Job 32–37: Elihu: The Angry Young Man
Scripture: Berean Standard Bible
So these three men stopped answering Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes.
This 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, and he burned with anger against Job’s three friends because they had failed to refute Job, and yet had condemned him.
Now Elihu had waited to speak to Job because the others were older than he. But when he saw that the three men had no further reply, his anger was kindled. So Elihu son of Barachel the Buzite declared:
“I am young in years,while you are old;that is why I was timid and afraidto tell you what I know.I thought that age should speak,and many years should teach wisdom.But there is a spirit in a man,the breath of the Almighty,that gives him understanding.It is not only the old who are wise,or the elderly who understand justice.Therefore I say, ‘Listen to me;I too will declare what I know.’
Indeed, I waited while you spoke;I listened to your reasoning;as you searched for words,I paid you full attention.But no one proved Job wrong;not one of you rebutted his arguments.So do not claim, ‘We have found wisdom;let God, not man, refute him.’But Job has not directed his words against me,and I will not answer him with your arguments.
Job’s friends are dismayed, with no more to say;words have escaped them.Must I wait, now that they are silent,now that they stand and no longer reply?I too will answer;yes, I will declare what I know.For I am full of words,and my spirit within me compels me.Behold, my belly is like unvented wine;it is about to burst like a new wineskin.I must speak and find relief;I must open my lips and respond.I will be partial to no one,nor will I flatter any man.For I do not know how to flatter,or my Maker would remove me in an instant.“But now, O Job, hear my speech,and listen to all my words.Behold, I will open my mouth;my address is on the tip of my tongue.My words are from an upright heart,and my lips speak sincerely what I know.The Spirit of God has made me,and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.Refute me if you can;prepare your case and confront me.I am just like you before God;I was also formed from clay.Surely no fear of me should terrify you;nor will my hand be heavy upon you.
Surely you have spoken in my hearing,and I have heard these very words:‘I am pure, without transgression;I am clean, with no iniquity in me.Yet God finds occasions against me;he counts me as his enemy.He puts my feet in the stocks;he watches over all my paths.’
Behold, you are not right in this matter.I will answer you, for God is greater than man.Why do you complain to himthat he answers nothing a man asks?For God speaks in one way and in another,yet no one notices.In a dream,in a vision in the night,when deep sleep falls upon menas they slumber on their beds,he opens their earsand terrifies them with warningsto turn a man from wrongdoingand keep him from pride,to preserve his soul from the Pitand his life from perishing by the sword.
A man is also chastened on his bedwith pain and constant distress in his bones,so that he detests his bread,and his soul loathes his favorite food.His flesh wastes away from sight,and his hidden bones protrude.He draws near to the Pit,and his life to the messengers of death.
Yet if there is a messenger on his side,one mediator in a thousand,to tell a man what is right for him,to be gracious to him and say,‘Spare him from going down to the Pit;I have found his ransom,’then his flesh is refreshed like a child’s;he returns to the days of his youth.He prays to God and finds favor;he sees God’s face and shouts for joy,and God restores his righteousnessto that man.Then he sings before menwith these words:‘I have sinned and perverted what was right;yet I did not get what I deserved.He redeemed my soul from going down to the Pit,and I will live to see the light.’
Behold, all these things God does to a man,two or even three times,to bring back his soul from the Pit,that he may be enlightened with the light of life.Pay attention, Job, and listen to me;be silent, and I will speak.But if you have something to say, answer me;speak up, for I would like to vindicate you.But if not, then listen to me;be quiet, and I will teach you wisdom.”
Then Elihu continued:
“Hear my words, O wise men;give ear to me, O men of learning.For the ear tests wordsas the mouth tastes food.Let us choose for ourselves what is right;let us learn together what is good.For Job has declared, ‘I am righteous,yet God has deprived me of justice.Would I lie about my case?My wound is incurable,though I am without transgression.’What man is like Job,who drinks up derision like water?He keeps company with evildoersand walks with wicked men.For he has said, ‘It profits a man nothingthat he should delight in God.’
Therefore listen to me,O men of understanding.Far be it from God to do wrong,and from the Almighty to act unjustly.For according to a man’s deeds he repays him;according to a man’s ways he brings consequences.Indeed, it is true that God does not act wickedly,and the Almighty does not pervert justice.Who gave him charge over the earth?Who appointed him over the whole world?If he were to set his heart to itand withdraw his Spirit and breath,all flesh would perish togetherand mankind would return to the dust.
If you have understanding, hear this;listen to my words.Could one who hates justice govern?Will you condemn the just and mighty One,who says to kings, ‘You are worthless!’and to nobles, ‘You are wicked,’who is not partial to princesand does not favor rich over poor?For they are all the work of his hands.They die in an instant,in the middle of the night.The people convulse and pass away;the mighty are removed without human hand.
For his eyes are on the ways of a man,and he sees his every step.There is no darkness or deep shadowwhere the workers of iniquity can hide.For God need not examine a man furtheror have him approach for judgment.He shatters the mighty without inquiryand sets up others in their place.Therefore, he recognizes their deeds;he overthrows them in the night and they are crushed.He strikes them for their wickednessin full view,because they turned aside from himand had no regard for any of his ways.They caused the cry of the poor to come before him,and he heard the outcry of the afflicted.But when he remains silent, who can condemn him?When he hides his face, who can see him?Yet he watches over both man and nation,that godless men should not ruleor lay snares for the people.
Suppose someone says to God,‘I have endured my punishment; I will offend no more.Teach me what I cannot see;if I have done wrong, I will not do it again.’Should God repay you on your own termswhen you have disavowed his?You must choose, not I;so tell me what you know.Men of understanding will declare to me,and the wise men who hear me will say:‘Job speaks without knowledge;his words lack insight.’If only Job were tried to the utmostfor answering like a wicked man.For he adds rebellion to his sin;he claps his hands among usand multiplies his words against God.”
And Elihu went on to say:
“Do you think this is just?You say, ‘I am more righteous than God.’For you ask, ‘What does it profit me,and what benefit do I gain apart from sin?’I will reply to youand to your friends as well.Look to the heavens and see;gaze at the clouds high above you.If you sin, what do you accomplish against him?If you multiply your transgressions, what do you do to him?If you are righteous, what do you give him,or what does he receive from your hand?Your wickedness affects only a man like yourself,and your righteousness only a son of man.
Men cry out under great oppression;they plead for relief from the arm of the mighty.But no one asks, ‘Where is God my Maker,who gives us songs in the night,who teaches us more than the beasts of the earthand makes us wiser than the birds of the air?’There they cry out, but he does not answer,because of the pride of evil men.Surely God does not listen to empty pleas,and the Almighty does not take note of it.How much less, then, when you say that you do not see him,that your case is before him and you must wait for him,and further, that in his anger he has not punishedor taken much notice of folly!So Job opens his mouth in vainand multiplies words without knowledge.”
And Elihu continued:
“Bear with me a little longer, and I will show youthat there is more to be said on God’s behalf.I get my knowledge from afar,and I will ascribe justice to my Maker.For truly my words are free of falsehood;one perfect in knowledge is with you.
Indeed, God is mighty, but he despises no one;he is mighty in strength of understanding.He does not keep the wicked alive,but he grants justice to the afflicted.He does not take his eyes off the righteous,but he enthrones them with kingsand exalts them forever.
And if men are bound with chains,caught in cords of affliction,then he tells them their deedsand how arrogantly they have transgressed.He opens their ears to correctionand commands that they turn from iniquity.If they obey and serve him,then they end their days in prosperityand their years in happiness.But if they do not obey,then they perish by the swordand die without knowledge.
The godless in heart harbor resentment;even when he binds them, they do not cry for help.They die in their youth,among the male shrine prostitutes.God rescues the afflicted by their afflictionand opens their ears in oppression.
Indeed, he drew you from the jaws of distressto a spacious and broad place,to a table full of richness.But now you are laden with the judgment due the wicked;judgment and justice have seized you.Be careful that no one lures you with riches;do not let a large bribe lead you astray.Can your wealth or all your mighty effortkeep you from distress?Do not long for the night,when people vanish from their homes.Be careful not to turn to iniquity,for this you have preferred to affliction.
Behold, God is exalted in his power.Who is a teacher like him?Who has appointed his way for him,or told him, ‘You have done wrong’?Remember to magnify his work,which men have praised in song.All mankind has seen it;men behold it from afar.Indeed, God is great—beyond our knowledge;the number of his years is unsearchable.For he draws up drops of waterwhich distill the rain from the mist,which the clouds pour outand shower abundantly on mankind.Furthermore, who can understand how the clouds spread out,how the thunder roars from his pavilion?See how he scatters his lightning around himand covers the depths of the sea.For by these he judges the nationsand provides food in abundance.He fills his hands with lightningand commands it to strike its mark.The thunder declares his presence;even the cattle regard the rising storm.“At this my heart also poundsand leaps from its place.Listen closely to the thunder of his voiceand the rumbling that comes from his mouth.He unleashes his lightning beneath the whole skyand sends it to the ends of the earth.Then there comes a roaring sound;he thunders with his majestic voice.He does not restrain the lightningwhen his voice resounds.God thunders wondrously with his voice;he does great things we cannot comprehend.For he says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth,’and to the gentle rain, ‘Pour out a mighty downpour.’He seals up the hand of every man,so that all men may know his work.The wild animals enter their lairs;they settle down in their dens.The tempest comes from its chamber,and the cold from the driving north winds.By the breath of God the ice is formedand the watery expanses are frozen.He loads the clouds with moisture;he scatters his lightning through them.They swirl about,whirling at his direction,accomplishing all that he commandsover the face of all the earth.Whether for punishment or for his land,he accomplishes this in his loving devotion.
Listen to this, O Job;stand still and consider the wonders of God.Do you know how God dispatches the cloudsor makes the lightning flash?Do you understand how the clouds float,those wonders of him who is perfect in knowledge?You whose clothes get hotwhen the land lies hushed under the south wind,can you, like him, spread out the skiesto reflect the heat like a mirror of bronze?
Teach us what we should say to him;we cannot draw up our case when our faces are in darkness.Should he be told that I want to speak?Would a man ask to be swallowed up?Now no one can gaze at the sunwhen it is bright in the skiesafter the wind has swept them clean.Out of the north he comes in golden splendor;awesome majesty surrounds him.The Almighty is beyond our reach;he is exalted in power!In his justice and great righteousnesshe does not oppress.Therefore, men fear him,for he is not partial to the wise in heart.”