1 F urthermore Elihu answered and said,

Elihu answered (continued his discourse) and said,

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

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

3 F or the ear trieth words, as the mouth tasteth meat.

For the ear tries words as the palate tastes food.

4 L et us choose to us judgment: let us know among ourselves what is good.

Let us choose for ourselves that which is right; let us know among ourselves what is good.

5 F or Job hath said, I am righteous: and God hath taken away my judgment.

For Job has said, I am righteous, but God has taken away my right;

6 S hould I lie against my right? my wound is incurable without transgression.

Would 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 drinketh up scorning like water?

What man is like Job, who drinks up scoffing and scorning like water,

8 W hich 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 himself with God and consent to Him.

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

For 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 Y ea, surely God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert judgment.

Truly God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert justice.

13 W ho hath given him a charge over the earth? or who hath disposed the whole world?

Who put in charge over the earth? Or who laid on Him the whole world?

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

If should set His heart upon him and withdraw His spirit and His breath to Himself,

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

All flesh would perish together, and man would turn again to dust.

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

If now you have understanding, hear this; listen to my words.

17 S hall even he that hateth right govern? and wilt thou condemn him that is most just?

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

18 I s it fit to say to a king, Thou art wicked? and to princes, Ye are ungodly?

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

19 H ow much less to him that accepteth not the persons of princes, nor regardeth the rich more than the poor? for they all are the work of his hands.

is 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 shall they die, and the people shall be troubled at midnight, and pass away: and the mighty shall be taken away without hand.

In 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 his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his goings.

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

22 T here is no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.

There is no darkness nor thick gloom where the evildoers may hide themselves.

23 F or he will not lay upon man more than right; that he should enter into judgment with God.

sets before man no appointed time, that he should appear before in judgment.

24 H e shall break in pieces mighty men without number, and set others in their stead.

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

25 T herefore he knoweth their works, and he overturneth them in the night, so that they are destroyed.

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

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

God strikes them down as wicked men in the open sight of beholders,

27 B ecause they turned back from him, and would not consider any of his ways:

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

28 S o that they cause the cry of the poor to come unto him, and he heareth the cry of the afflicted.

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

29 W hen he giveth quietness, who then can make trouble? and when he hideth his face, who then can behold him? whether it be done against a nation, or against a man only:

When 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 hypocrite reign not, lest the people be ensnared.

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

31 S urely it is meet to be said unto God, I have borne chastisement, I will not offend any more:

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

32 T hat which I see not teach thou me: if I have done iniquity, I will do no more.

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

33 S hould it be according to thy mind? he will recompense it, whether thou refuse, or whether thou choose; and not I: therefore speak what thou knowest.

Should 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 L et men of understanding tell me, and let a wise man hearken unto me.

Men of understanding will tell me, indeed, every wise man who hears me,

35 J ob hath spoken without knowledge, and his words were without wisdom.

That Job speaks without knowledge, and his words are without wisdom and insight.

36 M y desire is that Job may be tried unto the end because of his answers for wicked men.

he be tried to the end because of his answering like 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 unacknowledged sin; he claps his hands among us, and he multiplies his words of accusation against God.