1 M oreover Elihu answered,

Then Elihu continued and said,

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

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

3 F or the ear tries words, as the palate tastes food.

“For the ear tests 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.

“Let us choose for ourselves what 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:

“For Job has said, ‘ I am righteous, But 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.’

Should 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,

“What man is like Job, Who drinks up derision like water,

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

Who 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.’

“For he has said, ‘ It profits a man nothing When he is pleased 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.

“Therefore, listen to me, you men of understanding. Far be it from God to do wickedness, And from the Almighty to do wrong.

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

“For He pays a man according to his work, And makes him find it according to his way.

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

“Surely, God will not act wickedly, And the Almighty will not pervert justice.

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

“Who gave Him authority over the earth? And who has laid on Him the whole world?

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

“If He should determine to do so, If He should gather to Himself His spirit and His breath,

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

All flesh would perish together, And man would return to dust.

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

“But if you have understanding, hear this; Listen to the sound of my words.

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

“Shall one who hates justice rule? And will you condemn the righteous mighty One,

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

Who says to a king, ‘Worthless one,’ To nobles, ‘Wicked ones’;

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.

Who shows no partiality to princes Nor regards the rich above 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.

“In a moment they die, and at midnight People are shaken and pass away, And the mighty are taken away without a hand.

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

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

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

“There is no darkness or deep shadow 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.

“For He does not 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.

“He breaks in pieces mighty men without inquiry, 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.

“Therefore He knows their works, And He overthrows them in the night, And they are crushed.

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

“He strikes them like the wicked In a public place,

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

Because they turned aside from following Him, And had no regard for 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.

So that they caused the cry of the poor to come to Him, And that He might hear 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,

When He keeps quiet, who then can condemn? And when He hides His face, who then can behold Him, That is, in regard to both nation and man?—

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

So that godless men would not rule Nor be snares of the people.

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

“For has anyone said to God, ‘I have borne chastisement; I will not offend anymore;

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

Teach me what I do not see; If I have done iniquity, I will not do it again’?

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.

“Shall He recompense on your terms, because you have rejected it ? For you must choose, and not I; Therefore declare what you know.

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

“Men of understanding will say to me, And a wise man who hears me,

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

‘Job speaks without knowledge, And his words are without wisdom.

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

‘Job ought to be tried to the limit, Because he answers like wicked men.

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

‘For he adds rebellion to his sin; He claps his hands among us, And multiplies his words against God.’”