1 E lihu answered (continued his discourse) and said,

2 H ear my words, you wise men, and give ear to me, you who have knowledge.

3 F or the ear tries words as the palate tastes food.

4 L et us choose for ourselves that which is right; let us know among ourselves what is good.

5 F or Job has said, I am righteous, but God has taken away my right;

6 W ould I lie against my right? Yet, notwithstanding my right, I am counted a liar. My wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.

7 W hat man is like Job, who drinks up scoffing and scorning like water,

8 W ho goes in company with the workers of iniquity and walks with wicked men?

9 F or he has said, It profits a man nothing that he should delight himself with God and consent to Him.

10 T herefore hear me, you men of understanding. Far be it from God that He should do wickedness, and from the Almighty that He should commit iniquity.

11 F or according to the deeds of a man God will proportion his pay, and He will cause every man to find according to his ways.

12 T ruly God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert justice.

13 W ho put in charge over the earth? Or who laid on Him the whole world?

14 I f should set His heart upon him and withdraw His spirit and His breath to Himself,

15 A ll flesh would perish together, and man would turn again to dust.

16 I f now you have understanding, hear this; listen to my words.

17 I s it possible that an enemy of right should govern? And will you condemn Him Who is just and mighty?

18 W ho says to a king, You are worthless and vile, or to princes and nobles, You are ungodly and evil?

19 i s not partial to princes, nor does He regard the rich more than the poor, for they all are the work of His hands.

20 I n a moment they die; even at midnight the people are shaken and pass away, and the mighty are taken away by no hand.

21 F or eyes are upon the ways of a man, and He sees all his steps.

22 T here is no darkness nor thick gloom where the evildoers may hide themselves.

23 s ets before man no appointed time, that he should appear before in judgment.

24 H e breaks in pieces mighty men without inquiry and in ways past finding out and sets others in their stead.

25 T herefore He takes knowledge of their works, and He overturns them in the night, so that they are crushed and destroyed.

26 G od strikes them down as wicked men in the open sight of beholders,

27 B ecause they turned aside from Him and would not consider or show regard for any of His ways,

28 S o that they caused the cry of the poor to come to Him, and He heard the cry of the afflicted.

29 W hen He gives quietness (peace and security from oppression), who then can condemn? When He hides His face, who then can behold Him, whether it be a nation or a man by himself?—

30 T hat the godless man may not reign, that there be no one to ensnare the people.

31 F or has anyone said to God, I have borne my chastisement; I will not offend any more;

32 T each me what I do not see; if I have done iniquity, I will do it no more?

33 S hould recompense be as you will it, when you refuse to accept it? For you must do the choosing, and not I; therefore say what is your truthful conclusion.

34 M en of understanding will tell me, indeed, every wise man who hears me,

35 T hat Job speaks without knowledge, and his words are without wisdom and insight.

36 h e be tried to the end because of his answering like wicked men!

37 F or he adds rebellion to his unacknowledged sin; he claps his hands among us, and he multiplies his words of accusation against God.