Elihu Rebukes Job 1 CPDV Therefore, hear my speeches, Job, and listen to all my words. BSB BSB: “But now, O Job, hear my speech, and listen to all my words.
2 CPDV Behold, I have opened my mouth; let my tongue speak along with my throat. BSB BSB: Behold, I will open my mouth; my address is on the tip of my tongue.
3 CPDV My words are from my simple heart, and my lips will speak a pure judgment. BSB BSB: My words are from an upright heart, and my lips speak sincerely what I know.
4 CPDV The Spirit of God made me, and the breath of the Almighty gave me life. BSB BSB: The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.
5 CPDV If you can, answer me, and oppose me to my face. BSB BSB: Refute me if you can; prepare your case and confront me.
6 CPDV Behold, God has made me, just as he also has made you, and I, likewise, have been formed of the same clay. BSB BSB: I am just like you before God; I was also formed from clay.
7 CPDV So, truly, do not let my wonders terrify you, and do not let my eloquence be burdensome to you. BSB BSB: Surely no fear of me should terrify you; nor will my hand be heavy upon you.
8 CPDV For you have spoken in my hearing, and I have heard the voice of your words, saying: BSB BSB: Surely you have spoken in my hearing, and I have heard these very words:
9 CPDV “I am clean and without sin; I am immaculate, and there is no iniquity in me. BSB BSB: ‘I am pure, without transgression; I am clean, with no iniquity in me.
10 CPDV Yet he has discovered blame in me, and so he has treated me like his enemy. BSB BSB: Yet God finds occasions against me; He counts me as His enemy.
11 CPDV He has put my feet in fetters; he has kept watch over all my ways.” BSB BSB: He puts my feet in the stocks; He watches over all my paths.’
12 CPDV Therefore, it is for this reason that you have not been justified. For I tell you that God is greater than man. BSB BSB: Behold, you are not right in this matter. I will answer you, for God is greater than man.
13 CPDV Do you contend against him because he has not responded to all of your words? BSB BSB: Why do you complain to Him that He answers nothing a man asks?
14 CPDV God speaks once, and he does not repeat the same thing a second time. BSB BSB: For God speaks in one way and in another, yet no one notices.
15 CPDV Through a dream in a vision of the night, when a deep sleep falls over men, and they are sleeping in their beds, BSB BSB: In a dream, in a vision in the night, when deep sleep falls upon men as they slumber on their beds,
16 CPDV then, he opens the ears of men, and, educating them, he teaches discipline, BSB BSB: He opens their ears and terrifies them with warnings
17 CPDV so that he may divert a man from the things that he is doing, and may free him from pride, BSB BSB: to turn a man from wrongdoing and keep him from pride,
18 CPDV rescuing his soul from corruption and his life from passing away by the sword. BSB BSB: to preserve his soul from the Pit and his life from perishing by the sword.
19 CPDV Likewise, he rebukes by sorrow in bed, and he causes all of his bones to become weak. BSB BSB: A man is also chastened on his bed with pain and constant distress in his bones,
20 CPDV Bread becomes abominable to him in his life, and, to his soul, the meat which before he desired. BSB BSB: so that he detests his bread, and his soul loathes his favorite food.
21 CPDV His body will waste away, and his bones, which had been covered, will be revealed. BSB BSB: His flesh wastes away from sight, and his hidden bones protrude.
22 CPDV His soul has approached corruption, and his life has drawn near to what is deadly. BSB BSB: He draws near to the Pit, and his life to the messengers of death.
23 CPDV If there were an angel speaking for him, one among thousands, to declare the fairness of the man, 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 CPDV he will have mercy on him, and he will say, “Free him, so that he will not descend to destruction. I have found a reason to be favorable to him. BSB BSB: to be gracious to him and say, ‘Spare him from going down to the Pit; I have found his ransom,’
25 CPDV His body is consumed by suffering. Let him return to the days of his youth.” BSB BSB: then his flesh is refreshed like a child’s; he returns to the days of his youth.
26 CPDV He will beg pardon from God, and he will be soothing to him; and he will look upon his face in jubilation, and he will restore his justice to man. 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 CPDV He will consider mankind, and he will say: “I have sinned and truly I have offended, yet I was not treated as I deserved.” 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 CPDV He has freed his soul from continuing into destruction, so that, in living, it may see the light. BSB BSB: He redeemed my soul from going down to the Pit, and I will live to see the light.’
29 CPDV Behold, all these things God works three times within each one, BSB BSB: Behold, all these things God does to a man, two or even three times,
30 CPDV so that he may revive their souls from corruption and enlighten them with the light of life. BSB BSB: to bring back his soul from the Pit, that he may be enlightened with the light of life.
31 CPDV Pay attention Job, and listen to me; and remain silent, while I speak. BSB BSB: Pay attention, Job, and listen to me; be silent, and I will speak.
32 CPDV Yet, if you have anything to say, answer me and speak, for I want you to be treated justly. BSB BSB: But if you have something to say, answer me; speak up, for I would like to vindicate you.
33 CPDV But if you do not have anything to say, then listen to me. Be quiet and I will teach you wisdom. 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.