I have sinned against you---only against you--- and done what you consider evil. So you are right in judging me; you are justified in condemning me.

Certainly not! God must be true, even though all human beings are liars. As the scripture says, "You must be shown to be right when you speak; you must win your case when you are being tried."

The LORD Almighty is determined to do this; he has stretched out his arm to punish, and no one can stop him.

The treaty you have made with death will be abolished, and your agreement with the world of the dead will be canceled. When disaster sweeps down, you will be overcome.

My friends, I am going to use an everyday example: when two people agree on a matter and sign an agreement, no one can break it or add anything to it.

What I mean is that God made a covenant with Abraham and promised to keep it. The Law, which was given four hundred and thirty years later, cannot break that covenant and cancel God's promise.

The old rule, then, is set aside, because it was weak and useless.

Is it right for you to be so cruel? To despise what you yourself have made? And then to smile on the schemes of wicked people?

(SEE 27:1)

my lips will never say anything evil, my tongue will never tell a lie.

I will never give up my claim to be right; my conscience is clear.

But a bystander named Elihu could not control his anger any longer, because Job was justifying himself and blaming God. (Elihu was the son of Barakel, a descendant of Buz, and belonged to the clan of Ram.)

Job claims that he is innocent, that God refuses to give him justice.

He asks, "How could I lie and say I am wrong? I am fatally wounded, but I am sinless."

(SEE 35:1)

or to ask God, "How does my sin affect you? What have I gained by not sinning?"