Bible verse by verse

[_LittleNipper]

Job 33:1-33
Elihu continues:

"Now, Job, listen closely to my words of integrity spoken in sincerity.

God’s Spirit fashioned me and the breath of the Highest One gave me life.

Disagree with me if you can; go ahead and prepare your response.

But remember I am exactly as you; we are both God’s vessels, both formed from clay by Him.

Look, there is no reason for you to fear me; I will not oppress you.

Job, I've heard you lament, 'I am pure, without sin; innocent, and there is no wrongdoing in me! But God has come up with reasons to accuse me; now He considers me His enemy. He locks my feet in the shackles; He watches all my ways, follows my every step.'

But listen! You are wrong in this because God is greater than man. Why argue with Him, complaining that He refuses to account for His actions?

God speaks --- time and again — yet no one may be able to perceive what He says.

One kind of answer God provides comes through dreams—in a night-vision—during the night while people slumber.

Yes, this is often when He opens the ears of humanity, and seals their life-corrections.

So that He will turn one away from doing evil and put down the arrogance of the proud.

He does this so that He might withhold one soul from the grave and protect a life from passing away.

Another kind of answer God provides comes this way: one may be corrected through suffering --- his bones an unceasing trial,

In which food becomes repulsive, and he doesn’t hunger for favorite meals.

His body wastes away almost to nothing, and bones, once hidden, protrude.

Thus he is aware as he approaches eternity, recognizing death approaching.

If there is a messenger at one’s side, a mediator, even just one out of the thousand, to proclaim for man his unrighteousness:

being gracious to him and to say, 'Spare this one from descending into the pit; I have found a ransom that will save his soul!'

Then his skin will be made youthful, as a child’s, and he will be restored to the health of youth.

He will present his appeal to God, and God will grant acceptance; he will see that face and shout with joy, knowing God has restored his right standing.

Then he comes to his fellow humans and sings,“I sinned and perverted what I knew to be correct, but God has not give me what I deserved. He has instead paid the ransom and spared me from descending into the pit and my life now sees the glory.”

God does all of these things two, even three times with a person, In order to guide his soul back from hell so the light of life might shine on him.

Listen Well, Job, remain silent, and I will continue.

If you have something to say to me, say it. Make a response to me; go ahead and speak, because I do desire to see you justified to God.

But if not, then listen; and I will present wisdom."


Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

1 And yet, I pray thee, O Job, Hear my speech and [to] all my words give ear.

2 Lo, I pray thee, I have opened my mouth, My tongue hath spoken in the palate.

3 Of the uprightness of my heart [are] my sayings, And knowledge have my lips clearly spoken.

4 The Spirit of God hath made me, And the breath of the Mighty doth quicken me.

5 If thou art able -- answer me, Set in array before me -- station thyself.

6 Lo, I [am], according to thy word, for God, From the clay I -- I also, have been formed.

7 Lo, my terror doth not frighten thee, And my burden on thee is not heavy.

8 Surely -- thou hast said in mine ears, And the sounds of words I hear:

9 `Pure [am] I, without transgression, Innocent [am] I, and I have no iniquity.

10 Lo, occasions against me He doth find, He doth reckon me for an enemy to Him,

11 He doth put in the stocks my feet, He doth watch all my paths.'

12 Lo, [in] this thou hast not been righteous, I answer thee, that greater is God than man.

13 Wherefore against Him hast thou striven, When [for] all His matters He answereth not?

14 For once doth God speak, and twice, (He doth not behold it.)

15 In a dream -- a vision of night, In the falling of deep sleep on men, In slumberings on a bed.

16 Then He uncovereth the ear of men, And for their instruction sealeth:

17 To turn aside man [from] doing, And pride from man He concealeth.

18 He keepeth back his soul from corruption, And his life from passing away by a dart.

19 And he hath been reproved With pain on his bed, And the strife of his bones [is] enduring.

20 And his life hath nauseated bread, And his soul desirable food.

21 His flesh is consumed from being seen, And high are his bones, they were not seen!

22 And draw near to the pit doth his soul, And his life to those causing death.

23 If there is by him a messenger, An interpreter -- one of a thousand, To declare for man his uprightness:

24 Then He doth favour him and saith, `Ransom him from going down to the pit, I have found an atonement.'

25 Fresher [is] his flesh than a child's, He returneth to the days of his youth.

26 He maketh supplication unto God, And He accepteth him. And he seeth His face with shouting, And He returneth to man His righteousness.

27 He looketh on men, and saith, `I sinned, And uprightness I have perverted, And it hath not been profitable to me.

28 He hath ransomed my soul From going over into the pit, And my life on the light looketh.'

29 Lo, all these doth God work, Twice -- thrice with man,

30 To bring back his soul from the pit, To be enlightened with the light of the living.

31 Attend, O Job, hearken to me, Keep silent, and I -- I do speak.

32 If there are words -- answer me, Speak, for I have a desire to justify thee.

33 If there are not -- hearken thou to me, Keep silent, and I teach thee wisdom.

[_LittleNipper]

Job 34:1-37 Elihu continues:

“So, fine friends—hear me, what you think of this. it's just common sense— as common as the sense of taste—
To put our heads together and figure out what’s occurring?

We’ve all heard Job say, ‘I’m in the right, but God won’t give me a fair trial. Defending myself, I’m labeled a liar to my face.
I’ve done nothing wrong, and I get punished anyway.’

Have you heard anything to beat this? Does nothing shame Job? Do you think he’s spent too much time in bad company, hanging with the wrong crowd, so that now he’s parroting their line: ‘It doesn’t pay to try to please God’?

You've had experience dealing with matters such as these; certainly we can agree.

It’s impossible for God to do anything evil; no way can the Mighty One do wrong.

He makes us pay for exactly what we’ve done—nothing more or less.

It’s impossible for God to do anything wicked, for the Mighty One to subvert justice.

He’s the one who runs the earth! He's got the whole world in his hand!
If he decided to hold his breath, every man, woman, and child would die for lack there of.

Job, Think. Can someone who hates order, keep it?

Do you dare condemn God? Doesn’t God always say what He means, exposing corrupt rulers as scoundrels and criminals?

Does He play favorites with the rich and famous and slight the poor? Isn’t He equally responsible to everybody?

Don’t people who deserve it die without notice? Don’t wicked rulers fall to their doom?

When the "high and mighty" are wiped out, we know God is working behind the scenes.

He watches every man and woman.

He misses nothing.

There is no night dark enough or shadow deep enough, to hide those who do evil.

God needs no more evidence; their sin is an open-and-shut case.

He deposes the pompous without asking questions, and replaces them at with others.

Nobody gets away with anything; overnight, judgment is valid.

He punishes the wicked for their wickedness out in the open where everyone can see it, because they don't following Him or even thought about him or his ways.

Their apostasy was announced by the cry of the poor; the cry of the afflicted gained God’s attention.

Because You Refuse to Live on God’s Terms

If God is silent, what’s that to you? If He turns His face away, what can you do about it?

But whether silent or unseen, He’s there, ruling, so that those who hate God won’t take over and spoil the lives of others.

Simply confess to God. Say, ‘I sinned, but I’ll sin no more. Teach me to see what I don't comprehend. Whatever evil I’ve done, I’ll do it no more.’

Just because you refuse to live by God’s methods, do you think He should start living by yours? Choose. I can’t do it for you. What is your decision.

All right-thinking people say, 'Job talks utter nonsense.’

Job, you need to be called to account for wickedly talking back to God the way you have.

You’ve compounded your original sin by rebelling against God’s discipline, shaking your fist at God, piling up accusations against the Almighty One.”

Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

1 And Elihu answereth and saith:

2 Hear, O wise men, my words, And, O knowing ones, give ear to me.

3 For the ear doth try words, And the palate tasteth to eat.

4 Judgment let us choose for ourselves, Let us know among ourselves what [is] good.

5 For Job hath said, `I have been righteous, And God hath turned aside my right,

6 Against my right do I lie? Mortal [is] mine arrow -- without transgression.'

7 Who [is] a man like Job? He drinketh scoffing like water,

8 And he hath travelled for company With workers of iniquity, So as to go with men of wickedness.

9 For he hath said, `It doth not profit a man, When he delighteth himself with God.'

10 Therefore, O men of heart, hearken to me; Far be it from God to do wickedness, And [from] the Mighty to do perverseness:

11 For the work of man he repayeth to him, And according to the path of each He doth cause him to find.

12 Yea, truly, God doth not do wickedly, And the Mighty doth not pervert judgment.

13 Who hath inspected for Himself the earth? And who hath placed all the habitable world?

14 If He doth set on him His heart, His spirit and his breath unto Him He gathereth.

15 Expire doth all flesh together, And man to dust returneth.

16 And if [there is] understanding, hear this, Give ear to the voice of my words.

17 Yea, doth one hating justice govern? Or the Most Just dost thou condemn?

18 Who hath said to a king -- `Worthless,' Unto princes -- `Wicked?'

19 That hath not accepted the person of princes, Nor hath known the rich before the poor, For a work of His hands [are] all of them.

20 [In] a moment they die, and at midnight Shake do people, and they pass away, And they remove the mighty without hand.

21 For His eyes [are] on the ways of each, And all his steps He doth see.

22 There is no darkness nor death-shade, For workers of iniquity to be hidden there;

23 For He doth not suffer man any more, To go unto God in judgment,

24 He breaketh the mighty -- no searching! And He appointeth others in their stead.

25 Therefore He knoweth their works, And He hath overturned by night, And they are bruised.

26 As wicked He hath stricken them, In the place of beholders.

27 Because that against right They have turned aside from after Him, And none of His ways have considered wisely,

28 To cause to come in unto Him The cry of the poor, And the cry of the afflicted He heareth.

29 And He giveth rest, and who maketh wrong? And hideth the face, and who beholdeth it? And in reference to a nation and to a man, [It is] the same.

30 From the reigning of a profane man, From the snares of a people;

31 For unto God hath any said: `I have taken away, I do not corruptly,

32 Besides [that which] I see, shew Thou me, If iniquity I have done -- I do not add?'

33 By thee doth He recompense, That thou hast refused -- That thou dost choose, and not I? And what thou hast known, speak.

34 Let men of heart say to me, And a wise man is hearkening to me.

35 Job -- not with knowledge doth he speak, And his words [are] not with wisdom.

36 My Father! let Job be tried -- unto victory, Because of answers for men of iniquity,

37 For he doth add to his sin, Transgression among us he vomiteth, And multiplieth his sayings to God.

[_LittleNipper]

Job 35:1-16 Elihu continues.

"Job, you think this is justice, saying, 'My righteousness exceeds God’s'?

You said something like, 'What good does it do God if I do right? What's in it for me to not sin?'

I will return your words, and I will address your friends besides.

Look at the sky and notice. See how high the clouds are—they are way above you!

If you sin, what have you really accomplished against Him? If you stack them high, what does it do to Him?

Likewise, if you are righteous, what does that do to Him --- what gift does He receive from your outstretched hand of righteous generosity?

Your wickedness affects only humanity, and your righteousness only helps other human beings.

People cry to God when they feel crushed by oppression. They beg Him for deliverance from tyranny.

None of them pleads like this: 'Where is God, my Creator, who gives songs of comfort in the silence and suffering of night, enlightening us more than the animals of the field, instructing us in wisdom more than the birds of the air?'

So, in the absence of such prayers, God does not answer the cries of the people because they cry in arrogance like the wicked.

God does not hear the vain and empty cry, nor does the Highest One pay attention to such.

How much less must He hear you—you who say you cannot see Him. You say you've already pled your case to Him but you are still waiting His answer.

Finally, because God has not swiftly punished in His anger, and does not concern Himself with great arrogance, Job opens his mouth and out comes empty talk --- words heaped in ignorance."

Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

1 And Elihu answereth and saith: --

2 This hast thou reckoned for judgment: Thou hast said -- `My righteousness [is] more than God's?'

3 For thou sayest, `What doth it profit Thee! What do I profit from my sin?'

4 I return thee words, and thy friends with thee,

5 Behold attentively the heavens -- and see, And behold the clouds, They have been higher than thou.

6 If thou hast sinned, what dost thou against Him? And thy transgressions have been multiplied, What dost thou to Him?

7 If thou hast been righteous, What dost thou give to Him? Or what from thy hand doth He receive?

8 For a man like thyself [is] thy wickedness, And for a son of man thy righteousness.

9 Because of the multitude of oppressions They cause to cry out, They cry because of the arm of the mighty.

10 And none said, `Where [is] God my maker? Giving songs in the night,

11 Teaching us more than the beasts of the earth, Yea, than the fowl of the heavens He maketh us wiser.'

12 There they cry, and He doth not answer, Because of the pride of evil doers.

13 Surely vanity God doth not hear, And the Mighty doth not behold it.

14 Yea, though thou sayest thou dost not behold Him, Judgment [is] before Him, and stay for Him.

15 And, now, because there is not, He hath appointed His anger, And He hath not known in great extremity.

16 And Job [with] vanity doth open his mouth, Without knowledge words he multiplieth.

[_The Erotic Apologist]

[_LittleNipper]

The reality is that the only thing that prevents a nuclear war is God. My God is bigger than your unbelief.

[_The Erotic Apologist]

The reality is that the only thing that prevents a nuclear war is God.

Really? Then how do you explain Hiroshima and Nagasaki?

My God is bigger than your unbelief.

Wrong--supernatural entities don't have physical dimensions. That's what makes them "supernatural". Abstract concepts like "unbelief" don't have physical dimensions, either.

[Guest]

Job 36:1-33 Elihu said additionally:

“Be patient with me a little bit more and I will instruct you, for I still have something to say on God’s behalf.

With my knowledge I will speak --- to my Creator I ascribe righteousness.

My words are not false; it is one complete in knowledge who is with you.

In truth, God is mighty; yet He does not despise people, He is mighty, and firm in His intentions.

He does not revive the wicked --- He provides justice to the poor.

He will not take His eyes off the righteous; but with kings on the throne He seats the righteous and exalts them forever.

But if they are bound in chains, and held captive by the cords of affliction --- He reveals to them what they have done, and their transgressions and proud behavior.

And He reveals this to instruct & correct, and says that they must turn from evil.

If they obey and serve him, they live out their days in prosperity and their years in pleasantness.

But if they refuse to listen, they die --- expiring without knowledge.

The godless at heart nourish anger, they do not cry out even when He binds them.

They die young, and their life ends among sexually defiled.

He delivers the afflicted by their afflictions, He demonstrates Himself to them through their suffering.

And surely, He drew you from the mouth of distress, to an open place, unrestricted, and to the comfort of your table filled with rich food.

But now you are preoccupied with the judgment due the wicked, judgment and justice grab you.

Cautiously let no one entice you with wealth; do not let a large bribe misdirect you.

Would your wealth sustain you,
so that you would not be in distress,
even all your mighty efforts?

Do not long for darkness to drag people away from their homes.

Caution, do not turn to evil, for because of this you have been tested by affliction.

God is praised through His power; who can instruct like him?

Who has designed His abilities for him? Or said to Him, ‘You have done what is wicked’?

Remember to highly value His ability, which people have praised in hymns.

All humanity has witnessed it; people gaze on it from afar.

The Work and Wisdom of God

God is great—beyond our knowledge! There is no number to His years.

He draws up drops of water ----- distilling the rain into its mist, which the clouds pour down and shower on humankind abundantly.

Who can comprehend the clouds, and the thundering above?

See how He spreads his lightning about him; He has covered the depths of the sea.

It is through this that He judges the nations and supplies abundant food.

With His hands He covers the lightning, and directs it towards its target.

He announces the approach to His startled friends.


Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

1 And Elihu addeth and saith: --

2 Honour me a little, and I shew thee, That yet for God [are] words.

3 I lift up my knowledge from afar, And to my Maker I ascribe righteousness.

4 For, truly, my words [are] not false, The perfect in knowledge [is] with thee.

5 Lo, God [is] mighty, and despiseth not, Mighty [in] power [and] heart.

6 He reviveth not the wicked, And the judgment of the poor appointeth;

7 He withdraweth not from the righteous His eyes, And [from] kings on the throne, And causeth them to sit for ever, and they are high,

8 And if prisoners in fetters They are captured with cords of affliction,

9 Then He declareth to them their work, And their transgressions, Because they have become mighty,

10 And He uncovereth their ear for instruction, And saith that they turn back from iniquity.

11 If they do hear and serve, They complete their days in good, And their years in pleasantness.

12 And if they do not hearken, By the dart they pass away, And expire without knowledge.

13 And the profane in heart set the face, They cry not when He hath bound them.

14 Their soul dieth in youth, And their life among the defiled.

15 He draweth out the afflicted in his affliction, And uncovereth in oppression their ear.

16 And also He moved thee from a strait place, [To] a broad place -- no straitness under it, And the sitting beyond of thy table Hath been full of fatness.

17 And the judgment of the wicked thou hast fulfilled, Judgment and justice are upheld -- because of fury,

18 Lest He move thee with a stroke, And the abundance of an atonement turn thee not aside.

19 Doth He value thy riches? He hath gold, and all the forces of power.

20 Desire not the night, For the going up of peoples in their stead.

21 Take heed -- do not turn unto iniquity, For on this thou hast fixed Rather than [on] affliction.

22 Lo, God doth sit on high by His power, Who [is] like Him -- a teacher?

23 Who hath appointed unto Him his way? And who said, `Thou hast done iniquity?'

24 Remember that thou magnify His work That men have beheld.

25 All men have looked on it, Man looketh attentively from afar.

26 Lo, God [is] high, And we know not the number of His years, Yea, there [is] no searching.

27 When He doth diminish droppings of the waters, They refine rain according to its vapour,

28 Which clouds do drop, They distil on man abundantly.

29 Yea, doth [any] understand The spreadings out of a cloud? The noises of His tabernacle?

30 Lo, He hath spread over it His light, And the roots of the sea He hath covered,

31 For by them He doth judge peoples, He giveth food in abundance.

32 By two palms He hath covered the light, And layeth a charge over it in meeting,

33 He sheweth by it [to] his friend substance, Anger against perversity.

[_The Erotic Apologist]

[Guest]

The reality is that the only thing that prevents a nuclear war is God.

Really? Then how do you explain Hiroshima and Nagasaki?

My God is bigger than your unbelief.

Wrong--supernatural entities don't have physical dimensions. That's what makes them "supernatural". Abstract concepts like "unbelief" don't have physical dimensions, either.

I understand Hiroshima and Nagasaki to be but a small warning of what God deals with.
Big can also mean ---- of considerable importance or seriousness: important · major · momentous · consequential · far-reaching · impactful · key · vital · critical · crucial

My God is more important than your unbelief.
My God is far more consequential than your unbelief.
My God has far more impact than your unbelief.
My God is far more vital than your unbelief.
My God is far more crucial than your unbelief.
PS> Jesus the Christ was likely the size of an average man and yet he was and is far bigger than your unbelief.

[Guest]

I understand Hiroshima and Nagasaki to be but a little warning.

Nope, you're still lost in the woods. Because there's no need for a "little warning" if the sky god is there to prevent nuclear war.

The sky god cult has seriously fried your brain, Nipper.

Big can also mean ---- of considerable importance or seriousness: important · major · momentous · consequential · far-reaching · impactful · key · vital · critical · crucial

No--your devotion to the sky god is not nearly as important as you say it is. Because if it were, you'd be in North Korea propagating his cult.