Elihu

1So the three men stopped answering Job. Job was sure he had done nothing wrong.

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

NoteJob's three friends had been arguing with him for a long time. Now they gave up and stopped.

2Then a man named Elihu became angry. He was the son of Barachel, from the family of Buz and of Ram. He was angry at Job. Job kept saying he was right instead of saying God was right.

Then was kindled the wrath of Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the kindred of Ram: against Job was his wrath kindled, because he justified himself rather than God.

NoteBuz and Ram were the names of family groups. People told you their family name to say who they were. Elihu is a new person in the story. He has been listening quietly all this time.

3He was angry at Job's three friends too. They said Job was wrong, but they could not show how.

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

NoteTo condemn someone means to say they did something bad. The friends kept saying Job was bad, but they could not prove it.

4Elihu had waited before speaking to Job. The other men were all older than he was.

Now Elihu had waited till Job had spoken, because they were elder than he.

NoteBack then, young people waited for older people to speak first. It was a way to show respect.

5Then Elihu saw the three men had nothing left to say. That made him angry.

When Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, then his wrath was kindled.

6So Elihu son of Barachel spoke up. He said, "I am young, and you are old. That is why I was shy. I was afraid to tell you what I know."

And Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered and said, I am young, and ye are very old; wherefore I was afraid, and durst not shew you mine opinion.

NoteThe King James word "shew" means show. "Durst not" means did not dare to.

7I thought that older people should be the ones to speak. I thought long years would teach a person wisdom.

I said, Days should speak, and multitude of years should teach wisdom.

Note"Days should speak" is a way of saying older people should talk first.

8But God puts a spirit inside each person. The breath of God, who is stronger than all, helps us understand.

But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding.

Note"The Almighty" is a name for God. It means God is stronger than anyone.

9Being old does not always make someone wise. Older people do not always know what is fair.

Great men are not always wise: neither do the aged understand judgment.

10So I say, please listen to me. I will tell you what I know too.

Therefore I said, Hearken to me; I also will shew mine opinion.

11I waited while you talked. I listened to your reasons. I heard you hunt for the right words.

Behold, I waited for your words; I gave ear to your reasons, whilst ye searched out what to say.

Note"I gave ear" means I listened carefully.

12I paid close attention to all of you. But not one of you showed Job he was wrong. No one answered what he said.

Yea, I attended unto you, and, behold, there was none of you that convinced Job, or that answered his words:

NoteIn 1611, "convinced" meant proved someone wrong. It did not mean changing someone's mind.

13So do not say, "We have found wisdom. Let God answer Job, not people."

Lest ye should say, We have found out wisdom: God thrusteth him down, not man.

NoteThe friends were saying that only God could answer Job. Elihu thinks that is just an excuse.

14Job did not aim his words at me. And I will not answer him the way you did.

Now he hath not directed his words against me: neither will I answer him with your speeches.

15Job's friends are upset. They have nothing more to say. Their words are gone.

They were amazed, they answered no more: they left off speaking.

NoteIn 1611, "amazed" meant shocked and confused. It did not mean happy or excited.

16Should I keep on waiting? They are quiet now. They just stand there and say nothing.

When I had waited, (for they spake not, but stood still, and answered no more;)

17So I will take my turn and answer. I will tell you what I know.

I said, I will answer also my part, I also will shew mine opinion.

18I am full of words. The spirit inside me pushes me to speak.

For I am full of matter, the spirit within me constraineth me.

Note"Full of matter" means full of things he wants to say.

19Inside I feel like wine shut up tight. I am about to burst like a new wineskin.

Behold, my belly is as wine which hath no vent; it is ready to burst like new bottles.

NoteA wineskin was a bag made from an animal's skin. People kept wine in it. New wine bubbles and makes gas, so a full bag can swell up and pop. The King James says "bottles," but they were these skin bags.

20I have to speak so I feel better. I will open my mouth and answer.

I will speak, that I may be refreshed: I will open my lips and answer.

21I will not treat one person as better than another. I will not say nice things I do not mean.

Let me not, I pray you, accept any man’s person, neither let me give flattering titles unto man.

NoteTo flatter is to say nice things you do not really mean. People do it to get someone to like them.

22I do not know how to flatter people. If I did, God who made me would take me away fast.

For I know not to give flattering titles; in so doing my maker would soon take me away.

NoteElihu is saying that flattering would be very wrong. He does not want to say things that are not true.

1Then Elihu kept on speaking.

Furthermore Elihu answered and said,

NoteElihu was a young man listening to Job and his three friends talk. He waited until they were done, then began his own long speech.

2He said, "Listen to my words, you wise men. Pay attention, you who have learned much."

Hear my words, O ye wise men; and give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge.

3The ear tests words to see if they are good. That is like the mouth tasting food.

For the ear trieth words, as the mouth tasteth meat.

NoteIn the King James Bible the word "meat" means any kind of food. It does not only mean meat from animals.

4Let us pick out together what is right. Let us learn together what is good.

Let us choose to us judgment: let us know among ourselves what is good.

5Job has said, "I have done nothing wrong, but God will not treat me fairly."

For Job hath said, I am righteous: and God hath taken away my judgment.

NoteJob had lost his children, his animals, and his health. He kept saying he had done nothing to deserve it.

6Job said, "Would I lie about my own case? My hurt will not heal, and I did no wrong."

Should I lie against my right? my wound is incurable without transgression.

NoteJob talks like someone standing before a judge. Your "case" is the story you tell to show you are right.

7Is there any man like Job? He drinks up mean, mocking talk as easily as water.

What man is like Job, who drinketh up scorning like water?

8He walks along with people who do evil. He keeps company with wicked men.

Which goeth in company with the workers of iniquity, and walketh with wicked men.

9For Job has said, "It does a man no good to try to please God."

For he hath said, It profiteth a man nothing that he should delight himself with God.

10So listen to me, you men who understand. God never does wrong. The Almighty never acts unfairly.

Therefore hearken unto me ye men of understanding: far be it from God, that he should do wickedness; and from the Almighty, that he should commit iniquity.

Note"The Almighty" is a name for God. It means the one who is stronger than everyone.

11God pays a person back for what he does. Each one gets what his own ways deserve.

For the work of a man shall he render unto him, and cause every man to find according to his ways.

12It is true: God does not do wicked things. The Almighty never twists what is fair.

Yea, surely God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert judgment.

13Who put God in charge of the earth? Who gave him the whole world to care for?

Who hath given him a charge over the earth? or who hath disposed the whole world?

14Suppose God decided to take back the spirit and breath he gives to people.

If he set his heart upon man, if he gather unto himself his spirit and his breath;

NoteIn the Bible, breath means life itself. God gives breath, and that is what makes a person alive.

15Then every living thing would die at once. People would turn back into dust.

All flesh shall perish together, and man shall turn again unto dust.

NoteThe Bible says God made the first person out of dust from the ground. So when people die, their bodies go back to dirt.

16If you can understand, then listen to this. Pay attention to what I am saying.

If now thou hast understanding, hear this: hearken to the voice of my words.

17Could someone who hates fairness ever rule? Will you say the fair and mighty One is wrong?

Shall even he that hateth right govern? and wilt thou condemn him that is most just?

Note"The fair and mighty One" means God. Elihu is asking how anyone can call God unfair.

18Is it right to tell a king, "You are wicked"? Or to tell leaders, "You do evil"?

Is it fit to say to a king, Thou art wicked? and to princes, Ye are ungodly?

NotePrinces here means rulers and important leaders. It does not only mean the son of a king.

19God treats princes no better than anyone else. He does not favor rich people over poor people. He made them all.

How much less to him that accepteth not the persons of princes, nor regardeth the rich more than the poor? for they all are the work of his hands.

20They can die in one moment. In the middle of the night people shake and are gone. Even strong men are taken away, and no human hand does it.

In a moment shall they die, and the people shall be troubled at midnight, and pass away: and the mighty shall be taken away without hand.

21God's eyes watch the ways people live. He sees every step a person takes.

For his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his goings.

22There is no dark place, not even deepest shadow, where people who do evil can hide.

There is no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.

NoteThe King James says "shadow of death." That is an old way of saying the very darkest dark.

23God does not need to study a person any longer before he judges him.

For he will not lay upon man more than right; that he should enter into judgment with God.

24He breaks powerful men, more than anyone can count. Then he puts others in their place.

He shall break in pieces mighty men without number, and set others in their stead.

25He knows what they have done. He turns them over in the night, and they are crushed.

Therefore he knoweth their works, and he overturneth them in the night, so that they are destroyed.

26He punishes them for their wickedness where everyone can see it.

He striketh them as wicked men in the open sight of others;

27He does this because they turned away from him. They paid no attention to his ways.

Because they turned back from him, and would not consider any of his ways:

28Because of them, poor people cried out to God. He heard the cry of those who were hurting.

So that they cause the cry of the poor to come unto him, and he heareth the cry of the afflicted.

29When God gives quiet, no one can bring trouble. When he hides his face, no one can see him. He does this with whole nations and with one person alone.

When he giveth quietness, who then can make trouble? and when he hideth his face, who then can behold him? whether it be done against a nation, or against a man only:

NoteTo hide your face means to stay quiet and not step in. Elihu says God sometimes waits without answering.

30He does this so that godless rulers do not rule and trap the people.

That the hypocrite reign not, lest the people be ensnared.

NoteGodless means someone who does not care about God at all. A trap here means tricking people and hurting them.

31It is right for someone to say to God, "I have taken my punishment. I will not do wrong again."

Surely it is meet to be said unto God, I have borne chastisement, I will not offend any more:

NoteElihu is giving an example. He is showing the kind of words he thinks Job should say to God.

32"Teach me what I cannot see. If I have done wrong, I will not do it again."

That which I see not teach thou me: if I have done iniquity, I will do no more.

33Should God pay you back the way you want him to? You must choose, not me. So tell me what you know.

Should it be according to thy mind? he will recompense it, whether thou refuse, or whether thou choose; and not I: therefore speak what thou knowest.

34Men who understand will speak up. Wise men who hear me will agree.

Let men of understanding tell me, and let a wise man hearken unto me.

35They will say, "Job talks without knowing. His words show no wisdom."

Job hath spoken without knowledge, and his words were without wisdom.

36I wish Job could be tested all the way. He answers like a wicked man.

My desire is that Job may be tried unto the end because of his answers for wicked men.

NoteTested means going through hard things. It shows what a person is really like inside.

37He piles rebellion on top of his sin. He claps his hands at us. He keeps saying more and more words against God.

For he addeth rebellion unto his sin, he clappeth his hands among us, and multiplieth his words against God.

NoteBack then, clapping your hands could be a rude insult. It was a way of laughing at someone. Rebellion means fighting against the one in charge.

1Elihu kept on speaking. He said:

Elihu spake moreover, and said,

NoteElihu was a young man. He sat and listened while Job and his friends talked. Now it is his turn to speak.

2Do you think this is fair? You said, "I am more right than God is."

Thinkest thou this to be right, that thou saidst, My righteousness is more than God’s?

NoteJob had lost his children, his animals, and his health. He kept saying he had done nothing wrong to deserve it. The King James word "righteousness" means doing what is right.

3You also asked, "What good does it do me? What do I gain by staying clean of sin?"

For thou saidst, What advantage will it be unto thee? and, What profit shall I have, if I be cleansed from my sin?

NoteSin means doing what is wrong. Job asked what he gets for staying away from wrong things.

4I will answer you. I will answer your friends too.

I will answer thee, and thy companions with thee.

NoteJob's friends were three men named Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar. They came to sit with Job and then argued with him.

5Look up at the sky and see it. Look at the clouds, so far above you.

Look unto the heavens, and see; and behold the clouds which are higher than thou.

NoteThe King James says "behold." That old word just means look.

6If you sin, how does that hurt God? If you sin again and again, what does that do to him?

If thou sinnest, what doest thou against him? or if thy transgressions be multiplied, what doest thou unto him?

NoteThe King James word "transgressions" means the wrong things a person does.

7If you do what is right, what have you given God? What does he get from your hand?

If thou be righteous, what givest thou him? or what receiveth he of thine hand?

8The wrong you do hurts other people like you. The right you do helps other people.

Thy wickedness may hurt a man as thou art; and thy righteousness may profit the son of man.

NoteThe King James says "the son of man." That just means a person, like you or me.

9People cry out when they are treated badly. They cry for help because of the power of the strong.

By reason of the multitude of oppressions they make the oppressed to cry: they cry out by reason of the arm of the mighty.

NoteThe King James says "the arm of the mighty." An arm here means power. Strong people were using their power to hurt others.

10But no one says, "Where is God, the One who made me? He is the One who gives us songs at night."

But none saith, Where is God my maker, who giveth songs in the night;

Note"Songs in the night" means songs when things are dark and hard. Elihu says God gives people a reason to sing even then.

11"He teaches us more than he teaches the animals. He makes us wiser than the birds in the sky."

Who teacheth us more than the beasts of the earth, and maketh us wiser than the fowls of heaven?

NoteThe King James says "fowls of heaven." Fowls are birds, and heaven here means the sky.

12There they cry out, but God does not answer. That is because of the pride of evil people.

There they cry, but none giveth answer, because of the pride of evil men.

13God does not listen to empty words. The Almighty, the all-powerful God, pays them no mind.

Surely God will not hear vanity, neither will the Almighty regard it.

NoteThe King James word "vanity" means empty. It is words that mean nothing. "The Almighty" is a name for God. It means the one who can do anything.

14You say you cannot see God. But he already knows your case. So wait for him.

Although thou sayest thou shalt not see him, yet judgment is before him; therefore trust thou in him.

NoteThe King James says "judgment is before him." It means God is like a judge. Job's story is already in front of him.

15You also say that God's anger never punishes. You say he hardly notices when people do wrong.

But now, because it is not so, he hath visited in his anger; yet he knoweth it not in great extremity:

NoteThis verse is very hard to read in the King James. Elihu is repeating what he thinks Job said about God.

16So Job talks and talks for nothing. He piles up words, but he does not know.

Therefore doth Job open his mouth in vain; he multiplieth words without knowledge.

NoteThe King James says Job speaks "in vain." In vain means for nothing, with no use at all.

1Elihu, the young man talking to Job, kept going. He said:

Elihu also proceeded, and said,

NoteJob was a good man who lost almost everything. Three friends came to talk with him. Elihu is a young man who spoke last.

2"Be patient with me a little longer. I have more to say for God."

Suffer me a little, and I will shew thee that I have yet to speak on God’s behalf.

3"I get what I know from far away. I will say my Maker does what is right."

I will fetch my knowledge from afar, and will ascribe righteousness to my Maker.

Note"My Maker" means God, who made him and made everything.

4"My words are not lies. A man who really knows things is here with you."

For truly my words shall not be false: he that is perfect in knowledge is with thee.

5"Look, God is strong. But he does not look down on anyone. He is strong and wise."

Behold, God is mighty, and despiseth not any: he is mighty in strength and wisdom.

6"He does not keep bad people alive. He treats hurting people fairly."

He preserveth not the life of the wicked: but giveth right to the poor.

7"He keeps his eyes on people who do right. He seats them with kings and lifts them high forever."

He withdraweth not his eyes from the righteous: but with kings are they on the throne; yea, he doth establish them for ever, and they are exalted.

NoteA throne is the special chair a king sits on. Sitting with kings meant being safe and honored.

8"Sometimes people are tied up in chains. Trouble holds them tight like ropes."

And if they be bound in fetters, and be holden in cords of affliction;

9"Then God shows them what they did. He shows them how proud and wrong they were."

Then he sheweth them their work, and their transgressions that they have exceeded.

10"He opens their ears so they will listen and learn. He tells them to stop doing wrong."

He openeth also their ear to discipline, and commandeth that they return from iniquity.

11"If they listen and serve him, their days will go well. Their years will be happy."

If they obey and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures.

12"If they will not listen, they die by the sword. They die never having learned."

But if they obey not, they shall perish by the sword, and they shall die without knowledge.

Note"Die by the sword" means being killed in a fight or a war. A sword is a long, sharp knife used long ago.

13"People who do not care about God stay angry inside. Even when God ties them up, they do not call for help."

But the hypocrites in heart heap up wrath: they cry not when he bindeth them.

14"They die while they are still young. They spend their lives among people who do shameful things."

They die in youth, and their life is among the unclean.

NoteThe old words say they live "among the unclean." Unclean meant people who were not allowed to come and worship God.

15"God rescues hurting people through the very thing that hurts them. He opens their ears when they are treated badly."

He delivereth the poor in his affliction, and openeth their ears in oppression.

16"God wanted to pull you out of a tight spot. He wanted to put you in a wide, open place. Your table would be full of rich food."

Even so would he have removed thee out of the strait into a broad place, where there is no straitness; and that which should be set on thy table should be full of fatness.

NoteIn the Bible, a tight, narrow place means trouble. A wide, open place means you are safe and free to move.

17"But right now you carry the punishment bad people get. Judging and fairness have taken hold of you."

But thou hast fulfilled the judgment of the wicked: judgment and justice take hold on thee.

18"Be careful. God is angry. Do not let his blow carry you away. Then even a big payment could not buy you back."

Because there is wrath, beware lest he take thee away with his stroke: then a great ransom cannot deliver thee.

NoteA ransom is money you pay to set someone free. Elihu says money cannot help here.

19"Will your riches help you? No. Not gold. Not all your strength."

Will he esteem thy riches? no, not gold, nor all the forces of strength.

20"Do not wish for the night to come. That is when people are taken from their homes."

Desire not the night, when people are cut off in their place.

NoteNight here means a dark, scary time when people die. Elihu says do not wish for it.

21"Be careful. Do not turn to doing wrong. You have picked that instead of your pain."

Take heed, regard not iniquity: for this hast thou chosen rather than affliction.

22"Look, God is lifted high in his power. No teacher is like him."

Behold, God exalteth by his power: who teacheth like him?

23"Nobody told God which way to go. Nobody can say to him, 'You did wrong.'"

Who hath enjoined him his way? or who can say, Thou hast wrought iniquity?

24"Remember to praise the work God has done. People have looked at it and sung about it."

Remember that thou magnify his work, which men behold.

25"Everyone can see it. People can see it from far away."

Every man may see it; man may behold it afar off.

26"Look, God is great. We cannot know all about him. No one can count his years."

Behold, God is great, and we know him not, neither can the number of his years be searched out.

NoteNobody can count God's years because God has always been alive. He had no birthday and will never grow old.

27"He pulls up tiny drops of water. They come back down as rain out of the mist."

For he maketh small the drops of water: they pour down rain according to the vapour thereof:

NoteLong ago people watched puddles dry up in the sun. The water goes up into the sky and comes back down as rain.

28"The clouds pour that rain out. It showers down on people everywhere."

Which the clouds do drop and distil upon man abundantly.

29"Can anyone understand how the clouds spread out? Can anyone understand the thunder from God's tent in the sky?"

Also can any understand the spreadings of the clouds, or the noise of his tabernacle?

NoteThe old word here is "tabernacle," which means a tent. People pictured the sky as a big tent that God lives in.

30"Look, he spreads his light all around him. He covers the deep bottom of the sea."

Behold, he spreadeth his light upon it, and covereth the bottom of the sea.

Note"His light" means lightning, the bright flash in a storm.

31"God uses these things to judge people. He also gives them plenty of food."

For by them judgeth he the people; he giveth meat in abundance.

Note"These things" means the storms and the rain. The same rain can flood a field or make food grow.

32"He covers the light with clouds. He tells it not to shine when a cloud gets in the way."

With clouds he covereth the light; and commandeth it not to shine by the cloud that cometh betwixt.

NoteThis is lightning again. The clouds hide it until God lets it flash.

33"The thunder tells that a storm is coming. Even the cows know it is coming."

The noise thereof sheweth concerning it, the cattle also concerning the vapour.