Verse 1
Elihu’s Second Speech Elihu answered:
Verse 2
“Listen to my words, you wise men; hear me, you learned men.
Verse 3
For the ear assesses words as the mouth tastes food.
Verse 4
Let us evaluate for ourselves what is right; let us come to know among ourselves what is good.
Verse 5
For Job says,‘I am innocent, but God turns away my right.
Verse 6
Concerning my right, should I lie? My wound is incurable, although I am without transgression.’
Verse 7
What man is like Job, who drinks derision like water!
Verse 8
He goes about in company with evildoers, he goes along with wicked men.
Verse 9
For he says,‘It does not profit a man when he makes his delight with God.’
Verse 10
God is Not Unjust“Therefore, listen to me, you men of understanding. Far be it from God to do wickedness, from the Almighty to do evil.
Verse 11
For he repays a person for his work, and according to the conduct of a person, he causes the consequences to find him.
Verse 12
Indeed, in truth, God does not act wickedly, and the Almighty does not pervert justice.
Verse 13
Who entrusted to him the earth? And who put him over the whole world?
Verse 14
If God were to set his heart on it, and gather in his spirit and his breath,
Verse 15
all flesh would perish together and human beings would return to dust.
Verse 16
God Is Impartial and Omniscient“If you have understanding, listen to this, hear what I have to say.
Verse 17
Do you really think that one who hates justice can govern? And will you declare guilty the supremely Righteous One,
Verse 18
who says to a king,‘Worthless man’ and to nobles,‘Wicked men,’
Verse 19
who shows no partiality to princes, and does not take note of the rich more than the poor, because all of them are the work of his hands?
Verse 20
In a moment they die, in the middle of the night, people are shaken and they pass away. The mighty are removed effortlessly.
Verse 21
For his eyes are on the ways of an individual, he observes all a person’s steps.
Verse 22
There is no darkness, and no deep darkness, where evildoers can hide themselves.
Verse 23
For he does not still consider a person, that he should come before God in judgment.
Verse 24
He shatters the great without inquiry, and sets up others in their place.
Verse 25
Therefore, he knows their deeds, he overthrows them in the night and they are crushed.
Verse 26
He strikes them for their wickedness, in a place where people can see,
Verse 27
because they have turned away from following him, and have not understood any of his ways,
Verse 28
so that they caused the cry of the poor to come before him, so that he hears the cry of the needy.
Verse 29
But if God is quiet, who can condemn him? If he hides his face, then who can see him? Yet he is over the individual and the nation alike,
Verse 30
so that the godless man should not rule, and not lay snares for the people.
Verse 31
Job Is Foolish to Rebel“Has anyone said to God,‘I have endured chastisement, but I will not act wrongly any more.
Verse 32
Teach me what I cannot see. If I have done evil, I will do so no more.’
Verse 33
Is it your opinion that God should recompense it, because you reject this? But you must choose, and not I, so tell us what you know.
Verse 34
Men of understanding say to me– any wise man listening to me says–
Verse 35
that Job speaks without knowledge and his words are without understanding.
Verse 36
But Job will be tested to the end, because his answers are like those of wicked men.
Verse 37
For he adds transgression to his sin; in our midst he claps his hands, and multiplies his words against God.”