1 F urthermore Elihu answered and said,

Then Elihu 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. Listen to me, you who know.

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

For the ear tests words as the mouth tastes food.

4 L et us choose to us judgment: 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 hath said, I am righteous: and God hath taken away my judgment.

For Job has said, ‘I am right and good, but God has taken away my right.

6 S hould I lie against my right? my wound is incurable 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 drinketh up scorning like water?

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

8 W hich goeth in company with the workers of iniquity, and walketh with wicked men.

He goes among those who do wrong, and walks with sinful men.

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

For he has said, ‘A man gets nothing by trying to please 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.

“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 the work of a man shall he render unto him, and 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 Y ea, surely God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert judgment.

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

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

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

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

If He should take back His spirit and His breath,

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

all flesh would die 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 what I say.

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

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 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 of no worth,’ and to rulers, ‘You are sinful’?

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.

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

“For God’s 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 or shadow where sinners can hide themselves.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

27 B ecause they turned back from him, and would not consider 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 cause the cry of the poor to come unto him, and he heareth 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 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 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 hypocrite reign not, lest the people be ensnared.

So men without God should not rule and should not be a trap for 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 any one said to God, ‘I have suffered punishment, and will not cause any more trouble?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

37 F or he addeth rebellion unto his sin, he clappeth his hands among us, and multiplieth his words 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.’”