Job 33 · Clearspring

Elihu Rebukes Job

¹“However, Job, please hear my speech, and listen to all my words.+ ²See now, I have opened my mouth. My tongue has spoken in my mouth.+ ³My words shall utter the uprightness of my heart. That which my lips know they shall speak sincerely.+ ⁴The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.+ ⁵If you can, answer me. Set your words in order before me, and stand up.+ ⁶Behold, I am toward God even as you are. I am also formed out of the clay.+ ⁷Behold, my terror shall not make you afraid, neither shall my pressure be heavy on you.+ ⁸“Surely you have spoken in my hearing, I have heard the voice of your words, saying,+ ⁹‘I am clean, without disobedience. I am innocent, neither is there iniquity in me.+ ¹⁰Behold, he finds occasions against me. He counts me for his enemy.+ ¹¹He puts my feet in the stocks. He marks all my paths.’+ ¹²“Behold, I will answer you. In this you are not just, for God is greater than man.+ ¹³Why do you strive against him, because he doesn’t give account of any of his matters?+ ¹⁴For God speaks once, yes twice, though man pays no attention.+ ¹⁵In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on men, in slumbering on the bed;+ ¹⁶Then he opens the ears of men, and seals their instruction,+ ¹⁷That he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man.+ ¹⁸He keeps back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword.+ ¹⁹He is chastened also with pain on his bed, with continual strife in his bones;+ ²⁰So that his life abhors bread, and his soul dainty food.+ ²¹His flesh is so consumed away, that it can’t be seen. His bones that were not seen stick out.+ ²²Yes, his soul draws near to the pit, and his life to the destroyers.+ ²³“If there is beside him an angel, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to show to man what is right for him;+ ²⁴then God is gracious to him, and says, ‘Deliver him from going down to the pit, I have found a ransom.’+ ²⁵His flesh shall be fresher than a child’s. He returns to the days of his youth.+ ²⁶He prays to God, and he is favorable to him, so that he sees his face with joy. He restores to man his righteousness.+ ²⁷He sings before men, and says, ‘I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it didn’t profit me.+ ²⁸He has redeemed my soul from going into the pit. My life shall see the light.’+ ²⁹“Behold, God does all these things, twice, yes three times, with a man,+ ³⁰to bring back his soul from the pit, that he may be enlightened with the light of the living.+ ³¹Mark well, Job, and listen to me. Hold your peace, and I will speak.+ ³²If you have anything to say, answer me. Speak, for I desire to justify you.+ ³³If not, listen to me. Hold your peace, and I will teach you wisdom.”+

Elihu Rebukes Job

Study Job 33