Elihu’s Zeal for God’s Justice and the Limits of His Answer

Job 32

32:1So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes.

32:2Then the wrath of Elihu the son of Barachel, the Buzite, of the family of Ram, was kindled against Job. His wrath was kindled because he justified himself rather than God.

32:3Also his wrath was kindled against his three friends, because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job.

32:4Now Elihu had waited to speak to Job, because they were older than he.

32:5When Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, his wrath was kindled.

32:6Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered, “I am young, and you are very old. Therefore I held back, and didn’t dare show you my opinion.

32:7I said, ‘Days should speak, and multitude of years should teach wisdom.’

32:8But there is a spirit in man, and the Spirit of the Almighty gives them understanding.

32:9It is not the great who are wise, nor the aged who understand justice.

32:10Therefore I said, ‘Listen to me; I also will show my opinion.’

32:11“Behold, I waited for your words, and I listened for your reasoning, while you searched out what to say.

32:12Yes, I gave you my full attention, but there was no one who convinced Job, or who answered his words, among you.

32:13Beware lest you say, ‘We have found wisdom. God may refute him, not man;’

32:14for he has not directed his words against me; neither will I answer him with your speeches.

32:15“They are amazed. They answer no more. They don’t have a word to say.

32:16Shall I wait, because they don’t speak, because they stand still, and answer no more?

32:17I also will answer my part, and I also will show my opinion.

32:18For I am full of words. The spirit within me constrains me.

32:19Behold, my breast is as wine which has no vent; like new wineskins it is ready to burst.

32:20I will speak, that I may be refreshed. I will open my lips and answer.

32:21Please don’t let me respect any man’s person, neither will I give flattering titles to any man.

32:22For I don’t know how to give flattering titles, or else my Maker would soon take me away.

Job 33

33:1“However, Job, please hear my speech, and listen to all my words.

33:2See now, I have opened my mouth. My tongue has spoken in my mouth.

33:3My words will utter the uprightness of my heart. That which my lips know they will speak sincerely.

33:4The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.

33:5If you can, answer me. Set your words in order before me, and stand up.

33:6Behold, I am toward God even as you are. I am also formed out of the clay.

33:7Behold, my terror will not make you afraid, neither will my pressure be heavy on you.

33:8“Surely you have spoken in my hearing, I have heard the voice of your words, saying,

33:9‘I am clean, without disobedience. I am innocent, neither is there iniquity in me.

33:10Behold, he finds occasions against me. He counts me for his enemy.

33:11He puts my feet in the stocks. He marks all my paths.’

33:12“Behold, I will answer you. In this you are not just, for God is greater than man.

33:13Why do you strive against him, because he doesn’t give account of any of his matters?

33:14For God speaks once, yes twice, though man pays no attention.

33:15In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on men, in slumbering on the bed,

33:16then he opens the ears of men, and seals their instruction,

33:17that he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man.

33:18He keeps back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword.

33:19“He is chastened also with pain on his bed, with continual strife in his bones,

33:20so that his life abhors bread, and his soul dainty food.

33:21His flesh is so consumed away that it can’t be seen. His bones that were not seen stick out.

33:22Yes, his soul draws near to the pit, and his life to the destroyers.

33:23“If there is beside him an angel, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to show to man what is right for him,

33:24then God is gracious to him, and says, ‘Deliver him from going down to the pit, I have found a ransom.’

33:25His flesh will be fresher than a child’s. He returns to the days of his youth.

33:26He prays to God, and he is favorable to him, so that he sees his face with joy. He restores to man his righteousness.

33:27He sings before men, and says, ‘I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it didn’t profit me.

33:28He has redeemed my soul from going into the pit. My life will see the light.’

33:29“Behold, God does all these things, twice, yes three times, with a man,

33:30to bring back his soul from the pit, that he may be enlightened with the light of the living.

33:31Mark well, Job, and listen to me. Hold your peace, and I will speak.

33:32If you have anything to say, answer me. Speak, for I desire to justify you.

33:33If not, listen to me. Hold your peace, and I will teach you wisdom.”

Job 34

34:1Moreover Elihu answered,

34:2“Hear my words, you wise men. Give ear to me, you who have knowledge.

34:3For the ear tries words, as the palate tastes food.

34:4Let us choose for us that which is right. Let us know among ourselves what is good.

34:5For Job has said, ‘I am righteous, God has taken away my right.

34:6Notwithstanding my right I am considered a liar. My wound is incurable, though I am without disobedience.’

34:7What man is like Job, who drinks scorn like water,

34:8who goes in company with the workers of iniquity, and walks with wicked men?

34:9For he has said, ‘It profits a man nothing that he should delight himself with God.’

34:10“Therefore listen to me, you men of understanding: far be it from God, that he should do wickedness, from the Almighty, that he should commit iniquity.

34:11For the work of a man he will give to him, and cause every man to find according to his ways.

34:12Yes surely, God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert justice.

34:13Who put him in charge of the earth? Or who has appointed him over the whole world?

34:14If he set his heart on himself, if he gathered to himself his spirit and his breath,

34:15all flesh would perish together, and man would turn again to dust.

34:16“If now you have understanding, hear this. Listen to the voice of my words.

34:17Should even one who hates justice govern? Will you condemn him who is righteous and mighty,

34:18who says to a king, ‘Vile!’ or to nobles, ‘Wicked!’?

34:19He doesn’t respect the persons of princes, nor respect the rich more than the poor, for they all are the work of his hands.

34:20In a moment they die, even at midnight. The people are shaken and pass away. The mighty are taken away without a hand.

34:21“For his eyes are on the ways of a man. He sees all his goings.

34:22There is no darkness, nor thick gloom, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.

34:23For he doesn’t need to consider a man further, that he should go before God in judgment.

34:24He breaks mighty men in pieces in ways past finding out, and sets others in their place.

34:25Therefore he takes knowledge of their works. He overturns them in the night, so that they are destroyed.

34:26He strikes them as wicked men in the open sight of others;

34:27because they turned away from following him, and wouldn’t pay attention to any of his ways,

34:28so that they caused the cry of the poor to come to him. He heard the cry of the afflicted.

34:29When he gives quietness, who then can condemn? When he hides his face, who then can see him? He is over a nation or a man alike,

34:30that the godless man may not reign, that there be no one to ensnare the people.

34:31“For has any said to God, ‘I am guilty, but I will not offend any more.

34:32Teach me that which I don’t see. If I have done iniquity, I will do it no more’?

34:33Shall his recompense be as you desire, that you refuse it? For you must choose, and not I. Therefore speak what you know.

34:34Men of understanding will tell me, yes, every wise man who hears me:

34:35‘Job speaks without knowledge. His words are without wisdom.’

34:36I wish that Job were tried to the end, because of his answering like wicked men.

34:37For he adds rebellion to his sin. He claps his hands among us, and multiplies his words against God.”

Job 35

35:1Moreover Elihu answered,

35:2“Do you think this to be your right, or do you say, ‘My righteousness is more than God’s,’

35:3that you ask, ‘What advantage will it be to you? What profit will I have, more than if I had sinned?’

35:4I will answer you, and your companions with you.

35:5Look to the skies, and see. See the skies, which are higher than you.

35:6If you have sinned, what effect do you have against him? If your transgressions are multiplied, what do you do to him?

35:7If you are righteous, what do you give him? Or what does he receive from your hand?

35:8Your wickedness may hurt a man as you are, and your righteousness may profit a son of man.

35:9“By reason of the multitude of oppressions they cry out. They cry for help by reason of the arm of the mighty.

35:10But no one says, ‘Where is God my Maker, who gives songs in the night,

35:11who teaches us more than the animals of the earth, and makes us wiser than the birds of the sky?’

35:12There they cry, but no one answers, because of the pride of evil men.

35:13Surely God will not hear an empty cry, neither will the Almighty regard it.

35:14How much less when you say you don’t see him. The cause is before him, and you wait for him!

35:15But now, because he has not visited in his anger, neither does he greatly regard arrogance,

35:16therefore Job opens his mouth with empty talk, and he multiplies words without knowledge.”

Job 36

36:1Elihu also continued, and said,

36:2“Bear with me a little, and I will show you; for I still have something to say on God’s behalf.

36:3I will get my knowledge from afar, and will ascribe righteousness to my Maker.

36:4For truly my words are not false. One who is perfect in knowledge is with you.

36:5“Behold, God is mighty, and doesn’t despise anyone. He is mighty in strength of understanding.

36:6He doesn’t preserve the life of the wicked, but gives justice to the afflicted.

36:7He doesn’t withdraw his eyes from the righteous, but with kings on the throne, he sets them forever, and they are exalted.

36:8If they are bound in fetters, and are taken in the cords of afflictions,

36:9then he shows them their work, and their transgressions, that they have behaved themselves proudly.

36:10He also opens their ears to instruction, and commands that they return from iniquity.

36:11If they listen and serve him, they will spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures.

36:12But if they don’t listen, they will perish by the sword; they will die without knowledge.

36:13“But those who are godless in heart lay up anger. They don’t cry for help when he binds them.

36:14They die in youth. Their life perishes among the unclean.

36:15He delivers the afflicted by their affliction, and opens their ear in oppression.

36:16Yes, he would have allured you out of distress, into a wide place, where there is no restriction. That which is set on your table would be full of fatness.

36:17“But you are full of the judgment of the wicked. Judgment and justice take hold of you.

36:18Don’t let riches entice you to wrath, neither let the great size of a bribe turn you aside.

36:19Would your wealth sustain you in distress, or all the might of your strength?

36:20Don’t desire the night, when people are cut off in their place.

36:21Take heed, don’t regard iniquity; for you have chosen this rather than affliction.

36:22Behold, God is exalted in his power. Who is a teacher like him?

36:23Who has prescribed his way for him? Or who can say, ‘You have committed unrighteousness’?

36:24“Remember that you magnify his work, about which men have sung.

36:25All men have looked on it. Man sees it afar off.

36:26Behold, God is great, and we don’t know him. The number of his years is unsearchable.

36:27For he draws up the drops of water, which distill in rain from his vapor,

36:28which the skies pour down and which drop on man abundantly.

36:29Indeed, can anyone understand the spreading of the clouds and the thunderings of his pavilion?

36:30Behold, he spreads his light around him. He covers the bottom of the sea.

36:31For by these he judges the people. He gives food in abundance.

36:32He covers his hands with the lightning, and commands it to strike the mark.

36:33Its noise tells about him, and the livestock also, concerning the storm that comes up.

Job 37

37:1“Yes, at this my heart trembles, and is moved out of its place.

37:2Hear, oh, hear the noise of his voice, the sound that goes out of his mouth.

37:3He sends it out under the whole sky, and his lightning to the ends of the earth.

37:4After it a voice roars. He thunders with the voice of his majesty. He doesn’t hold back anything when his voice is heard.

37:5God thunders marvelously with his voice. He does great things, which we can’t comprehend.

37:6For he says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth,’ likewise to the shower of rain, and to the showers of his mighty rain.

37:7He seals up the hand of every man, that all men whom he has made may know it.

37:8Then the animals take cover, and remain in their dens.

37:9Out of its room comes the storm, and cold out of the north.

37:10By the breath of God, ice is given, and the width of the waters is frozen.

37:11Yes, he loads the thick cloud with moisture. He spreads abroad the cloud of his lightning.

37:12It is turned around by his guidance, that they may do whatever he commands them on the surface of the habitable world,

37:13whether it is for correction, or for his land, or for loving kindness, that he causes it to come.

37:14“Listen to this, Job. Stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God.

37:15Do you know how God controls them, and causes the lightning of his cloud to shine?

37:16Do you know the workings of the clouds, the wondrous works of him who is perfect in knowledge?

37:17You whose clothing is warm when the earth is still by reason of the south wind?

37:18Can you, with him, spread out the sky, which is strong as a cast metal mirror?

37:19Teach us what we will tell him, for we can’t make our case by reason of darkness.

37:20Will it be told him that I would speak? Or should a man wish that he were swallowed up?

37:21Now men don’t see the light which is bright in the skies, but the wind passes, and clears them.

37:22Out of the north comes golden splendor. With God is awesome majesty.

37:23We can’t reach the Almighty. He is exalted in power. In justice and great righteousness, he will not oppress.

37:24Therefore men revere him. He doesn’t regard any who are wise of heart.”