Elihu Addresses Job Directly
Study note
Elihu tells Job to listen carefully. He promises to speak honestly. He was made by the Spirit of God just as Job was. He is not going to terrify Job -- he is just a fellow human being made from clay.
1 'So now, Job, please pay attention to what I am going to say. Listen carefully to every word.' Wherefore, Job, I pray thee, hear my speeches, and hearken to all my words.
2 'Here I go -- I am opening my mouth now. My words are right on the tip of my tongue.' Behold, now I have opened my mouth, my tongue hath spoken in my mouth.
3 'Everything I say comes from a sincere heart. My lips are going to speak what I honestly believe to be true.' My words shall be of the uprightness of my heart: and my lips shall utter knowledge clearly.
4 'The Spirit of God is the one who made me. The breath of the Almighty is what keeps me alive.' The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life.
5 'If you have a response, go ahead and give it. Get your case together and stand up to me.' If thou canst answer me, set thy words in order before me, stand up.
6 'I am just like you in God's eyes. I was shaped from the same clay you were.' Behold, I am according to thy wish in God's stead: I also am formed out of the clay.
7 'So do not be scared of me. I am not going to overwhelm you or push you around.' Behold, my terror shall not make thee afraid, neither shall my hand be heavy upon thee.
You Said God Is Against You
Study note
Elihu quotes Job's own words back to him: Job said he was clean and without sin, yet God found reasons to oppose him. Elihu says Job is wrong in this. God is greater than any human being. Why does Job complain that God does not explain himself?
8 'Now, you have said certain things that I heard with my own ears. Here is exactly what you said:' Surely thou hast spoken in mine hearing, and I have heard the voice of thy words, saying,
9 '"I am clean. I have no sin. I am pure and there is no guilt in me.' I am clean without transgression, I am innocent; neither is there iniquity in me.
10 '"But God keeps looking for reasons to come after me. He treats me like an enemy.' Behold, he findeth occasions against me, he counteth me for his enemy,
11 '"He clamps chains on my feet. He tracks every move I make."' He putteth my feet in the stocks, he marketh all my paths.
12 'Let me tell you, Job, you are wrong about that. God is far greater than any human being.' Behold, in this thou art not just: I will answer thee, that God is greater than man.
13 'Why do you accuse God of never explaining what he does?' Why dost thou strive against him? for he giveth not account of any of his matters.
God Speaks Through Dreams and Pain
Study note
Elihu's key insight is that God does speak -- but not always in the ways people expect. God speaks through dreams and night visions to warn people away from pride and the grave. God also speaks through suffering and pain on a sickbed, bringing a person near to death. If a messenger comes to interpret the suffering and show the person what is right, God will be gracious, saying, 'Spare them from the grave! I have found a ransom.' Then that person is restored to health.
14 'The truth is, God does talk to people -- sometimes this way, sometimes that way -- but people do not always pick up on it.' For God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not.
15 'He speaks through dreams and visions that come at night, during the deep sleep that falls over people in their beds.' In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed;
16 'That is when he opens up their ears and startles them with warnings,' Then he openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction,
17 'to steer them away from their bad choices and to pull them back from being full of themselves.' That he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man.
18 'He saves them from falling into the pit of death. He keeps their life from being cut short.' He keepeth back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword.
19 'Or sometimes God gets someone's attention through pain that pins them to their bed, through an ache that never lets up in their bones,' He is chastened also with pain upon his bed, and the multitude of his bones with strong pain:
20 'until they completely lose their appetite. Even the food they used to love makes them feel sick.' So that his life abhorreth bread, and his soul dainty meat.
21 'Their body wastes away until they are just skin and bones. Their skeleton starts showing through their flesh.' His flesh is consumed away, that it cannot be seen; and his bones that were not seen stick out.
22 'They come right to the edge of the grave. Their life is about to slip into the hands of death.' Yea, his soul draweth near unto the grave, and his life to the destroyers.
23 'But if a messenger from God comes to that person — a helper, just one out of thousands — to show them the right thing to do,' If there be a messenger with him, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to shew unto man his uprightness:
24 'and if God decides to be gracious and says, "Let them go. Do not let them fall into the pit. I have found a way to pay their ransom" --' Then he is gracious unto him, and saith, Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom.
25 'then their body gets fresh and healthy again, just like when they were a child. They are given back the strength of their youth.' His flesh shall be fresher than a child's: he shall return to the days of his youth:
26 'They pray to God, and God welcomes them warmly. They get to see God's face and shout with joy, and God brings them back to full standing.' 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.
27 'Then they will stand in front of others and say, "I messed up. I twisted what was right. But I did not receive what I deserved.' He looketh upon men, and if any say, I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it profited me not;
28 '"God rescued me from going down to the pit, and now I get to keep living in the light."' He will deliver his soul from going into the pit, and his life shall see the light.
Listen to Me, Job
Study note
Elihu says God does all these things again and again to bring a person back from the pit, to let them enjoy the light of life. He asks Job to listen carefully. If Job has anything to say, he should speak. Otherwise, he should be quiet and let Elihu teach him wisdom.
29 'God does all of these things for a person -- not once, but two or even three times --' Lo, all these things worketh God oftentimes with man,
30 'pulling them back from the edge of the pit so they can keep walking in the light of life.' To bring back his soul from the pit, to be enlightened with the light of the living.
31 'Pay close attention, Job. Listen to me. Stay quiet, and let me say my piece.' Mark well, O Job, hearken unto me: hold thy peace, and I will speak.
32 'If you do have something to say back, then go ahead. Speak up, because I honestly want to see you proven right.' If thou hast any thing to say, answer me: speak, for I desire to justify thee.
33 'But if you have nothing to say, then be quiet and listen. I will teach you what wisdom truly looks like.' If not, hearken unto me: hold thy peace, and I shall teach thee wisdom.