1 M oreover Elihu answered,

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 tries words, as the palate tastes food.

For the ear tests words as the mouth 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 right and good, 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.’

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 himself with 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, that he should do wickedness, 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 he will render to 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 es surely, God will not do wickedly, neither 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 put him in charge of the earth? or who has 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 set his heart on himself, If he gathered 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 turn again to dust.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 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, even at midnight. 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 a man. He sees 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 thick gloom, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.

There is no darkness or shadow where sinners can hide themselves.

23 F or he doesn’t need to consider a man further, 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 in ways past finding out, 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 takes knowledge of their works. He overturns 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 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 aside from following him, and wouldn’t pay attention to 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. He heard 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 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 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 godless man may not reign, that there be no one to ensnare the people.

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

31 “ For has any said to God, ‘I am guilty, but 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 each me that which I don’t see. If I have done iniquity, I will do it no more’?

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

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 M en of understanding will tell me, yes, every wise man who hears 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 I wish that Job were tried to the end, because of his answering like 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.’”