Elihu's Intervention: Rebuke and Praise of God's Majesty (part 1)
Job 32:1-33:22
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Chapter 32
1And these three men ceased from oppressing Job, for he is righteous in his own eyes.2And anger burned in Elihu, son of Barakel the Buzite, from the clan of Ram, against Job. His nose burned over his righteousness, his vital life force from God.3And his anger burned against his three companions because they did not find an answer, and they declared Job guilty.4Elihu had waited for Job with words because they were elders before him in days.5Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouths of the three men, and his anger burned.6Elihu son of Baruel the Buzite answered and said, "I am younger in days, but you are aged men; therefore I shrank back and feared to reprove you with my knowledge."7I said, "Days will speak, and many years will know wisdom."8Indeed, the spirit is in man, and the breath of Shaddai makes them understand.9The great in years do not understand justice.10Therefore I said, "Hear me, brother; know me—even I."11Behold, I waited for your words; I gave ear to your understandings, to the probing of your words.12And I paid attention to you. Behold, there is no one among you who can rebuke Job or answer his words.13lest you say, "We have found wisdom; God will thrust him away, not a man."14And he has not set words in order against me, and in your sayings I will not return him.15They were dismayed; they did not oppress him further; words failed them.16And I waited, for they did not speak—for they stood there; they did not speak anymore.17I will answer, even I. I will declare my portion, my knowledge, even I.18For I am full of words; the Spirit within me distresses me.19Look—my belly is like wine that is not opened, like new wineskins it bursts.20I will speak, and it will be relieved for me; I will open my lips and I will answer.21Please do not let me lift up a man's face, and to Adam I will not flatter.22For I do not know how to flatter; if he does not lift me up, he will make me.
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Chapter 33
1Now, however, listen, Job, to my words; listen attentively to all my words.2Now behold, I have opened my mouth; my tongue speaks in my mouth.3I have spoken the words of my upright heart, and my lips have declared pure knowledge.4The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of Shaddai gives me life.5If you are able to return me—set it before my face; station yourself.6Behold, I am like you before God; even I formed your mouth like clay.7Behold, my terror will not terrify you, and my heaviness will not be heavy upon you.8Surely you said in my ears, and I heard the voice of words.9I am pure, without transgression. I am innocent, and there is no iniquity in me.10Look, he finds occasions of hostility against me; he counts me as his enemy.11He has put my feet in the stocks; he watches all my paths.12Behold, you are not righteous. I will answer you, for God is superior to man.13Why bring legal disputes to him? For all his words, he will not answer.14For he speaks to us once and does not reveal it twice.15In a dream, a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls upon men, in slumbers on the bed.16Then he opens the ear of humanity, and in their disciplining he seals.17To remove Adam from his deed and pride from man—he will cover him.18He withholds his nephesh from the pit, and his life from passing over in the slaying.19And he is reproved with pain on his bed, and the abundance of his bones is ever restless.20And his flesh loathes bread, and his soul loathes food of craving.21His flesh wastes away from sight, and his bones—his lips are not seen.22And she brings his nephesh near to Sheol, and his living creature to the dead ones.