1 Furthermore Elihu answered and said,

2 Hear my words, O you wise men; and give ear to me, you that have knowledge.

3 For the ear tries words, as the mouth tastes meat.

4 Let us choose to us judgment: let us know among ourselves what is good.

5 For Job has said, I am righteous: and God has taken away my judgment.

6 Should I lie against my right? my wound is incurable without transgression.

7 What man is like Job, who drinks up scorning like water?

8 Which 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 himself with God.

10 Therefore listen to me you men of understanding: far be it from God, that he should do wickedness; and from the Almighty, that he should commit iniquity.

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

12 Yes, surely God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert judgment.

13 Who has given him a charge over the earth? or who has disposed the whole world?

14 If he set his heart on man, if he gather to himself his spirit and his breath;

15 All flesh shall perish together, and man shall turn again to dust.

16 If now you have understanding, hear this: listen to the voice of my words.

17 Shall even he that hates right govern? and will you condemn him that is most just?

18 Is it fit to say to a king, You are wicked? and to princes, You are ungodly?

19 How much less to him that accepts not the persons of princes, nor regards the rich more than the poor? for they all are the work of his hands.

20 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 For his eyes are on the ways of man, and he sees all his goings.

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

23 For he will not lay on man more than right; that he should enter into judgment with God.

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

25 Therefore he knows their works, and he overturns them in the night, so that they are destroyed.

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 cause the cry of the poor to come to him, and 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 behold him? whether it be done against a nation, or against a man only:

30 That the hypocrite reign not, lest the people be ensnared.

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

32 That which I see not teach you me: if I have done iniquity, I will do no more.

33 Should it be according to your mind? he will recompense it, whether you refuse, or whether you choose; and not I: therefore speak what you know.

34 Let men of understanding tell me, and let a wise man listen to me.

35 Job has spoken without knowledge, and his words were without wisdom.

36 My desire is that Job may be tried to the end because of his answers for wicked men.

37 For he adds rebellion to his sin, he clapps his hands among us, and multiplies his words against God.

1 Moreover Elihu answered and said,

2 Hear my words, ye wise men;

And give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge.

3 For the ear trieth words,

As the palate tasteth food.

4 Let us choose for us that which is right:

Let us know among ourselves what is good.

5 For Job hath said, I am righteous,

And God hath taken away my right:

6 Notwithstanding my right I am accounted a liar;

My wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.

7 What man is like Job,

Who drinketh up scoffing like water,

8 Who goeth in company with the workers of iniquity,

And walketh with wicked men?

9 For he hath said, It profiteth a man nothing

That he should delight himself with God.

10 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 For the work of a man will he render unto him,

And cause every man to find according to his ways.

12 Yea, of a surety, God will not do wickedly,

Neither will the Almighty pervert justice.

13 Who gave him a charge over the earth?

Or who hath disposed the whole world?

14 If he set his heart upon himself,

If he gather unto himself his spirit and his breath;

15 All flesh shall perish together,

And man shall turn again unto dust.

16 If now thou hast understanding, hear this:

Hearken to the voice of my words.

17 Shall even one that hateth justice govern?

And wilt thou condemn him that is righteous and mighty?—

18 Him that saith to a king, Thou art vile,

Or to nobles, Ye are wicked;

19 That respecteth not the persons of princes,

Nor regardeth the rich more than the poor;

For they all are the work of his hands.

20 In a moment they die, even at midnight;

The people are shaken and pass away,

And the mighty are taken away without hand.

21 For his eyes are upon the ways of a man,

And he seeth all his goings.

22 There is no darkness, nor thick gloom,

Where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.

23 For he needeth not further to consider a man,

That he should go before God in judgment.

24 He breaketh in pieces mighty men in ways past finding out,

And setteth others in their stead.

25 Therefore he taketh knowledge of their works;

And he overturneth them in the night, so that they are destroyed.

26 He striketh them as wicked men

In the open sight of others;

27 Because they turned aside from following him,

And would not have regard in any of his ways:

28 So that they caused the cry of the poor to come unto him,

And he heard the cry of the afflicted.

29 When he giveth quietness, who then can condemn?

And when he hideth his face, who then can behold him?

Alike whether it be done unto a nation, or unto a man:

30 That the godless man reign not,

That there be none to ensnare the people.

31 For hath any said unto God,

I have borne chastisement, I will not offend any more:

32 That which I see not teach thou me:

If I have done iniquity, I will do it no more?

33 Shall his recompense be as thou wilt, that thou refusest it?

For thou must choose, and not I:

Therefore speak what thou knowest.

34 Men of understanding will say unto me,

Yea, every wise man that heareth me:

35 Job speaketh without knowledge,

And his words are without wisdom.

36 Would that Job were tried unto the end,

Because of his answering like wicked men.

37 For he addeth rebellion unto his sin;

He clappeth his hands among us,

And multiplieth his words against God.