sheep;
21 If I have raised my hand against the fatherless, When I saw I had help in the gate;
22 Then let my arm fall from my shoulder, Let my arm be torn from the socket.
23 For destruction from God is a terror to me, And because of His magnificence I cannot endure.
24 “If I have made gold my hope, Or said to fine gold, “You are my confidence’;
25 If I have rejoiced because my wealth was great, And because my hand had gained much;
26 If I have observed the sun when it shines, Or the moon moving in brightness,
27 So that my heart has been secretly enticed, And my mouth has kissed my hand;
28 This also would be an iniquity deserving of judgment, For I would have denied God who is above.
29 “If I have rejoiced at the destruction of him who hated me, Or lifted myself up when evil found him
30 (Indeed I have not allowed my mouth to sin By asking for a curse on his soul);
31 If the men of my tent have not said, “Who is there that has not been satisfied with his meat?’
32 (But no sojourner had to lodge in the street, For I have opened my doors to the traveler );
33 If I have covered my transgressions as Adam, By hiding my iniquity in my bosom,
34 Because I feared the great multitude, And dreaded the contempt of families, So that I kept silence And did not go out of the door—
35 Oh, that I had one to hear me! Here is my mark. Oh, that the Almighty would answer me, That my Prosecutor had written a book!
36 Surely I would carry it on my shoulder, And bind it on me like a crown;
37 I would declare to Him the number of my steps; Like a prince I would approach Him.
38 “If my land cries out against me, And its furrows weep together;
39 If I have eaten its fruit without money, Or caused its owners to lose their lives;
40 Then let thistles grow instead of wheat, And weeds instead of barley.” The words of Job are ended.
1 So these three men ceased answering Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes.
2 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.
3 Also against his three friends his wrath was aroused, because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job.
4 Now because they were years older than he, Elihu had waited to speak to Job.
5 When Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, his wrath was aroused.
6 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.
7 I said, “Age should speak, And multitude of years should teach wisdom.’
8 But there is a spirit in man, And the breath of the Almighty gives him understanding.
9 Great men are not always wise, Nor do the aged always understand justice.
10 “Therefore I say, “Listen to me, I also will declare my opinion.’
11 Indeed I waited for your words, I listened to your reasonings, while you searched out what to say.
12 I paid close attention to you; And surely not one of you convinced Job, Or answered his words—
13 Lest you say, “We have found wisdom’; God will vanquish him, not man.
14 Now he has not directed his words against me; So I will not answer him with your words.
15 “They are dismayed and answer no more; Words escape them.
16 And I have waited, because they did not speak, Because they stood still and answered no more.
17 I also will answer my part, I too will declare my opinion.
18 For I am full of words; The spirit within me compels me.
19 Indeed my belly is like wine that has no vent; It is ready to burst like new wineskins.
20 I will speak, that I may find relief; I must open my lips and answer.
21 Let me not, I pray, show partiality to anyone; Nor let me flatter any man.
22 For I do not know how to flatter, Else my Maker would soon take me away.
1 “But please, Job, hear my speech, And listen to all my words.
2 Now, I open my mouth; My tongue speaks in my mouth.
3 My words come from my upright heart; My lips utter pure knowledge.
4 The Spirit of God has made me, And the breath of the Almighty gives me life.
5 If you can answer me, Set your words in order before me; Take your stand.
6 Truly I am as your spokesman before God; I also have been formed out of clay.
7 Surely no fear of me will terrify you, Nor will my hand be heavy on you.
8 “Surely you have spoken in my hearing, And I have heard the sound of your words, saying,
9 “I am pure, without transgression; I am innocent, and there is no iniquity in me.
10 Yet He finds occasions against me, He counts me as His enemy;
11 He puts my feet in the stocks, He watches all my paths.’
12 “Look, in this you are not righteous. I will answer you, For God is greater than man.
13 Why do you contend with Him? For He does not give an accounting of any of His words.
14 For God may speak in one way, or in another, Yet man does not perceive it.
15 In a dream, in a vision of the night, When deep sleep falls upon men, While slumbering on their beds,
16 Then He opens the ears of men, And seals their instruction.
17 In order to turn man from his deed, And conceal pride from man,
18 He keeps back his soul from the Pit, And his life from perishing by the sword.
19 “Man is also chastened with pain on his bed, And with strong pain in many of his bones,
20 So that his life abhors bread, And his soul succulent food.
21 His flesh wastes away from sight, And his bones stick out which once were not seen.
22 Yes, his soul draws near the Pit, And his life to the executioners.
23 “If there is a messenger for him, A mediator, one among a thousand, To show man His uprightness,
24 Then He is gracious to him, and says, “Deliver him from going down to the Pit; I have
