Sermon Central
Job 33-35
1“But now, Job, listen to my words; pay attention to everything I say.
2I am about to open my mouth; my words are on the tip of my tongue.
3My words come from an upright heart; my lips sincerely speak what I know.
4The Spirit of God has made me; the breath of the Almighty gives me life.
5Answer me then, if you can; stand up and argue your case before me.
6I am the same as you in God’s sight; I too am a piece of clay.
7No fear of me should alarm you, nor should my hand be heavy on you.
8“But you have said in my hearing— I heard the very words—
9‘I am pure, I have done no wrong; I am clean and free from sin.
10Yet God has found fault with me; he considers me his enemy.
11He fastens my feet in shackles; he keeps close watch on all my paths.’
12“But I tell you, in this you are not right, for God is greater than any mortal.
13Why do you complain to him that he responds to no one’s words
14For God does speak—now one way, now another— though no one perceives it.
15In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on people as they slumber in their beds,
16he may speak in their ears and terrify them with warnings,
17to turn them from wrongdoing and keep them from pride,
18to preserve them from the pit, their lives from perishing by the sword.
19“Or someone may be chastened on a bed of pain with constant distress in their bones,
20so that their body finds food repulsive and their soul loathes the choicest meal.
21Their flesh wastes away to nothing, and their bones, once hidden, now stick out.
22They draw near to the pit, and their life to the messengers of death.
23Yet if there is an angel at their side, a messenger, one out of a thousand, sent to tell them how to be upright,
24and he is gracious to that person and says to God, ‘Spare them from going down to the pit; I have found a ransom for them—
25let their flesh be renewed like a child’s; let them be restored as in the days of their youth’—
26then that person can pray to God and find favor with him, they will see God’s face and shout for joy; he will restore them to full well-being.
27And they will go to others and say, ‘I have sinned, I have perverted what is right, but I did not get what I deserved.
28God has delivered me from going down to the pit, and I shall live to enjoy the light of life.’
29“God does all these things to a person— twice, even three times—
30to turn them back from the pit, that the light of life may shine on them.
31“Pay attention, Job, and listen to me; be silent, and I will speak.
32If you have anything to say, answer me; speak up, for I want to vindicate you. 33But if not, then listen to me; be silent, and I will teach you wisdom.”
1Then Elihu said:
2“Hear my words, you wise men; listen to me, you men of learning.
3For the ear tests words as the tongue tastes food.
4Let us discern for ourselves what is right; let us learn together what is good.
5“Job says, ‘I am innocent, but God denies me justice.
6Although I am right, I am considered a liar; although I am guiltless, his arrow inflicts an incurable wound.’
7Is there anyone like Job, who drinks scorn like water?
8He keeps company with evildoers; he associates with the wicked.
9For he says, ‘There is no profit in trying to please God.’
10“So listen to me, you men of understanding. Far be it from God to do evil, from the Almighty to do wrong.
11He repays everyone for what they have done; he brings on them what their conduct deserves.
12It is unthinkable that God would do wrong, that the Almighty would pervert justice.
13Who appointed him over the earth? Who put him in charge of the whole world?
14If it were his intention and he withdrew his spirit
15all humanity would perish together and mankind would return to the dust.
16“If you have understanding, hear this; listen to what I say.
17Can someone who hates justice govern? Will you condemn the just and mighty One?
18Is he not the One who says to kings, ‘You are worthless,’ and to nobles, ‘You are wicked,’
19who shows no partiality to princes and does not favor the rich over the poor, for they are all the work of his hands?
20They die in an instant, in the middle of the night; the people are shaken and they pass away; the mighty are removed without human hand.
21“His eyes are on the ways of mortals; he sees their every step.
22There is no deep shadow, no utter darkness, where evildoers can hide.
23God has no need to examine people further, that they should come before him for judgment.
24Without inquiry he shatters the mighty and sets up others in their place.
25Because he takes note of their deeds, he overthrows them in the night and they are crushed.
26He punishes them for their wickedness where everyone can see them,
27because they turned from following him and had no regard for any of his ways.
28They caused the cry of the poor to come before him, so that he heard the cry of the needy.
29But if he remains silent, who can condemn him? If he hides his face, who can see him? Yet he is over individual and nation alike,
30to keep the godless from ruling, from laying snares for the people.
31“Suppose someone says to God, ‘I am guilty but will offend no more.
32Teach me what I cannot see; if I have done wrong, I will not do so again.’
33Should God then reward you on your terms, when you refuse to repent? You must decide, not I; so tell me what you know.
34“Men of understanding declare, wise men who hear me say to me,
35‘Job speaks without knowledge; his words lack insight.’
36Oh, that Job might be tested to the utmost for answering like a wicked man! 37To his sin he adds rebellion; scornfully he claps his hands among us and multiplies his words against God.”
1Then Elihu said:
2“Do you think this is just? You say, ‘I am in the right, not God.’
3Yet you ask him, ‘What profit is it to me,
4“I would like to reply to you and to your friends with you.
5Look up at the heavens and see; gaze at the clouds so high above you.
6If you sin, how does that affect him? If your sins are many, what does that do to him?
7If you are righteous, what do you give to him, or what does he receive from your hand?
8Your wickedness only affects humans like yourself, and your righteousness only other people.
9“People cry out under a load of oppression; they plead for relief from the arm of the powerful.
10But no one says, ‘Where is God my Maker, who gives songs in the night,
11who teaches us more than he teaches
12He does not answer when people cry out because of the arrogance of the wicked.
13Indeed, God does not listen to their empty plea; the Almighty pays no attention to it.
14How much less, then, will he listen when you say that you do not see him, that your case is before him and you must wait for him,
15and further, that his anger never punishes and he does not take the least notice of wickedness.