Elihu Proclaims God’s Justice
1 Elihu further answered and said:
2 “Hear my words, you wisemen;
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 whatisgood.
5 “For Job has said,‘I am righteous,
# ButGod has taken away my justice;
6 Should I lie concerning my right?
My woundisincurable,thoughIamwithout transgression.’
7 What manislike Job,
# Whodrinks scorn like water,
8 Who goes in company with the workers of iniquity,
And walks with wicked men?
9 Forhe 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 Godtodowickedness,
Andfromthe Almighty tocommitiniquity.
11 For He repays manaccordingtohis work,
And makes man to find a reward according tohisway.
12 Surely God will never do wickedly,
# Nor will the Almightypervert justice.
13 Who gave Him charge over the earth?
Or who appointedHimoverthe whole world?
14 If He should set His heart on it,
# IfHe shouldgather to Himself His Spirit and His breath,
15 All flesh would perish together,
And man would return to dust.
16 “Ifyouhaveunderstanding, hear this;
Listen to the sound of my words:
17 Should one who hates justice govern?
# Will youcondemnHimwhoismost just?
18 Isitfittingto say to a king, ‘Youareworthless,’
Andto nobles, ‘Youarewicked’?
19 Yet Heis not partial to princes,
Nor does He regard the rich more than the poor;
# Fortheyareall 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 “ForHis eyesareon 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 overthrowsthemin the night,
And they are crushed.
26 He strikes them as wickedmen
In the open sight of others,
27 Because theyturned back from Him,
# Andwould not consider any of His ways,
28 So that theycaused the cry of the poor to come to Him;
# For Hehears the cry of the afflicted.
29 When He gives quietness, who then can make trouble?
And when He hidesHisface, who then can see Him,
Whetheritisagainst a nation or a man alone?—
30 That the hypocrite should not reign,
Lest the people be ensnared.
31 “For hasanyonesaid to God,
‘I have bornechastening;
I will offend no more;
32 Teach mewhatI do not see;
If I have done iniquity, I will do no more’?
33 Should He repayitaccording to yourterms,
Justbecause 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 ‘Jobspeaks without knowledge,
His wordsarewithout wisdom.’
36 Oh, that Job were tried to the utmost,
Becausehisanswersarelikethose of wicked men!
37 For he addsrebellion to his sin;
He clapshishandsamong us,
And multiplies his words against God.”