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."