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 And Elihu answereth and saith:

^{2 Ref} Hear, O wise men, my words, And, O knowing ones, give ear to me.

^{3 Ref} For the ear doth try words, And the palate tasteth to eat.

^{4 Ref} Judgment let us choose for ourselves, Let us know among ourselves what `is' good.

^{5 Ref} For Job hath said, `I have been righteous, And God hath turned aside my right,

^{6 Ref} Against my right do I lie? Mortal `is' mine arrow -- without transgression.'

^{7 Ref} Who `is' a man like Job? He drinketh scoffing like water,

^{8 Ref} And he hath travelled for company With workers of iniquity, So as to go with men of wickedness.

^{9 Ref} For he hath said, `It doth not profit a man, When he delighteth himself with God.'

^{10 Ref} Therefore, O men of heart, hearken to me; Far be it from God to do wickedness, And `from' the Mighty to do perverseness:

^{11 Ref} For the work of man he repayeth to him, And according to the path of each He doth cause him to find.

^{12 Ref} Yea, truly, God doth not do wickedly, And the Mighty doth not pervert judgment.

^{13 Ref} Who hath inspected for Himself the earth? And who hath placed all the habitable world?

^{14 Ref} If He doth set on him His heart, His spirit and his breath unto Him He gathereth.

^{15 Ref} Expire doth all flesh together, And man to dust returneth.

^{16 Ref} And if `there is' understanding, hear this, Give ear to the voice of my words.

^{17 Ref} Yea, doth one hating justice govern? Or the Most Just dost thou condemn?

^{18 Ref} Who hath said to a king -- `Worthless,' Unto princes -- `Wicked?'

^{19 Ref} That hath not accepted the person of princes, Nor hath known the rich before the poor, For a work of His hands `are' all of them.

^{20 Ref} `In' a moment they die, and at midnight Shake do people, and they pass away, And they remove the mighty without hand.

^{21 Ref} For His eyes `are' on the ways of each, And all his steps He doth see.

^{22 Ref} There is no darkness nor death-shade, For workers of iniquity to be hidden there;

^{23 Ref} For He doth not suffer man any more, To go unto God in judgment,

^{24 Ref} He breaketh the mighty -- no searching! And He appointeth others in their stead.

^{25 Ref} Therefore He knoweth their works, And He hath overturned by night, And they are bruised.

^{26 Ref} As wicked He hath stricken them, In the place of beholders.

^{27 Ref} Because that against right They have turned aside from after Him, And none of His ways have considered wisely,

^{28 Ref} To cause to come in unto Him The cry of the poor, And the cry of the afflicted He heareth.

^{29 Ref} And He giveth rest, and who maketh wrong? And hideth the face, and who beholdeth it? And in reference to a nation and to a man, `It is' the same.

^{30 Ref} From the reigning of a profane man, From the snares of a people;

^{31 Ref} For unto God hath any said: `I have taken away, I do not corruptly,

^{32 Ref} Besides `that which' I see, shew Thou me, If iniquity I have done -- I do not add?'

^{33 Ref} By thee doth He recompense, That thou hast refused -- That thou dost choose, and not I? And what thou hast known, speak.

^{34 Ref} Let men of heart say to me, And a wise man is hearkening to me.

^{35 Ref} Job -- not with knowledge doth he speak, And his words `are' not with wisdom.

^{36 Ref} My Father! let Job be tried -- unto victory, Because of answers for men of iniquity,

^{37 Ref} For he doth add to his sin, Transgression among us he vomiteth, And multiplieth his sayings to 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."