Study Desk

"Why do you complain against Him? That He does not answer [you with] all His doings.

That He may turn man aside from his conduct, And keep him from pride;

He holds back his soul from the pit [of destruction], And his life from passing over into Sheol (the nether world, the place of the dead).

"Man is also disciplined with pain on his bed, And with unceasing complaint in his bones,

So that his life makes him loathe food, And his soul [loathe] even his favorite dishes.

"His flesh is so wasted away that it cannot be seen, And his bones which were not seen now stick out.

"Then his soul draws near to the pit [of destruction], And his life to those who bring death (the destroyers).

"Let his flesh be restored and become fresher than in youth; Let him return to the days of his youthful strength.

"He will pray to God, and He shall be favorable to him, So that he looks at His face with joy; For God restores to man His righteousness [that is, his right standing with God—with its joys].

To bring his life back from the pit [of destruction], That he may be enlightened with the light of the living.

Elihu continued his discourse and said,

"For God pays a man according to his work, And He will make every man find [appropriate] compensation according to his way.

"If God should determine to do so, If He should gather to Himself [that is, withdraw from man] His [life-giving] spirit and His breath,

"Who is not partial to princes, Nor does He regard the rich above the poor, For they all are the work of His hands.

"For God's eyes are on the ways of a man, And He sees all his steps.

Because they turned aside from following Him And would not consider or show regard for any of His ways,

"When He keeps quiet, who then can condemn? When He hides His face [withdrawing His favor and help], who then can behold Him [and make supplication to Him], Whether it be a nation or a man by himself?—

'Job speaks without knowledge, And his words are without wisdom and insight.

'For he adds rebellion [in his unsubmissive, defiant attitude toward God] to his [unacknowledged] sin; He claps his hands among us [in open mockery and contempt of God], And he multiplies his words [of accusation] against God.'"

"Even though you say that you do not see Him [when missing His righteous judgment on earth], Yet your case is before Him, and you must wait for Him!