Elihu Asks Job to Hear and Respond
“However now, Job, please ahear my speech,
And give ear 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 aknowledge sincerely.
4 The aSpirit of God has made me,
And the bbreath of the Almighty gives me life.
5 aRespond to me if you can;
Arrange yourselves before me, take your stand.
6 Behold, I belong to God like you;
I too have been formed out of the aclay.
7 Behold, ano dread 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 speech:
9 ‘I am apure, bwithout transgression;
I am innocent, and there cis no guilt in me.
10 Behold, He finds reasons for opposition against me;
He acounts me as His enemy.
11 He aputs my feet in the stocks;
He keeps watch over all my paths.’
12 Behold, let me answer you; ayou are not right in this,
For God is greater than mortal man.
13 “Why do you acontend against Him?
For He does not give an answer for all His doings.
14 Indeed aGod speaks once,
Or twice, yet no one perceives it.
15 In a adream, a vision of the night,
When deep sleep falls on men,
While they slumber in their beds,
16 Then aHe opens the ears of men,
And seals in their discipline,
17 That He may turn man aside from his conduct,
And keep man from pride;
18 He aholds back his soul from the pit,
And his life from passing over to death bby a weapon.
19 “Man is also reproved with apain on his bed,
And with unceasing contention in his bones,
20 So that his life aloathes bread,
And his soul favorite food.
21 His aflesh wastes away from sight,
And his bbones which were not seen stick out.
22 Then ahis soul draws near to the pit,
And his life to those who bring death.
23 “If there is an angel as amediator for him,
One out of a thousand,
To declare to a man what is right for him,
24 Then let him be gracious to him, and say,
‘Deliver him from agoing down to the pit;
I have found batonement’;
25 Let his flesh become fresher than in youth,
Let him return to the days of his youthful vigor;
26 Then he will aentreat God, and He will accept him,
And bhe will see His face with joyful shouts,
And He may restore His righteousness to man.
27 He will sing to men and say,
‘I ahave sinned and perverted what is right,
But He has not done bwhat is due to me.
28 He has redeemed my soul from passing into the pit,
And my life shall asee the light.’
29 “Behold, God does aall these things twice, three times with men,
30 To abring 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 I will speak.
32 Then if you have any speech, respond to me;
Speak, for I desire to prove you righteous.
33 If not, alisten to me;
Keep silent, and I will teach you wisdom.”