Job 33
Elihu Confronts Job
1But now, Job, pay attention to my speech, and listen to all my words.23I am going to open my mouth; my tongue will form words on my palate.4
5My words come from my upright heart, and my lips speak with sincerity what they know.6
7The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.8
9Refute me if you can. Prepare your case against me; take your stand.10
11I am just like you before God; I was also pinched off from a piece of clay.12
13Fear of me should not terrify you; no pressure from me should weigh you down.14
15Surely you have spoken in my hearing, and I have heard these very words:16
17“I am pure, without transgression; I am clean and have no iniquity.18
19But he finds reasons to oppose me; he regards me as his enemy.20
21He puts my feet in the stocks; he stands watch over all my paths.”22
23But I tell you that you are wrong in this matter, since God is greater than man.24
25Why do you take him to court for not answering anything a person asks?26
27For God speaks time and again, but a person may not notice it.28
29In a dream, a vision in the night, when deep sleep comes over people as they slumber on their beds,30
31he uncovers their ears and terrifies them with warnings,32
33in order to turn a person from his actions and suppress the pride of a person.34
35God spares his soul from the Pit, his life from crossing the river of death.36
37A person may be disciplined on his bed with pain and constant distress in his bones,38
39so that he detests bread, and his soul despises his favorite food.40
41His flesh wastes away to nothing, and his unseen bones stick out.42
43He draws near to the Pit, and his life to the executioners.44
45If there is an angel on his side, one mediator out of a thousand, to tell a person what is right for him46
47and to be gracious to him and say, “Spare him from going down to the Pit; I have found a ransom,”48
49then his flesh will be healthier than in his youth, and he will return to the days of his youthful vigor.50
51He will pray to God, and God will delight in him. That person will see his face with a shout of joy, and God will restore his righteousness to him.52
53He will look at men and say, “I have sinned and perverted what was right; yet I did not get what I deserved.54
55He redeemed my soul from going down to the Pit, and I will continue to see the light.”56
57God certainly does all these things two or three times to a person58
59in order to turn him back from the Pit, so he may shine with the light of life.60
61Pay attention, Job, and listen to me. Be quiet, and I will speak.62
63But if you have something to say, answer me; speak, for I would like to justify you.64
65If not, then listen to me; be quiet, and I will teach you wisdom.66