¹ And Elihu made answer and said,

^{2 Ref} Give ear, you wise, to my words; and you who have knowledge, give attention to me;

^{3 Ref} For words are tested by the ear, as food is tasted by the mouth.

^{4 Ref} Let us make the decision for ourselves as to what is right; let us have the knowledge among ourselves of what is good.

^{5 Ref} For Job has said, I am upright, and it is God who has taken away my right;

^{6 Ref} Though I am right, still I am in pain; my wound may not be made well, though I have done no wrong.

^{7 Ref} What man is like Job, a man who freely makes sport of God,

^{8 Ref} And goes in the company of evil-doers, walking in the way of sinners?

^{9 Ref} For he has said, It is no profit to a man to take delight in God.

^{10 Ref} Now then, you wise, take note; you men of knowledge, give ear to me. Let it be far from God to do evil, and from the Ruler of all to do wrong.

^{11 Ref} For he gives to every man the reward of his work, and sees that he gets the fruit of his ways.

^{12 Ref} Truly, God does not do evil, and the Ruler of all is not a false judge.

^{13 Ref} Who put the earth into his care, or made him responsible for the world?

^{14 Ref} If he made his spirit come back to him, taking his breath into himself again,

^{15 Ref} All flesh would come to an end together, and man would go back to the dust.

^{16 Ref} If you are wise, take note of this; give ear to the voice of my words.

^{17 Ref} How may a hater of right be a ruler? and will you say that the upright Ruler of all is evil?

^{18 Ref} He who says to a king, You are an evil-doer; and to rulers, You are sinners;

^{19 Ref} Who has no respect for rulers, and who gives no more attention to those who have wealth than to the poor, for they are all the work of his hands.

^{20 Ref} Suddenly they come to an end, even in the middle of the night: the blow comes on the men of wealth, and they are gone, and the strong are taken away without the hand of man.

^{21 Ref} For his eyes are on the ways of a man, and he sees all his steps.

^{22 Ref} There is no dark place, and no thick cloud, in which the workers of evil may take cover.

^{23 Ref} For he does not give man a fixed time to come before him to be judged.

^{24 Ref} He sends the strong to destruction without searching out their cause, and puts others in their place.

^{25 Ref} For he has knowledge of their works, overturning them in the night, so that they are crushed.

^{26 Ref} The evil-doers are broken by his wrath, he puts his hand on them with force before the eyes of all onlookers.

^{27 Ref} Because they did not go after him, and took no note of his ways,

^{28 Ref} So that the cry of the poor might come up to him, and the prayer of those in need come to his ears.

^{29 Ref} ...

^{30 Ref} ...

^{31 Ref} ...

^{32 Ref} ...

^{33 Ref} ...

^{34 Ref} Men of knowledge, and all wise men, hearing me, will say,

^{35 Ref} Job's words do not come from knowledge; they are not the fruit of wisdom.

^{36 Ref} May Job be tested to the end, because his answers have been like those of evil men.

^{37 Ref} For in addition to his sin, he is uncontrolled in heart; before our eyes he makes sport of God, increasing his words against him.

¹ Furthermore Elihu answered and said,

^{2 Ref} Hear my words, O ye wise men; and give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge.

^{3 Ref} For the ear trieth words, as the mouth tasteth meat.

^{4 Ref} Let us choose to us judgment: let us know among ourselves what is good.

^{5 Ref} For Job hath said, I am righteous: and God hath taken away my judgment.

^{6 Ref} Should I lie against my right? my wound is incurable without transgression.

^{7 Ref} What man is like Job, who drinketh up scorning like water?

^{8 Ref} Which goeth in company with the workers of iniquity, and walketh with wicked men.

^{9 Ref} For he hath said, It profiteth a man nothing that he should delight himself with God.

^{10 Ref} Therefore 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.

^{11 Ref} For the work of a man shall he render unto him, and cause every man to find according to his ways.

^{12 Ref} Yea, surely God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert judgment.

^{13 Ref} Who hath given him a charge over the earth? or who hath disposed the whole world?

^{14 Ref} If he set his heart upon man, if he gather unto himself his spirit and his breath;

^{15 Ref} All flesh shall perish together, and man shall turn again unto dust.

^{16 Ref} If now thou hast understanding, hear this: hearken to the voice of my words.

^{17 Ref} Shall even he that hateth right govern? and wilt thou condemn him that is most just?

^{18 Ref} Is it fit to say to a king, Thou art wicked? and to princes, Ye are ungodly?

^{19 Ref} How 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.

^{20 Ref} In 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.

^{21 Ref} For his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his goings.

^{22 Ref} There is no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.

^{23 Ref} For he will not lay upon man more than right; that he should enter into judgment with God.

^{24 Ref} He shall break in pieces mighty men without number, and set others in their stead.

^{25 Ref} Therefore he knoweth their works, and he overturneth them in the night, so that they are destroyed.

^{26 Ref} He striketh them as wicked men in the open sight of others;

^{27 Ref} Because they turned back from him, and would not consider any of his ways:

^{28 Ref} So that they cause the cry of the poor to come unto him, and he heareth the cry of the afflicted.

^{29 Ref} When 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:

^{30 Ref} That the hypocrite reign not, lest the people be ensnared.

^{31 Ref} Surely it is meet to be said unto God, I have borne chastisement, I will not offend any more:

^{32 Ref} That which I see not teach thou me: if I have done iniquity, I will do no more.

^{33 Ref} Should 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 Ref} Let men of understanding tell me, and let a wise man hearken unto me.

^{35 Ref} Job hath spoken without knowledge, and his words were without wisdom.

^{36 Ref} My desire is that Job may be tried unto the end because of his answers for wicked men.

^{37 Ref} For he addeth rebellion unto his sin, he clappeth his hands among us, and multiplieth his words against God.

¹ Moreover Elihu answered,

^{2 Ref} "Hear my words, you wise men; Give ear to me, you who have knowledge.

^{3 Ref} For the ear tries words, As the palate tastes food.

^{4 Ref} Let us choose for us that which is right. Let us know among ourselves what is good.

^{5 Ref} For Job has said, 'I am righteous, God has taken away my right:

^{6 Ref} Notwithstanding my right I am considered a liar; My wound is incurable, though I am without disobedience.'

^{7 Ref} What man is like Job, Who drinks scorn like water,

^{8 Ref} Who goes in company with the workers of iniquity, And walks with wicked men?

^{9 Ref} For he has said, 'It profits a man nothing That he should delight himself with God.'

^{10 Ref} "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 Ref} For the work of a man will he render to him, And cause every man to find according to his ways.

^{12 Ref} Yes surely, God will not do wickedly, Neither will the Almighty pervert justice.

^{13 Ref} Who gave him a charge over the earth? Or who has appointed him over the whole world?

^{14 Ref} If he set his heart on himself, If he gathered to himself his spirit and his breath;

^{15 Ref} All flesh would perish together, And man would turn again to dust.

^{16 Ref} "If now you have understanding, hear this. Listen to the voice of my words.

^{17 Ref} Shall even one who hates justice govern? Will you condemn him who is righteous and mighty?--

^{18 Ref} Who says to a king, 'Vile!' Or to nobles, 'Wicked!'

^{19 Ref} Who doesn't respect the persons of princes, Nor regards the rich more than the poor; For they all are the work of his hands.

^{20 Ref} In a moment they die, even at midnight; The people are shaken and pass away, The mighty are taken away without hand.

^{21 Ref} "For his eyes are on the ways of a man, He sees all his goings.

^{22 Ref} There is no darkness, nor thick gloom, Where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.

^{23 Ref} For he doesn't need to consider a man further, That he should go before God in judgment.

^{24 Ref} He breaks in pieces mighty men in ways past finding out, And sets others in their place.

^{25 Ref} Therefore he takes knowledge of their works. He overturns them in the night, so that they are destroyed.

^{26 Ref} He strikes them as wicked men In the open sight of others;

^{27 Ref} Because they turned aside from following him, And wouldn't have regard in any of his ways:

^{28 Ref} So that they caused the cry of the poor to come to him, He heard the cry of the afflicted.

^{29 Ref} 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 Ref} That the godless man may not reign, That there be no one to ensnare the people.

^{31 Ref} "For has any said to God, 'I am guilty, but I will not offend any more.

^{32 Ref} Teach me that which I don't see. If I have done iniquity, I will do it no more'?

^{33 Ref} Shall his recompense be as you desire, that you refuse it? For you must choose, and not I. Therefore speak what you know.

^{34 Ref} Men of understanding will tell me, Yes, every wise man who hears me:

^{35 Ref} 'Job speaks without knowledge, His words are without wisdom.'

^{36 Ref} I wish that Job were tried to the end, Because of his answering like wicked men.

^{37 Ref} For he adds rebellion to his sin. He claps his hands among us, And multiplies his words against God."