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

Then Elihu said,

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

“Hear my words, you wise men. Listen to me, you who know.

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

For the ear tests words as the mouth tastes food.

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

Let us choose for ourselves what 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;

For Job has said, ‘I am right and good, 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.

Would I lie about my right? I have been hurt so that I cannot be healed, but I have done no wrong.’

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

What man is like Job, who drinks up words against him like water?

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

He goes among those who do wrong, and walks with sinful 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, ‘A man gets nothing by trying to please 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.

“So listen to me, you men of understanding. Far be it from God to do what is sinful, and from the All-powerful to do wrong.

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 pays a man by the work he does. He will see that a man is paid for what he does.

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

For sure God will not do wrong. The All-powerful will not turn what is right into sin.

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

Who gave Him the power over the earth? Who gave Him the whole world to take care of?

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

If He should take back His spirit and His breath,

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

all flesh would die 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 what I say.

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 what is right be the one to rule? Will you say that He Who is right and good and strong is guilty?

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

Who says to a king, ‘You are of no worth,’ and to rulers, ‘You are sinful’?

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.

Who shows no favor to princes, or thinks of the rich as more important than the poor? 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 short time they die. At midnight the people are shaken and pass away. And the powerful are taken away by no human hand.

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

“For God’s 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.

There is no darkness or shadow where sinners can hide themselves.

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

For God does not need to set a time for man to go before Him and be judged.

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

He breaks powerful men in pieces without asking any reason, and puts 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.

For He knows their works. He puts them down in the night, and they are crushed.

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

God punishes them for their sin where everyone can see them.

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

Because they turned aside from following Him. They did not care about 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 they caused the cry of the poor to come to Him. And He heard the cry of those in need.

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 keeps quiet, who can say He is wrong? When He hides His face, who can see Him? But He is over both nation and man.

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

So men without God should not rule and should not be a trap for the people.

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

“For has any one said to God, ‘I have suffered punishment, and will not cause any more trouble?

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

Teach me what I cannot see. If I have sinned, 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.

Will God ask what you want to do, when you will not do what He says? You must decide, and not I. So tell what you know.

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

Men of understanding will say to me, and wise men who hear me say,

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

‘Job speaks without much learning. His words are without wisdom.

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

Job should be tried to the end, because he answers like sinful 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.

To his sin he adds a strong will against God. Making fun he claps his hands among us, and speaks many words against God.’”