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

Moreover Elihu answered,

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 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.

Let us choose for us 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;

For Job has said, ‘I am righteous, 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.

Notwithstanding my right I am considered a liar. My wound is incurable, though I am without disobedience.’

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 himself with 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, that he should do wickedness, 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.

For the work of a man he will render to him, and cause every man to find according to his ways.

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

Yes surely, 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?

Who put him in charge of the earth? or who has 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 set his heart on himself, If he gathered 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 turn again to dust.

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

“If now you have understanding, hear this. Listen to the voice 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?

Shall even one who hates justice govern? Will you condemn him who is righteous and mighty?—

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, ‘Vile!’ or to nobles, ‘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.

Who doesn’t respect the persons of princes, nor respects 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.

In a moment they die, even at midnight. 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 a man. He sees all his goings.

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

There is no darkness, nor thick gloom, 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 doesn’t need to consider a man further, 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 in ways past finding out, 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 takes knowledge of their works. He overturns them in the night, so that they are destroyed.

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 aside from following him, and wouldn’t pay attention to 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. 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?—

When he gives quietness, who then can condemn? When he hides his face, who then can see him? Alike whether to a nation, or to a man,

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

that 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;

“For has any said to God, ‘I am guilty, but 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?

Teach me that which I don’t 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.

Shall his recompense be as you desire, that you refuse it? For 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 will tell me, yes, every wise man who hears 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!

I wish that Job were 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.

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