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

Elihu further answered and said:

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

“Hear my words, you wise men; Give ear to me, you who have knowledge.

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

For the ear tests 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.

Let us choose justice for ourselves; Let us know among ourselves what is good.

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

“For Job has said, ‘I am righteous, But God has taken away my justice;

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.

Should I lie concerning my right? My wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.’

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

What man is like Job, Who drinks scorn like water,

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

Who 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.

For he has said, ‘It profits a man nothing That he should delight in God.’

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.

“Therefore listen to me, you men of understanding: Far be it from God to do wickedness, And from the Almighty to 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.

For He repays man according to his work, And makes man to find a reward according to his way.

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

Surely God will never do wickedly, Nor will the Almighty pervert justice.

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

Who gave Him charge over the earth? Or who appointed Him over the whole world?

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

If He should set His heart on it, If He should gather to Himself His Spirit and His breath,

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

All flesh would perish together, And man would return to dust.

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

“If you have understanding, hear this; Listen to the sound of my words:

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

Should one who hates justice govern? Will you condemn Him who is most just?

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

Is it fitting to say to a king, ‘ You are worthless,’ And to nobles, ‘ You are wicked’?

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.

Yet He is not partial to princes, Nor does He regard the rich more than the poor; For they are all 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.

In a moment they die, in the middle of the night; The people are shaken and pass away; The mighty are taken away without a hand.

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

“For His eyes are on the ways of man, And He sees all his steps.

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

There is no darkness nor shadow of death Where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.

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

For He need not further consider a man, That he should go before God in judgment.

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

He breaks in pieces mighty men without inquiry, And sets others in their place.

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

Therefore He knows their works; He overthrows them in the night, And they are crushed.

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

He strikes them as wicked men In the open sight of others,

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

Because they turned back from Him, And would not consider 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.

So that they caused the cry of the poor to come to Him; For He hears 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?—

When He gives quietness, who then can make trouble? And when He hides His face, who then can see Him, Whether it is against a nation or a man alone?—

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

That the hypocrite should not reign, Lest the people be ensnared.

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

“For has anyone said to God, ‘I have borne chastening; I will offend no more;

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

Teach me what I do not see; If I have done iniquity, I will do 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.

Should He repay it according to your terms, Just because you disavow it? You must choose, and not I; Therefore speak what you know.

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

“Men of understanding say to me, Wise men who listen to me:

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

‘Job speaks without knowledge, His words are without wisdom.’

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

Oh, that Job were tried to the utmost, Because his answers are like those of 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.

For he adds rebellion to his sin; He claps his hands among us, And multiplies his words against God.”