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Job
| So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he
was righteous in his own eyes. |
| Then was kindled the wrath of Elihu the son of
Barachel the Buzite, of the kindred of Ram: against Job was his wrath
kindled, because he justified himself rather than God. |
| Also against his three friends was his wrath kindled,
because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job. |
| Now Elihu had waited till Job had spoken, because they
were elder than he. |
| When Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth
of these three men, then his wrath was kindled. |
| And Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered and
said, I am young, and ye are very old; wherefore I was afraid, and durst
not show you mine opinion. |
| I said, Days should speak, and multitude of years
should teach wisdom. |
| But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of
the Almighty giveth them understanding. |
| Great men are not always wise: neither do the aged
understand judgment. |
| Therefore I said, Hearken to me; I also will show mine
opinion. |
| Behold, I waited for your words; I gave ear to your
reasons, whilst ye searched out what to say. |
| Yea, I attended unto you, and, behold, there was none
of you that convinced Job, or that answered his words: |
| Lest ye should say, We have found out wisdom: God
thrusteth him down, not man. |
| Now he hath not directed his words against me: neither
will I answer him with your speeches. |
| They were amazed, they answered no more: they left off
speaking. |
| When I had waited, (for they spake not, but stood
still, and answered no more;) |
| I said, I will answer also my part, I also will show
mine opinion. |
| For I am full of matter, the spirit within me
constraineth me. |
| Behold, my belly is as wine which hath no vent; it
is ready to burst like new bottles. |
| I will speak, that I may be refreshed: I will open
my lips and answer. |
| Let me not, I pray you, accept any man's person,
neither let me give flattering titles unto man. |
| For I know not to give flattering titles; in so
doing my maker would soon take me away. |
| Wherefore, Job, I pray thee, hear my speeches, and
hearken to all my words. |
| Behold, now I have opened my mouth, my tongue hath
spoken in my mouth. |
| My words shall be of the uprightness of my heart:
and my lips shall utter knowledge clearly. |
| The spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of
the Almighty hath given me life. |
| If thou canst answer me, set thy words in order
before me, stand up. |
| Behold, I am according to thy wish in God's stead: I
also am formed out of the clay. |
| Behold, my terror shall not make thee afraid,
neither shall my hand be heavy upon thee. |
| Surely thou hast spoken in mine hearing, and I have
heard the voice of thy words, saying, |
| I am clean without transgression, I am innocent;
neither is there iniquity in me. |
| Behold, he findeth occasions against me, he counteth
me for his enemy, |
| He putteth my feet in the stocks, he marketh all my
paths. |
| Behold, in this thou art not just: I will answer
thee, that God is greater than man. |
| Why dost thou strive against him? for he giveth not
account of any of his matters. |
| For God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth
it not. |
| In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep
sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed; |
| Then he openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their
instruction, |
| That he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide
pride from man. |
| He keepeth back his soul from the pit, and his life
from perishing by the sword. |
| He is chastened also with pain upon his bed, and the
multitude of his bones with strong pain: |
| So that his life abhorreth bread, and his soul
dainty meat. |
| His flesh is consumed away, that it cannot be seen;
and his bones that were not seen stick out. |
| Yea, his soul draweth near unto the grave, and his
life to the destroyers. |
| If there be a messenger with him, an interpreter,
one among a thousand, to show unto man his uprightness: |
| Then he is gracious unto him, and saith, Deliver him
from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom. |
| His flesh shall be fresher than a child's: he shall
return to the days of his youth: |
| He shall pray unto God, and he will be favourable
unto him: and he shall see his face with joy: for he will render unto
man his righteousness. |
| He looketh upon men, and if any say, I have sinned,
and perverted that which was right, and it profited me not; |
| He will deliver his soul from going into the pit,
and his life shall see the light. |
| Lo, all these things worketh God oftentimes with
man, |
| To bring back his soul from the pit, to be
enlightened with the light of the living. |
| Mark well, O Job, hearken unto me: hold thy peace,
and I will speak. |
| If thou hast any thing to say, answer me: speak, for
I desire to justify thee. |
| If not, hearken unto me: hold thy peace, and I shall
teach thee wisdom. |
| Furthermore Elihu answered and said, |
| Hear my words, O ye wise men; and give ear unto me,
ye that have knowledge. |
| For the ear trieth words, as the mouth tasteth meat. |
| Let us choose to us judgment: let us know among
ourselves what is good. |
| For Job hath said, I am righteous: and God hath
taken away my judgment. |
| Should I lie against my right? my wound is incurable
without transgression. |
| What man is like Job, who drinketh up scorning like
water? |
| Which goeth in company with the workers of iniquity,
and walketh with wicked men. |
| For he hath said, It profiteth a man nothing that he
should delight himself with God. |
| Therefore hearken unto me, ye men of understanding:
far be it from God, that he should do wickedness; and from the Almighty,
that he should commit iniquity. |
| For the work of a man shall he render unto him, and
cause every man to find according to his ways. |
| Yea, surely God will not do wickedly, neither will
the Almighty pervert judgment. |
| Who hath given him a charge over the earth? or who
hath disposed the whole world? |
| If he set his heart upon man, if he gather unto
himself his spirit and his breath; |
| All flesh shall perish together, and man shall turn
again unto dust. |
| If now thou hast understanding, hear this: hearken
to the voice of my words. |
| Shall even he that hateth right govern? and wilt
thou condemn him that is most just? |
| Is it fit to say to a king, Thou art wicked? and to
princes, Ye are ungodly? |
| How much less to him that accepteth not the persons
of princes, nor regardeth the rich more than the poor? for they all are
the work of his hands. |
| In a moment shall they die, and the people shall be
troubled at midnight, and pass away: and the mighty shall be taken away
without hand. |
| For his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth
all his goings. |
| There is no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the
workers of iniquity may hide themselves. |
| For he will not lay upon man more than right; that
he should enter into judgment with God. |
| He shall break in pieces mighty men without number,
and set others in their stead. |
| Therefore he knoweth their works, and he overturneth
them in the night, so that they are destroyed. |
| He striketh them as wicked men in the open sight of
others; |
| Because they turned back from him, and would not
consider any of his ways: |
| So that they cause the cry of the poor to come unto
him, and he heareth the cry of the afflicted. |
| When he giveth quietness, who then can make trouble?
and when he hideth his face, who then can behold him? whether it be done
against a nation, or against a man only: |
| That the hypocrite reign not, lest the people be
ensnared. |
| Surely it is meet to be said unto God, I have borne
chastisement, I will not offend any more: |
| That which I see not teach thou me: if I have done
iniquity, I will do no more. |
| Should it be according to thy mind? he will
recompense it, whether thou refuse, or whether thou choose; and not I:
therefore speak what thou knowest. |
| Let men of understanding tell me, and let a wise man
hearken unto me. |
| Job hath spoken without knowledge, and his words
were without wisdom. |
| My desire is that Job may be tried unto the end
because of his answers for wicked men. |
| For he addeth rebellion unto his sin, he clappeth
his hands among us, and multiplieth his words against God. |
| Elihu spake moreover, and said, |
| Thinkest thou this to be right, that thou saidst, My
righteousness is more than God's? |
| For thou saidst, What advantage will it be unto
thee? and, What profit shall I have, if I be cleansed from my sin? |
| I will answer thee, and thy companions with thee. |
| Look unto the heavens, and see; and behold the
clouds which are higher than thou. |
| If thou sinnest, what doest thou against him? or if
thy transgressions be multiplied, what doest thou unto him? |
| If thou be righteous, what givest thou him? or what
receiveth he of thine hand? |
| Thy wickedness may hurt a man as thou art; and thy
righteousness may profit the son of man. |
| By reason of the multitude of oppressions they make
the oppressed to cry: they cry out by reason of the arm of the mighty. |
| But none saith, Where is God my maker, who giveth
songs in the night; |
| Who teacheth us more than the beasts of the earth,
and maketh us wiser than the fowls of heaven? |
| There they cry, but none giveth answer, because of
the pride of evil men. |
| Surely God will not hear vanity, neither will the
Almighty regard it. |
| Although thou sayest thou shalt not see him, yet
judgment is before him; therefore trust thou in him. |
| But now, because it is not so, he hath visited in
his anger; yet he knoweth it not in great extremity: |
| Therefore doth Job open his mouth in vain; he
multiplieth words without knowledge. |
| Elihu also proceeded, and said, |
| Suffer me a little, and I will show thee that I have
yet to speak on God's behalf. |
| I will fetch my knowledge from afar, and will
ascribe righteousness to my Maker. |
| For truly my words shall not be false: he that is
perfect in knowledge is with thee. |
| Behold, God is mighty, and despiseth not any: he is
mighty in strength and wisdom. |
| He preserveth not the life of the wicked: but giveth
right to the poor. |
| He withdraweth not his eyes from the righteous: but
with kings are they on the throne; yea, he doth establish them for ever,
and they are exalted. |
| And if they be bound in fetters, and be holden in
cords of affliction; |
| Then he showeth them their work, and their
transgressions that they have exceeded. |
| He openeth also their ear to discipline, and
commandeth that they return from iniquity. |
| If they obey and serve him, they shall spend their
days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures. |
| But if they obey not, they shall perish by the
sword, and they shall die without knowledge. |
| But the hypocrites in heart heap up wrath: they cry
not when he bindeth them. |
| They die in youth, and their life is among the
unclean. |
| He delivereth the poor in his affliction, and
openeth their ears in oppression. |
| Even so would he have removed thee out of the strait
into a broad place, where there is no straitness; and that which should
be set on thy table should be full of fatness. |
| But thou hast fulfilled the judgment of the wicked:
judgment and justice take hold on thee. |
| Because there is wrath, beware lest he take thee
away with his stroke: then a great ransom cannot deliver thee. |
| Will he esteem thy riches? no, not gold, nor all the
forces of strength. |
| Desire not the night, when people are cut off in
their place. |
| Take heed, regard not iniquity: for this hast thou
chosen rather than affliction. |
| Behold, God exalteth by his power: who teacheth like
him? |
| Who hath enjoined him his way? or who can say, Thou
hast wrought iniquity? |
| Remember that thou magnify his work, which men
behold. |
| Every man may see it; man may behold it afar off. |
| Behold, God is great, and we know him not, neither
can the number of his years be searched out. |
| For he maketh small the drops of water: they pour
down rain according to the vapour thereof: |
| Which the clouds do drop and distil upon man
abundantly. |
| Also can any understand the spreadings of the
clouds, or the noise of his tabernacle? |
| Behold, he spreadeth his light upon it, and covereth
the bottom of the sea. |
| For by them judgeth he the people; he giveth meat in
abundance. |
| With clouds he covereth the light; and commandeth it
not to shine by the cloud that cometh betwixt. |
| The noise thereof showeth concerning it, the cattle
also concerning the vapour. |
| At this also my heart trembleth, and is moved out of
his place. |
| Hear attentively the noise of his voice, and the
sound that goeth out of his mouth. |
| He directeth it under the whole heaven, and his
lightning unto the ends of the earth. |
| After it a voice roareth: he thundereth with the
voice of his excellency; and he will not stay them when his voice is
heard. |
| God thundereth marvellously with his voice; great
things doeth he, which we cannot comprehend. |
| For he saith to the snow, Be thou on the earth;
likewise to the small rain, and to the great rain of his strength. |
| He sealeth up the hand of every man; that all men
may know his work. |
| Then the beasts go into dens, and remain in their
places. |
| Out of the south cometh the whirlwind: and cold out
of the north. |
| By the breath of God frost is given: and the breadth
of the waters is straitened. |
| Also by watering he wearieth the thick cloud: he
scattereth his bright cloud: |
| And it is turned round about by his counsels: that
they may do whatsoever he commandeth them upon the face of the world in
the earth. |
| He causeth it to come, whether for correction, or
for his land, or for mercy. |
| Hearken unto this, O Job: stand still, and consider
the wondrous works of God. |
| Dost thou know when God disposed them, and caused
the light of his cloud to shine? |
| Dost thou know the balancings of the clouds, the
wondrous works of him which is perfect in knowledge? |
| How thy garments are warm, when he quieteth the
earth by the south wind? |
| Hast thou with him spread out the sky, which is
strong, and as a molten looking glass? |
| Teach us what we shall say unto him; for we cannot
order our speech by reason of darkness. |
| Shall it be told him that I speak? if a man speak,
surely he shall be swallowed up. |
| And now men see not the bright light which is in the
clouds: but the wind passeth, and cleanseth them. |
| Fair weather cometh out of the north: with God is
terrible majesty. |
| Touching the Almighty, we cannot find him out: he is
excellent in power, and in judgment, and in plenty of justice: he will
not afflict. |
| Men do therefore fear him: he respecteth not any
that are wise of heart. |
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