1 E lihu further answered and said:

Then Elihu said,

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

“Hear my words, you wise men. Listen to me, you who know.

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

For the ear tests words as the mouth tastes food.

4 L et us choose justice for ourselves; 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 “ For Job has said, ‘I am righteous, But God has taken away my justice;

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

6 S hould I lie concerning my right? My wound is incurable, though I am 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 drinks scorn like water,

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

8 W ho goes in company with the workers of iniquity, And walks with wicked men?

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

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

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

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

For He pays a man by the work he does. He will see that a man is paid for what he does.

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

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

13 W ho gave Him charge over the earth? Or who appointed Him over 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 should set His heart on it, If He should gather to Himself His Spirit and His breath,

If He should take back His spirit and His breath,

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

all flesh would die together, and man would return to dust.

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

“If you have understanding, hear this. Listen to what I say.

17 S hould one who hates justice govern? Will you condemn Him who 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 fitting to say to a king, ‘ You are worthless,’ And to nobles, ‘ You are wicked’?

Who says to a king, ‘You are of no worth,’ and to rulers, ‘You are sinful’?

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.

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 they die, in the middle of the night; The people are shaken and pass away; The mighty are taken away without a 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 “ For His eyes are on the ways of man, And He sees all his steps.

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

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

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

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

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

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

26 H e strikes 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 caused the cry of the poor to come to Him; For He hears 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 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?—

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 should not reign, Lest the people be ensnared.

So men without God should not rule and should not be a trap for the people.

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

“For has any one said to God, ‘I have suffered punishment, and will not cause any more trouble?

32 T each me what I do not see; 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 He repay it according to your terms, Just because you disavow it? You must choose, and not I; Therefore speak what you know.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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