English Standard Version

International Standard Version

1Then Elihu answered and said:

1Elihu continued speaking, and said:

2“Hear my words, you wise men, and give ear to me, you who know;

2"Listen to what I have to say, you wise men! Pay attention to me, you educated people!

3for the ear tests words as the palate tastes food.

3Since the ear tests words like a palate tastes food,

4Let us choose what is right; let us know among ourselves what is good.

4let's choose what's right for us. Let's consider among ourselves what is good."

5For Job has said, ‘I am in the right, and God has taken away my right;

5Now this is Job's claim: 'Even though I'm innocent, God has stopped treating me righteously.

6in spite of my right I am counted a liar; my wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.’

6Have I lied concerning the justice that I deserve? My wound is incurable, though transgression cannot be attributed to me.'

7What man is like Job, who drinks up scoffing like water,

7"What man is like Job, who drinks mockery like water,

8who travels in company with evildoers and walks with wicked men?

8traffics in those who practice evil, and walks with wicked people?

9For he has said, ‘It profits a man nothing that he should take delight in God.’

9Because he says, 'There's no profit for a man to find joy with God.'"

10“Therefore, hear me, you men of understanding: far be it from God that he should do wickedness, and from the Almighty that he should do wrong.

10"Therefore you men of understanding, listen to me! Far be it for God to practice wickedness, or the Almighty to do what is wrong,

11For according to the work of a man he will repay him, and according to his ways he will make it befall him.

11because he repays a person for his behavior; and according to a person's conduct, he lets it happen to him.

12Of a truth, God will not do wickedly, and the Almighty will not pervert justice.

12Truly, God doesn't practice wickedness, and the Almighty doesn't pervert justice.

13Who gave him charge over the earth, and who laid on him the whole world?

13Who entrusted the earth to him? Who made him responsible for the entire inhabited world?

14If he should set his heart to it and gather to himself his spirit and his breath,

14If he were to decide to do so, that is, to take back to himself his spirit and breath of life,

15all flesh would perish together, and man would return to dust.

15every living thing would die all at once, and mankind would return to dust."

16“If you have understanding, hear this; listen to what I say.

16If you have understanding, listen to this! Pay attention to what I have to say:

17Shall one who hates justice govern? Will you condemn him who is righteous and mighty,

17Can one who hates justice really govern? And if God is righteous and mighty, can you condemn him?

18who says to a king, ‘Worthless one,’ and to nobles, ‘Wicked man,’

18Can one say to a king, 'You're vile!' or to nobles, 'You're wicked!'?

19who shows no partiality to princes, nor regards the rich more than the poor, for they are all the work of his hands?

19Who isn't partial to princes? Who doesn't give preference to the nobles over the poor? Nevertheless, all of them are his handiwork.

20In a moment they die; at midnight the people are shaken and pass away, and the mighty are taken away by no human hand.

20"They die suddenly, in the middle of the night; people suffer seizures and pass away; even valiant men can be taken away— and not by human hands.

21“For his eyes are on the ways of a man, and he sees all his steps.

21Yes, Job, his eyes constantly watch the behavior of human beings; he carefully observes their every step.

22There is no gloom or deep darkness where evildoers may hide themselves.

22There's no such thing as darkness to him— not even deep darkness— that can conceal those who practice evil.

23For God has no need to consider a man further, that he should go before God in judgment.

23He won't examine mankind further, that they would go before God to judgment.

24He shatters the mighty without investigation and sets others in their place.

24He shatters valiant men without a need to investigate, and he raises others in their place.

25Thus, knowing their works, he overturns them in the night, and they are crushed.

25Thus he acknowledges their behavior, and overcomes them; when night time comes, they are crushed.

26He strikes them for their wickedness in a place for all to see,

26"He strikes the wicked among them in a place where they can be seen

27because they turned aside from following him and had no regard for any of his ways,

27because they've abandoned their pursuit of him and had no respect for any of his ways.

28so that they caused the cry of the poor to come to him, and he heard the cry of the afflicted—

28As a result, the cries of the poor have reached him and he has heard the cry of the afflicted.

29When he is quiet, who can condemn? When he hides his face, who can behold him, whether it be a nation or a man?—

29"If he remains silent, who will condemn him? If he conceals his face, who can see him? He watches over both nation and individual alike,

30that a godless man should not reign, that he should not ensnare the people.

30to keep the godless man from reigning or laying a snare for the people."

31“For has anyone said to God, ‘I have borne punishment; I will not offend any more;

31"Has anyone ever really told God, 'I've endured, and I won't act corruptly anymore.

32teach me what I do not see; if I have done iniquity, I will do it no more’?

32What I don't see, instruct me! If I've done anything evil, I won't repeat it!'

33Will he then make repayment to suit you, because you reject it? For you must choose, and not I; therefore declare what you know.

33"Should you not be paid back, since you have rejected him? You do the choosing! I won't! Tell us what you know!

34Men of understanding will say to me, and the wise man who hears me will say:

34"Men of understanding, speak to me! Are any of you men wise? Then listen to me!

35‘Job speaks without knowledge; his words are without insight.’

35Job has been speaking from his own ignorance, and what he has to say lacks insight!

36Would that Job were tried to the end, because he answers like wicked men.

36Oh, how Job needs to be given a full court trial, as a rebuke to those who practice evil,

37For he adds rebellion to his sin; he claps his hands among us and multiplies his words against God.”

37because he has been adding rebellion to his sin; he claps his hands among us, and keeps on ranting against God."

ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.

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