Elihu Begins His Discourse

1“Now please listen to what I have to say, Job.

Listen to every word!

2Look! I’ve begun to speak,a

and I’m fashioning my words.b

3I speak from the innocencec of my heart;

and my lips will utter what I sincerely know.

4“The spirit of God fashioned me;

and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.

5Answer me, if you can!

Present your case! Take your stand in my presence!

6Look! As far as God is concerned,d I’m just like you are—

I, too, have been pinched off from a piece of clay.

7Don’t be afraid of me;

I’ll go easye on you.”

Elihu Reviews Job’s Claim for Innocence

8“You spoke clearly so I could hear;

I’ve heard what you’ve said:

9‘I’m pure. I’m without sin;

I’m innocent. I’m harboring no iniquity inside of me.

10Nevertheless, Godf has found a pretext to attack me;

he considers me his enemy.

11He has bound my feet in shackles,

and keeps watching everything I do.’”g

God Responds to Humanity’s Need

12“You aren’t right about this;

My response is that God is greater than human beings.

13Why are you arguing with him?

He doesn’t have to give explanations for what he does to you!

14“God speaks time and time againh —

but nobody notices—

15in a dream or night vision,

when a deep sleep falls on mankind

while they sleep on their beds.

16That’s when he opens the ear of mankind,

authenticating his messagesi to them,

17turning a person from his actions,

keeping himj from pride,

18sparing his soul from the Pitk

and his life from violent death.l

19“He is being reproved by painful bed rest,

with continual aching in his bones.

20He cannot stand his food,

and hem has no desire for appetizing food.

21His flesh wastes away;

his bones, which once couldn’t be seen, are visible.

22His soul is getting close to the Pit;n

his life is approaching its executioner.”

God Delivers through His Ransom

23“If there’s a messengero appointed to mediate for Jobp

—one out of a thousand—

to represent the man’s integrity on his behalf,

24to show favor to him and to plead,

‘Deliver him from having to go down to the Pitq —

I know where his ransom is!’

25Let his flesh be rejuvenatedr as he was in his youth!

Let him recover the strength of his youth.

26Let him pray to God

and he will accept him;

he will appear before him with joyful shouts!”

The Song of the Ransomed

27“He’ll sing to mankind with these words:

‘I’ve sinned. I have twisted what is right.

Yet he has not repaid me like I deserve.s

28He has redeemed my soul from going down to the Pit;t

my life will see the light.’

29Indeed God does all these things

again and againu with a person

30to bring back his soul from the Pit;v

to light him with the light of life.”

Elihu Invites Job to Respond

31“Job, pay attention! Listen to me!

Be silent and let me speak.

32If you have anything to say, answer me;

speak up, because I’d be happy to vindicate you.

33But if you have nothing to say, then at least listen to me!

Be quiet and learn some wisdom from me.”