Job 32-37 | ESV | STEP | So these three men ceased to answer Job , because he was righteous in his own eyes .

Job 32

Elihu Rebukes Job’s Three Friends

1 So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was ^arighteous in his own eyes. 2 Then Elihu the son of Barachel ^bthe Buzite, of the family of Ram, burned with anger. He burned with anger at Job because he justified himself ^crather than God. 3 He burned with anger also at Job’s three friends because they had found no answer, although they had ^ddeclared Job to be in the wrong. 4 Now Elihu had waited to speak to Job because they were older than he. 5 And when Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, he burned with anger.

6 And Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered and said:

“I am young in years,
and you are ^eaged;
therefore I was timid and afraid
to declare my opinion to you.
7 I said, ‘Let days speak,
and many years teach wisdom.’
8 But it is ^fthe spirit in man,
^gthe breath of the Almighty, that makes him ^hunderstand.
9 ⁱIt is not the old ^{▼▼Hebrew many [in years]} who are wise,
nor the aged who understand what is right.
10 Therefore I say, ‘Listen to me;
let me also declare my opinion.’
11 “Behold, I waited for your words,
I listened for your wise sayings,
while you searched out what to say.
12 I gave you my attention,
and, behold, there was none among you who refuted Job
or who answered his words.
13 Beware ^klest you say, ‘We have found wisdom;
God may vanquish him, not a man.’
14 He has not directed his words against me,
and I will not answer him with your speeches.
15 “They are dismayed; they answer no more;
they have not a word to say.
16 And shall I wait, because they do not speak,
because they stand there, and answer no more?
17 I also will answer with my share;
I also will declare my opinion.
18 For I am full of words;
the spirit within me constrains me.
19 Behold, my belly is like wine that has no vent;
like new ^lwineskins ready to burst.
20 ^mI must speak, that I may find ⁿrelief;
I must open my lips and answer.
21 I will not ^oshow partiality to any man
or use flattery toward any person.
22 For I do not know how to flatter,
else my Maker would soon take me away.

Job 33

Elihu Rebukes Job

1 “But now, hear my speech, O Job,
and listen to all my words.
2 Behold, I ^popen my mouth;
the tongue in my mouth speaks.
3 My words declare the uprightness of my heart,
and what my lips know they speak sincerely.
4 ^qThe Spirit of God has made me,
and ^rthe breath of the Almighty gives me life.
5 ^sAnswer me, if you can;
^tset your words in order before me; take your stand.
6 Behold, I am toward God as you are;
I too was pinched off from a piece of ^uclay.
7 Behold, no ^vfear of me need terrify you;
my ^wpressure will not be heavy upon you.
8 “Surely you have spoken in my ears,
and I have heard the sound of your words.
9 You say, ‘I am ^xpure, without ^ytransgression;
I am clean, and there is no iniquity in me.
10 Behold, he finds occasions against me,
he ^zcounts me as his enemy,
11 he ^aaputs my feet in the stocks
and ^abwatches all my paths.’
12 “Behold, in this you are not right. I will answer you,
for God is greater than man.
13 Why do you ^accontend against him,
saying, ‘He ^adwill answer none of man’s ^{▼▼Hebrew his} words’? ^{▼▼Or He will not answer for any of his own words}
14 For God ^agspeaks in one way,
^ahand in two, though man ^aidoes not perceive it.
15 In ^aja dream, in ^aka vision of ^althe night,
when ^amdeep sleep falls on men,
while they slumber on their beds,
16 then he ^anopens the ears of men
and terrifies them with warnings,
17 that he may turn man aside from his ^aodeed
and conceal pride from a man;
18 he keeps back his soul from the pit,
his life from ^apperishing by the sword.
19 “Man is also rebuked with pain on his bed
and with continual strife in his ^aqbones,
20 so that his ^arlife loathes bread,
and his appetite ^asthe choicest food.
21 His flesh is so wasted away that it cannot be seen,
and his bones that were not seen ^atstick out.
22 His soul draws near ^authe pit,
and his life to ^avthose who bring death.
23 If there be for him ^awan angel,
^axa mediator, ^ayone of the thousand,
to declare to man what is ^azright for him,
24 and he is merciful to him, and says,
‘Deliver him from going down into the pit;
I have found ^baa ransom;
25 let his flesh ^bbbecome fresh with youth;
let him return to the days of his youthful vigor’;
26 then man ^{▼▼Hebrew he} ^bdprays to God, and he accepts him;
he ^besees his face with a shout of joy,
and he ^bfrestores to man his righteousness.
27 He sings before men and says:
‘I ^bgsinned and perverted what was right,
and it was not repaid to me.
28 He has redeemed my ^bhsoul from going down ^biinto the pit,
and my life shall ^bjlook upon the light.’
29 “Behold, God does all these things,
twice, ^bkthree times, with a man,
30 to bring back his soul from the pit,
that he may be lighted with ^blthe light of life.
31 Pay attention, O Job, listen to me;
be silent, and I will speak.
32 If you have any words, ^bmanswer me;
^bnspeak, for I desire to justify you.
33 If not, ^bolisten to me;
be silent, and I will teach you wisdom.”

Job 34

Elihu Asserts God’s Justice

1 Then Elihu answered and said:

2 “Hear my words, you wise men,
and give ear to me, you who know;
3 for ^bpthe ear tests words
as the palate tastes food.
4 Let us choose ^bqwhat is right;
let us know among ourselves what is good.
5 For Job has said, ‘I am ^brin the right,
and ^bsGod has taken away my right;
6 in spite of my right I am counted a liar;
my wound is incurable, though I am ^btwithout transgression.’
7 What man is like Job,
who ^budrinks up scoffing like water,
8 who travels in company with evildoers
and walks ^bvwith wicked men?
9 For ^bwhe has said, ‘It profits a man nothing
that he should take delight in God.’
10 “Therefore, hear me, you men of understanding:
far be it from God that he should ^bxdo wickedness,
and from the Almighty that he should do wrong.
11 For according to ^bythe work of a man he will repay him,
and ^bzaccording to his ways he will make it befall him.
12 Of a truth, God will not do wickedly,
and ^cathe Almighty will not pervert justice.
13 Who gave him charge over the earth,
and who ^cblaid on him ^{▼▼Hebrew lacks on him} the whole world?
14 If he should ^cdset his heart to it
and ^cegather to himself his ^cfspirit and his breath,
15 all flesh would perish together,
and man would ^cgreturn to dust.
16 “If you have understanding, hear this;
listen to what I say.
17 ^chShall one who hates justice govern?
Will you condemn him who is righteous and mighty,
18 who ^cisays to a king, ‘Worthless one,’
and to nobles, ‘Wicked man,’
19 who ^cjshows no partiality to princes,
nor regards the rich ^ckmore than the poor,
for ^clthey are all the work of his hands?
20 In a moment ^cmthey die;
at ^cnmidnight the people are shaken and pass away,
and the mighty are taken away by ^cono human hand.
21 “For his eyes are on ^cpthe ways of a man,
and he sees all his ^cqsteps.
22 There is no ^crgloom or ^csdeep darkness
where evildoers may hide themselves.
23 For God ^{▼▼Hebrew he} has no need to consider a man further,
that he should go before God in ^cujudgment.
24 He ^cvshatters the mighty without investigation
and sets ^cwothers in their place.
25 Thus, knowing their works,
he ^cxoverturns them in the night, and they are crushed.
26 He strikes them for their wickedness
in a place for all to see,
27 because they turned aside from ^cyfollowing him
and had no regard for any of his ways,
28 so that they ^czcaused the cry of the poor to come to him,
and he ^daheard the cry of the afflicted—
29 When he is quiet, who can condemn?
When he hides his face, who can behold him,
whether it be a nation or a man?—
30 that a godless man should not reign,
that he should not ensnare the people.
31 “For has anyone said to God,
‘I have borne punishment; I will not offend any more;
32 ^dbteach me what I do not see;
if I have done iniquity, I will do it no more’?
33 Will he then make repayment to suit you,
because you reject it?
For you must choose, and not I;
therefore ^dcdeclare what you know. ^{▼▼The meaning of the Hebrew in verses 29–33 is uncertain}
34 Men of understanding will say to me,
and the wise man who hears me will say:
35 ‘Job ^despeaks without knowledge;
his words are without insight.’
36 Would that Job were tried to the end,
because he answers like wicked men.
37 For he adds rebellion to his sin;
he ^dfclaps his hands among us
and multiplies his words against God.”

Job 35

Elihu Condemns Job

1 And Elihu answered and said:

2 “Do you think this to be just?
Do you say, ^dg‘It is my right before God,’
3 that you ask, ^dh‘What advantage have I?
How am I better off than if I had sinned?’
4 I will answer you
and ^diyour friends with you.
5 ^djLook at the heavens, and see;
and behold the clouds, which are higher than you.
6 If you have sinned, ^dkwhat do you accomplish against him?
And if your transgressions are multiplied, what do you do to him?
7 ^dlIf you are righteous, what do you give to him?
Or what does he receive from your hand?
8 Your wickedness concerns a man like yourself,
and your righteousness ^dma son of man.
9 “Because of the multitude of ^dnoppressions people ^docry out;
they call for help because of the arm of ^dpthe mighty. ^{▼▼Or the many}
10 But none says, ‘Where is God my ^drMaker,
who gives ^dssongs in the night,
11 who teaches us ^dtmore than the beasts of the earth
and makes us wiser than the birds of the heavens?’
12 There they ^ducry out, but he does not answer,
because of the pride of evil men.
13 Surely God does not hear an empty cry,
nor does the Almighty regard it.
14 How much less when you say that you ^dvdo not see him,
that the case is before him, and you are ^dwwaiting for him!
15 And now, because ^dxhis anger does not punish,
and he does not take much note of transgression, ^{▼▼Theodotion, Symmachus (compare Vulgate); the meaning of the Hebrew word is uncertain}
16 Job opens his mouth in empty talk;
he ^dzmultiplies words ^eawithout knowledge.”

Job 36

Elihu Extols God’s Greatness

1 And Elihu continued, and said:

2 “Bear with me a little, and I will show you,
for I have yet something to say on God’s behalf.
3 I will get my knowledge from ^ebafar
and ascribe ^ecrighteousness to my ^edMaker.
4 For truly my words are not false;
one who is ^eeperfect in knowledge is with you.
5 “Behold, God is mighty, and ^efdoes not despise any;
he is ^egmighty in strength of understanding.
6 He does not keep the wicked alive,
but gives ^ehthe afflicted their right.
7 He does not withdraw his ^eieyes from the righteous,
but with ^ejkings on the throne
he sets them forever, and they are ^ekexalted.
8 And if they are ^elbound in chains
and caught in the cords of affliction,
9 then he declares to them their work
and their transgressions, that they are ^embehaving arrogantly.
10 He ^enopens their ears to instruction
and commands that they ^eoreturn from iniquity.
11 ^epIf they listen and serve him,
they ^eqcomplete their days in prosperity,
and their years in pleasantness.
12 But if they do not listen, they ^erperish by the sword
and die ^eswithout knowledge.
13 “The ^etgodless in heart cherish anger;
they do not cry for help when he ^eubinds them.
14 They ^evdie in youth,
and their life ends among the cult prostitutes.
15 He delivers ^ewthe afflicted by their affliction
and ^exopens their ear by adversity.
16 He also allured you out of distress
into ^eya broad place where there was no cramping,
and what was set on your ^eztable was full of ^fafatness.
17 “But you are full of the judgment on the wicked;
judgment and justice seize you.
18 Beware lest wrath entice you into scoffing,
and let not the greatness of ^fbthe ransom turn you aside.
19 Will your ^fccry for help avail to keep you from distress,
or all the force of your strength?
20 Do not long for ^fdthe night,
when peoples vanish ^fein their place.
21 Take care; ^ffdo not turn to iniquity,
for this you have chosen rather than affliction.
22 Behold, God is exalted in his power;
who is ^fga teacher like him?
23 Who has ^fhprescribed for him his way,
or who can say, ^fi‘You have done wrong’?
24 “Remember to ^fjextol his work,
of which men have ^fksung.
25 All mankind has looked on it;
man beholds it from afar.
26 Behold, God is great, and we ^flknow him not;
the number of his ^fmyears is unsearchable.
27 For he draws up the drops of water;
they distill his ^fnmist in ^forain,
28 which ^fpthe skies pour down
and drop on mankind abundantly.
29 Can anyone understand ^fqthe spreading of the clouds,
the thunderings of his ^frpavilion?
30 Behold, he scatters his lightning about him
and covers the roots of the sea.
31 For by these he ^fsjudges peoples;
he gives ^ftfood in abundance.
32 He covers his ^fuhands with the lightning
and commands it to strike the mark.
33 Its crashing declares his presence; ^{▼▼Hebrew declares concerning him}
the cattle also declare that he rises.

Job 37

Elihu Proclaims God’s Majesty

1 “At this also my heart trembles
and leaps out of its place.
2 Keep listening to the thunder of his voice
and the rumbling that comes from his mouth.
3 Under the whole heaven he lets it go,
and his ^fwlightning to the ^fxcorners of the earth.
4 After it ^fyhis voice roars;
^fzhe thunders with his majestic voice,
and he does not restrain the lightnings ^{▼▼Hebrew them} when his voice is heard.
5 God thunders wondrously with his voice;
he does ^gbgreat things that we cannot ^gccomprehend.
6 For to ^gdthe snow he says, ‘Fall on the earth,’
likewise to the downpour, his mighty downpour.
7 He ^geseals up the hand of every man,
that all men whom he made may ^gfknow it.
8 Then the beasts go into their ^gglairs,
and remain in their ^ghdens.
9 From ^giits chamber ^gjcomes the whirlwind,
and ^gkcold from the scattering winds.
10 By the breath of God ^glice is given,
and ^gmthe broad waters are frozen fast.
11 He loads the thick cloud with moisture;
the clouds scatter his lightning.
12 They ^gnturn around and around by his ^goguidance,
^gpto accomplish all that he commands them
on the face of ^gqthe habitable world.
13 Whether for ^grcorrection or for his ^gsland
or for ^gtlove, he causes it to happen.
14 “Hear this, O Job;
stop and ^guconsider the wondrous works of God.
15 Do you know how God lays his command upon them
and causes the lightning of his cloud to shine?
16 Do you know the balancings ^{▼▼Or hoverings} of the clouds,
the wondrous works of him who is ^gwperfect in knowledge,
17 you whose garments are hot
when the earth is still because of the south wind?
18 Can you, like him, ^gxspread out the skies,
hard as a cast metal ^gymirror?
19 Teach us what we shall say to him;
we cannot draw up our case because of ^gzdarkness.
20 Shall it be told him that I would speak?
Did a man ever wish that he would be swallowed up?
21 “And now no one looks on the light
when it is bright in the skies,
when the wind has passed and cleared them.
22 Out of the north comes golden splendor;
God is clothed with ^haawesome majesty.
23 The Almighty—we ^hbcannot find him;
he is ^hcgreat in power;
^hdjustice and abundant righteousness he will not ^heviolate.
24 Therefore men ^hffear him;
he does not regard any who are ^hgwise in their own conceit.” ^{▼▼Hebrew in heart}