Elihu Rebukes Job 1 Brenton Howbeit hear, Job, my words, and hearken to my speech. BSB BSB: “But now, O Job, hear my speech, and listen to all my words.
2 Brenton For behold, I have opened my mouth, and my tongue has spoken. BSB BSB: Behold, I will open my mouth; my address is on the tip of my tongue.
3 Brenton My heart shall be found pure by my words; and the understanding of my lips shall meditate purity. BSB BSB: My words are from an upright heart, and my lips speak sincerely what I know.
4 Brenton The Divine Spirit is that which formed me, and the breath of the Almighty that which teaches me. BSB BSB: The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.
5 Brenton If thou canst, give me an answer: wait therefore; stand against me, and I will stand against thee. BSB BSB: Refute me if you can; prepare your case and confront me.
6 Brenton Thou art formed out of the clay as also I: we have been formed out of the same substance . BSB BSB: I am just like you before God; I was also formed from clay.
7 Brenton My fear shall not terrify thee, neither shall my hand be heavy upon thee. BSB BSB: Surely no fear of me should terrify you; nor will my hand be heavy upon you.
8 Brenton But thou hast said in mine ears, (I have heard the voice of thy words;) because thou sayest, I am pure, not having sinned; BSB BSB: Surely you have spoken in my hearing, and I have heard these very words:
9 Brenton I am blameless, for I have not transgressed. BSB BSB: ‘I am pure, without transgression; I am clean, with no iniquity in me.
10 Brenton Yet he has discovered a charge against me, and he has reckoned me as an adversary. BSB BSB: Yet God finds occasions against me; He counts me as His enemy.
11 Brenton And he has put my foot in the stocks, and has watched all my ways. BSB BSB: He puts my feet in the stocks; He watches over all my paths.’
12 Brenton For how sayest thou, I am righteous, yet he has not hearkened to me? for he that is above mortals is eternal. BSB BSB: Behold, you are not right in this matter. I will answer you, for God is greater than man.
13 Brenton But thou sayest, Why has he not heard every word of my cause? BSB BSB: Why do you complain to Him that He answers nothing a man asks?
14 Brenton For when the Lord speaks once, or a second time, BSB BSB: For God speaks in one way and in another, yet no one notices.
15 Brenton sending a dream, or in the meditation of the night; (as when a dreadful alarm happens to fall upon men, in slumberings on the bed:)BSB BSB: In a dream, in a vision in the night, when deep sleep falls upon men as they slumber on their beds,
16 Brenton then opens he the understanding of men: he scares them with such fearful visions: BSB BSB: He opens their ears and terrifies them with warnings
17 Brenton to turn a man from unrighteousness, and he delivers his body from a fall. BSB BSB: to turn a man from wrongdoing and keep him from pride,
18 Brenton He spares also his soul from death, and suffers him not to fall in war. BSB BSB: to preserve his soul from the Pit and his life from perishing by the sword.
19 Brenton And again, he chastens him with sickness on his bed, and the multitude of his bones is benumbed. BSB BSB: A man is also chastened on his bed with pain and constant distress in his bones,
20 Brenton And he shall not be able to take any food, though his soul shall desire meat; BSB BSB: so that he detests his bread, and his soul loathes his favorite food.
21 Brenton until his flesh shall be consumed, and he shall shew his bones bare. BSB BSB: His flesh wastes away from sight, and his hidden bones protrude.
22 Brenton His soul also draws nigh to death, and his life is in Hades. BSB BSB: He draws near to the Pit, and his life to the messengers of death.
23 Brenton Though there should be a thousand messengers of death, not one of them shall wound him: if he should purpose in his heart to turn to the Lord, and declare to man his fault, and shew his folly; BSB BSB: Yet if there is a messenger on his side, one mediator in a thousand, to tell a man what is right for him,
24 Brenton he will support him, that he should not perish, and will restore his body as fresh plaster upon a wall; and he will fill his bones with marrow. BSB BSB: to be gracious to him and say, ‘Spare him from going down to the Pit; I have found his ransom,’
25 Brenton And he will make his flesh tender as that of a babe, and he will restore him among men in his full strength. BSB BSB: then his flesh is refreshed like a child’s; he returns to the days of his youth.
26 Brenton And he shall pray to the Lord, and his prayer shall be accepted of him; he shall enter with a cheerful countenance, with a full expression of praise : for he will render to men their due. BSB BSB: He prays to God and finds favor; he sees God’s face and shouts for joy, and God restores His righteousness to that man.
27 Brenton Even then a man shall blame himself, saying, What kind of things have I done? and he has not punished me according to the full amount of my sins. BSB BSB: Then he sings before men with these words: ‘I have sinned and perverted what was right; yet I did not get what I deserved.
28 Brenton Deliver my soul, that it may not go to destruction, and my life shall see the light. BSB BSB: He redeemed my soul from going down to the Pit, and I will live to see the light.’
29 Brenton Behold, all these things the Mighty One works in a threefold manner with a man. BSB BSB: Behold, all these things God does to a man, two or even three times,
30 Brenton And he has delivered my soul from death, that my life may praise him in the light. BSB BSB: to bring back his soul from the Pit, that he may be enlightened with the light of life.
31 Brenton Hearken, Job, and hear me: be silent, and I will speak. BSB BSB: Pay attention, Job, and listen to me; be silent, and I will speak.
32 Brenton If thou hast words, answer me: speak, for I desire thee to be justified. BSB BSB: But if you have something to say, answer me; speak up, for I would like to vindicate you.
33 Brenton If not, do thou hear me: be silent, and I will teach thee. BSB BSB: But if not, then listen to me; be quiet, and I will teach you wisdom.”
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.