8 You’ve certainly spoken in my hearing,

≈and I’ve heard the sound of the words:

9 ‘I’m blameless—I haven’t disobeyed.

≈I’m innocent—I haven’t done anything wrong.

10 Listen, he finds reasons to accuse me.

≈He considers me as his enemy.

11 He locks my feet in shackles.[ref]

He watches wherever I go.

12 Listen, you’re not right about this.

I’ll tell you that God is greater than any person.

13 Why do you argue against him

since he doesn’t answer people’s questions?

14 God speaks with one person—

with two, but they don’t perceive it, ???

15 in a dream or a vision in the night,

when deep sleep falls on those asleep in bed.

How God warns people

16 Then he uncovers people’s ears,

and seals them with warnings ???

17 to turn people aside from their deeds,

and to stop them from becoming proud.

18 He spares their souls from the pit,

≈and their lives from perishing by the sword.

19 They’re chastened on their beds

with constant pain in their bones.

20 They have no desire for bread.

≈nor do their souls desire food.

21 Their flesh wastes right away from sight.

≈Their bones, not normally visible, now stick out.

22 Their souls get near to the pit,

≈and their lives to the messengers of death.

23 If there’s a messenger who will mediate for them,

≈one in a thousand to announce what’s right for them,

24 who’s gracious to them and says,

‘Spare that person from going down to the pit,

because I’ve found the ransom to pay for them.’

25 Then their flesh renews like that of a child.

≈They regain their youthful energy.

26 They’ll request God’s help and he’ll accept them.

They’ll give happy shouts when they see his face,

and when he repays them for their obedience.

27 They’ll sing to others, ??? TC ???

‘I sinned and I said that what was wrong was right,

but it wasn’t good for me.

28 He’s paid the ransom to keep my soul out of the pit,

so I’ll live to see the light.’

29 Listen, God does all those things to people several times,

30 to bring their souls back from the pit

so they can be enlightened with the light of life.

31 Pay attention, Iyyov, and listen to me.

Stay silent and then I will speak.

32 If you have words, answer me then.

Speak up because I’d like to hear that you’re innocent.

33 But if not, then listen to me.

Remain silent and I’ll teach you wisdom.

34 Then Elihu continued:

2 Hear my words you wise ones,

≈and listen to me you who are in the know.

3 Yes, our ears test words,

just like our mouth distinguishes tastes.

4 Let’s choose justice for ourselves.

≈Let’s discern among ourselves what is good.

5 Because Iyyov has declared, ‘I’m righteous,

but God has deprived me of justice.

6 Would I lie about my rights?

My wound is incurable despite not having disobeyed.’

7 What other person is like Iyyov?

He drinks up mockery like drinking water.

8 He keeps company with those who do evil,

≈and walks with wicked people.

9 He’s said, ‘What advantage it is to anyone

when they take delight in pleasing God?’

10 So listen to me you people who understand.

God wouldn’t do anything wicked,

≈and the provider wouldn’t do anything wrong.

11 He repays each person according to their actions.[ref]

≈and what happens to them depends on their conduct.

12 Honestly, God does do wicked things,

≈and the provider doesn’t pervert justice.

13 Who assigned him to be over the earth,

≈and who put the whole world under him?

14 If he set his mind on himself,

≈gathering his spirit and his breath to himself,

15 everybody would die simultaneously,

≈and humanity would return to dust.

16 If you have understanding then hear this.

≈Listen to the words that I say.

17 Would one who hates justice really govern?

Would you condemn the righteous one—the mighty one—as guilty?

18 The one who tells a king that he’s worthless.

≈Yes, who tells a wealthy person that they’re wicked.

19 The one who doesn’t show favour to princes,

≈and doesn’t favour the rich in front of the poor.

Yes, they’re all the work of his hands.

20 They die in a moment—they do a shiver in the middle of the night then pass away.

≈Even powerful people are taken away without human involvement.

21 His eyes watch over everyone,

≈he observes all of our steps.

22 There’s no darkness or gloom

that wicked people can hide in.

23 He doesn’t appoint anyone again

to go to God for judgement.

24 He breaks powerful people without investigation,

and establishes others instead of them[fn]

25 because he’s familiar with their activities

and overthrows them in the night and they’re crushed.

26 He strikes them as wicked people,

where everyone can see

27 since they turned away from following him,

and didn’t consider any of his ways.

28 They cause the cry of the poor to reach him,

≈and he heard the cries of the afflicted.

29 If he stays silent, then who would condemn him?

and if he hides his face, then who will see him

although he’s over every nation as well as every individual

30 so that godless people shouldn’t reign

or ensnare the people.

31 If someone says to God,

‘I’ve endured my punishment—now I’ll stop acting corruptly.

32 Complement what I can see by teaching me,

so that if I’ve disobeyed, I won’t repeat it.

33 Must he repay it from with you? ???

Since you despise, then you will choose, not me. ???

So speak out what you do know.

34 People of understanding tell me,

and wise people who listen to me:

35 ‘Iyyov speaks without knowledge,

≈and his words lack insight.

36 If only he would be tested to the end—

his answers are like those of wicked people.

37 He adds rebellion to his sin.

He claps among us and multiplies his words against God.

35 Then Elihu continued again:

2 Do you consider yourself to be honest

when you’ve said, ‘God knows that I’m innocent.’

3 You ask, ‘What does it benefit you?

How am I better off than I would be if I had sinned?’

4 I’ll answer you with words,

and answer your three friends as well.

5 Look up at the sky and observe,

and see that the clouds are higher than you.

6 If you disobey him, what do effect could it have on him?[ref]

≈And if your disobedience accumulates, what could that do to him?

7 If you’re innocent, what does he gain from that,

or what good thing will he receive due to that?

8 Wickedness only applies to people like us,

and innocence is only a concept for humans.

9 People cry out because there’s so much oppression,

≈they cry for help because some people have so much power.

10 But no one asks, ‘Where’s God my creator,

who gives us songs in the night,

11 who has taught us more than he taught the animals,

≈and made us wiser than he made the birds in the sky.

12 When they cry out, he doesn’t answer

because of the pride of wicked people.

13 Surely God doesn’t listen to empty words.

≈Surely the provider doesn’t take notice of them.

14 Indeed you’ll say that you can’t see him.

Your case is in front of him but you’re waiting for him.

15 So now in his anger, he hasn’t visited,

and he doesn’t take much notice of disobedience.

16 So Iyyov opens his mouth for nothing.

≈He says many words but doesn’t know what he’s talking about.