Job:32-37

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* So these three men ceased answering Job , because he was righteous in his own eyes . * Then the wrath of Elihu , the son of Barachel the Buzite , of the family of Ram , was aroused against Job ; his wrath was aroused because he justified himself rather than God . * Also against his three friends his wrath was aroused , because they had found no answer , and yet had condemned Job . * Now because they were years older than he , Elihu had waited to speak to Job . * When Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men , his wrath was aroused . * So Elihu , the son of Barachel the Buzite , answered and said : "I am young in years , and you are very old ; Therefore I was afraid , And dared not declare my opinion to you . * I said , "Age should speak , And multitude of years should teach wisdom .' * But there is a spirit in man , And the breath of the Almighty gives him understanding . * Great men are not always wise , Nor do the aged always understand justice . * "Therefore I say , "Listen to me , I also will declare my opinion .' * Indeed I waited for your words , I listened to your reasonings , while you searched out what to say . * I paid close attention to you ; And surely not one of you convinced Job , Or answered his words -- * Lest you say , "We have found wisdom '; God will vanquish him , not man . * Now he has not directed his words against me ; So I will not answer him with your words . * "They are dismayed and answer no more ; Words escape them . * And I have waited , because they did not speak , Because they stood still and answered no more . * I also will answer my part , I too will declare my opinion . * For I am full of words ; The spirit within me compels me . * Indeed my belly is like wine that has no vent ; It is ready to burst like new wineskins . * I will speak , that I may find relief ; I must open my lips and answer . * Let me not , I pray , show partiality to anyone ; Nor let me flatter any man . * For I do not know how to flatter , Else my Maker would soon take me away . * "But please , Job , hear my speech , And listen to all my words . * Now , I open my mouth ; My tongue speaks in my mouth . * My words come from my upright heart ; My lips utter pure knowledge . * The Spirit of God has made me , And the breath of the Almighty gives me life . * If you can answer me , Set your words in order before me ; Take your stand . * Truly I am as your spokesman before God ; I also have been formed out of clay . * Surely no fear of me will terrify you , Nor will my hand be heavy on you . * "Surely you have spoken in my hearing , And I have heard the sound of your words , saying , * "I am pure , without transgression ; I am innocent , and there is no iniquity in me . * Yet He finds occasions against me , He counts me as His enemy ; * He puts my feet in the stocks , He watches all my paths .' * "Look , in this you are not righteous . I will answer you , For God is greater than man . * Why do you contend with Him ? For He does not give an accounting of any of His words . * For God may speak in one way , or in another , Yet man does not perceive it . * In a dream , in a vision of the night , When deep sleep falls upon men , While slumbering on their beds , * Then He opens the ears of men , And seals their instruction . * In order to turn man from his deed , And conceal pride from man , * He keeps back his soul from the Pit , And his life from perishing by the sword . * "Man is also chastened with pain on his bed , And with strong pain in many of his bones , * So that his life abhors bread , And his soul succulent food . * His flesh wastes away from sight , And his bones stick out which once were not seen . * Yes , his soul draws near the Pit , And his life to the executioners . * "If there is a messenger for him , A mediator , one among a thousand , To show man His uprightness , * Then He is gracious to him , and says , "Deliver him from going down to the Pit ; I have found a ransom '; * His flesh shall be young like a child 's , He shall return to the days of his youth . * He shall pray to God , and He will delight in him , He shall see His face with joy , For He restores to man His righteousness . * Then he looks at men and says , "I have sinned , and perverted what was right , And it did not profit me .' * He will redeem his soul from going down to the Pit , And his life shall see the light . * "Behold , God works all these things , Twice , in fact , three times with a man , * To bring back his soul from the Pit , That he may be enlightened with the light of life . * "Give ear , Job , listen to me ; Hold your peace , and I will speak . * If you have anything to say , answer me ; Speak , for I desire to justify you . * If not , listen to me ; Hold your peace , and I will teach you wisdom ." * Elihu further answered and said : * "Hear my words , you wise men ; Give ear to me , you who have knowledge . * For the ear tests words As the palate tastes food . * Let us choose justice for ourselves ; Let us know among ourselves what is good . * "For Job has said , "I am righteous , But God has taken away my justice ; * Should I lie concerning my right ? My wound is incurable , though I am without transgression .' * What man is like Job , Who drinks scorn like water , * Who goes in company with the workers of iniquity , And walks with wicked men ? * For he has said , "It profits a man nothing That he should delight in God .' * "Therefore listen to me , you men of understanding : Far be it from God to do wickedness , And from the Almighty to commit iniquity . * For He repays man according to his work , And makes man to find a reward according to his way . * Surely God will never do wickedly , Nor will the Almighty pervert justice . * Who gave Him charge over the earth ? Or who appointed Him over the whole world ? * If He should set His heart on it , If He should gather to Himself His Spirit and His breath , * All flesh would perish together , And man would return to dust . * "If you have understanding , hear this ; Listen to the sound of my words : * Should one who hates justice govern ? Will you condemn Him who is most just ? * Is it fitting to say to a king , "You are worthless ,' And to nobles , "You are wicked '? * Yet He is not partial to princes , Nor does He regard the rich more than the poor ; For they are all the work of His hands . * In a moment they die , in the middle of the night ; The people are shaken and pass away ; The mighty are taken away without a hand . * "For His eyes are on the ways of man , And He sees all his steps . * There is no darkness nor shadow of death Where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves . * For He need not further consider a man , That he should go before God in judgment . * He breaks in pieces mighty men without inquiry , And sets others in their place . * Therefore He knows their works ; He overthrows them in the night , And they are crushed . * He strikes them as wicked men In the open sight of others , * Because they turned back from Him , And would not consider any of His ways , * So that they caused the cry of the poor to come to Him ; For He hears the cry of the afflicted . * When He gives quietness , who then can make trouble ? And when He hides His face , who then can see Him , Whether it is against a nation or a man alone ?-- * That the hypocrite should not reign , Lest the people be ensnared . * "For has anyone said to God , "I have borne chastening ; I will offend no more ; * Teach me what I do not see ; If I have done iniquity , I will do no more '? * Should He repay it according to your terms , Just because you disavow it ? You must choose , and not I ; Therefore speak what you know . * "Men of understanding say to me , Wise men who listen to me : * "Job speaks without knowledge , His words are without wisdom .' * Oh , that Job were tried to the utmost , Because his answers are like those of wicked men ! * For he adds rebellion to his sin ; He claps his hands among us , And multiplies his words against God ." * Moreover Elihu answered and said : * "Do you think this is right ? Do you say , "My righteousness is more than God 's '? * For you say , "What advantage will it be to You ? What profit shall I have , more than if I had sinned ?' * "I will answer you , And your companions with you . * Look to the heavens and see ; And behold the clouds -- They are higher than you . * If you sin , what do you accomplish against Him ? Or , if your transgressions are multiplied , what do you do to Him ? * If you are righteous , what do you give Him ? Or what does He receive from your hand ? * Your wickedness affects a man such as you , And your righteousness a son of man . * "Because of the multitude of oppressions they cry out ; They cry out for help because of the arm of the mighty . * But no one says , "Where is God my Maker , Who gives songs in the night , * Who teaches us more than the beasts of the earth , And makes us wiser than the birds of heaven ?' * There they cry out , but He does not answer , Because of the pride of evil men . * Surely God will not listen to empty talk , Nor will the Almighty regard it . * Although you say you do not see Him , Yet justice is before Him , and you must wait for Him . * And now , because He has not punished in His anger , Nor taken much notice of folly , * Therefore Job opens his mouth in vain ; He multiplies words without knowledge ." * Elihu also proceeded and said : * "Bear with me a little , and I will show you That there are yet words to speak on God 's behalf . * I will fetch my knowledge from afar ; I will ascribe righteousness to my Maker . * For truly my words are not false ; One who is perfect in knowledge is with you . * "Behold , God is mighty , but despises no one ; He is mighty in strength of understanding . * He does not preserve the life of the wicked , But gives justice to the oppressed . * He does not withdraw His eyes from the righteous ; But they are on the throne with kings , For He has seated them forever , And they are exalted . * And if they are bound in fetters , Held in the cords of affliction , * Then He tells them their work and their transgressions -- That they have acted defiantly . * He also opens their ear to instruction , And commands that they turn from iniquity . * If they obey and serve Him , They shall spend their days in prosperity , And their years in pleasures . * But if they do not obey , They shall perish by the sword , And they shall die without knowledge . * "But the hypocrites in heart store up wrath ; They do not cry for help when He binds them . * They die in youth , And their life ends among the perverted persons . * He delivers the poor in their affliction , And opens their ears in oppression . * "Indeed He would have brought you out of dire distress , Into a broad place where there is no restraint ; And what is set on your table would be full of richness . * But you are filled with the judgment due the wicked ; Judgment and justice take hold of you . * Because there is wrath , beware lest He take you away with one blow ; For a large ransom would not help you avoid it . * Will your riches , Or all the mighty forces , Keep you from distress ? * Do not desire the night , When people are cut off in their place . * Take heed , do not turn to iniquity , For you have chosen this rather than affliction . * "Behold , God is exalted by His power ; Who teaches like Him ? * Who has assigned Him His way , Or who has said , "You have done wrong '? * "Remember to magnify His work , Of which men have sung . * Everyone has seen it ; Man looks on it from afar . * "Behold , God is great , and we do not know Him ; Nor can the number of His years be discovered . * For He draws up drops of water , Which distill as rain from the mist , * Which the clouds drop down And pour abundantly on man . * Indeed , can anyone understand the spreading of clouds , The thunder from His canopy ? * Look , He scatters His light upon it , And covers the depths of the sea . * For by these He judges the peoples ; He gives food in abundance . * He covers His hands with lightning , And commands it to strike . * His thunder declares it , The cattle also , concerning the rising storm . * "At this also my heart trembles , And leaps from its place . * Hear attentively the thunder of His voice , And the rumbling that comes from His mouth . * He sends it forth under the whole heaven , His lightning to the ends of the earth . * After it a voice roars ; He thunders with His majestic voice , And He does not restrain them when His voice is heard . * God thunders marvelously with His voice ; He does great things which we cannot comprehend . * For He says to the snow , "Fall on the earth '; Likewise to the gentle rain and the heavy rain of His strength . * He seals the hand of every man , That all men may know His work . * The beasts go into dens , And remain in their lairs . * From the chamber of the south comes the whirlwind , And cold from the scattering winds of the north . * By the breath of God ice is given , And the broad waters are frozen . * Also with moisture He saturates the thick clouds ; He scatters His bright clouds . * And they swirl about , being turned by His guidance , That they may do whatever He commands them On the face of the whole earth . * He causes it to come , Whether for correction , Or for His land , Or for mercy . * "Listen to this , O Job ; Stand still and consider the wondrous works of God . * Do you know when God dispatches them , And causes the light of His cloud to shine ? * Do you know how the clouds are balanced , Those wondrous works of Him who is perfect in knowledge ? * Why are your garments hot , When He quiets the earth by the south wind ? * With Him , have you spread out the skies , Strong as a cast metal mirror ? * "Teach us what we should say to Him , For we can prepare nothing because of the darkness . * Should He be told that I wish to speak ? If a man were to speak , surely he would be swallowed up . * Even now men cannot look at the light when it is bright in the skies , When the wind has passed and cleared them . * He comes from the north as golden splendor ; With God is awesome majesty . * As for the Almighty , we cannot find Him ; He is excellent in power , In judgment and abundant justice ; He does not oppress . * Therefore men fear Him ; He shows no partiality to any who are wise of heart ." * Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind , and said :

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