NKJV Bible in 365 Days
Elihu's Bold Reproof and Wisdom — May 8
Job 32-34
Job 32
1 So these three men ceased answering Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. 365N 128.1
2 Then the wrath of Elihu, the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, was aroused against Job; his wrath was aroused because he justified himself rather than God. 365N 128.2
3 Also against his three friends his wrath was aroused, because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job. 365N 128.3
4 Now because they were years older than he, Elihu had waited [a] to speak to Job. 365N 128.4
5 When Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, his wrath was aroused. 365N 128.5
6 So Elihu, the son of Barachel the Buzite, answered and said: “I am young in years, and you are very old; Therefore I was afraid, And dared not declare my opinion to you. 365N 128.6
7 I said, [b] ‘Age should speak, And multitude of years should teach wisdom.’ 365N 128.7
8 But there is a spirit in man, And the breath of the Almighty gives him understanding. 365N 128.8
9 Great [c] men are not always wise, Nor do the aged always understand justice. 365N 128.9
10 “Therefore I say, ‘Listen to me, I also will declare my opinion.’ 365N 128.10
11 Indeed I waited for your words, I listened to your reasonings, while you searched out what to say. 365N 128.11
12 I paid close attention to you; And surely not one of you convinced Job, Or answered his words— 365N 128.12
13 Lest you say, ‘We have found wisdom’; God will vanquish him, not man. 365N 128.13
14 Now he has not [d] directed his words against me; So I will not answer him with your words. 365N 128.14
15 “They are dismayed and answer no more; Words escape them. 365N 128.15
16 And I have waited, because they did not speak, Because they stood still and answered no more. 365N 128.16
17 I also will answer my part, I too will declare my opinion. 365N 128.17
18 For I am full of words; The spirit within me compels me. 365N 128.18
19 Indeed my [e] belly is like wine that has no [f] vent; It is ready to burst like new wineskins. 365N 128.19
20 I will speak, that I may find relief; I must open my lips and answer. 365N 128.20
21 Let me not, I pray, show partiality to anyone; Nor let me flatter any man. 365N 128.21
22 For I do not know how to flatter, Else my Maker would soon take me away. 365N 128.22
Job 33
1 “But please, Job, hear my speech, And listen to all my words. 365N 128.23
2 Now, I open my mouth; My tongue speaks in my mouth. 365N 128.24
3 My words come from my upright heart; My lips utter pure knowledge. 365N 128.25
4 The Spirit of God has made me, And the breath of the Almighty gives me life. 365N 128.26
5 If you can answer me, Set your words in order before me; Take your stand. 365N 128.27
6 Truly I am [a] as your spokesman before God; I also have been formed out of clay. 365N 128.28
7 Surely no fear of me will terrify you, Nor will my hand be heavy on you. 365N 128.29
8 “Surely you have spoken [b] in my hearing, And I have heard the sound of your words, saying, 365N 128.30
9 ‘I am pure, without transgression; I am innocent, and there is no iniquity in me. 365N 128.31
10 Yet He finds occasions against me, He counts me as His enemy; 365N 128.32
11 He puts my feet in the stocks, He watches all my paths.’ 365N 128.33
12 “Look, in this you are not righteous. I will answer you, For God is greater than man. 365N 128.34
13 Why do you contend with Him? For He does not give an accounting of any of His words. 365N 128.35
14 For God may speak in one way, or in another, Yet man does not perceive it. 365N 128.36
15 In a dream, in a vision of the night, When deep sleep falls upon men, While slumbering on their beds, 365N 128.37
16 Then He opens the ears of men, And seals their instruction. 365N 128.38
17 In order to turn man from his deed, And conceal pride from man, 365N 128.39
18 He keeps back his soul from the Pit, And his life from [c] perishing by the sword. 365N 128.40
19 “ Man is also chastened with pain on his bed, And with strong pain in many of his bones, 365N 128.41
20 So that his life abhors bread, And his soul [d] succulent food. 365N 128.42
21 His flesh wastes away from sight, And his bones stick out which once were not seen. 365N 128.43
22 Yes, his soul draws near the Pit, And his life to the executioners. 365N 128.44
23 “If there is a messenger for him, A mediator, one among a thousand, To show man His uprightness, 365N 128.45
24 Then He is gracious to him, and says, ‘Deliver him from going down to the Pit; I have found [e] a ransom’; 365N 128.46
25 His flesh shall be young like a child’s, He shall return to the days of his youth. 365N 128.47
26 He shall pray to God, and He will delight in him, He shall see His face with joy, For He restores to man His righteousness. 365N 128.48
27 Then he looks at men and says, ‘I have sinned, and perverted what was right, And it did not profit me.’ 365N 128.49
28 He will redeem [f] his soul from going down to the Pit, And his life shall see the light. 365N 128.50
29 “Behold, God works all these things, Twice, in fact, three times with a man, 365N 128.51
30 To bring back his soul from the Pit, That he may be enlightened with the light of life. 365N 128.52
31 “Give ear, Job, listen to me; Hold your peace, and I will speak. 365N 128.53
32 If you have anything to say, answer me; Speak, for I desire to justify you. 365N 128.54
33 If not, listen to me; [g] Hold your peace, and I will teach you wisdom.” 365N 128.55
Job 34
1 Elihu further answered and said: 365N 128.56
2 “Hear my words, you wise men; Give ear to me, you who have knowledge. 365N 128.57
3 For the ear tests words As the palate tastes food. 365N 128.58
4 Let us choose justice for ourselves; Let us know among ourselves what is good. 365N 128.59
5 “For Job has said, ‘I am righteous, But God has taken away my justice; 365N 128.60
6 Should I lie concerning my right? My [a] wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.’ 365N 128.61
7 What man is like Job, Who drinks [b] scorn like water, 365N 128.62
8 Who goes in company with the workers of iniquity, And walks with wicked men? 365N 128.63
9 For he has said, ‘It profits a man nothing That he should delight in God.’ 365N 128.64
10 “Therefore listen to me, you [c] men of understanding: Far be it from God to do wickedness, And from the Almighty to commit iniquity. 365N 128.65
11 For He repays man according to his work, And makes man to find a reward according to his way. 365N 128.66
12 Surely God will never do wickedly, Nor will the Almighty pervert justice. 365N 128.67
13 Who gave Him charge over the earth? Or who appointed Him over the whole world? 365N 128.68
14 If He should set His heart on it, If He should gather to Himself His Spirit and His breath, 365N 128.69
15 All flesh would perish together, And man would return to dust. 365N 128.70
16 “If you have understanding, hear this; Listen to the sound of my words: 365N 128.71
17 Should one who hates justice govern? Will you condemn Him who is most just? 365N 128.72
18 Is it fitting to say to a king, ‘ You are worthless,’ And to nobles, ‘ You are wicked’? 365N 128.73
19 Yet He is not partial to princes, Nor does He regard the rich more than the poor; For they are all the work of His hands. 365N 128.74
20 In a moment they die, in the middle of the night; The people are shaken and pass away; The mighty are taken away without a hand. 365N 128.75
21 “For His eyes are on the ways of man, And He sees all his steps. 365N 128.76
22 There is no darkness nor shadow of death Where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves. 365N 128.77
23 For He need not further consider a man, That he should go before God in judgment. 365N 128.78
24 He breaks in pieces mighty men without inquiry, And sets others in their place. 365N 128.79
25 Therefore He knows their works; He overthrows them in the night, And they are crushed. 365N 128.80
26 He strikes them as wicked men In the open sight of others, 365N 128.81
27 Because they turned back from Him, And would not consider any of His ways, 365N 128.82
28 So that they caused the cry of the poor to come to Him; For He hears the cry of the afflicted. 365N 128.83
29 When He gives quietness, who then can make trouble? And when He hides His face, who then can see Him, Whether it is against a nation or a man alone?— 365N 128.84
30 That the hypocrite should not reign, Lest the people be ensnared. 365N 128.85
31 “For has anyone said to God, ‘I have borne chastening; I will offend no more; 365N 128.86
32 Teach me what I do not see; If I have done iniquity, I will do no more’? 365N 128.87
33 Should He repay it according to your terms, Just because you disavow it? You must choose, and not I; Therefore speak what you know. 365N 128.88
34 “Men of understanding say to me, Wise men who listen to me: 365N 128.89
35 ‘Job speaks without knowledge, His words are without wisdom.’ 365N 128.90
36 Oh, that Job were tried to the utmost, Because his answers are like those of wicked men! 365N 128.91
37 For he adds rebellion to his sin; He claps his hands among us, And multiplies his words against God.” 365N 128.92