To

If I have walked in falsehood or my foot has rushed to deceit,

If my steps have turned from the path, if my heart has followed my eyes, or if impurity has stuck to my hands,

For that would be a heinous crime, an iniquity to be judged.

For it is a fire that burns down to Abaddon; it would root out my entire harvest.

…what will I do when God rises to judge? How will I answer when called to account?

…what will I do when God rises to judge? How will I answer when called to account?

If I have denied the desires of the poor or allowed the widow’s eyes to fail,

…this would also be an iniquity to be judged, for I would have denied God on high.

I have not allowed my mouth to sin by asking for his life with a curse—

…but no stranger had to lodge on the street, for my door has been open to the traveler—

…but no stranger had to lodge on the street, for my door has been open to the traveler—

(Oh, that I had one to hear me! Here is my signature. Let the Almighty answer me; let my accuser compose an indictment.

…and he burned with anger against Job’s three friends because they had failed to refute Job, and yet had condemned him.

Now Elihu had waited to speak to Job because the others were older than he.

Now Elihu had waited to speak to Job because the others were older than he.

So Elihu son of Barachel the Buzite declared: “I am young in years, while you are old; that is why I was timid and afraid to tell you what I know.

Therefore I say, ‘Listen to me; I too will declare what I know.’

Indeed, I waited while you spoke; I listened to your reasoning; as you searched for words,

Job’s friends are dismayed, with no more to say; words have escaped them.

Behold, my belly is like unvented wine; it is about to burst like a new wineskin.

I will be partial to no one, nor will I flatter any man.

For I do not know how to flatter, or my Maker would remove me in an instant.

“But now, O Job, hear my speech, and listen to all my words.

Why do you complain to Him that He answers nothing a man asks?

…to turn a man from wrongdoing and keep him from pride,

…to preserve his soul from the Pit and his life from perishing by the sword.

He draws near to the Pit, and his life to the messengers of death.

He draws near to the Pit, and his life to the messengers of death.

Yet if there is a messenger on his side, one mediator in a thousand, to tell a man what is right for him,

…to be gracious to him and say, ‘Spare him from going down to the Pit; I have found his ransom,’

…to be gracious to him and say, ‘Spare him from going down to the Pit; I have found his ransom,’

…to be gracious to him and say, ‘Spare him from going down to the Pit; I have found his ransom,’

…then his flesh is refreshed like a child’s; he returns to the days of his youth.

He prays to God and finds favor; he sees God’s face and shouts for joy, and God restores His righteousness to that man.

He prays to God and finds favor; he sees God’s face and shouts for joy, and God restores His righteousness to that man.

He redeemed my soul from going down to the Pit, and I will live to see the light.’

He redeemed my soul from going down to the Pit, and I will live to see the light.’

Behold, all these things God does to a man, two or even three times,

…to bring back his soul from the Pit, that he may be enlightened with the light of life.

Pay attention, Job, and listen to me; be silent, and I will speak.

But if you have something to say, answer me; speak up, for I would like to vindicate you.

But if you have something to say, answer me; speak up, for I would like to vindicate you.

But if not, then listen to me; be quiet, and I will teach you wisdom.”

“Hear my words, O wise men; give ear to me, O men of learning.

Therefore listen to me, O men of understanding. Far be it from God to do wrong, and from the Almighty to act unjustly.

Therefore listen to me, O men of understanding. Far be it from God to do wrong, and from the Almighty to act unjustly.

Therefore listen to me, O men of understanding. Far be it from God to do wrong, and from the Almighty to act unjustly.

For according to a man’s deeds He repays him; according to a man’s ways He brings consequences.

For according to a man’s deeds He repays him; according to a man’s ways He brings consequences.

If He were to set His heart to it and withdraw His Spirit and breath,

If He were to set His heart to it and withdraw His Spirit and breath,

…all flesh would perish together and mankind would return to the dust.

If you have understanding, hear this; listen to my words.

…who says to kings, ‘You are worthless!’ and to nobles, ‘You are wicked,’

…who says to kings, ‘You are worthless!’ and to nobles, ‘You are wicked,’

…who is not partial to princes and does not favor rich over poor? For they are all the work of His hands.

They caused the cry of the poor to come before Him, and He heard the outcry of the afflicted.

Suppose someone says to God, ‘I have endured my punishment; I will offend no more.

Men of understanding will declare to me, and the wise men who hear me will say:

If only Job were tried to the utmost for answering like a wicked man.

For he adds rebellion to his sin; he claps his hands among us and multiplies his words against God.”

And Elihu went on to say:

I will reply to you and to your friends as well.

I will reply to you and to your friends as well.

Look to the heavens and see; gaze at the clouds high above you.

If you sin, what do you accomplish against Him? If you multiply your transgressions, what do you do to Him?

Surely God does not listen to empty pleas, and the Almighty does not take note of it.

“Bear with me a little longer, and I will show you that there is more to be said on God’s behalf.

I get my knowledge from afar, and I will ascribe justice to my Maker.

He does not keep the wicked alive, but He grants justice to the afflicted.

He opens their ears to correction and commands that they turn from iniquity.

Indeed, He drew you from the jaws of distress to a spacious and broad place, to a table full of richness.

Indeed, He drew you from the jaws of distress to a spacious and broad place, to a table full of richness.

Be careful not to turn to iniquity, for this you have preferred to affliction.

Be careful not to turn to iniquity, for this you have preferred to affliction.

Be careful not to turn to iniquity, for this you have preferred to affliction.

Remember to magnify His work, which men have praised in song.

He fills His hands with lightning and commands it to strike its mark.

Listen closely to the thunder of His voice and the rumbling that comes from His mouth.

He unleashes His lightning beneath the whole sky and sends it to the ends of the earth.

For He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth,’ and to the gentle rain, ‘Pour out a mighty downpour.’

For He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth,’ and to the gentle rain, ‘Pour out a mighty downpour.’

Listen to this, O Job; stand still and consider the wonders of God.

Teach us what we should say to Him; we cannot draw up our case because of our darkness.

Should He be told that I want to speak? Would a man ask to be swallowed up?

Should He be told that I want to speak? Would a man ask to be swallowed up?

Therefore, men fear Him, for He is not partial to the wise in heart.”

…that it might spread to the ends of the earth and shake the wicked out of it?

Have you journeyed to the vents of the sea or walked in the trenches of the deep?

Have the gates of death been revealed to you? Have you seen the gates of the shadow of death?

Where is the way to the home of light? Do you know where darkness resides,

…so you can lead it back to its border? Do you know the paths to its home?

…so you can lead it back to its border? Do you know the paths to its home?

…to bring rain on a barren land, on a desert where no man lives,

…to satisfy the parched wasteland and make it sprout with tender grass?

From whose womb does the ice emerge? Who gives birth to the frost from heaven,

Can you send the lightning bolts on their way? Do they report to you, ‘Here we are’?

Who has put wisdom in the heart or given understanding to the mind?

Who has the wisdom to count the clouds? Or who can tilt the water jars of the heavens

Who provides food for the raven when its young cry out to God as they wander about for lack of food?