Elihu Asks Job to Hear and Respond

1“However now, Job, please hear my speech,

And give ear to all my words.

2Behold now, I open my mouth;

My tongue in my [†]mouth speaks.

3My words are from the uprightness of my heart,

And my lips speak knowledge sincerely.

4The Spirit of God has made me,

And the breath of [†]the Almighty gives me life.

5Respond to me if you can;

Arrange yourselves before me, take your stand.

6Behold, I belong to God like you;

I too have been [†]formed out of the clay.

7Behold, no 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 pure, without transgression;

I am innocent, and there is no guilt in me.

10Behold, He finds reasons for opposition against me;

He counts me as His enemy.

11He puts my feet in the stocks;

He keeps watch over all my paths.’

12Behold, let me answer you; you are not right in this,

For God is greater than mortal man.

13“Why do you contend against Him?

For He does not give an answer for all His doings.

14Indeed God speaks once,

Or twice, yet no one perceives it.

15In a dream, a vision of the night,

When deep sleep falls on men,

While they slumber in their beds,

16Then He opens the ears of men,

And seals in their discipline,

17That He may turn man aside from his conduct,

And [†]keep man from pride;

18He holds back his soul from the pit,

And his life from passing over [†]to death by a weapon.

19“[†]Man is also reproved with pain on his bed,

And with unceasing contention in his bones,

20So that his life loathes bread,

And his soul favorite food.

21His flesh wastes away from sight,

And his bones which were not seen stick out.

22Then his soul draws near to the pit,

And his life to those who bring death.

23“If there is an angel as mediator for him,

One out of a thousand,

To declare to a man what is [†]right for him,

24Then let him be gracious to him, and say,

‘Deliver him from going down to the pit;

I have found atonement’;

25Let his flesh become fresher than in youth,

Let him return to the days of his youthful vigor;

26Then he will entreat God, and He will accept him,

And he will see His face with joyful shouts,

And He may restore His righteousness to man.

27He will sing to men and say,

‘I have sinned and perverted what is right,

But He has not done what is due to me.

28He has redeemed my soul from passing into the pit,

And my life shall see the light.’

29“Behold, God does all these things twice, three times with men,

30To bring back his soul from the pit,

That he may be enlightened with the light of life.

31Pay attention, O Job, listen to me;

Keep silent, and I will speak.

32Then if [†]you have any speech, respond to me;

Speak, for I desire to prove you righteous.

33If not, listen to me;

Keep silent, and I will teach you wisdom.”