Verse 1
Moreover Elihu answered and said,
Verse 2
Hear my words, ye wise men; And give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge.
Verse 3
For the ear trieth words, As the palate tasteth food.
Verse 4
Let us choose for us that which is right: Let us know among ourselves what is good.
Verse 5
For Job hath said, I am righteous, And God hath taken away my right:
Verse 6
Notwithstanding my right I am [accounted] a liar; My wound is incurable, [though I am] without transgression.
Verse 7
What man is like Job, Who drinketh up scoffing like water,
Verse 8
Who goeth in company with the workers of iniquity, And walketh with wicked men?
Verse 9
For he hath said, It profiteth a man nothing That he should delight himself with God.
Verse 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.
Verse 11
For the work of a man will he render unto him, And cause every man to find according to his ways.
Verse 12
Yea, of a surety, God will not do wickedly, Neither will the Almighty pervert justice.
Verse 13
Who gave him a charge over the earth? Or who hath disposed the whole world?
Verse 14
If he set his heart upon himself, [If] he gather unto himself his spirit and his breath;
Verse 15
All flesh shall perish together, And man shall turn again unto dust.
Verse 16
If now [thou hast] understanding, hear this: Hearken to the voice of my words.
Verse 17
Shall even one that hateth justice govern? And wilt thou condemn him that is righteous [and] mighty?--
Verse 18
[Him] that saith to a king, [Thou art] vile, [Or] to nobles, [Ye are] wicked;
Verse 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.
Verse 20
In a moment they die, even at midnight; The people are shaken and pass away, And the mighty are taken away without hand.
Verse 21
For his eyes are upon the ways of a man, And he seeth all his goings.
Verse 22
There is no darkness, nor thick gloom, Where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.
Verse 23
For he needeth not further to consider a man, That he should go before God in judgment.
Verse 24
He breaketh in pieces mighty men [in ways] past finding out, And setteth others in their stead.
Verse 25
Therefore he taketh knowledge of their works; And he overturneth them in the night, so that they are destroyed.
Verse 26
He striketh them as wicked men In the open sight of others;
Verse 27
Because they turned aside from following him, And would not have regard in any of his ways:
Verse 28
So that they caused the cry of the poor to come unto him, And he heard the cry of the afflicted.
Verse 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:
Verse 30
That the godless man reign not, That there be none to ensnare the people.
Verse 31
For hath any said unto God, I have borne [chastisement], I will not offend [any more] :
Verse 32
That which I see not teach thou me: If I have done iniquity, I will do it no more?
Verse 33
Shall his recompense be as thou wilt, that thou refusest it? For thou must choose, and not I: Therefore speak what thou knowest.
Verse 34
Men of understanding will say unto me, Yea, every wise man that heareth me:
Verse 35
Job speaketh without knowledge, And his words are without wisdom.
Verse 36
Would that Job were tried unto the end, Because of his answering like wicked men.
Verse 37
For he addeth rebellion unto his sin; He clappeth his hands among us, And multiplieth his words against God.