Elihu contradicts Job
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“And yet, please, O Job, || Hear my speech and give ear [to] all my words.
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Now behold, I have opened my mouth, || My tongue has spoken in the palate.
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Of the uprightness of my heart [are] my sayings, || And my lips have clearly spoken knowledge.
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The Spirit of God has made me, || And the breath of the Mighty quickens me.
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If you are able—answer me, || Set in array before me—station yourself.
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Behold, I [am], according to your word, for God, || I have also been formed from the clay.
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Behold, my terror does not frighten you, || And my burden on you is not heavy.
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Surely you have spoken in my ears, || And the sounds of words I hear:
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I [am] pure, without transgression, || I [am] innocent, and I have no iniquity.
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Behold, He develops hindrances against me, || He reckons me for an enemy to Him,
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He puts my feet in the stocks, || He watches all my paths.
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Behold, you have not been righteous [in] this, || I answer you, that God is greater than man.
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Why have you striven against Him, || When [for] all His matters He does not answer?
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For once God speaks, and twice (he does not behold it),
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In a dream—a vision of night, || In the falling of deep sleep on men, || In slumberings on a bed.
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Then He uncovers the ear of men, || And seals for their instruction,
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To turn aside man [from] doing, || And He conceals pride from man.
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He keeps back his soul from corruption, || And his life from passing away by a dart.
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And he has been reproved || With pain on his bed, || And the strife of his bones [is] enduring.
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And his life has nauseated bread, || And his soul desirable food.
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His flesh is consumed from being seen, || And his bones are high, they were not seen!
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And his soul draws near to the pit, || And his life to those causing death.
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If there is a messenger by him, || An interpreter—one of a thousand, || To declare for man his uprightness,
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Then He favors him and says, || Ransom him from going down to the pit, || I have found an atonement.
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Fresher [is] his flesh than a child’s, || He returns to the days of his youth.
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He makes supplication to God, || And He accepts him. And he sees His face with shouting, || And He returns to man His righteousness.
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[Then] he looks on men and says, || I sinned, and I have perverted uprightness, || And it has not been profitable to me.
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He has ransomed my soul || From going over into the pit, || And my life looks on the light.
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Behold, God works all these, || Twice, [even] three times with man,
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To bring back his soul from the pit, || To be enlightened with the light of the living.
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Attend, O Job, listen to me, || Keep silent, and I speak.
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If there are words—answer me, || Speak, for I have a desire to justify you.
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If there are not—listen to me, || Keep silent, and I teach you wisdom.”
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