Job 33:29-33

Elihu’s Appeal to Job ¹ 

33:29 “Indeed, God does all these things,

twice, three times, in his dealings ²  with a person,

33:30 to turn back his life from the place of corruption,

that he may be enlightened with the light of life.

33:31 Pay attention, Job – listen to me;

be silent, and I will speak.

33:32 If you have any words, ³  reply to me;

speak, for I want to justify you. ⁴ 

33:33 If not, you listen to me;

be silent, and I will teach you wisdom.”

[33:29]  ¹ sn Elihu will repeat these instructions for Job to listen, over and over in painful repetition. See note on the heading to 32:1.

[33:29]  ² tn The phrase “in his dealings” is not in the Hebrew text, but has been supplied in the translation for clarification.

[33:32]  ³ tn Heb “if there are words.”

[33:32]  ⁴ tn The infinitive construct serves as the complement or object of “I desire.” It could be rendered “to justify you” or “your justification, “namely, “that you be justified.”