones,^(r)

so that he detests bread, and his soul despises his favorite food.^(s)

His flesh wastes away to nothing,^[g] and his unseen bones stick out.

He draws near to the Pit, and his life to the executioners.

If there is an angel^(t) on his side, one mediator out of a thousand, to tell a person what is right for him^[h]

and to be gracious to him and say, "Spare him from going down to the Pit; I have found a ransom,"^(u)

then his flesh will be healthier^[i] than in his youth, and he will return to the days of his youthful vigor.^(v)

He will pray to God, and God will delight in him. That man will see His face^(w) with a shout of joy, and God will restore his righteousness to him.^(x)

He will look at men and say, "I have sinned and perverted what was right; yet I did not get what I deserved.^[j]

He redeemed my soul from going down to the Pit, and I will continue to see the light."

God certainly does all these things two or three times to a man

in order to turn him back from the Pit, so he may shine with the light of life.^(y)

Pay attention, Job, and listen to me. Be quiet, and I will speak.

But if you have something to say,^[k] answer me; speak, for I would like to justify you.

If not, then listen to me; be quiet, and I will teach you wisdom.

Then Elihu continued,^[a] saying:

Hear my words, you wise men, and listen to me, you knowledgeable ones.

Doesn't the ear test words as the palate tastes food?

Let us judge for ourselves what is right; let us decide together what is good.

For Job has declared, "I am righteous, yet God has deprived me of justice.^(a)

Would I lie about my case?^(b) My wound^[b] is incurable, though I am without transgression."

What man is like Job? He drinks derision^(c) like water.

He keeps company with evildoers and walks with wicked men.

For he has said, "A man gains nothing when he becomes God's friend."^(d)

Therefore listen to me, you men of understanding. It is impossible for God to do wrong, and for the Almighty to act unjustly.^(e)

For He repays^(f) a person according to his deeds, and He brings his ways on him.

Indeed, it is true that God does not act wickedly and the Almighty does not pervert justice.^(g)

Who gave Him authority over the earth? Who put Him in charge of the entire world?^(h)

If He put His mind to it and withdrew the spirit⁽ⁱ⁾ and breath He gave,

every living thing would perish together and mankind would return to the dust.^(j)

If you have understanding, hear this; listen to what I have to say.

Could one who hates justice govern the world? Will you condemn the mighty Righteous One,^(k)

who says to a king, "Worthless man!" and to nobles, "Wicked men!"?^(l)

God is not partial^(m) to princes and does not favor the rich over the poor, for they are all the work of His hands.

They die suddenly in the middle of the night; people shudder, then pass away. Even the mighty are removed without effort.

For His eyes watch over a man's ways, and He observes all his steps.⁽ⁿ⁾

There is no darkness, no deep darkness, where evildoers can hide themselves.^(o)

God does not need to examine a person further, that one should^[c] approach Him in court.

He shatters the mighty without an investigation and sets others in their place.^(p)

Therefore, He recognizes their deeds^(q) and overthrows them by night, and they are crushed.

In full view of the public,^[d] He strikes them for their wickedness,

because they turned aside from following Him and did not understand any of His ways

but caused the poor to cry out to Him, and He heard the outcry of the afflicted.^(r)

But when God is silent, who can declare Him guilty? When He hides His face, who can see Him? Yet He watches over both individuals and nations,

so that godless men should not rule or ensnare the people.

Suppose someone says to God, "I have endured my punishment; I will no longer act wickedly.

Teach me what I cannot see; if I have done wrong, I won't do it again."

Should God repay you on your terms when you have rejected His? You must choose, not I! So declare what you know.

Reasonable men will say to me, along with the wise men who hear me,

"Job speaks without knowledge;^(s) his words are without insight."

If only Job were tested to the limit, because his answers are like those of wicked men.

For he adds rebellion to his sin; he scornfully claps^(t) in our presence, while multiplying^(u) his words against God.

Then Elihu continued, saying:

Do you think it is just when you say, "I am righteous before God"?

For you ask, "What does it profit You,^[a] and what benefit comes to me, if I do not sin?"^(a)

I will answer you and your friends with you.

Look at the heavens and see; gaze at the clouds high above you.

If you sin, how does it affect God? If you multiply your transgressions, what does it do to Him?

If you are righteous, what do you give Him, or what does He receive from your hand?^(b)

Your wickedness affects a person like yourself, and your righteousness another human being.

People cry out because of severe oppression; they shout for help because of the arm of the mighty.^(c)

But no one asks, "Where is God my Maker,^(d) who provides us with songs in the night,^(e)

who gives us more understanding than the animals of the earth and makes us wiser than the birds of the sky?"^(f)

There they cry out, but He does not answer, because of the pride of evil men.^(g)

Indeed, God does not listen to empty cries, and the Almighty does not take note of it—

how much less when^[b] you complain^[c] that you do not see Him, that your case^(h) is before Him and you are waiting⁽ⁱ⁾ for Him.

But now, because God's anger does not punish and He does not pay attention to transgression,^[d]

Job opens his mouth in vain and multiplies words without knowledge.^(j)