Elihu Rebukes Job

1“ But, please, O Job, hear my speech,

and give ear to all my words.

2Behold now, I open my mouth;

my tongue speaks in my palate.

3From the straightness of my heart are my words,

and my lips, being pure, speak knowledge.

4The Spirit of God has made me,

and the breath of Shaddai† gives me life.

5If you are able to refute me,

arrange it before my face; station yourself.

6Behold, I am according to your mouth before God;

from clay I also have been formed.

7Behold, my terror should not frighten you;

and my hand on you shall not be heavy.

8Surely you have spoken in my ears,

and the sound of the words I have heard.

9‘I am pure, without transgression;

I am clean, and no iniquity is in me.

10Behold, He finds occasions against me;

He reckons me as an enemy to Him.

11He puts my feet into the shackles;

He watches all my paths.’

12Behold, in this you are not right;

I will answer you, for God is greater than man.

13Why do you contend against Him,

for all words He does not answer?†

14For once God speaks,

and twice—one does not perceive it.

15In a dream,

a vision of the night,

in the falling of deep sleep upon men,

in slumbers upon a bed,

16then He uncovers the ear of men,

and with correction He seals them,

17to turn aside a man from his doing,

and to conceal pride from a man.

18He holds back his soul from the Pit,

and his life from crossing over by a weapon.

19And he is churried with pain on his bed,

and strife in his bones is continual,

20and his life abhors bread,

and his soul food of desire.

21His flesh is consumed from sight,

and his bones that were not seen are laid bare.

22And his soul draws near to the pit,

and his life to those causing death.

23If there is a messenger for him,

a mediator, one among a thousand,

to declare to man his uprightness,

24and shows him favor and says,

‘Spare him from going down into the Pit;

I have found a ransom,’

25then his flesh is refreshed like a child’s,

and he returns to the days of his youth.

26He prays to God, and He shows him favor;

and he sees His face with a shout of joy,

and He restores to the man

His righteousness.

27Then he shall sing before men†

and say,

‘I have sinned, and have twisted uprightness,

and He did not requite it of me.

28He has ransomed my soul from going down to the Pit,

and my life shall look on the light.’

29Behold, all these things God does

two or three times with a man,

30to bring back his soul from the Pit,

to be enlightened with the light of the living.

31Pay attention, O Job; listen to me;

be silent, and I will speak.

32If there are words, answer me;

speak, for I delight to prove you right.

33If not, then you must listen to me;

keep silent, and I will teach you wisdom.”