Then he looks at men and says, ‘I have sinned, and perverted what was right, And it did not profit me.’
Parallel translations
- WEB He sings before men, and says, ‘I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it didn’t profit me.
- KJV He looketh upon men, and if any say, I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it profited me not;
- BSB Then he sings before men with these words: ‘I have sinned and perverted what was right; yet I did not get what I deserved.
- NASB “He will sing to people and say, ‘I have sinned and perverted what is right, And it is not proper for me.
- NLT He will declare to his friends, ‘I sinned and twisted the truth, but it was not worth it.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The delivered man openly confesses that he sinned and that his sin profited him nothing. It models the repentance that accompanies God's grace.
Overview
Elihu describes the rescued man publicly acknowledging his guilt, admitting he perverted what was right and gained nothing by it. Genuine confession is presented as the fruit of God's gracious dealing, not its cause. This honest repentance echoes the gospel pattern in which God's kindness leads sinners to repentance (Romans 2:4) and free confession of sin.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 27
- Rom 6:21What fruit then did you have at that time in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death.
- 2 Sam 12:13David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against Yahweh.” Nathan said to David, “Yahweh also has put away your sin. You will not die.
- Ps 14:2Yahweh looked down from heaven on the children of men, to see if there were any who understood, who sought after God.
- 1 Jn 1:8–10If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
- Matt 16:26For what will it profit a man, if he gains the whole world, and forfeits his life? Or what will a man give in exchange for his life?
- Jer 31:18–19“I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself thus, ‘You have chastised me, and I was chastised, as an untrained calf: turn me, and I shall be turned; for you are Yahweh my God.
- Rom 7:22For I delight in God’s law after the inward man,
- Luke 15:18–22I will get up and go to my father, and will tell him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight.
- Num 12:11Aaron said to Moses, “Oh, my lord, please don’t count this sin against us, in which we have done foolishly, and in which we have sinned.
- Ps 11:4Yahweh is in his holy temple. Yahweh is on his throne in heaven. His eyes observe. His eyes examine the children of men.
- Job 7:20If I have sinned, what do I do to you, you watcher of men? Why have you set me as a mark for you, so that I am a burden to myself?
- Prov 28:13He who conceals his sins doesn’t prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.
- Jer 3:13Only acknowledge your iniquity, that you have transgressed against Yahweh your God, and have scattered your ways to the strangers under every green tree, and you have not obeyed my voice,’ says Yahweh.”
- 2 Chr 16:9For Yahweh’s eyes run back and forth throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. You have done foolishly in this; for from now on you will have wars.”
- Ps 139:1–4For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David. Yahweh, you have searched me, and you know me.
- Rom 7:16But if what I don’t desire, that I do, I consent to the law that it is good.
- Ps 19:7–8Yahweh’s law is perfect, restoring the soul. Yahweh’s testimony is sure, making wise the simple.
- Luke 18:13But the tax collector, standing far away, wouldn’t even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’
- Jer 23:24Can anyone hide himself in secret places so that I can’t see him?” says Yahweh. “Don’t I fill heaven and earth?” says Yahweh.
- Jer 2:8The priests didn’t say, ‘Where is Yahweh?’ and those who handle the law didn’t know me. The rulers also transgressed against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal, and followed things that do not profit.
- Eccl 5:8If you see the oppression of the poor, and the violent taking away of justice and righteousness in a district, don’t marvel at the matter: for one official is eyed by a higher one; and there are officials over them.
- Prov 5:21For the ways of man are before Yahweh’s eyes. He examines all his paths.
- Job 34:9For he has said, ‘It profits a man nothing that he should delight himself with God.’
- Ps 119:128Therefore I consider all of your precepts to be right. I hate every false way. PEY
- Prov 15:3Yahweh’s eyes are everywhere, keeping watch on the evil and the good.
- Rom 7:12–14Therefore the law indeed is holy, and the commandment holy, and righteous, and good.
- Gen 16:13She called the name of Yahweh who spoke to her, “You are a God who sees,” for she said, “Have I even stayed alive after seeing him?”
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Christ at the center
Job's cry for a mediator who can lay his hand on both God and man, and his confidence that 'my Redeemer lives' and will stand on the earth, reaches forward to Jesus the living Redeemer.
How Job 33:27 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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