1 | Moreover Elihu answered, |
2 | "Hear my words, you wise men. Give ear to me, you who have knowledge. |
3 | For the ear tries words, as the palate tastes food. |
4 | Let us choose for us that which is right. Let us know among ourselves what is good. |
5 | For Job has said, 'I am righteous, God has taken away my right: |
6 | Notwithstanding my right I am considered a liar. My wound is incurable, though I am without disobedience.' |
7 | What man is like Job, who drinks scorn like water, |
8 | Who goes in company with the workers of iniquity, and walks with wicked men? |
9 | For 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 | For the work of a man he will render to him, and cause every man to find according to his ways. |
12 | Yes surely, God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert justice. |
13 | Who put him in charge of the earth? or who has appointed him over the whole world? |
14 | If he set his heart on himself, If he gathered to himself his spirit and his breath, |
15 | all 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 | Shall even one who hates justice govern? Will you condemn him who is righteous and mighty?-- |
18 | Who says to a king, 'Vile!' or to nobles, 'Wicked!'? |
19 | Who 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 | In 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 | There is no darkness, nor thick gloom, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves. |
23 | For he doesn't need to consider a man further, that he should go before God in judgment. |
24 | He breaks in pieces mighty men in ways past finding out, and sets others in their place. |
25 | Therefore he takes knowledge of their works. He overturns them in the night, so that they are destroyed. |
26 | He strikes them as wicked men in the open sight of others; |
27 | because they turned aside from following him, and wouldn't pay attention to any of his ways, |
28 | so that they caused the cry of the poor to come to him. He heard the cry of the afflicted. |
29 | When 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 | that 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 | Teach me that which I don't see. If I have done iniquity, I will do it no more'? |
33 | Shall his recompense be as you desire, that you refuse it? For you must choose, and not I. Therefore speak what you know. |
34 | Men 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 | For he adds rebellion to his sin. He claps his hands among us, and multiplies his words against God." |