1 E lihu further answered and said:

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

3 F or the ear tests words As the palate tastes food.

4 L et us choose justice for ourselves; Let us know among ourselves what is good.

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

6 S hould I lie concerning my right? My wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.’

7 W hat 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?

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

10 “ 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 He repays man according to his work, And makes man to find a reward according to his way.

12 S urely God will never do wickedly, Nor will the Almighty pervert justice.

13 W ho gave Him charge over the earth? Or who appointed Him over the whole world?

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

15 A ll flesh would perish together, And man would return to dust.

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

17 S hould one who hates justice govern? Will you condemn Him who is most just?

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

19 Y et 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, in the middle of the night; The people are shaken and pass away; The mighty are taken away without a hand.

21 “ For His eyes are on the ways of 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.

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

24 H e breaks in pieces mighty men without inquiry, And sets others in their place.

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

26 H e strikes them as wicked men In the open sight of others,

27 B ecause 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 to Him; For He hears the cry of the afflicted.

29 W hen 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 hypocrite should not reign, Lest the people be ensnared.

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

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

33 S hould He repay it according to your terms, Just because you disavow it? You must choose, and not I; Therefore speak what you know.

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

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

36 O h, that Job were tried to the utmost, Because his answers are like those of wicked men!

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