Job 32-34; Psalms 143 - Prayer Tents

Elihu Responds to Job’s Friends

32Job's three friends refused to reply further to him because he kept insisting on his innocence.H7969H582H7673H6030H347H6662H5869

2Then Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite, of the clan of Ram, became angry. He was angry because Job refused to admit that he had sinned and that God was right in punishing him.H2734H639H453H1121H1292H940H4940H7410H347H639H2734H6663H5315H430

3He was also angry with Job's three friends, for they made God

appear to be wrong by their inability to answer Job's arguments.H7969H7453H639H2734H4672H4617H7561H347

4Elihu had waited for the others to speak to Job because they were older than he.H453H2442H347H1697H2205H3117

5But when he saw that they had no further reply, he spoke out angrily.H453H7200H4617H6310H7969H582H639H2734

6Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite said, "I am young and you are old, so I held back from telling you what I think.H453H1121H1292H940H6030H559H6810H3117H3453H2119H3372H2331H1843

7I thought, 'Those who are older should speak, for wisdom comes with age.'H559H3117H1696H7230H8141H3045H2451

8But there is a spirit

within people, the breath of the Almighty within them, that makes them intelligent.H403H7307H582H5397H7706H995

9Sometimes the elders are not wise. Sometimes the aged do not understand justice.H7227H2449H2205H995H4941

10So listen to me, and let me tell you what I think.H559H8085H2331H1843

11"I have waited all this time, listening very carefully to your arguments, listening to you grope for words.H3176H1697H238H8394H2713H4405

12I have listened, but not one of you has refuted Job or answered his arguments.H995H3198H347H6030H561

13And don't tell me, 'He is too wise for us. Only God can convince him.'H559H4672H2451H410H5086H376

14If Job had been arguing with me, I would not answer with your kind of logic!H6186H4405H7725H561

15You sit there baffled, with nothing more to say.H2865H6030H6275H4405

16Should I continue to wait, now that you are silent? Must I also remain silent?H3176H1696H5975H6030

17No, I will say my piece. I will speak my mind.H6030H2506H2331H1843

18For I am full of pent-up words, and the spirit within me urges me on.H4390H4405H7307H990H6693

19I am like a cask of wine without a vent, like a new wineskin ready to burst!H990H3196H6605H1234H2319H178

20I must speak to find relief, so let me give my answers.H1696H7304H6605H8193H6030

21I won't play favorites or try to flatter anyone.H5375H376H6440H3655H120

22For if I tried flattery, my Creator would soon destroy me.H3045H3655H6213H4592H5375

Elihu Presents His Case against Job

33"Listen to my words, Job; pay attention to what I have to say.H199H347H8085H4405H238H1697 2Now that I have begun to speak, let me continue.H6605H6310H3956H1696H2441 3I speak with all sincerity; I speak the truth.H561H3476H3820H8193H4448H1847H1305 4For the Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.H7307H410H6213H5397H7706H2421 5Answer me, if you can; make your case and take your stand.H3201H7725H6186H6440H3320 6Look, you and I both belong to God. I, too, was formed from clay.H6310H410H7169H2563 7So you don't need to be afraid of me. I won't come down hard on you.H367H1204H405H3513 8"You have spoken in my hearing, and I have heard your very words.H559H241H8085H6963H4405 9You said, 'I am pure; I am without sin; I am innocent; I have no guilt.H2134H6588H2643H5771 10God is picking a quarrel with me, and he considers me his enemy.H4672H8569H2803H341 11He puts my feet in the stocks and watches my every move.'H7760H7272H5465H8104H734 12"But you are wrong, and I will show you why. For God is greater than any human being.H6663H6030H433H7235H582 13So why are you bringing a charge against him? Why say he does not respond to people's complaints?H7378H6030H1697 14For God speaks again and again, though people do not recognize it.H410H1696H259H8147H7789 15He speaks in dreams, in visions of the night, when deep sleep falls on people as they lie in their beds.H2472H2384H3915H8639H5307H582H8572H4904 16He whispers in their ears and terrifies them with warnings.H1540H241H582H2856H4561 17He makes them turn from doing wrong; he keeps them from pride.H5493H120H4639H3680H1466H1397 18He protects them from the grave, from crossing over the river of death.H2820H5315H7845H2416H5674H7973 19"Or God disciplines people with pain on their sickbeds, with ceaseless aching in their bones.H3198H4341H4904H7230H7379H6106H386 20They lose their appetite for even the most delicious food.H2416H2092H3899H5315H8378H3978 21Their flesh wastes away, and their bones stick out.H1320H3615H7210H6106H7200H8192H8205 22They are at death's door; the angels of death wait for them.H5315H7126H7845H2416H4191 23But if an angel from heaven appears—a special messenger to intercede for a person and declare that he is upright—H3426H4397H3887H259H505H5046H120H3476 24he will be gracious and say,'Rescue him from the grave, for I have found a ransom for his life.'H2603H559H6308H3381H7845H4672H3724 25Then his body will become as healthy as a child's, firm and youthful again.H1320H7375H5290H7725H3117H5934 26When he prays to God, he will be accepted. And God will receive him with joy and restore him to good standing.H6279H433H7521H7200H6440H8643H7725H582H6666 27He will declare to his friends,'I sinned and twisted the truth, but it was not worth it

.H7789H582H559H2398H5753H3477H7737 28God rescued me from the grave, and now my life is filled with light.'H6299H5315H5674H7845H2416H7200H216 29"Yes, God does these things again and again for people.H6466H410H6471H7969H1397 30He rescues them from the grave so they may enjoy the light of life.H7725H5315H7845H215H216H2416 31Mark this well, Job. Listen to me, for I have more to say.H7181H347H8085H2790H1696 32But if you have anything to say, go ahead. Speak, for I am anxious to see you justified.H3426H4405H7725H1696H2654H6663 33But if not, then listen to me. Keep silent and I will teach you wisdom!"H8085H2790H502H2451

Elihu Accuses Job of Arrogance

34Then Elihu said.H453H6030H559

2"Listen to me, you wise men. Pay attention, you who have knowledge.H8085H4405H2450H238H3045

3Job said, 'The ear tests the words it hears just as the mouth distinguishes between foods.'H241H974H4405H2441H2938H398

4So let us discern for ourselves what is right; let us learn together what is good.H977H4941H3045H2896

5For Job also said, 'I am innocent, but God has taken away my rights.H347H559H6663H410H5493H4941

6I am innocent, but they call me a liar. My suffering is incurable, though I have not sinned.'H3576H4941H2671H605H6588

7"Tell me, has there ever been a man like Job, with his thirst for irreverent talk?H1397H347H8354H3933H4325

8He chooses evil people as companions. He spends his time with wicked men.H732H2274H6466H205H3212H7562H582

9He has even said, 'Why waste time trying to please God?'H559H5532H1397H7521H430

10"Listen to me, you who have understanding. Everyone knows that God doesn't sin! The Almighty can do no wrong.H8085H582H3824H2486H410H7562H7706H5766

11He repays people according to their deeds. He treats people as they deserve.H6467H120H7999H376H4672H734

12Truly, God will not do wrong. The Almighty will not twist justice.H551H410H7561H7706H5791H4941

13Did someone else put the world in his care? Who set the whole world in place?H6485H776H7760H8398

14If God were to take back his spirit and withdraw his breath,H7760H3820H622H7307H5397

15all life would cease, and humanity would turn again to dust.H1320H1478H3162H120H7725H6083

16"Now listen to me if you are wise. Pay attention to what I say.H998H8085H238H6963H4405

17Could God govern if he hated justice? Are you going to condemn the almighty judge?H8130H4941H2280H7561H3524H6662

18For he says to kings, 'You are wicked,' and to nobles, 'You are unjust.'H559H4428H1100H5081H7563

19He doesn't care how great a person may be, and he pays no more attention to the rich than to the poor. He made them all.H5375H6440H8269H5234H7771H6440H1800H4639H3027

20In a moment they die. In the middle of the night they pass away; the mighty are removed without human hand.H7281H4191H5971H1607H2676H3915H5674H47H5493H3027

21"For God watches how people live; he sees everything they do.H5869H1870H376H7200H6806

22No darkness is thick enough to hide the wicked from his eyes.H2822H6757H6466H205H5641

23We don't set the time when we will come before God in judgment.H7760H376H1980H4941H410

24He brings the mighty to ruin without asking anyone, and he sets up others in their place.H7489H3524H2714H5975H312

25He knows what they do, and in the night he overturns and destroys them.H5234H4566H2015H3915H1792

26He strikes them down because they are wicked, doing it openly for all to see.H5606H8478H7563H4725H7200

27For they turned away from following him. They have no respect for any of his ways.H5493H310H7919H1870

28They cause the poor to cry out, catching God's attention. He hears the cries of the needy.H6818H1800H935H8085H6818H6041

29But if he chooses to remain quiet, who can criticize him? When he hides his face, no one can find him, whether an individual or a nation.H8252H7561H5641H6440H7789H1471H120H3162

30He prevents the godless from ruling so they cannot be a snare to the people.H120H2611H4427H5971H4170

31"Why don't people say to God, 'I have sinned, but I will sin no more'?H559H410H5375H2254

32Or 'I don't know what evil I have done—tell me. If I have done wrong, I will stop at once'?H2372H1107H3384H6466H5766H3254

33"Must God tailor his justice to your demands? But you have rejected him! The choice is yours, not mine. Go ahead, share your wisdom with us.H7999H3588H3988H977H1696H3045

34After all, bright people will tell me, and wise people will hear me say,H582H3824H559H2450H1397H8085

35'Job speaks out of ignorance; his words lack insight.'H347H1696H1847H1697H7919

36Job, you deserve the maximum penalty for the wicked way you have talked.H15H1H347H974H5331H8666H205H582

37For you have added rebellion to your sin; you show no respect, and you speak many angry words against God."H3254H6588H2403H5606H7235H561H410

143[A psalm of David.] Hear my prayer, O Lord; listen to my plea! Answer me because you are faithful and righteous.H4210H1732H8085H8605H3068H238H8469H530H6030H6666 2Don’t put your servant on trial, for no one is innocent before you.H935H4941H5650H6440H2416H6663 3My enemy has chased me. He has knocked me to the ground and forces me to live in darkness like those in the grave.H341H7291H5315H1792H2416H1792H776H3427H4285H5769H4191 4I am losing all hope; I am paralyzed with fear.H7307H5848H3820H8432H8074 5I remember the days of old. I ponder all your great works and think about what you have done.H2142H3117H6924H1897H6467H7878H4639H3027 6I lift my hands to you in prayer. I thirst for you as parched land thirsts for rain. InterludeH6566H3027H5315H5889H776H5542 7Come quickly, Lord, and answer me, for my depression deepens. Don’t turn away from me, or I will die.H6030H4118H3068H7307H3615H5641H6440H4911H3381H953 8Let me hear of your unfailing love each morning, for I am trusting you. Show me where to walk, for I give myself to you.H8085H2617H1242H982H3045H1870H2098H3212H5375H5315 9Rescue me from my enemies, Lord; I run to you to hide me.H5337H3068H341H3680 10Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. May your gracious Spirit lead me forward on a firm footing.H3925H6213H7522H430H7307H2896H5148H776H4334 11For the glory of your name, O Lord, preserve my life. Because of your faithfulness, bring me out of this distress.H2421H3068H8034H6666H3318H5315H6869 12In your unfailing love, silence all my enemies and destroy all my foes, for I am your servant.H2617H6789H341H6H6887H5315H5650