1 M oreover Elihu answered,

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

3 F or the ear tries 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.

5 F or Job has said, ‘I am righteous, God has taken away my right:

6 N otwithstanding my right I am considered a liar. My wound is incurable, though I am without disobedience.’

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 himself with God.’

10 “ Therefore listen to me, you men of understanding: far be it from God, that he should do wickedness, from the Almighty, that he should commit iniquity.

11 F or the work of a man he will render to him, and cause every man to find according to his ways.

12 Y es surely, God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert justice.

13 W ho put him in charge of the earth? or who has appointed him over the whole world?

14 I f he set his heart on himself, If he gathered to himself his spirit and his breath,

15 a ll flesh would perish together, and man would turn again to dust.

16 “ If now you have understanding, hear this. Listen to the voice of my words.

17 S hall even one who hates justice govern? Will you condemn him who is righteous and mighty?—

18 W ho says to a king, ‘Vile!’ or to nobles, ‘Wicked!’?

19 W ho doesn’t respect the persons of princes, nor respects the rich more than the poor; for they all are the work of his hands.

20 I n a moment they die, even at midnight. The people are shaken and pass away. The mighty are taken away without a hand.

21 “ For his eyes are on the ways of a man. He sees all his goings.

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

23 F or he doesn’t need to consider a man further, that he should go before God in judgment.

24 H e breaks in pieces mighty men in ways past finding out, and sets others in their place.

25 T herefore he takes knowledge of their works. He overturns them in the night, so that they are destroyed.

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

27 b ecause they turned aside from following him, and wouldn’t pay attention to any of his ways,

28 s o that they caused the cry of the poor to come to him. He heard the cry of the afflicted.

29 W hen he gives quietness, who then can condemn? When he hides his face, who then can see him? Alike whether to a nation, or to a man,

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

31 “ For has any said to God, ‘I am guilty, but I will not offend any more.

32 T each me that which I don’t see. If I have done iniquity, I will do it no more’?

33 S hall his recompense be as you desire, that you refuse it? For you must choose, and not I. Therefore speak what you know.

34 M en of understanding will tell me, yes, every wise man who hears me:

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

36 I wish that Job were tried to the end, because of his answering like wicked men.

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