1 Elihu further answered and said: |
2 "Hear my words, you wise men; Give ear to me, you who have knowledge. |
3 For the ear tests words As the palate tastes food. |
4 Let us choose justice for ourselves; Let us know among ourselves what is good. |
5 "For Job has said, 'I am righteous, But God has taken away my justice; |
6 Should I lie concerning my right? My wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.' |
7 What man is like Job, Who drinks scorn 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 That he should delight in God.' |
10 "Therefore listen to me, you men of understanding: Far be it from God to do wickedness, And from the Almighty to commit iniquity. |
11 For He repays man according to his work, And makes man to find a reward according to his way. |
12 Surely God will never do wickedly, Nor will the Almighty pervert justice. |
13 Who gave Him charge over the earth? Or who appointed Him over the whole world? |
14 If He should set His heart on it, If He should gather to Himself His Spirit and His breath, |
15 All flesh would perish together, And man would return to dust. |
16 "If you have understanding, hear this; listen to the sound of my words: |
17 Should one who hates justice govern? Will you condemn Him who is most just? |
18 Is it fitting to say to a king, 'You are worthless,' And to nobles, 'You are wicked'? |
19 Yet He is not partial to princes, Nor does He regard the rich more than the poor; For they are all the work of His hands. |
20 In a moment they die, in the middle of the night; The people are shaken and pass away; The mighty are taken away without a hand. |
21 "For His eyes are on the ways of man, And He sees all his steps. |
22 There is no darkness nor shadow of death Where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves. |
23 For He need not further consider a man, 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; He overthrows them in the night, And they are crushed. |
26 He strikes them as wicked men In the open sight of others, |
27 Because they turned back from Him, And would not consider any of His ways, |
28 So that they caused the cry of the poor to come to Him; For He hears the cry of the afflicted. |
29 When He gives quietness, who then can make trouble? And when He hides His face, who then can see Him, Whether it is against a nation or a man alone?-- |
30 That the hypocrite should not reign, Lest the people be ensnared. |
31 "For has anyone said to God, 'I have borne chastening; I will offend no more; |
32 Teach me what I do not see; If I have done iniquity, I will do no more'? |
33 Should He repay it according to your terms, Just because you disavow it? You must choose, and not I; Therefore speak what you know. |
34 "Men of understanding say to me, Wise men who listen to me: |
35 'Job speaks without knowledge, His words are without wisdom.' |
36 Oh, that Job were tried to the utmost, Because his answers are like those of wicked men! |
37 For he adds rebellion to his sin; He claps his hands among us, And multiplies his words against God." |