Elihu Rebukes Job

1 “However, Job, please listen to my words,And pay attention to everything I say.

1 Wherefore, Job, I pray thee, hear my speeches, and hearken to all my words.

1 “However now, Job, please (A)hear my speech,And listen to all my words.

1 But now, Job, pay attention to my speech,and listen to all my words.

1 "Now please listen to what I have to say, Job. Listen to every word!

2 “Behold, I have opened my mouth [to begin my speech];My tongue in my mouth is going to speak.

2 Behold, now I have opened my mouth, my tongue hath spoken in my mouth.

2 “Behold now, I open my mouth,My tongue in my (a)mouth speaks.

2 I am going to open my mouth;my tongue will form words on my palate.

2 Look! I've begun to speak, and I'm fashioning my words.

3 “My words will express the uprightness of my heart,And my lips will speak what they know with utter sincerity.

3 My words shall be of the uprightness of my heart: and my lips shall utter knowledge clearly.

3 “My words are from the uprightness of my heart,And my lips speak (B)knowledge sincerely.

3 My words come from my upright(A) heart,and my lips speak with sincerity what they know.

3 I speak from the innocence of my heart; and my lips will utter what I sincerely know.

4 “The Spirit of God has made me,And the breath of (a)the Almighty gives me life [which inspires me].

4 The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life.

4 “The (C)Spirit of God has made me,And the (D)breath of (b)the Almighty gives me life.

4 The Spirit of God has made me,and the breath of the Almighty(B) gives me life.(C)

4 "The spirit of God fashioned me; and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.

5 “Answer me, if you can;Set yourselves before me, take your stand.

5 If thou canst answer me, set thy words in order before me, stand up.

5 (E)Refute me if you can;Array yourselves before me, take your stand.

5 Refute me if you can.Prepare(D) your case against me; take your stand.(E)

5 Answer me, if you can! Present your case! Take your stand in my presence!

6 “Behold, I belong to God like you;I too was formed out of the clay.

6 Behold, I am according to thy wish in God's stead: I also am formed out of the clay.

6 “Behold, I belong to God like you;I too have been (c)formed out of the (F)clay.

6 I am just like you before God;I was also pinched off from a piece of clay.(F)

6 Look! As far as God is concerned, I'm just like you are I, too, have been pinched off from a piece of clay.

7 “Behold, I will not make you afraid or terrified of me [for I am only mortal and not God],Nor should any pressure from me weigh heavily upon you.

7 Behold, my terror shall not make thee afraid, neither shall my hand be heavy upon thee.

7 “Behold, (G)no fear of me should terrify you,Nor should my pressure weigh heavily on you.

7 Fear(G) of me should not terrify you;the pressure I exert(a) against you will be light.

7 Don't be afraid of me; I'll go easy on you."

God Doesn'T Have To Answer You, Job

8 “Surely you have spoken in my hearing,And I have heard the sound of your words, saying:

8 Surely thou hast spoken in mine hearing, and I have heard the voice of thy words, saying,

8 “Surely you have spoken in my hearing,And I have heard the sound of your words:

8 Surely you have spoken in my hearing,and I have heard these very(b) words:

8 "You spoke clearly so I could hear; I've heard what you've said:

9 ‘I am pure, without transgression;I am innocent and there is no guilt in me.

9 I am clean without transgression, I am innocent; neither is there iniquity in me.

9 ‘I am (H)pure, (I)without transgression;I am innocent and there (J)is no guilt in me.

9 “I am pure, without transgression;I am clean and have no guilt.(H)

9 "I'm pure. I'm without sin; I'm innocent. I'm harboring no iniquity inside of me.

10 ‘Behold, God finds pretexts against me;He counts me as His enemy.

10 Behold, he findeth occasions against me, he counteth me for his enemy,

10 ‘Behold, He (d)invents pretexts against me;He (K)counts me as His enemy.

10 But He finds reasons to oppose me;He regards me as His enemy.(I)

10 Nevertheless, God has found a pretext to attack me; he considers me his enemy.

11 ‘He puts my feet in the stocks [to hinder and humiliate me];He [suspiciously] watches all my paths,’ [you say].

11 He putteth my feet in the stocks, he marketh all my paths.

11 ‘He (L)puts my feet in the stocks;He watches all my paths.’

11 He puts my feet in the stocks;He stands watch(J) over all my paths.”

11 He has bound my feet in shackles, and keeps watching everything I do.'"

12 “Look, let me answer you, in this you are not right or just;For God is greater and far superior to man.

12 Behold, in this thou art not just: I will answer thee, that God is greater than man.

12 “Behold, let me (e)tell you, (M)you are not right in this,For God is greater than man.

12 But I tell you that you are wrong in this matter,since God is greater than man.(K)

12 "You aren't right about this; My response is that God is greater than human beings.

13 “Why do you complain against Him?That He does not answer [you with] all His doings.

13 Why dost thou strive against him? for he giveth not account of any of his matters.

13 “Why do you (N)complain against HimThat He does not give an account of all His doings?

13 Why do you take(L) Him to courtfor not answering anything a person asks?(c)

13 Why are you arguing with him? He doesn't have to give explanations for what he does to you!

Two Ways God Warns People

14 “For God speaks once,And even twice, yet no one notices it [including you, Job].

14 For God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not.

14 “Indeed (O)God speaks once,Or twice, yet no one notices it.

14 For God speaks time and again,but a person may not notice it.

14 "God speaks time and time again but nobody notices

15 “In a dream, a vision of the night [one may hear God’s voice],When deep sleep falls on menWhile slumbering upon the bed,

15 In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed;

15 “In a (P)dream, a vision of the night,When sound sleep falls on men,While they slumber in their beds,

15 In a dream, a vision(M) in the night,when deep sleep falls on people(N)as they slumber on their beds,

15 in a dream or night vision, when a deep sleep falls on mankind while they sleep on their beds.

16 Then He opens the ears of menAnd seals their instruction,

16 Then he openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction,

16 Then (Q)He opens the ears of men,And seals their instruction,

16 He uncovers their ears(O) at that timeand terrifies them(d) with warnings,

16 That's when he opens the ear of mankind, authenticating his messages to them,

17 That He may turn man aside from his conduct,And keep him from pride;

17 That he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man.

17 That He may turn man aside from his conduct,And (f)keep man from pride;

17 in order to turn a person from his actionsand suppress his pride.(e)

17 turning a person from his actions, keeping him from pride,

18 He holds back his soul from the pit [of destruction],And his life from passing over into Sheol (the nether world, the place of the dead).

18 He keepeth back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword.

18 He (R)keeps back his soul from the pit,And his life from (g)passing over (S)into Sheol.

18 God spares his soul from the Pit,(P)his life from crossing the river of death.(f)

18 sparing his soul from the Pit and his life from violent death.

19 “Man is also disciplined with pain on his bed,And with unceasing complaint in his bones,

19 He is chastened also with pain upon his bed, and the multitude of his bones with strong pain:

19 (h)Man is also chastened with (T)pain on his bed,And with unceasing complaint in his bones;

19 A person may be disciplined on his bed(Q) with painand constant distress in his bones,(R)

19 "He is being reproved by painful bed rest, with continual aching in his bones.

20 So that his life makes him loathe food,And his soul [loathe] even his favorite dishes.

20 So that his life abhorreth bread, and his soul dainty meat.

20 So that his life (U)loathes bread,And his soul favorite food.

20 so that he detests bread,and his soul despises his favorite food.(S)

20 He cannot stand his food, and he has no desire for appetizing food.

21 “His flesh is so wasted away that it cannot be seen,And his bones which were not seen now stick out.

21 His flesh is consumed away, that it cannot be seen; and his bones that were not seen stick out.

21 “His (V)flesh wastes away from sight,And his (W)bones which were not seen stick out.

21 His flesh wastes away to nothing,(g)and his unseen bones stick out.

21 His flesh wastes away; his bones, which once couldn't be seen, are visible.

22 “Then his soul draws near to the pit [of destruction],And his life to those who bring death (the destroyers).

22 Yea, his soul draweth near unto the grave, and his life to the destroyers.

22 “Then (X)his soul draws near to the pit,And his life to those who bring death.

22 He draws near to the Pit,and his life to the executioners.

22 His soul is getting close to the Pit; his life is approaching its executioner."

A Third Way God Warns People

23 “If there is an angel as a mediator for him,One out of a thousand,To explain to a man what is right for him [that is, how to be in right standing with God],

23 If there be a messenger with him, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to shew unto man his uprightness:

23 “If there is an angel as (Y)mediator for him,One out of a thousand,To remind a man what is (i)right for him,

23 If there is an angel(T) on his side,one mediator out of a thousand,to tell a person what is right for him(h)

23 "If there's a messenger appointed to mediate for Job one out of a thousand to represent the man's integrity on his behalf,

24 Then (b)the angel is gracious to him, and says,‘Spare him from going down to the pit [of destruction];I have found a ransom [a consideration, or reason for redemption, an atonement]!’

24 Then he is gracious unto him, and saith, Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom.

24 Then let him be gracious to him, and say,‘Deliver him from (Z)going down to the pit,I have found a (AA)ransom’;

24 and to be gracious to him and say,“Spare him from going down to the Pit;I have found a ransom,”(U)

24 to show favor to him and to plead, "Deliver him from having to go down to the Pit I know where his ransom is!'

25 “Let his flesh be restored and become fresher than in youth;Let him return to the days of his youthful strength.

25 His flesh shall be fresher than a child's: he shall return to the days of his youth:

25 Let his flesh become fresher than in youth,Let him return to the days of his youthful vigor;

25 then his flesh will be healthier(i) than in his youth,and he will return to the days of his youthful vigor.(V)

25 Let his flesh be rejuvenated as he was in his youth! Let him recover the strength of his youth.

26 “He will pray to God, and He shall be favorable to him,So that he looks at His face with joy;For God restores to man His righteousness [that is, his right standing with God—with its joys].

26 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.

26 Then he will (AB)pray to God, and He will accept him,That (AC)he may see His face with joy,And He may restore His righteousness to man.

26 He will pray to God, and God will delight in him.That man will see His face(W) with a shout of joy,and God will restore his righteousness to him.(X)

26 Let him pray to God and he will accept him; he will appear before him with joyful shouts!"

27 “He sings out to other men,‘I have sinned and perverted that which was right,And it was not proper for me!

27 He looketh upon men, and if any say, I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it profited me not;

27 “He will sing to men and say,‘I (AD)have sinned and perverted what is right,And it is not (AE)proper for me.

27 He will look at men and say,“I have sinned and perverted what was right;yet I did not get what I deserved.(j)

27 "He'll sing to mankind with these words: "I've sinned. I have twisted what is right. Yet he has not repaid me like I deserve.

28 ‘God has redeemed my life from going to the pit [of destruction],And my life shall see the light.’”

28 He will deliver his soul from going into the pit, and his life shall see the light.

28 ‘He has redeemed my soul from going to the pit,And my life shall (AF)see the light.’

28 He redeemed my soul from going down to the Pit,and I will continue to see the light.”

28 He has redeemed my soul from going down to the Pit; my life will see the light.'

29 [Elihu comments,] “Behold, God does all these things (c)twice, yes, three times, with a man,

29 Lo, all these things worketh God oftentimes with man,

29 “Behold, God does (AG)all these (j)oftentimes with men,

29 God certainly does all these thingstwo or three times to a man

29 Indeed God does all these things again and again with a person

30 To bring his life back from the pit [of destruction],That he may be enlightened with the light of the living.

30 To bring back his soul from the pit, to be enlightened with the light of the living.

30 To (AH)bring back his soul from the pit,That he may be enlightened with the light of life.

30 in order to turn him back from the Pit,so he may shine with the light of life.(Y)

30 to bring back his soul from the Pit; to light him with the light of life."

Pay Attention, Job

31 “Pay attention, Job, listen to me;Keep silent, and I will speak.

31 Mark well, O Job, hearken unto me: hold thy peace, and I will speak.

31 “Pay attention, O Job, listen to me;Keep silent, and let me speak.

31 Pay attention, Job, and listen to me.Be quiet, and I will speak.

31 "Job, pay attention! Listen to me! Be silent and let me speak.

32 “If you have anything to say, answer me;Speak, for I desire to justify you.

32 If thou hast any thing to say, answer me: speak, for I desire to justify thee.

32 “Then if (k)you have anything to say, answer me;Speak, for I desire to justify you.

32 But if you have something to say,(k) answer me;speak, for I would like to justify you.

32 If you have anything to say, answer me; speak up, because I'd be happy to vindicate you.

33 “If not [and you have nothing to say], listen to me;Keep silent, and I will teach you wisdom.”

33 If not, hearken unto me: hold thy peace, and I shall teach thee wisdom.

33 “If not, (AI)listen to me;Keep silent, and I will teach you wisdom.”

33 If not, then listen to me;be quiet, and I will teach you wisdom.

33 But if you have nothing to say, then at least listen to me! Be quiet and learn some wisdom from me."

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