3. Elihu’s Argument

ch32 ¹So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he [was] righteous in his own eyes. ²Then 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. ³Also against his three friends was his wrath kindled, because they had found no answer, and [yet] had condemned Job. ⁴Now Elihu had waited till Job had spoken, because they [were] elder than he. ⁵When Elihu saw that [there was] no answer in the mouth of [these] three men, then his wrath was kindled.

⁶And 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. ⁷I said, Days should speak, and multitude of years should teach wisdom. ⁸But [there is] a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding. ⁹Great men are not [always] wise: neither do the aged understand judgment. ¹⁰Therefore I said, Hearken to me; I also will shew mine opinion.

¹¹Behold, I waited for your words; I gave ear to your reasons, whilst ye searched out what to say. ¹²Yea, I attended unto you, and, behold, [there was] none of you that convinced Job, [or] that answered his words: ¹³Lest ye should say, We have found out wisdom: God thrusteth him down, not man. ¹⁴Now he hath not directed [his] words against me: neither will I answer him with your speeches.

¹⁵They were amazed, they answered no more: they left off speaking. ¹⁶When I had waited, (for they spake not, but stood still, [and] answered no more;) ¹⁷I said], I will answer also my part, I also will shew mine opinion. ¹⁸For I am full of matter, the spirit within me constraineth me. ¹⁹Behold, my belly [is] as wine [which] hath no vent; it is ready to burst like new bottles. ²⁰I will speak, that I may be refreshed: I will open my lips and answer. ²¹Let me not, I pray you, accept any man's person, neither let me give flattering titles unto man. ²²For I know not to give flattering titles; [in so doing] my maker would soon take me away.

ch33 ¹Wherefore, Job, I pray thee, hear my speeches, and hearken to all my words. ²Behold, now I have opened my mouth, my tongue hath spoken in my mouth. ³My words [shall be of] the uprightness of my heart: and my lips shall utter knowledge clearly. ⁴The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life. ⁵If thou canst answer me, set [thy words] in order before me, stand up. ⁶Behold, I [am] according to thy wish in God's stead: I also am formed out of the clay. ⁷Behold, my terror shall not make thee afraid, neither shall my hand be heavy upon thee.

⁸Surely thou hast spoken in mine hearing, and I have heard the voice of [thy] words, [saying], ⁹I am clean without transgression, I [am] innocent; neither [is there] iniquity in me. ¹⁰Behold, he findeth occasions against me, he counteth me for his enemy, ¹¹He putteth my feet in the stocks, he marketh all my paths. ¹²Behold, [in] this thou art not just: I will answer thee, that God is greater than man.

¹³Why dost thou strive against him? for he giveth not account of any of his matters. ¹⁴For God speaketh once, yea twice, [yet man] perceiveth it not. ¹⁵In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed; ¹⁶Then he openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction, ¹⁷That he may withdraw man [from his] purpose, and hide pride from man. ¹⁸He keepeth back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword.

¹⁹He is chastened also with pain upon his bed, and the multitude of his bones with strong [pain]: ²⁰So that his life abhorreth bread, and his soul dainty meat. ²¹His flesh is consumed away, that it cannot be seen; and his bones [that] were not seen stick out. ²²Yea, his soul draweth near unto the grave, and his life to the destroyers.

²³If there be a messenger with him, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to shew unto man his uprightness: ²⁴Then he is gracious unto him, and saith, Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom. ²⁵His flesh shall be fresher than a child's: he shall return to the days of his youth: ²⁶He 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. ²⁷He looketh upon men, and [if any] say, I have sinned, and perverted [that which was] right, and it profited me not; ²⁸He will deliver his soul from going into the pit, and his life shall see the light.

²⁹Lo, all these [things] worketh God oftentimes with man, ³⁰To bring back his soul from the pit, to be enlightened with the light of the living. ³¹Mark well, O Job, hearken unto me: hold thy peace, and I will speak. ³²If thou hast any thing to say, answer me: speak, for I desire to justify thee. ³³If not, hearken unto me: hold thy peace, and I shall teach thee wisdom.

ch34 ¹Furthermore Elihu answered and said, ²Hear my words, O ye wise [men]; and give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge. ³For the ear trieth words, as the mouth tasteth meat. ⁴Let us choose to us judgment: let us know among ourselves what [is] good. ⁵For Job hath said, I am righteous: and God hath taken away my judgment. ⁶Should I lie against my right? my wound [is] incurable without transgression. ⁷What man [is] like Job, [who] drinketh up scorning like water? ⁸Which goeth in company with the workers of iniquity, and walketh with wicked men. ⁹For he hath said, It profiteth a man nothing that he should delight himself with God.

¹⁰Therefore 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. ¹¹For the work of a man shall he render unto him, and cause every man to find according to [his] ways. ¹²Yea, surely God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert judgment. ¹³Who hath given him a charge over the earth? or who hath disposed the whole world? ¹⁴If he set his heart upon man, [if] he gather unto himself his spirit and his breath; ¹⁵All flesh shall perish together, and man shall turn again unto dust.

¹⁶If now [thou hast] understanding, hear this: hearken to the voice of my words. ¹⁷Shall even he that hateth right govern? and wilt thou condemn him that is most just? ¹⁸Is it fit] to say to a king, [Thou art] wicked? [and] to princes, [Ye are] ungodly? ¹⁹How 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. ²⁰In 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.

²¹For his eyes [are] upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his goings. ²²[There is] no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves. ²³For he will not lay upon man more [than right]; that he should enter into judgment with God. ²⁴He shall break in pieces mighty men without number, and set others in their stead. ²⁵Therefore he knoweth their works, and he overturneth [them] in the night, so that they are destroyed. ²⁶He striketh them as wicked men in the open sight of others; ²⁷Because they turned back from him, and would not consider any of his ways: ²⁸So that they cause the cry of the poor to come unto him, and he heareth the cry of the afflicted. ²⁹When 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: ³⁰That the hypocrite reign not, lest the people be ensnared.

³¹Surely it is meet to be said unto God, I have borne [chastisement], I will not offend [any more]: ³²That which] I see not teach thou me: if I have done iniquity, I will do no more. ³³Should 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. ³⁴Let men of understanding tell me, and let a wise man hearken unto me. ³⁵Job hath spoken without knowledge, and his words [were] without wisdom. ³⁶My desire [is that] Job may be tried unto the end because of [his] answers for wicked men. ³⁷For he addeth rebellion unto his sin, he clappeth [his hands] among us, and multiplieth his words against God.

ch35 ¹Elihu spake moreover, and said, ²Thinkest thou this to be right, [that] thou saidst, My righteousness [is] more than God's? ³For thou saidst, What advantage will it be unto thee? [and], What profit shall I have, [if I be cleansed] from my sin? ⁴I will answer thee, and thy companions with thee. ⁵Look unto the heavens, and see; and behold the clouds [which] are higher than thou. ⁶If thou sinnest, what doest thou against him? or [if] thy transgressions be multiplied, what doest thou unto him? ⁷If thou be righteous, what givest thou him? or what receiveth he of thine hand? ⁸Thy wickedness [may hurt] a man as thou [art]; and thy righteousness [may profit] the son of man.

⁹By reason of the multitude of oppressions they make [the oppressed] to cry: they cry out by reason of the arm of the mighty. ¹⁰But none saith, Where [is] God my maker, who giveth songs in the night; ¹¹Who teacheth us more than the beasts of the earth, and maketh us wiser than the fowls of heaven? ¹²There they cry, but none giveth answer, because of the pride of evil men. ¹³Surely God will not hear vanity, neither will the Almighty regard it. ¹⁴Although thou sayest thou shalt not see him, [yet] judgment [is] before him; therefore trust thou in him. ¹⁵But now, because [it is] not [so], he hath visited in his anger; yet he knoweth [it] not in great extremity: ¹⁶Therefore doth Job open his mouth in vain; he multiplieth words without knowledge.

ch36 ¹Elihu also proceeded, and said, ²Suffer me a little, and I will shew thee that [I have] yet to speak on God's behalf. ³I will fetch my knowledge from afar, and will ascribe righteousness to my Maker. ⁴For truly my words [shall] not [be] false: he that is perfect in knowledge [is] with thee. ⁵Behold, God [is] mighty, and despiseth not [any: he is] mighty in strength [and] wisdom. ⁶He preserveth not the life of the wicked: but giveth right to the poor. ⁷He withdraweth not his eyes from the righteous: but with kings [are they] on the throne; yea, he doth establish them for ever, and they are exalted. ⁸And if [they be] bound in fetters, [and] be holden in cords of affliction; ⁹Then he sheweth them their work, and their transgressions that they have exceeded. ¹⁰He openeth also their ear to discipline, and commandeth that they return from iniquity. ¹¹If they obey and serve [him], they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures. ¹²But if they obey not, they shall perish by the sword, and they shall die without knowledge. ¹³But the hypocrites in heart heap up wrath: they cry not when he bindeth them. ¹⁴They die in youth, and their life [is] among the unclean. ¹⁵He delivereth the poor in his affliction, and openeth their ears in oppression. ¹⁶Even so would he have removed thee out of the strait [into] a broad place, where [there is] no straitness; and that which should be set on thy table [should be] full of fatness.

¹⁷But thou hast fulfilled the judgment of the wicked: judgment and justice take hold [on thee]. ¹⁸Because [there is] wrath, [beware] lest he take thee away with [his] stroke: then a great ransom cannot deliver thee. ¹⁹Will he esteem thy riches? [no], not gold, nor all the forces of strength. ²⁰Desire not the night, when people are cut off in their place. ²¹Take heed, regard not iniquity: for this hast thou chosen rather than affliction. ²²Behold, God exalteth by his power: who teacheth like him? ²³Who hath enjoined him his way? or who can say, Thou hast wrought iniquity?

²⁴Remember that thou magnify his work, which men behold. ²⁵Every man may see it; man may behold [it] afar off. ²⁶Behold, God [is] great, and we know [him] not, neither can the number of his years be searched out. ²⁷For he maketh small the drops of water: they pour down rain according to the vapour thereof: ²⁸Which the clouds do drop [and] distil upon man abundantly. ²⁹Also can [any] understand the spreadings of the clouds, [or] the noise of his tabernacle? ³⁰Behold, he spreadeth his light upon it, and covereth the bottom of the sea. ³¹For by them judgeth he the people; he giveth meat in abundance. ³²With clouds he covereth the light; and commandeth it [not to shine] by [the cloud] that cometh betwixt. ³³The noise thereof sheweth concerning it, the cattle also concerning the vapour.

ch37 ¹At this also my heart trembleth, and is moved out of his place. ²Hear attentively the noise of his voice, and the sound [that] goeth out of his mouth. ³He directeth it under the whole heaven, and his lightning unto the ends of the earth. ⁴After it a voice roareth: he thundereth with the voice of his excellency; and he will not stay them when his voice is heard. ⁵God thundereth marvellously with his voice; great things doeth he, which we cannot comprehend. ⁶For he saith to the snow, Be thou [on] the earth; likewise to the small rain, and to the great rain of his strength. ⁷He sealeth up the hand of every man; that all men may know his work. ⁸Then the beasts go into dens, and remain in their places. ⁹Out of the south cometh the whirlwind: and cold out of the north. ¹⁰By the breath of God frost is given: and the breadth of the waters is straitened. ¹¹Also by watering he wearieth the thick cloud: he scattereth his bright cloud: ¹²And it is turned round about by his counsels: that they may do whatsoever he commandeth them upon the face of the world in the earth. ¹³He causeth it to come, whether for correction, or for his land, or for mercy.

¹⁴Hearken unto this, O Job: stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God. ¹⁵Dost thou know when God disposed them, and caused the light of his cloud to shine? ¹⁶Dost thou know the balancings of the clouds, the wondrous works of him which is perfect in knowledge? ¹⁷How thy garments [are] warm, when he quieteth the earth by the south [wind]? ¹⁸Hast thou with him spread out the sky, [which is] strong, [and] as a molten looking glass? ¹⁹Teach us what we shall say unto him; [for] we cannot order [our speech] by reason of darkness. ²⁰Shall it be told him that I speak? if a man speak, surely he shall be swallowed up.

²¹And now [men] see not the bright light which [is] in the clouds: but the wind passeth, and cleanseth them. ²²Fair weather cometh out of the north: with God [is] terrible majesty. ²³[Touching] the Almighty, we cannot find him out: [he is] excellent in power, and in judgment, and in plenty of justice: he will not afflict. ²⁴Men do therefore fear him: he respecteth not any [that are] wise of heart.