For destruction from God was a terror to me, and by reason of his highness I could not endure.

If I have made gold my hope, or have said to the fine gold, Thou art my confidence;

if I looked to the light when it shone, or the moon walking in brightness,

And my heart became secretly enticed [by them],
And my hand threw a kiss from my mouth [in respect to them],

This also were an iniquity to be punished by the judge: for I should have denied the God that is above.

Have I ever rejoiced at the hurt of mine enemy? Or was I ever glad, that any harm happened to him? Oh no.

Neither have I suffered my mouth to sin by wishing a curse to his soul.

Haven’t the members of my household said,
“Who is there who has not had enough to eat at Job’s table?”

The stranger did not lodge in the street: but I opened my doors to the traveller.

If I have covered as Adam my transgressions, To hide in my bosom mine iniquity,

because I feared the great multitude, and the contempt of families terrified me, so that I kept silence, and didn't go out of the door --

Oh that I had one to hear me! (Lo, here is my signature, let the Almighty answer me); And that I had the indictment which mine adversary hath written!

Surely I would take it upon my shoulder, and bind it as a crown to me.

I would declare unto him the number of my steps; as a prince would I come near to him.

“For if my land has cried out against me,
And its furrows weep together;

If I have eaten the fruits thereof without money, or have caused the owners thereof to lose their life:

So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes.

But Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, became indignant. His indignation was kindled and burned and he became upset with Job because he justified himself rather than God [and even expressed doubts about God’s character].

Elihu’s anger burned against Job’s three friends because they had found no answer [and were unable to determine Job’s error], and yet they had condemned Job and declared him to be in the wrong [and responsible for his own afflictions].

Now Elihu had waited to speak unto Job, because they were elder than he.

So when Elihu, the son of Barachel the Buzite, saw that these three men were not able to make Job answer, he was miscontent.

And Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered and said, I am young, and ye are aged; wherefore I was timid, and feared to shew you what I know.

I said: Days do speak, And multitude of years teach wisdom.

Surely a spirit is in man, And the breath of the Mighty One Doth cause them to understand.

Great men are not always wise: neither do the aged understand judgment.

Therefore I said, Hearken to me; I also will shew mine opinion.

Behold, I waited for your words; I gave ear to your reasons, whilst ye searched out what to say.

“I even paid close attention to [what] you [said],
Indeed, not one of you convinced Job [nor could you refute him],
Not one of you supplied [satisfactory] answers to his words.

So do not say, 'We have found wisdom; let God refute him, not a man.'

And he hath not set in array words for me, And with your sayings I do not answer him.

They are amazed, they answer no more: They have not a word to say.

And I have waited, but they do not speak, For they have stood still, They have not answered any more.)

I too will answer;
yes, I will tell what I know.

For I am full of words,
and my spirit compels me to speak.

Behold, my belly is as wine which hath no vent; it is ready to burst like new bottles.

I speak, and there is refreshment to me, I open my lips and answer.

Let me not, I pray you, accept any man's person; neither will I give flattery to man.

For I know not to give flattering titles; in so doing my maker would soon take me away.

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

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

The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of Shaddai gives life to me.

If thou art able to answer me, Set in order before me - take thy stand!

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

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

But you said in my hearing, and your voice came to my ears:

I am clean without transgression; I am fair, and no iniquity to me.

Lo, occasions against me He doth find, He doth reckon me for an enemy to Him,

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

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

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

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

Then he makes his secrets clear to men, so that they are full of fear at what they see;

To turn aside man from doing, And pride from man He concealeth.

To keep back his soul from the underworld, and his life from destruction.

Pain is sent on him as a punishment, while he is on his bed; there is no end to the trouble in his bones;

so that his life may away with no bread, and his soul abhorreth to eat any dainty meat:

His flesh wastes away to nothing,
and his unseen bones stick out.

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

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

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

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

He maketh supplication unto God, And He accepteth him. And he seeth His face with shouting, And He returneth to man His righteousness.

He will sing before men, and say, I have sinned, and perverted what was right, and it hath not been requited to me;

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

God certainly does all these things
two or three times to a man

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

Attend, O Job, hearken to me, Keep silent, and I -- I do speak.

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

If there are not -- hearken thou to me, Keep silent, and I teach thee wisdom.

Hear, O wise men, my words, And, O knowing ones, give ear to me.

For the ear doth try words, And the palate tasteth to eat.

Let us choose to us judgment: let us know among ourselves what is good.

Against my right do I lie? Mortal is mine arrow -- without transgression.'

And he hath travelled for company With workers of iniquity, So as to go with men of wickedness.

“For he has said, ‘It profits a man nothing
When he takes delight and is pleased with God and obeys Him.’

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.

For the work of a man shall he render unto him, and cause every man to find according to his ways.

Yea, surely God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert judgment.

Who hath entrusted to him the earth? and who hath disposed the whole world?

“If God should determine to do so,
If He should gather to Himself [that is, withdraw from man] His [life-giving] spirit and His breath,

All flesh would expire together, and man would return to the dust.

If now thou hast understanding, hear this: hearken to the voice of my words.

Do you really think that one who hates justice can govern? And will you declare guilty the supremely righteous One,

Is it fit to say to a king, Thou art wicked? and to princes, Ye are ungodly?

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.

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.

There is no darkness nor death-shade, For workers of iniquity to be hidden there;

For he needeth not further to consider a man, That he should go before God in judgment.

He sends the strong to destruction without searching out their cause, and puts others in their place.

because they turned aside from following him, and wouldn't pay attention to any of his ways,

So that they cause the cry of the poor to come unto him, and he heareth the cry of the afflicted.

And He giveth rest, and who maketh wrong? And hideth the face, and who beholdeth it? And in reference to a nation and to a man, It is the same.

That the godless man reign not, That there be none to ensnare the people.

Surely it is meet to be said unto God, I have borne chastisement, I will not offend any more:

That which I see not teach thou me: if I have done iniquity, I will do no more.

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.

Men of understanding will say to me, and a wise man who heareth me:

Job's words do not come from knowledge; they are not the fruit of wisdom.

‘Job ought to be tried to the limit
Because he answers like wicked men!

For he doth add to his sin, Transgression among us he vomiteth, And multiplieth his sayings to God.