Job:32-34
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So these three men ceased to answer Job ,
because he was righteous in his own eyes .
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Then was kindled the wrath of Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite ,
of the kindred of Ram :
against Job was his wrath kindled ,
because he justified himself rather than God .
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Also against his three friends was his wrath kindled ,
because they had found no answer ,
and yet had condemned Job .
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Now Elihu had waited till Job had spoken ,
because they were elder than he .
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When Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men ,
then his wrath was kindled .
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And Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered and said ,
I am young ,
and ye are very old ;
wherefore I was afraid ,
and durst not shew you mine opinion .
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I said ,
Days should speak ,
and multitude of years should teach wisdom .
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But there is a spirit in man :
and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding .
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Great men are not always wise :
neither do the aged understand judgment .
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Therefore I said ,
Hearken to me ;
I also will shew mine opinion .
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Behold ,
I waited for your words ;
I gave ear to your reasons ,
whilst ye searched out what to say .
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Yea ,
I attended unto you ,
and ,
behold ,
there was none of you that convinced Job ,
or that answered his words :
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Lest ye should say ,
We have found out wisdom :
God thrusteth him down ,
not man .
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Now he hath not directed his words against me :
neither will I answer him with your speeches .
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They were amazed ,
they answered no more :
they left off speaking .
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When I had waited , (
for they spake not ,
but stood still ,
and answered no more ;)
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I said ,
I will answer also my part ,
I also will shew mine opinion .
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For I am full of matter ,
the spirit within me constraineth me .
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Behold ,
my belly is as wine which hath no vent ;
it is ready to burst like new bottles .
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I will speak ,
that I may be refreshed :
I will open my lips and answer .
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Let me not ,
I pray you ,
accept any man '
s person ,
neither let me give flattering titles unto man .
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For I know not to give flattering titles ;
in so doing my maker would soon take me away .
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Wherefore ,
Job ,
I pray thee ,
hear my speeches ,
and hearken to all my words .
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Behold ,
now I have opened my mouth ,
my tongue hath spoken in my mouth .
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My words shall be of the uprightness of my heart :
and my lips shall utter knowledge clearly .
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The Spirit of God hath made me ,
and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life .
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If thou canst answer me ,
set thy words in order before me ,
stand up .
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Behold ,
I am according to thy wish in God '
s stead :
I also am formed out of the clay .
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Behold ,
my terror shall not make thee afraid ,
neither shall my hand be heavy upon thee .
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Surely thou hast spoken in mine hearing ,
and I have heard the voice of thy words ,
saying ,
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I am clean without transgression ,
I am innocent ;
neither is there iniquity in me .
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Behold ,
he findeth occasions against me ,
he counteth me for his enemy ,
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He putteth my feet in the stocks ,
he marketh all my paths .
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Behold ,
in this thou art not just :
I will answer thee ,
that God is greater than man .
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Why dost thou strive against him ?
for he giveth not account of any of his matters .
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For God speaketh once ,
yea twice ,
yet man perceiveth it not .
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In a dream ,
in a vision of the night ,
when deep sleep falleth upon men ,
in slumberings upon the bed ;
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Then he openeth the ears of men ,
and sealeth their instruction ,
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That he may withdraw man from his purpose ,
and hide pride from man .
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He keepeth back his soul from the pit ,
and his life from perishing by the sword .
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He is chastened also with pain upon his bed ,
and the multitude of his bones with strong pain :
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So that his life abhorreth bread ,
and his soul dainty meat .
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His flesh is consumed away ,
that it cannot be seen ;
and his bones that were not seen stick out .
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Yea ,
his soul draweth near unto the grave ,
and his life to the destroyers .
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If there be a messenger with him ,
an interpreter ,
one among a thousand ,
to shew unto man his uprightness :
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Then he is gracious unto him ,
and saith ,
Deliver him from going down to the pit :
I have found a ransom .
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His flesh shall be fresher than a child '
s :
he shall return to the days of his youth :
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He shall pray unto God ,
and he will be favourable unto him :
and he shall see his face with joy :
for he will render unto man his righteousness .
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He looketh upon men ,
and if any say ,
I have sinned ,
and perverted that which was right ,
and it profited me not ;
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He will deliver his soul from going into the pit ,
and his life shall see the light .
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Lo ,
all these things worketh God oftentimes with man ,
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To bring back his soul from the pit ,
to be enlightened with the light of the living .
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Mark well ,
O Job ,
hearken unto me :
hold thy peace ,
and I will speak .
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If thou hast any thing to say ,
answer me :
speak ,
for I desire to justify thee .
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If not ,
hearken unto me :
hold thy peace ,
and I shall teach thee wisdom .
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Furthermore Elihu answered and said ,
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Hear my words ,
O ye wise men ;
and give ear unto me ,
ye that have knowledge .
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For the ear trieth words ,
as the mouth tasteth meat .
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Let us choose to us judgment :
let us know among ourselves what is good .
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For Job hath said ,
I am righteous :
and God hath taken away my judgment .
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Should I lie against my right ?
my wound is incurable without transgression .
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What man is like Job ,
who drinketh up scorning like water ?
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Which goeth in company with the workers of iniquity ,
and walketh with wicked men .
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For he hath said ,
It profiteth a man nothing that he should delight himself with God .
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Therefore hearken unto me ,
ye men of understanding :
far be it from God ,
that he should do wickedness ;
and from the Almighty ,
that he should commit iniquity .
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For the work of a man shall he render unto him ,
and cause every man to find according to his ways .
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Yea ,
surely God will not do wickedly ,
neither will the Almighty pervert judgment .
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Who hath given him a charge over the earth ?
or who hath disposed the whole world ?
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If he set his heart upon man ,
if he gather unto himself his spirit and his breath ;
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All flesh shall perish together ,
and man shall turn again unto dust .
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If now thou hast understanding ,
hear this :
hearken to the voice of my words .
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Shall even he that hateth right govern ?
and wilt thou condemn him that is most just ?
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Is it fit to say to a king ,
Thou art wicked ?
and to princes ,
Ye are ungodly ?
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How much less to him that accepteth not the persons of princes ,
nor regardeth the rich more than the poor ?
for they all are the work of his hands .
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In a moment shall they die ,
and the people shall be troubled at midnight ,
and pass away :
and the mighty shall be taken away without hand .
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For his eyes are upon the ways of man ,
and he seeth all his goings .
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There is no darkness ,
nor shadow of death ,
where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves .
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For he will not lay upon man more than right ;
that he should enter into judgment with God .
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He shall break in pieces mighty men without number ,
and set others in their stead .
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Therefore he knoweth their works ,
and he overturneth them in the night ,
so that they are destroyed .
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He striketh them as wicked men in the open sight of others ;
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Because they turned back from him ,
and would not consider any of his ways :
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So that they cause the cry of the poor to come unto him ,
and he heareth the cry of the afflicted .
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When he giveth quietness ,
who then can make trouble ?
and when he hideth his face ,
who then can behold him ?
whether it be done against a nation ,
or against a man only :
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That the hypocrite reign not ,
lest the people be ensnared .
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Surely it is meet to be said unto God ,
I have borne chastisement ,
I will not offend any more :
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That which I see not teach thou me :
if I have done iniquity ,
I will do no more .
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Should it be according to thy mind ?
he will recompense it ,
whether thou refuse ,
or whether thou choose ;
and not I :
therefore speak what thou knowest .
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Let men of understanding tell me ,
and let a wise man hearken unto me .
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Job hath spoken without knowledge ,
and his words were without wisdom .
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My desire is that Job may be tried unto the end because of his answers for wicked men .
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For he addeth rebellion unto his sin ,
he clappeth his hands among us ,
and multiplieth his words against God .
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Elihu spake moreover ,
and said ,