1. Furthermore Elihu answered and said:
2. “Hear my words, O you wise men;and give ear unto me, you that have knowledge.
3. For the ear tests words,as the mouth tastes food.
4. Let 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 judgment.
6. Should I lie concerning my right?My wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.’
7. What man is like Job,who drinks scorn like water,
8. who goes in company with the workers of iniquityand walks with wicked men?
9. For he has said, ‘It profits a man nothingthat he should delight himself in God.’
10. “Therefore listen to me, you men of understanding:Far be it from God that He should do wickedness,and from the Almighty that He should commit iniquity.
11. He will repay a man for his work,and cause every man to find what is according to his ways.
12. Yes, surely God will not do wickedly,nor will the Almighty pervert judgment.
13. Who has given Him charge over the earth?Or who has set in order the whole world?
14. If He sets His heart on man,if He gathers unto Himself His Spirit and His breath,
15. all flesh will perish together,and man will turn again to dust.
16. “If now you have understanding, hear this;listen to the voice of my words:
17. Should he who hates justice govern?And will you condemn Him who is most just?
18. Is it fitting to say to a king, ‘You are wicked’?And to princes, ‘You are ungodly’?
19. Yet He is not partial to princes,nor does He regard the rich more than the poor.For they all are the work of His hands.
20. In a moment they will die,and the people will be troubled at midnight and pass away,and the mighty will be taken away without a hand.
21. “For His eyes are upon the ways of man,and He sees all his goings.
22. There is no darkness nor shadow of deathwhere the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.
23. For He will not lay upon man more than right,that he should enter into judgment with God.
24. He will break in pieces mighty men without number,and set others in their place.
25. Therefore He knows their works,and He overturns them in the nightso that they are destroyed.
26. He strikes them as wicked menin the open sight of others,
27. because they turned back from Himand would not consider any of His ways,
28. so that they cause the cry of the poor to come unto Him;and He hears the cry of the afflicted.
29. When He gives quietness, who then can make trouble?And when He hides His face, who then can behold Him,whether it is done against a nation or against a man only?
30. That the hypocrite should not reign,lest the people be ensnared.
31. “Should anyone say to God,‘I have borne chastisement, I will offend no more;
32. teach me what I do not see;if I have done iniquity, I will do no more’?
33. Should it be according to your mind?He will repay it, whether you refuse or whether you choose,and not I; therefore speak what you know.
34. “Let men of understanding say to me,wise men who listen to me:
35. ‘Job has spoken without knowledge,and his words were without wisdom.’
36. My desire is that Job may be tried unto the end,because he answers like wicked men.
37. For he adds rebellion unto his sin;he claps his hands among us,and multiplies his words against God.”