Job 32; Job 33; Job 34

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Job 32

1 So these three men quit answering Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes.
2 Then Elihu son of Barachel the Buzite from the family of Ram became angry. He was angry at Job because he had justified himself rather than God.
3 He was also angry at Job's three friends because they had failed to refute [him], and yet had condemned him.
4 Now Elihu had waited to speak to Job because they were [all] older than he.
5 But when he saw that the three men could not answer Job, he became angry.
6 So Elihu son of Barachel the Buzite replied: I am young in years, while you are old; therefore I was timid and afraid to tell you what I know.
7 I thought that age should speak and maturity should teach wisdom.
8 But it is a spirit in man and the breath of the Almighty that give him understanding.
9 It is not [only] the old who are wise or the elderly who understand how to judge.
10 Therefore I say, "Listen to me. I too will declare what I know."
11 Look, I waited for your conclusions; I listened to your insights as you sought for words.
12 I paid close attention to you. Yet no one proved Job wrong; not one of you refuted his arguments.
13 So do not claim, "We have found wisdom; let God deal with him, not man."
14 But Job has not directed his argument to me, and I will not respond to him with your arguments.
15 Job's friends are dismayed and can no longer answer; words have left them.
16 Should I continue to wait now that they are silent, now that they stand [there] and no longer answer?
17 I too will answer; yes, I will tell what I know.
18 For I am full of words, and my spirit compels me [to speak].
19 My heart is like unvented wine; it is about to burst like new wineskins.
20 I must speak so that I can find relief; I must open my lips and respond.
21 I will be partial to no one, and I will not give anyone an [undeserved] title.
22 For I do not know how to give [such] titles; otherwise, my Maker would remove me in an instant.
Holman Christian Standard Bible ® Copyright © 2003, 2002, 2000, 1999 by Holman Bible Publishers.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved.

Job 33

1 But now, Job, pay attention to my speech, and listen to all my words.
2 I am going to open my mouth; my tongue will form words on my palate.
3 My words [come from] my upright heart, and my lips speak what they know with sincerity.
4 The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.
5 Refute me if you can. Prepare your case against me; take your stand.
6 I am just like you before God; I was also pinched off from [a piece of] clay.
7 Fear of me should not terrify you; the pressure I exert against you will be light.
8 Surely you have spoken in my hearing, and I have heard these very words:
9 "I am pure, without transgression; I am clean and have no guilt.
10 But He finds reasons to oppose me; He regards me as his enemy.
11 He puts my feet in the stocks; He stands watch over all my paths."
12 But I tell you that you are wrong in this [matter], since God is greater than man.
13 Why do you take Him to court for not answering anything a person asks?
14 For God speaks time and again, but a person may not notice it.
15 In a dream, a vision in the night, when deep sleep falls on people as they slumber on [their] beds,
16 He uncovers their ears at that time and terrifies them with warnings,
17 in order to turn a person [from his] actions and suppress his pride.
18 God spares his soul from the Pit, his life from crossing the river [of death].
19 A person may be disciplined on his bed with pain and constant distress in his bones,
20 so that he detests bread, and his soul [despises his] favorite food.
21 His flesh wastes away to nothing, and his unseen bones stick out.
22 He draws near the Pit, and his life to the executioners.
23 If there is an angel on his side, one mediator out of a thousand, to tell a person what is right for him
24 and to be gracious to him and say, "Spare him from going down to the Pit; I have found a ransom,"
25 then his flesh will be healthier than in his youth, and he will return to the days of his youthful vigor.
26 He will pray to God, and God will delight in him. That man will behold His face with a shout of joy, and God will restore his righteousness to him.
27 He will look at men and say, "I have sinned and perverted what was right; yet I did not get what I deserved.
28 He redeemed my soul from going down to the Pit, and I will continue to see the light."
29 God certainly does all these things two or three times to a man
30 in order to turn him back from the Pit, so he may shine with the light of life.
31 Pay attention, Job, and listen to me. Be quiet, and I will speak.
32 But if you have something to say, answer me; speak, for I would like to justify you.
33 If not, then listen to me; be quiet, and I will teach you wisdom.
Holman Christian Standard Bible ® Copyright © 2003, 2002, 2000, 1999 by Holman Bible Publishers.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved.

Job 34

1 Then Elihu continued, saying:
2 Hear my words, you wise men, and listen to me, you knowledgeable ones.
3 Doesn't the ear test words as the palate tastes food?
4 Let us judge for ourselves what is right; let us decide together what is good.
5 For Job has declared, "I am righteous, yet God has deprived me of justice.
6 Would I lie about my case? My wound is incurable, though I am without transgression."
7 What man is like Job? He drinks derision like water.
8 He keeps company with evildoers and walks with wicked men.
9 For he has said, "A man gains nothing when he becomes God's friend."
10 Therefore listen to me, you men of understanding. It is impossible for God [to do] wrong, and [for] the Almighty [to act] unjustly.
11 For He repays a person [according to] his deeds, and He brings his ways on him.
12 Indeed, it is true that God does not act wickedly and the Almighty does not pervert justice.
13 Who gave Him authority over the earth? Who put Him in charge of the entire world?
14 If He put His mind to it and withdrew the spirit and breath He [gave],
15 every living thing would perish together and mankind would return to the dust.
16 If you [have] understanding, hear this; listen to what I have to say.
17 Could one who hates justice govern [the world]? Will you condemn the mighty Righteous One,
18 who says to a king, "Worthless man!" and to nobles, "Wicked men!"?
19 God is not partial to princes and does not favor the rich over the poor, for they are all the work of His hands.
20 They die suddenly in the middle of the night; people shudder, then pass away. Even the mighty are removed without effort.
21 For His eyes [watch] over a man's ways, and He observes all his steps.
22 There is no darkness, no deep darkness, where evildoers can hide themselves.
23 God does not [need to] examine a person further, that one should approach Him in court.
24 He shatters the mighty without an investigation and sets others in their place.
25 Therefore, He recognizes their deeds and overthrows [them] by night, and they are crushed.
26 In full view of the public, He strikes them for their wickedness,
27 because they turned aside from following Him and did not understand any of His ways
28 but caused the poor to cry out to Him, and He heard the outcry of the afflicted.
29 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,
30 so that godless men should not rule or ensnare the people.
31 Suppose someone says to God, "I have endured [my punishment]; I will no [longer] act wickedly.
32 Teach me what I cannot see; if I have done wrong, I won't do it again."
33 Should God repay [you] on your terms when you have rejected [His]? You must choose, not I! So declare what you know.
34 Reasonable men will say to me, along with the wise men who hear me,
35 "Job speaks without knowledge; his words are without insight."
36 If only Job were tested to the limit, because [his] answers are [like] those of wicked men.
37 For he adds rebellion to his sin; he [scornfully] claps in our presence, while multiplying his words against God.
Holman Christian Standard Bible ® Copyright © 2003, 2002, 2000, 1999 by Holman Bible Publishers.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved.