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The Book of Job

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- Chapter 33 -

Elihu contradicts Job

1
Therefore, hear my speeches, Job, and listen to all my words.
2
Behold, I have opened my mouth; let my tongue speak along with my throat.
3
My words are from my simple heart, and my lips will speak a pure judgment.
4
The Spirit of God made me, and the breath of the Almighty gave me life.
5
If you can, answer me, and oppose me to my face.
6
Behold, God has made me, just as he also has made you, and I, likewise, have been formed of the same clay.
7
So, truly, do not let my wonders terrify you, and do not let my eloquence be burdensome to you.
8
For you have spoken in my hearing, and I have heard the voice of your words, saying:
9
“I am clean and without sin; I am immaculate, and there is no iniquity in me.
10
Yet he has discovered blame in me, and so he has treated me like his enemy.
11
He has put my feet in fetters; he has kept watch over all my ways.”
12
Therefore, it is for this reason that you have not been justified. For I tell you that God is greater than man.
13
Do you contend against him because he has not responded to all of your words?
14
God speaks once, and he does not repeat the same thing a second time.
15
Through a dream in a vision of the night, when a deep sleep falls over men, and they are sleeping in their beds,
16
then, he opens the ears of men, and, educating them, he teaches discipline,
17
so that he may divert a man from the things that he is doing, and may free him from pride,
18
rescuing his soul from corruption and his life from passing away by the sword.
19
Likewise, he rebukes by sorrow in bed, and he causes all of his bones to become weak.
20
Bread becomes abominable to him in his life, and, to his soul, the meat which before he desired.(a)
21
His body will waste away, and his bones, which had been covered, will be revealed.
22
His soul has approached corruption, and his life has drawn near to what is deadly.
23
If there were an angel speaking for him, one among thousands, to declare the fairness of the man,
24
he will have mercy on him, and he will say, “Free him, so that he will not descend to destruction. I have found a reason to be favorable to him.
25
His body is consumed by suffering. Let him return to the days of his youth.”
26
He will beg pardon from God, and he will be soothing to him; and he will look upon his face in jubilation, and he will restore his justice to man.(b)
27
He will consider mankind, and he will say: “I have sinned and truly I have offended, yet I was not treated as I deserved.”
28
He has freed his soul from continuing into destruction, so that, in living, it may see the light.
29
Behold, all these things God works three times within each one,
30
so that he may revive their souls from corruption and enlighten them with the light of life.
31
Pay attention Job, and listen to me; and remain silent, while I speak.
32
Yet, if you have anything to say, answer me and speak, for I want you to be treated justly.
33
But if you do not have anything to say, then listen to me. Be quiet and I will teach you wisdom.

Footnotes

(a)33:20 There are a number of verses in Job that refer to the time of the Antichrist. This verse refers to the abomination of desolation, which is a perverse imitation of the Most Holy Eucharist.(Conte)
(b)33:26 This verse in Latin uses so many pronouns, it is difficult to determine which refer to God and which to man. But the verse has a certain symmetry or pattern that reveals its meaning: the man acts towards God and God responds towards the man; then the man acts again towards God and God again responds towards the man.(Conte)

Elihu contradicts Job

1
“However, Job, please hear my speech, and listen to all my words.
2
See now, I have opened my mouth. My tongue has spoken in my mouth.
3
My words will utter the uprightness of my heart. That which my lips know they will speak sincerely.
4
The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.
5
If you can, answer me. Set your words in order before me, and stand up.
6
Behold, I am toward God even as you are. I am also formed out of the clay.
7
Behold, my terror will not make you afraid, neither will my pressure be heavy on you.
8
“Surely you have spoken in my hearing, I have heard the voice of your words, saying,
9
‘I am clean, without disobedience. I am innocent, neither is there iniquity in me.
10
Behold, he finds occasions against me. He counts me for his enemy.
11
He puts my feet in the stocks. He marks all my paths.’
12
“Behold, I will answer you. In this you are not just, for God is greater than man.
13
Why do you strive against him, because he doesn’t give account of any of his matters?
14
For God speaks once, yes twice, though man pays no attention.
15
In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on men, in slumbering on the bed,
16
then he opens the ears of men, and seals their instruction,
17
that he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man.
18
He keeps back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword.
19
“He is chastened also with pain on his bed, with continual strife in his bones,
20
so that his life abhors bread, and his soul dainty food.
21
His flesh is so consumed away that it can’t be seen. His bones that were not seen stick out.
22
Yes, his soul draws near to the pit, and his life to the destroyers.
23
“If there is beside him an angel, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to show to man what is right for him,
24
then God is gracious to him, and says, ‘Deliver him from going down to the pit, I have found a ransom.’
25
His flesh will be fresher than a child’s. He returns to the days of his youth.
26
He prays to God, and he is favorable to him, so that he sees his face with joy. He restores to man his righteousness.
27
He sings before men, and says, ‘I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it didn’t profit me.
28
He has redeemed my soul from going into the pit. My life will see the light.’
29
“Behold, God does all these things, twice, yes three times, with a man,
30
to bring back his soul from the pit, that he may be enlightened with the light of the living.
31
Mark well, Job, and listen to me. Hold your peace, and I will speak.
32
If you have anything to say, answer me. Speak, for I desire to justify you.
33
If not, listen to me. Hold your peace, and I will teach you wisdom.”
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