[1] Then Elihu continued and said,
[2] “Hear my words, you wise men, And listen to me, you who know.
[3] For the ear tests words As the palate tastes food.
[4] Let us choose for ourselves what is right; Let us know among ourselves what is good.
[5] For Job has said, ‘I am righteous, But God has taken away my right;
[6] Should I lie concerning my right? My wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.’
[7] What man is like Job, Who drinks up derision 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 When he is pleased with God.’
[10] Therefore, listen to me, you men of understanding. Far be it from God to do wickedness, And from the Almighty to do wrong.
[11] For He pays a man according to his work, And makes him find it according to his way.
[12] Surely, God will not act wickedly, And the Almighty will not pervert justice.
[13] Who gave Him authority over the earth? And who has laid on Him the whole world?
[14] If He should determine to do so, If He should gather to Himself His spirit and His breath,
[15] All flesh would perish together, And man would return to dust.
[16] But if you have understanding, hear this; Listen to the sound of my words.
[17] Shall one who hates justice rule? And will you condemn the righteous mighty One,
[18] Who says to a king, ‘Worthless one,’ To nobles, ‘Wicked ones’;
[19] Who shows no partiality to princes Nor regards the rich above the poor, For they all are the work of His hands?
[20] 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 upon the ways of a man, And He sees all his steps.
[22] There is no darkness or deep shadow Where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.
[23] For He does not need to consider a man further, That he should go before God in judgment.
[24] He breaks in pieces mighty men without inquiry, And sets others in their place.
[25] Therefore He knows their works, And He overthrows them in the night, And they are crushed.
[26] He strikes them like the wicked In a public place,
[27] Because they turned aside from following Him, And had no regard for any of His ways;
[28] So that they caused the cry of the poor to come to Him, And that He might hear the cry of the afflicted—
[29] 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] So that godless men would not rule Nor be snares of the people.
[31] For has anyone said to God, ‘I have borne chastisement; I will not offend anymore;
[32] Teach me what I do not see; If I have done iniquity, I will not do it again’?
[33] Shall He recompense on your terms, because you have rejected it? For you must choose, and not I; Therefore declare what you know.
[34] Men of understanding will say to me, And a wise man who hears me,
[35] ‘Job speaks without knowledge, And his words are without wisdom.
[36] Job ought to be tried to the limit, Because he answers like wicked men.
[37] For he adds rebellion to his sin; He claps his hands among us, And multiplies his words against God.’”