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For it is a fire that consumes to destruction, and would root out all my increase.

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“If I have despised the cause of my male servant or of my female servant, when they contended with me;

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What then shall I do when God rises up? When he visits, what shall I answer him?

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Didn’t he who made me in the womb make him? Didn’t one fashion us in the womb?

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“If I have withheld the poor from their desire, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail,

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or have eaten my morsel alone, and the fatherless has not eaten of it

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(no, from my youth he grew up with me as with a father, her have I guided from my mother’s womb);

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if I have seen any perish for want of clothing, or that the needy had no covering;

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if his heart hasn’t blessed me, if he hasn’t been warmed with my sheep’s fleece;

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if I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless, because I saw my help in the gate,

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then let my shoulder fall from the shoulder blade, and my arm be broken from the bone.

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For calamity from God is a terror to me. Because his majesty, I can do nothing.

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“If I have made gold my hope, and have said to the fine gold, ‘You are my confidence;’

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If I have rejoiced because my wealth was great, and because my hand had gotten much;

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if I have seen the sun when it shined, or the moon moving in splendor,

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and my heart has been secretly enticed, and my hand threw a kiss from my mouth,

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this also would be an iniquity to be punished by the judges; for I should have denied the God who is above.

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“If I have rejoiced at the destruction of him who hated me, or lifted up myself when evil found him;

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(yes, I have not allowed my mouth to sin by asking his life with a curse);

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if the men of my tent have not said, ‘Who can find one who has not been filled with his meat?’

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(the foreigner has not lodged in the street, but I have opened my doors to the traveler);

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if like Adam I have covered my transgressions, by hiding my iniquity in my heart,

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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–

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oh that I had one to hear me! (behold, here is my signature, let the Almighty answer me); let the accuser write my indictment!

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Surely I would carry it on my shoulder; and I would bind it to me as a crown.

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I would declare to him the number of my steps. as a prince would I go near to him.

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If my land cries out against me, and its furrows weep together;

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if I have eaten its fruits without money, or have caused its owners to lose their life,

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let briars grow instead of wheat, and stinkweed instead of barley.” The words of Job are ended.

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

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Then the wrath of Elihu the son of Barachel, the Buzite, of the family of Ram, was kindled against Job. His wrath was kindled because he justified himself rather than God.

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Also his wrath was kindled against his three friends, because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job.

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

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When Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, his wrath was kindled.

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Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered, “I am young, and you are very old; Therefore I held back, and didn’t dare show you my opinion.

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I said, ‘Days should speak, and multitude of years should teach wisdom.’

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But there is a spirit in man, and the breath of the Almighty gives them understanding.

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It is not the great who are wise, nor the aged who understand justice.

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Therefore I said, ‘Listen to me; I also will show my opinion.’

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“Behold, I waited for your words, and I listened for your reasoning, while you searched out what to say.

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Yes, I gave you my full attention, but there was no one who convinced Job, or who answered his words, among you.

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Beware lest you say, ‘We have found wisdom, God may refute him, not man;’

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for he has not directed his words against me; neither will I answer him with your speeches.

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“They are amazed. They answer no more. They don’t have a word to say.

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Shall I wait, because they don’t speak, because they stand still, and answer no more?

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I also will answer my part, and I also will show my opinion.

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For I am full of words. The spirit within me constrains me.

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Behold, my breast is as wine which has no vent; like new wineskins it is ready to burst.

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I will speak, that I may be refreshed. I will open my lips and answer.

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Please don’t let me respect any man’s person, neither will I give flattering titles to any man.

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For I don’t know how to give flattering titles; or else my Maker would soon take me away.

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“However, Job, please hear my speech, and listen to all my words.

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See now, I have opened my mouth. My tongue has spoken in my mouth.

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My words shall utter the uprightness of my heart. That which my lips know they shall speak sincerely.

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

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If you can, answer me. Set your words in order before me, and stand forth.

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Behold, I am toward God even as you are. I am also formed out of the clay.

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Behold, my terror shall not make you afraid, neither shall my pressure be heavy on you.

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“Surely you have spoken in my hearing, I have heard the voice of your words, saying,

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I am clean, without disobedience. I am innocent, neither is there iniquity in me.

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Behold, he finds occasions against me. He counts me for his enemy.

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He puts my feet in the stocks. He marks all my paths.’

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“Behold, I will answer you. In this you are not just, for God is greater than man.

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Why do you strive against him, because he doesn’t give account of any of his matters?

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For God speaks once, yes twice, though man pays no attention.

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In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on men, in slumbering on the bed;

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Then he opens the ears of men, and seals their instruction,

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

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

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He is chastened also with pain on his bed, with continual strife in his bones;

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So that his life abhors bread, and his soul dainty food.

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His flesh is so consumed away, that it can’t be seen. His bones that were not seen stick out.

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Yes, his soul draws near to the pit, and his life to the destroyers.

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“If there is beside him an angel, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to show to man what is right for him;

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then God is gracious to him, and says, ‘Deliver him from going down to the pit, I have found a ransom.’

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His flesh shall be fresher than a child’s. He returns to the days of his youth.

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He prays to God, and he is favorable to him, so that he sees his face with joy. He restores to man his righteousness.

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He sings before men, and says, ‘I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it didn’t profit me.

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He has redeemed my soul from going into the pit. My life shall see the light.’

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“Behold, God works all these things, twice, yes three times, with a man,

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

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Mark well, Job, and listen to me. Hold your peace, and I will speak.

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

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If not, listen to me. Hold your peace, and I will teach you wisdom.”

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Moreover Elihu answered,

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“Hear my words, you wise men. Give ear to me, you who have knowledge.

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For the ear tries words, as the palate tastes food.

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Let us choose for us that which is right. Let us know among ourselves what is good.

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For Job has said, ‘I am righteous, God has taken away my right:

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Notwithstanding my right I am considered a liar. My wound is incurable, though I am without disobedience.’

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What man is like Job, who drinks scorn like water,

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Who goes in company with the workers of iniquity, and walks with wicked men?

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For he has said, ‘It profits a man nothing that he should delight himself with God.’

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“Therefore listen to me, you men of understanding: far be it from God, that he should do wickedness, from the Almighty, that he should commit iniquity.

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

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Yes surely, God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert justice.

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Who put him in charge of the earth? or who has appointed him over the whole world?

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If he set his heart on himself, If he gathered to himself his spirit and his breath,

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all flesh would perish together, and man would turn again to dust.

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“If now you have understanding, hear this. Listen to the voice of my words.