Job 31-33

1“I have made a covenant with my eyes. How then could I gaze with desire at a virgin?

2For what is the allotment of God from above, or the heritage from the Almighty on high?

3Does not disaster come to the unjust and calamity to the workers of iniquity?

4Does He not see my ways and count my every step?

5If I have walked in falsehood or my foot has rushed to deceit,

6let God weigh me with honest scales, that He may know my integrity.

7If my steps have turned from the path, if my heart has followed my eyes, or if impurity has stuck to my hands,

8then may another eat what I have sown, and may my crops be uprooted.

9If my heart has been enticed by my neighbor’s wife, or I have lurked at his door,

10then may my own wife grind grain for another, and may other men sleep with her.

11For that would be a heinous crime, an iniquity to be judged.

12For it is a fire that burns down to Abaddon; it would root out my entire harvest.

13If I have rejected the cause of my manservant or maidservant when they made a complaint against me,

14what will I do when God rises to judge? How will I answer when called to account?

15Did not He who made me in the womb also make them? Did not the same One form us in the womb?

16If I have denied the desires of the poor or allowed the widow’s eyes to fail,

17if I have eaten my morsel alone, not sharing it with the fatherless—

18though from my youth I reared him as would a father, and from my mother’s womb I guided the widow—

19if I have seen one perish for lack of clothing, or a needy man without a cloak,

20if his heart has not blessed me for warming him with the fleece of my sheep,

21if I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless because I saw that I had support in the gate,

22then may my arm fall from my shoulder and be torn from its socket.

23For calamity from God terrifies me, and His splendor I cannot overpower.

24If I have put my trust in gold or called pure gold my security,

25if I have rejoiced in my great wealth because my hand had gained so much,

26if I have beheld the sun in its radiance or the moon moving in splendor,

27so that my heart was secretly enticed and my hand threw a kiss from my mouth,

28this would also be an iniquity to be judged, for I would have denied God on high.

29If I have rejoiced in my enemy’s ruin, or exulted when evil befell him—

30I have not allowed my mouth to sin by asking for his life with a curse—

31if the men of my house have not said, ‘Who is there who has not had his fill?’—

32but no stranger had to lodge on the street, for my door has been open to the traveler—

33if I have covered my transgressions like Adam by hiding my guilt in my heart,

34because I greatly feared the crowds and the contempt of the clans terrified me, so that I kept silent and would not go outside—

35(Oh, that I had one to hear me! Here is my signature. Let the Almighty answer me; let my accuser compose an indictment.

36Surely I would carry it on my shoulder and wear it like a crown.

37I would give account of all my steps; I would approach Him like a prince.)—

38if my land cries out against me and its furrows weep together,

39if I have devoured its produce without payment or broken the spirit of its tenants,

40then let briers grow instead of wheat and stinkweed instead of barley.” Thus conclude the words of Job.

1So these three men stopped answering Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes.

2This kindled the anger of Elihu son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram. He burned with anger against Job for justifying himself rather than God,

3and he burned with anger against Job’s three friends because they had failed to refute Job, and yet had condemned him.

4Now Elihu had waited to speak to Job because the others were older than he.

5But when he saw that the three men had no further reply, his anger was kindled.

6So Elihu son of Barachel the Buzite declared: “I am young in years, while you are old; that is why I was timid and afraid to tell you what I know.

7I thought that age should speak, and many years should teach wisdom.

8But there is a spirit in a man, the breath of the Almighty, that gives him understanding.

9It is not only the old who are wise, or the elderly who understand justice.

10Therefore I say, ‘Listen to me; I too will declare what I know.’

11Indeed, I waited while you spoke; I listened to your reasoning; as you searched for words,

12I paid you full attention. But no one proved Job wrong; not one of you rebutted his arguments.

13So do not claim, ‘We have found wisdom; let God, not man, refute him.’

14But Job has not directed his words against me, and I will not answer him with your arguments.

15Job’s friends are dismayed, with no more to say; words have escaped them.

16Must I wait, now that they are silent, now that they stand and no longer reply?

17I too will answer; yes, I will declare what I know.

18For I am full of words, and my spirit within me compels me.

19Behold, my belly is like unvented wine; it is about to burst like a new wineskin.

20I must speak and find relief; I must open my lips and respond.

21I will be partial to no one, nor will I flatter any man.

22For I do not know how to flatter, or my Maker would remove me in an instant.

1“But now, O Job, hear my speech, and listen to all my words.

2Behold, I will open my mouth; my address is on the tip of my tongue.

3My words are from an upright heart, and my lips speak sincerely what I know.

4The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.

5Refute me if you can; prepare your case and confront me.

6I am just like you before God; I was also formed from clay.

7Surely no fear of me should terrify you; nor will my hand be heavy upon you.

8Surely you have spoken in my hearing, and I have heard these very words:

9‘I am pure, without transgression; I am clean, with no iniquity in me.

10Yet God finds occasions against me; He counts me as His enemy.

11He puts my feet in the stocks; He watches over all my paths.’

12Behold, you are not right in this matter. I will answer you, for God is greater than man.

13Why do you complain to Him that He answers nothing a man asks?

14For God speaks in one way and in another, yet no one notices.

15In a dream, in a vision in the night, when deep sleep falls upon men as they slumber on their beds,

16He opens their ears and terrifies them with warnings

17to turn a man from wrongdoing and keep him from pride,

18to preserve his soul from the Pit and his life from perishing by the sword.

19A man is also chastened on his bed with pain and constant distress in his bones,

20so that he detests his bread, and his soul loathes his favorite food.

21His flesh wastes away from sight, and his hidden bones protrude.

22He draws near to the Pit, and his life to the messengers of death.

23Yet if there is a messenger on his side, one mediator in a thousand, to tell a man what is right for him,

24to be gracious to him and say, ‘Spare him from going down to the Pit; I have found his ransom,’

25then his flesh is refreshed like a child’s; he returns to the days of his youth.

26He prays to God and finds favor; he sees God’s face and shouts for joy, and God restores His righteousness to that man.

27Then he sings before men with these words: ‘I have sinned and perverted what was right; yet I did not get what I deserved.

28He redeemed my soul from going down to the Pit, and I will live to see the light.’

29Behold, all these things God does to a man, two or even three times,

30to bring back his soul from the Pit, that he may be enlightened with the light of life.

31Pay attention, Job, and listen to me; be silent, and I will speak.

32But if you have something to say, answer me; speak up, for I would like to vindicate you.

33But if not, then listen to me; be quiet, and I will teach you wisdom.”