Elihu's Intervention: Rebuke and Praise of God's Majesty (part 2)
Job 33:23-34:33
33
Chapter 33
23If there is over him an angel mediator, one from a thousand, to tell man his uprightness.24And he graciously favored him and said, "I redeem him from descending to the Pit; I have found a ransom."25His flesh returns from youth. He will return to the days of his hiddenness.26He will pray to God, and He will be pleased with him and will see his face with joy, and He will restore to man his righteousness.27He testified uprightly about men and said, "I have sinned and I have made uprightness err, and it has not been fitting for me."28He redeemed his soul from passing into Sheol, and his life will see the light.29Behold—all these things God does two or three times with a man.30to return his nephesh from the pit to light, in the light of the lives.31Pay attention, Job. Listen to me. Be silent—and I will speak.32If there are words, answer me; speak, for I delight in your righteousness.33If you have nothing to say, be silent, and I will teach you wisdom.
34
Chapter 34
1And Elihu answered and said:2Hear my words, skilled artisans, and give ear to me, knowing ones.3For the ear tests words just as the palate tastes food.4Justice has been chosen for us; let us know between us what is good.5For Job has said, "I am righteous, but God has turned away my justice."6Against my legal right I have been deceived; my mortal arrow wounds without transgression.7What man is like Job, who drinks mockery like water?8and a path of companionship with doers of iniquity and to walk with men of wickedness.9For he said, "A man will not profit by his atonement acceptance with God."10Therefore, men of heart, hear me: profaning God from the wicked and Shaddai from injustice.11For a man's deed he will repay him, and according to a man's way he will find him.12Indeed, God will not act wickedly, and the Almighty will not pervert justice.13Who has appointed him over the land, and who has set the whole world in place?14If he sets his heart against him, if he gathers his spirit and his breath to himself.15All flesh will breathe its last together, and Adam will return to dust.16If you have understanding, hear this; give ear to the voice of my words.17Indeed, a hater of justice—will he bind? And if a righteous mighty one, will you condemn as wicked?18Does one say to a king, "Belial, wicked one," or to nobles, "You worthless ones"?19who does not lift the face of officials nor recognize a noble before a poor one, for all of them are the work of his hands.20In a moment they die; at midnight the people quake, and they pass away, and they remove the mighty one not by hand.21For his eyes are on the ways of a man, and he sees all his steps.22There is no darkness and no shadow of death where the deeds of the North can hide.23For he does not appoint it for a man anymore, to go to God in judgment.24He breaks the mighty ones—he does not inquire—and he causes others to stand under them.25Therefore he recognizes their works and turns night, and they are crushed.26He struck them in the presence of the wicked, in the Place of Seers.27because for this reason they turned away from him, and they did not understand all his ways.28to bring upon him the cry of the poor and the cry of the afflicted—he will hear.29And he is quiet, and who will condemn? And he hides his face, and who will restore us? And upon nation and upon man together.30From a king, Adam, a defiler from snares of people.31For one does not say to God, "I have borne; I will not act corruptly."32Unless you make me see, you teach me. If I have done iniquity, I will not add to it.33Does your load repay it? For you rejected it. For you choose, and not I. Now speak what you know.