1 Elihu Confronts Job But now, Job, pay attention to my speech, and listen to all my words.2 I am going to open my mouth; my tongue will form words on my palate.3 My words come from my upright heart, and my lips speak with sincerity what they know.4 The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.5 Refute me if you can. Prepare your case against me; take your stand.6 I am just like you before God; I was also pinched off from a piece of clay.7 Fear of me should not terrify you; no pressure from me should weigh you down.8 Surely you have spoken in my hearing, and I have heard these very Lit heard a sound of words:9 “I am pure, without transgression; I am clean and have no iniquity.10 But he finds reasons to oppose me; he regards me as his enemy.11 He puts my feet in the stocks; he stands watch over all my paths.”12 But I tell you that you are wrong in this matter, since God is greater than man.13 Why do you take him to court for not answering anything a person asks? Lit court, for he does not answer all his words 14 For God speaks time and again, but a person may not notice it.15 In a dream, a vision in the night, when deep sleep comes over people as they slumber on their beds,16 he uncovers their ears and terrifies them LXX; MT reads and seals with warnings,17 in order to turn a person from his actions and suppress the pride of a person.18 God spares his soul from the Pit, his life from crossing the river of death. Or from perishing by the sword 19 A person may be disciplined on his bed with pain and constant distress in his bones,20 so that he detests bread, and his soul despises his favorite food.21 His flesh wastes away to nothing, Lit away from sight and his unseen bones stick out.22 He draws near to the Pit, and his life to the executioners.23 If there is an angel on his side, one mediator out of a thousand, to tell a person what is right for him Or to vouch for a person’s uprightness 24 and to be gracious to him and say, “Spare him from going down to the Pit; I have found a ransom,”25 then his flesh will be healthier Hb obscure than in his youth, and he will return to the days of his youthful vigor.26 He will pray to God, and God will delight in him. That person will see his face with a shout of joy, and God will restore his righteousness to him.27 He will look at men and say, “I have sinned and perverted what was right; yet I did not get what I deserved. Lit and the same was not to me 28 He redeemed my soul from going down to the Pit, and I will continue to see the light.”29 God certainly does all these things two or three times to a person30 in order to turn him back from the Pit, so he may shine with the light of life.31 Pay attention, Job, and listen to me. Be quiet, and I will speak.32 But if you have something to say, Lit If there are words answer me; speak, for I would like to justify you.33 If not, then listen to me; be quiet, and I will teach you wisdom.