Job 33
Elihu Invites Job’s Attention
33:1 “But now, O Job, listen to my words,
and hear1 everything I have to say!2
33:2 See now, I have opened3 my mouth;
my tongue in my mouth has spoken.4
33:3 My words come from the uprightness of my heart,5
and my lips will utter knowledge sincerely.6
33:4 The Spirit of God has made me,
and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.7
set your arguments8 in order before me
and take your stand!
33:6 Look, I am just like you in relation to God;
I too have been molded9 from clay.
33:7 Therefore no fear of me should terrify you,
nor should my pressure10 be heavy on you.11
Elihu Rejects Job’s Plea of Innocence
33:8 “Indeed, you have said in my hearing12
(I heard the sound of the words!):
33:913 ‘I am pure, without transgression;
I am clean14 and have no iniquity.
33:1015 Yet God16 finds occasions17 with me;
he regards me as his enemy!
33:1118 He puts my feet in shackles;
he watches closely all my paths.’
33:12 Now in this, you are not right – I answer you,19
for God is greater than a human being.20
33:13 Why do you contend against him,
that he does not answer all a person’s21 words?
Elihu Disagrees With Job’s View of God
33:14 “For God speaks, the first time in one way,
the second time in another,
though a person does not perceive22 it.
33:15 In a dream, a night vision,
when deep sleep falls on people
as they sleep in their beds.
33:16 Then he gives a revelation23 to people,
and terrifies them with warnings,24
33:17 to turn a person from his sin,25
and to cover a person’s pride.26
33:18 He spares a person’s life from corruption,27
his very life from crossing over28 the river.
33:19 Or a person is chastened29 by pain on his bed,
and with the continual strife of his bones,30
33:20 so that his life loathes food,
and his soul rejects appetizing fare.31
33:21 His flesh wastes away from sight,
and his bones, which were not seen,
are easily visible.32
33:22 He33 draws near to the place of corruption,
and his life to the messengers of death.34
33:23 If there is an angel beside him,
one mediator35 out of a thousand,
to tell a person what constitutes his uprightness;36
33:24 and if37 God38 is gracious to him and says,
‘Spare39 him from going down
to the place of corruption,
I have found a ransom for him,’40
33:25 then his flesh is restored41 like a youth’s;
he returns to the days of his youthful vigor.42
33:26 He entreats God, and God43 delights in him,
he sees God’s face44 with rejoicing,
and God45 restores to him his righteousness.46
33:27 That person sings47 to others,48 saying:
‘I have sinned and falsified what is right,
but I was not punished according to what I deserved.49
33:28 He redeemed my life50
from going down to the place of corruption,
and my life sees the light!’
Elihu’s Appeal to Job51
33:29 “Indeed, God does all these things,
twice, three times, in his dealings52 with a person,
33:30 to turn back his life from the place of corruption,
that he may be enlightened with the light of life.
33:31 Pay attention, Job – listen to me;
be silent, and I will speak.
33:32 If you have any words,53 reply to me;
speak, for I want to justify you.54
33:33 If not, you listen to me;
be silent, and I will teach you wisdom.”