Study Desk

"Therefore my anxious thoughts make me answer, Because of the turmoil within me.

"Because he knows no quietness in his heart, [fn] He will not save anything he desires.

"Is it because of your fear of Him that He corrects you, And enters into judgment with you?

"Even today my complaint is bitter;My [fn] hand is listless because of my groaning.

Because I was not cut off from the presence of darkness, And He did not hide deep darkness from my face.

Because I delivered the poor who cried out, The fatherless and the one who had no helper.

Because He has loosed my [fn] bowstring and afflicted me,They have cast off restraint before me.

"And now my soul is poured out because of my plight; The days of affliction take hold of me.

For destruction from God is a terror to me, And because of His magnificence I cannot endure.

If I have rejoiced because my wealth was great, And because my hand had gained much;

Because I feared the great multitude, And dreaded the contempt of families, So that I kept silence And did not go out of the door--

So these three men ceased answering Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes.

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.

Also against his three friends his wrath was aroused, because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job.

Now because they were years older than he, Elihu had waited to speak to Job. [fn]

And I have waited, because they did not speak, Because they stood still and answered no more.

Because they turned back from Him, And would not consider any of His ways,

Should He repay it according to your terms, Just because you disavow it? You must choose, and not I; Therefore speak what you know.

Oh, that Job were tried to the utmost, Because his answers are like those of wicked men!

"Because of the multitude of oppressions they cry out; They cry out for help because of the arm of the mighty.