1 M oreover Elihu answered and said,

Elihu further answered and said:

2 H ear my words, ye wise men; And give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge.

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

3 F or the ear trieth words, As the palate tasteth food.

For the ear tests words As the palate tastes food.

4 L et us choose for us 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 hath said, I am righteous, And God hath taken away my right:

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

6 N otwithstanding my right I am accounted 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 drinketh up scoffing like water,

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

8 W ho goeth in company with the workers of iniquity, And walketh with wicked men?

Who goes in company with the workers of iniquity, And walks with wicked men?

9 F or he hath said, It profiteth a man nothing That he should delight himself with God.

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

10 T herefore hearken unto me, ye 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 the work of a man will he render unto him, And 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 Y ea, of a surety, 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 gave him a charge over the earth? Or who hath disposed the whole world?

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

14 I f he set his heart upon himself, If he gather unto himself his spirit and his breath;

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

15 A ll flesh shall perish together, And man shall turn again unto dust.

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

16 I f now thou hast understanding, hear this: Hearken to the voice of my words.

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

17 S hall even one that hateth justice govern? And wilt thou condemn him that is righteous and mighty?-

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

18 H im that saith to a king, Thou art vile, Or to nobles, Ye are wicked;

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

19 T hat respecteth not the persons of princes, Nor regardeth 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 without 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 his eyes are upon the ways of a man, And he seeth all his goings.

“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 workers of iniquity may hide themselves.

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

23 F or he needeth not further to consider a man, That he should go before God in judgment.

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

24 H e breaketh in pieces mighty men in ways past finding out, And setteth others in their stead.

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

25 T herefore he taketh knowledge of their works; And he overturneth them in the night, so that they are destroyed.

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

26 H e striketh them as wicked men In the open sight of others;

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

27 B ecause they turned aside from following him, And would not have regard in 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 unto 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 giveth quietness, who then can condemn? And when he hideth his face, who then can behold him? Alike whether it be done unto a nation, or unto a man:

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 reign not, That there be none to ensnare the people.

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

31 F or hath any said unto God, I have borne chastisement, I will not offend any more:

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

32 T hat which I see not teach thou me: 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 hall his recompense be as thou wilt, that thou refusest it? For thou must choose, and not I: Therefore speak what thou knowest.

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 say unto me, Yea, every wise man that heareth me:

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

35 J ob speaketh without knowledge, And his words are without wisdom.

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

36 W ould that Job were tried unto 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 addeth rebellion unto his sin; He clappeth his hands among us, And multiplieth his words against God.

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