| 1 | After proclaiming these things, Eliu now had this to say: |
| 2 | May the wise hear my words, and may the educated listen to me. |
| 3 | For the ear examines words, and the mouth discerns foods by the taste. |
| 4 | Let us choose judgment for ourselves, and let us consider among ourselves what is best. |
| 5 | For Job has said: "I am just, yet God has subverted my judgment. |
| 6 | For, within my judgment, there is a lie: my vehement barbs are without any sin." |
| 7 | What man is there that is like Job, who drinks up derision as if it were water, |
| 8 | who accompanies those who work iniquity, and who walks with impious men? |
| 9 | For he has said, "Man will not please God, even if he should travel with him." |
| 10 | Therefore, prudent men, hear me: impiety is far from God, and iniquity is far from the Almighty. |
| 11 | For he will restore to man his works, and according to the ways of each, he will repay them. |
| 12 | For truly, God will not condemn in vain, nor will the Almighty repudiate judgment. |
| 13 | What other is established over the earth? Or whom has he placed over the world, which he made? |
| 14 | But, if he directs his heart towards him, he will draw his spirit and breath to himself. |
| 15 | All flesh will fail together, and man will return to ashes. |
| 16 | Therefore, if you have understanding, hear what is said, and heed the sound of my eloquence. |
| 17 | Is he that does not love judgment able to be corrected? And how can you so greatly condemn him who is just? |
| 18 | He says to the king, "You are an apostate." He calls commanders impious. |
| 19 | He does not accept the reputation of leaders; nor does he recognize the tyrant as he contends against the poor. For all are the work of his hands. |
| 20 | They will die suddenly, and the people will be troubled in the middle of the night, but they will pass through it, and the violent will be taken away without a hand. |
| 21 | For his eyes are upon the ways of men, and he examines all of their steps. |
| 22 | There is no darkness and no shadow of death, where those who work iniquity may be hidden. |
| 23 | For it is no longer within the power of man to enter into judgment with God. |
| 24 | He will break into many innumerable pieces, and he will cause others to stand up in their place. |
| 25 | For he knows their works, and, as a result, he will bring the night, and they will be crushed. |
| 26 | Just as the impious do, he has struck them in a place where they can be seen. |
| 27 | They, as if with great diligence, have withdrawn from him, and they refused to understand all his ways, |
| 28 | so that they caused the outcry of the needy to reach him, and he heard the voice of the poor. |
| 29 | For, when he grants peace, who is there that can condemn? When he hides his face, who is there that can contemplate him, either among the nations, or among all men? |
| 30 | He causes a hypocritical man to reign because of the sins of the people. |
| 31 | Therefore, since I have been speaking about God, I will not prevent you from doing the same. |
| 32 | If I have erred, you may teach me; if I have spoken unfairly, I will add no more. |
| 33 | Does God require this of you because it is displeasing to you? For you were the first to speak, and not I. But if you know something better, speak. |
| 34 | Let men of understanding speak to me, and let a wise man listen to me. |
| 35 | But Job has been speaking foolishly, and his words contain unsound teaching. |
| 36 | My father, let Job be tested even to the end; may you not retreat from a man of iniquity. |
| 37 | For he adds blasphemy on top of his sins; nevertheless, let him be constrained to be among us, and then let him provoke God to judgment with his speeches. |
