Job 32:1-22 Elihu Tells Why He Waited

 

Elihu Tells Why He Waited

Job 32:1-22                                  Book of Job [in Smaller Chunks]

So, these 3 men [stopped answering] Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. Then, the [anger] of Elihu, the son of Barachel, the Buzite, of the [family] of Ram, [grew] against Job, because [Job] justified himself, rather than God.

Also, [Elihu’s] anger grew against his 3 friends, because they had found no answer & [still] had condemned Job. Now, Elihu had waited [until] Job had spoken, because they were [older] than he. When Elihu saw that there was no answer in the [mouths] of these 3 men, then his [anger grew.]

And Elihu, [Barachel’s] son, the Buzite, answered & said, I am young & you are very old. [For this reason,] I was afraid & [dared] not [show]] you [my] opinion. I said, [Those with advanced age] & the multitude of years should speak & teach wisdom. But there is a spirit in man & the inspiration of the Almighty gives them understanding.

[1 Kings 4:29 And God gave Solomon [extremely much] wisdom & understanding & a [huge] heart even [like] the sand that is on the seashore.] Great men are not always wise. Neither do the aged [always] understand [justice.]

[1 Corinthians 1:26-27 For [consider] your calling, brethren, that not many wise, mighty & noble men are called after [worldly] flesh. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to [confuse] the wise. And God has chosen the weak things of the world to [confuse those who] are mighty.]

Therefore, I said, [Listen] to me. I will also [share my] opinion. [See,] I waited for your words & I [listened] to your reasons, [while] you [pondered] what to say. [Yes,] I [paid attention] to you & [saw,] there [were] none of you, [who] convinced Job, or [who answered] his [questions.]

Lest you shall say, We have found out wisdom. God [threw Job down], not man. [1 Corinthians 1:29 That no [human] flesh should [glorify himself] in [God's] presence.] Now [Job] hasn't directed his words against me. Neither will I answer him with your [accusatory] speeches.

They were amazed & they [no longer] answered & they [stopped] speaking. When I waited, (for, they [didn't speak], but stood still and no [longer] answered.) I said, I will also [ask] my [portion of the questions.] I will [share] my opinion, [as well.] For I am full of [material,] but the spirit within me [restrains] me.

[Look,] my [stomach] is [churning, like] wine, [that] has no vent. It is ready to burst, like [newly opened] bottles. I will speak, [so] that I may be [relieved.] I will open my lips & answer.

I pray [that] you not let me [show favoritism to] any person & neither let me give flattering titles to [men.] For I [don't] know [how] to give flattering titles. In doing so, my Maker would soon take me away. [Job 27:8 For what hope is the hypocrite, [although] he has [benefitted,] when God takes away his [life?]

Job 31:1-40 Job Wants a Fair Judgment

 

Job Wants a Fair Judgment

Job 31:1-40                                 Book of Job [in Smaller Chunks]

I made a covenant [contract to be faithful, but went astray] with [my] eyes. Then, why should I think upon a maid [I saw?] For what portion [from] God is there from above? And what inheritance [from] the Almighty from on high?

[Job 20:29 This is the portion of a wicked man from God & the heritage appointed to him by God.] Isn't destruction [for] the wicked? And a strange punishment to [those who work sinfully?]

Doesn't [God] see my ways & count all my steps? If I have walked with vanity, or if my foot has [hurried to be deceitful,] Let me be weighed in a [fair] balance, [so] that God may know [my] integrity.

If my [steps] have turned [astray] & [my] heart [followed] after [my] eyes & if any [stain] has clung to my hands; then, let me sow [crops] & let another [person] eat [it.] [Yet,] let my [children] be [uprooted.]

If [my] heart [has] been deceived by a woman, or if I have laid [in] wait at my neighbor's door [to sneak into his house when he's not there;] Then, let my wife [be intimate] with another & others [be intimate with her, as well.]

For this is a [destable] crime; [yes,] it is a [sin punishable] by the judges. For [adultery] is a fire that consumes [& leads] to destruction & would [uproot] all [my] increase.

If I [despised] the [case] of my [male or female servants,] when they [complained against] me, then, what shall I do, when God rises up [against this evil?] And when [God visits] [this issue,] what shall I answer Him?

Didn't He Who made me in the womb [also] make him? And didn't One [form] us in the womb? If I have withheld their desire from the poor, or have caused the eyes of the widow to [grow dim;] or have eaten my [small amount of food by] myself, alone, [when] the fatherless haven't eaten [any;]

(For from my youth, [the fatherless] was brought up with me, [like] with a father & from my mother's womb, I have guided the [widow:]) If I have seen any perish for [lack] of clothing, or any poor without [a] covering;

If his [heart] hasn't blessed me & if he weren't warmed by the fleece [covering made from] my sheep; If I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless, when I saw [that I had] help [at] the gate:

Then, let my arm [be dislocated] from my shoulder blade & [my] arm be broken from the [bone's socket.] For destruction from God [terrified] me & [because] of His [majesty,] I couldn't endure.

If I have made my hope, gold; or have said to the fine gold, [I have] confidence in you; If I rejoiced, because my wealth was [large] & because [my] hand had gotten much [wealth;]

[Job 1:9-10 Then Satan answered the Lord & said, Does Job fear [respect] God for [nothing?] Haven't you made a hedge [around Job & around] his house & [around] everything that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands & his [possessions have] increased in the land.]

If I [saw] the sun when it shined, or the moon [while] walking in [its] brightness;

[Deuteronomy 4:19 And lest you lift up your eyes to heaven & when you see the sun, the moon & the stars, even all the host of heaven & should be [drawn] to worship them & serve them, which the Lord, your God, has [separated] & given to all nations under the whole heaven.]

And my heart has been secretly [lured,] or my mouth has kissed my [own] hand: [Proverbs 30:8 Remove far from me: vanity & lies. Give me neither poverty, nor riches. Feed me with convenient food for me.] [These] were also [sins] to be punished by the Judge. For I [would] have denied the God, [Who] is above.

If I rejoiced at the destruction of him, [who] hated me, or [elevated] myself when evil found him; Neither [would] I have [allowed] my mouth to sin by wishing a curse [upon] his soul.

[Not even] if the men of my [tent] said, Oh, we can’t be satisfied [unless] we had [the meat] of his flesh [to eat.] The strangers didn’t lodge in the street: but I opened my doors to the traveler. If I [hid my sins like] Adam, by hiding [my sins in my heart.]

[Was I afraid of a large] multitude, or did the [disapproval] of families terrify me, [so] that I kept [silent] & [didn't go] out of the door?

[Exodus 23:1-2 You shall not raise a false report. [Don't] put your hand with the wicked to be an [untruthful] witness. You shall not follow a multitude to do evil. Neither shall you speak in a [case to divert justice.]

Oh, that [someone] would hear me! [See,] my desire is, that the Almighty would answer me & that [my enemy] had written a book. [Job 16:19 Also [look] now, my witness is in heaven & my record is on high.]

Surely, I would take it upon my shoulder & [wear it like] a crown [for] me. I would declare to [God] the number of my steps, [like] a prince, I would go [close] to Him.

If my land [cries out] against me, or the furrows [of the field] [also] complain; If I have it's [its] fruit without [paying] money, or have caused [its] owners to lose their [livelihood:]

[James 5:4 [Look,] the [wages] of the laborers who have [harvested] your fields, [cry out,] which you [have defrauded them & withheld it.] The cries of [those who have harvested have] entered the ears of the Lord of Sabbath.]

Let thistles grow instead of wheat & [harmful weeds] instead of barley. The words of Job [have] ended.

Job 30:1-31 Job Tells What It Is Like Now

 

Job Tells What It Is Like Now

Job 30:1-31                                 Book of Job [in Smaller Chunks]

But now, [those who] are younger than I, [ridicule] me, whose fathers I would have [looked down upon] to [even consider putting] them with my [sheep] dogs of my flock. [Yet, to what purpose] might the strength of their hands [benefit] me, in whom was [ruined by] old age?

They were [bony, because of] famine & [lack of food;] fleeing into the wilderness in [a previous] time, desolate & [ruined;] [those] who cut the mallows by the bushes & juniper roots for their [food.]

They were driven [out] from among men, ([those who] cried [out] after them [like] after a thief;) to [live] in the cliffs [above] the valleys, in caves of the earth & in the rocks. They brayed among the bushes & were [huddled] together under the [sticker bushes.]

They were children of [those lacking good judgment, yes] children of [men of low morals.] They were [the most evil in] the earth. And now, I am their byword, [they sing about.] [Psalm 69:12 [Those who] sit in the gate speak against me & I was the song of drunkards.]

They [detest] Me & they flee far from Me & [don’t refrain] & spit in My face. Because [God] has [let loose] My cord [tethered to Him] & afflicted Me, they have also let loose [their restraint, like a] bridle, before Me.

[Matthew 26:67-68 Then, they spit in His face & [hit] Him & others [struck] Him with the palms of their hands, saying, Prophesy to us, You, Christ, Who is he, [who struck] You?]

The youth rise [up on] my right [side] & push away my feet. They [rise] up against me [with their destructive] ways. They [interfere with] my path & [although] they have no [helpers,] they [continue to put] forward my calamity.

They came upon me [like] wide breaking [waves] of [water,] they rolled themselves [over] me. Terrors [overflow] me & they pursue my [life like the passing] wind & my [prosperity] passes away [like] a cloud [disappears.]

The days of affliction have taken hold [of] me & now my [life] is poured out [of] me. In the night, my bones [pierce] me & my [aching] [muscles have] no rest. The great [strength] of my disease [has] changed [like I change] my garment & [chokes] me [around my neck like] the collar of my coat.

He has [thrown] me into the [mud] & I [have] become like dust & ashes. [Job 42:6 Therefore, I [loathe] myself & repent in dust & ashes.] I cry [out] unto You & You don't hear me. I stand up [to You] & You [don't] [respect] me.

You [have] become cruel [in opposition] against me, with Your strong hand. You lift me up to the wind & [make] me ride upon it & my [possessions disappear.] For I know that You will bring me to death, to the [place] appointed for all [the] living.

[However,] He won't stretch His hand out to the grave, [although] they cry [t about] His destruction. Didn't I [cry out] for him, [who] was in trouble? Wasn't my soul grieved for the poor?

When I looked for good, then evil came to me. And when I waited for Light, [only] darkness came there. [Jeremiah 8:15 We looked for peace & a time for health, but no good came & [only saw] trouble.]

My [stomach churned] & [didn't rest.] The days of affliction prevented me [from having rest.] I went without the [sunlight] & [continued] mourning. [1 John 1:7 If we walk in the Light, [like] He is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another & the blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanses us from all sin.]

And I cried [out] in the congregation. I am the brother to [jackals] & the companion [of] owls. [Psalm 44:18-19 Our heat [hasn’t] turned back, neither have our steps [departed] from Your way; [although] You have [sorely] broken us in the place of [jackals] & [have] covered us with the shadow of death.]

My skin [grows] black upon me & my bones are burned with heat. [Lamentations 4:7-9 Her Nazarites were purer than snow & they were whiter than milk. [Their bodies] were more ruddy than rubies & their polishing was [from sapphires.] Their [appearance] is blacker than a coal & they aren't known in the streets.

Their skin [clings] to their bones. [Their skin] is withered & it [has] become [bony] like a stick. [Those who are killed] with the sword are better than [those who die, because of] hunger. For these [long for] & [are struck down for lack] of the fruits of the field.]

Also, my harp [has changed] to [music for] mourning & my [flute] into the [sound] of [those who weep.]

Job 29:1-25 Job Continues His Parable About the Past

 

Job Continues His Parable About the Past

Job 29:1-25                                  Book of Job [in Smaller Chunks]

Job [also] continued his parable & said, Oh, [if only] I were [like] in the [previous] months, [like during] the days when God [kept me safe.] When [God’s] candle shined upon my head & when I walked through darkness by His light.

[Like] I was [during] the days of my youth, when the secret [ways] of God was upon my [tent.] When the Almighty was [still] with me & when my children were [still around] me.

[Like] when I [was prosperous] & I washed my steps with butter & the rock poured out rivers of oil [to] me. When I went through the city, out to the gate, when I prepared my seat [on] the street!

The young men saw me & hid themselves & the aged arose & stood up [in respect.] The princes, [a.k.a. rulers, held back] from talking & [covered] their mouth [with] their hand. The nobles held their peace & their tongue [stuck] to the roof of their mouth.

When [their ears listened to] me, then [I was] blessed. And when the eye saw me, it gave witness to me: because I delivered the poor [who] cried [out,] the fatherless & [those who] had [no one] to help [them.]

[Those who] were ready to perish [blessed] me. And I [made] the widow's heart sing with joy. I put on righteousness & it clothed me. My [justice] was [like] a robe & a [crown.] [Psalm 23:3 [The Lord] restores my oil. He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His Name's sake.]

I was [like] eyes [for] the blind & I was [like] feet [for] the lame. I was [like] a father to the poor & I [researched] the cause [that] I [didn’t] know. [Proverbs 29:7 The righteous consider the cause of the poor; but the wicked [acted like] they didn't know [about] it.]

And I [broke] the jaws of the wicked & [snacked the plunder] out of his teeth. Then, I said, I shall die in my nest & I shall multiply my days [like] the [amount of] sand.

My root was spread out by the waters & the dew lay all night upon my branch. My glory was fresh [within] me & my bow was renewed [within] my hand.

[Job 49:24 But his bow abode in strength & the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob; (from Whom is the Shepherd, the [Rock] of Israel.)]

Men [listened] to me & waited & kept [silent for] my [advice.] After my words, they [didn't speak] again. And [what I said dawned] upon them. And they waited for me [like they do] for rain & they opened their [mouths] wide as [if to catch some of] the [spring] rain.

If I laughed [at] them, they [didn't] believe it. They [didn't look] down on the light of my face. I [helped choose] their [path] & sat [as a leader] & [lived like] a king in the army, [like someone who] comforts the mourners.

Job 28:1-28 Job About the Value of Wisdom

 

Job About the Value of Wisdom

Job 28:1-28                                  Book of Job [in Smaller Chunks]

Surely there is a vein [of] silver & a place where they [refine] gold. Iron is taken out of the earth & molten brass out of the [rock.] [God puts] an end to darkness & searches all [for] perfection: [within] the [headstones] of darkness & the shadow of death. [Psalm 23:4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for You are with me & Your rod & Your staff, they comfort me.]

The flood breaks out from [where it resides.] Even the forgotten waters [underfoot] are [evaporated] & dried up. They have [disappeared] from men. Out of the earth comes bread & under [the dug up earth] [is molten lava like] it [was] fire. The stones of [the earth] are the place of sapphires & it has gold dust.

There is a path [that no bird] knows & which the vulture's eye hasn't seen. The lion's [cubs] haven't [walked] on it, nor [has] the fierce lion passed by it. [God] puts [out] His hand upon the rock & He [uproots] & overturns the mountains.

[God] cuts out [channels for] rivers among the rocks & His eye sees every precious thing. He [ties up] the [flood waters] from overflowing & [God] brings to light the thing that is [hidden.]

But where shall wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding? Man [doesn't] know [its value] & neither is it found in the land of the living. The [deep waters] say, [Wisdom] isn't in me & the sea says, It isn't [within] me.

[Wisdom] can't be [bought] for gold, neither shall silver be weighed [out] for [its] price. [Wisdom's value can't be paid for] with the gold of Ophir & precious onyx, or the sapphire. The gold & the crystal can't equal [its value.] And the exchange of it shall not be for [precious vessels] of fine gold.

No mention shall be made of coral or pearls: for the price of wisdom is [far] above [the value] of rubies. [Proverbs 8:11 For wisdom is better than rubies & all the things that may be desired aren't to be compared to it.]

The topaz of Ethiopia shall not equal it & neither shall it be [equal in value] with pure gold. Then [from where does] wisdom come? And where is the place of understanding?

[Psalm 111:10 The fear [respect] of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; [to] all [those who] have a good understanding & do His commandments. His praise endures forever.]

[Since wisdom is hidden] from the eyes of all living & [is concealed from the birds] of the air. Destruction & death say, We have heard [of its] fame with our ears. God understands the way [of it] & He knows the place [of it.]

For [God] looks to the ends of the earth & sees under the whole heaven; to make the weight for the winds & He weighs & [measures] the waters. [Psalm 11:4 The Lord is in His holy temple. The Lord's throne is in heaven. His eyes [look] & His eyelids [test] the children of men.]

When [God] made a decree for the rain & a [pathway] for the lightning of thunder [storms;] then [God saw] it & [declared wisdom.]  [God] prepared [wisdom] & searched it out.

And [God] said to man, [Look,] the fear [respect] of the Lord, that is wisdom. And to depart from evil is [what is] understanding. [Proverbs 1:7 The fear [respect] of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. But fools despise wisdom & instruction.]