1Furthermore Elihu answered and said, 2Hear my words, O ye wise men; and give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge. 3For the ear trieth words, as the mouth tasteth meat.34.3 mouth: Heb. palate 4Let us choose to us judgment: let us know among ourselves what is good. 5For Job hath said, I am righteous: and God hath taken away my judgment. 6Should I lie against my right? my wound is incurable without transgression.34.6 my wound: Heb. mine arrow 7What man is like Job, who drinketh up scorning like water? 8Which goeth in company with the workers of iniquity, and walketh with wicked men. 9For he hath said, It profiteth a man nothing that he should delight himself with God.
10Therefore hearken unto me, ye men of understanding: far be it from God, that he should do wickedness; and from the Almighty, that he should commit iniquity.34.10 men…: Heb. men of heart 11For the work of a man shall he render unto him, and cause every man to find according to his ways. 12Yea, surely God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert judgment. 13Who hath given him a charge over the earth? or who hath disposed the whole world?34.13 the whole: Heb. all of it? 14If he set his heart upon man, if he gather unto himself his spirit and his breath;34.14 man: Heb. him 15All flesh shall perish together, and man shall turn again unto dust.
16If now thou hast understanding, hear this: hearken to the voice of my words. 17Shall even he that hateth right govern? and wilt thou condemn him that is most just?34.17 govern: Heb. bind? 18Is it fit to say to a king, Thou art wicked? and to princes, Ye are ungodly? 19How much less to him that accepteth not the persons of princes, nor regardeth the rich more than the poor? for they all are the work of his hands. 20In a moment shall they die, and the people shall be troubled at midnight, and pass away: and the mighty shall be taken away without hand.34.20 the mighty…: Heb. they shall take away the mighty 21For his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his goings. 22There is no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves. 23For he will not lay upon man more than right; that he should enter into judgment with God.34.23 enter: Heb. go 24He shall break in pieces mighty men without number, and set others in their stead.34.24 number: Heb. searching out 25Therefore he knoweth their works, and he overturneth them in the night, so that they are destroyed.34.25 destroyed: Heb. crushed 26He striketh them as wicked men in the open sight of others;34.26 open…: Heb. place of beholders 27Because they turned back from him, and would not consider any of his ways:34.27 him: Heb. after him 28So that they cause the cry of the poor to come unto him, and he heareth the cry of the afflicted. 29When he giveth quietness, who then can make trouble? and when he hideth his face, who then can behold him? whether it be done against a nation, or against a man only: 30That the hypocrite reign not, lest the people be ensnared.
31Surely it is meet to be said unto God, I have borne chastisement, I will not offend any more: 32That which I see not teach thou me: if I have done iniquity, I will do no more. 33Should it be according to thy mind? he will recompense it, whether thou refuse, or whether thou choose; and not I: therefore speak what thou knowest.34.33 according…: Heb. from with thee? 34Let men of understanding tell me, and let a wise man hearken unto me.34.34 of…: Heb. of heart 35Job hath spoken without knowledge, and his words were without wisdom. 36My desire is that Job may be tried unto the end because of his answers for wicked men.34.36 My…: or, My father, let Job be tried 37For he addeth rebellion unto his sin, he clappeth his hands among us, and multiplieth his words against God.
1Elihu continued,
2“Hear what I’m saying, you wise men.
Listen to me, you who have learned so much.
3Our tongues tell us what tastes good and what doesn’t.
And our ears tell us what’s true and what isn’t.
4So let’s choose for ourselves what is right.
Let’s learn together what is good.
5“Job says, ‘I’m not guilty of doing anything wrong.
But God doesn’t treat me fairly.
6Even though I’m right,
he thinks I’m a liar.
Even though I’m not guilty,
his arrows give me wounds that can’t be healed.’
7Is there anyone like Job?
He accuses God as easily as he drinks water.
8He’s a companion of those who do evil.
He spends his time with sinful people.
9He asks, ‘What good is it
to try to please God?’
10“So listen to me, you men who have understanding.
God would never do what is evil.
The Mighty One would never do what is wrong.
11He pays back everyone for what they’ve done.
He gives them exactly what they should get.
12It isn’t possible for God to do wrong.
The Mighty One would never treat people unfairly.
13Who appointed him to rule over the earth?
Who put him in charge of the whole world?
14If he really wanted to,
he could hold back his spirit and breath.
15Then everyone would die together.
They would return to the dust.
16“Job, if you have understanding, listen to me.
Pay attention to what I’m saying.
17Can someone who hates to be fair govern?
Will you bring charges against the holy and mighty God?
18He says to kings, ‘You are worthless.’
He says to nobles, ‘You are evil.’
19He doesn’t favor princes.
He treats rich people and poor people the same.
His hands created all of them.
20They die suddenly in the middle of the night.
God strikes them down, and they pass away.
Even people who are mighty are removed, but not by human hands.
21“His eyes see how people live.
He watches every step they take.
22There is no deep shadow or total darkness
where those who do what is evil can hide.
23God doesn’t need to bring charges against anyone.
He knows they are guilty.
So he doesn’t need to have them appear in his court to be judged.
24He destroys the mighty without asking them questions in court.
Then he sets others up in their places.
25He knows what they do.
So he crushes them during the night.
26He punishes them for the sins they commit.
He does it where everyone can see them.
27That’s because they turned away from following him.
They didn’t have respect for anything he does.
28They caused poor people to cry out to him.
He heard the cries of those who were in need.
29But if he remains silent, who can judge him?
If he turns his face away, who can see him?
He rules over individual people and nations alike.
30He keeps those who are ungodly from ruling.
He keeps them from laying traps for others.
31“Someone might say to God,
‘I’m guilty of sinning,
but I won’t do it anymore.
32Show me my sins that I’m not aware of.
If I’ve done what is wrong,
I won’t do it again.’
33But you refuse to turn away from your sins.
So God won’t treat you the way you want to be treated.
You must decide, Job. I can’t do it for you.
So tell me what you know.
34“You men who have understanding have spoken.
You wise men who hear me have said to me,
35‘Job doesn’t know what he’s talking about.
The things he has said don’t make any sense.’
36I wish Job would be given the hardest test possible!
He answered like someone who is evil.
37To his sin he adds even more sin.
He claps his hands and makes fun of us.
He multiplies his words against God.”
