| International Standard Version | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1Elihu continued speaking, and said: | 1Then Elihu continued, saying: |
| 2"Listen to what I have to say, you wise men! Pay attention to me, you educated people! | 2Hear my words, you wise men, and listen to me, you knowledgeable ones. |
| 3Since the ear tests words like a palate tastes food, | 3Doesn't the ear test words as the palate tastes food? |
| 4let's choose what's right for us. Let's consider among ourselves what is good." | 4Let us judge for ourselves what is right; let us decide together what is good. |
| 5Now this is Job's claim: 'Even though I'm innocent, God has stopped treating me righteously. | 5For Job has declared, "I am righteous, yet God has deprived me of justice. |
| 6Have I lied concerning the justice that I deserve? My wound is incurable, though transgression cannot be attributed to me.' | 6Would I lie about my case? My wound is incurable, though I am without transgression." |
| 7"What man is like Job, who drinks mockery like water, | 7What man is like Job? He drinks derision like water. |
| 8traffics in those who practice evil, and walks with wicked people? | 8He keeps company with evildoers and walks with wicked men. |
| 9Because he says, 'There's no profit for a man to find joy with God.'" | 9For he has said, "A man gains nothing when he becomes God's friend." |
| 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, | 10Therefore listen to me, you men of understanding. It is impossible for God to do wrong, and for the Almighty to act unjustly. |
| 11because he repays a person for his behavior; and according to a person's conduct, he lets it happen to him. | 11For He repays a person according to his deeds, and He brings his ways on him. |
| 12Truly, God doesn't practice wickedness, and the Almighty doesn't pervert justice. | 12Indeed, it is true that God does not act wickedly and the Almighty does not pervert justice. |
| 13Who entrusted the earth to him? Who made him responsible for the entire inhabited world? | 13Who gave Him authority over the earth? Who put Him in charge of the entire world? |
| 14If he were to decide to do so, that is, to take back to himself his spirit and breath of life, | 14If He put His mind to it and withdrew the spirit and breath He gave, |
| 15every living thing would die all at once, and mankind would return to dust." | 15every living thing would perish together and mankind would return to the dust. |
| 16If you have understanding, listen to this! Pay attention to what I have to say: | 16If you have understanding, hear this; listen to what I have to say. |
| 17Can one who hates justice really govern? And if God is righteous and mighty, can you condemn him? | 17Could one who hates justice govern the world? Will you condemn the mighty Righteous One, |
| 18Can one say to a king, 'You're vile!' or to nobles, 'You're wicked!'? | 18who says to a king, "Worthless man!" and to nobles, "Wicked men!"? |
| 19Who isn't partial to princes? Who doesn't give preference to the nobles over the poor? Nevertheless, all of them are his handiwork. | 19God is not partial to princes and does not favor the rich over the poor, for they are all the work of His hands. |
| 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. | 20They die suddenly in the middle of the night; people shudder, then pass away. Even the mighty are removed without effort. |
| 21Yes, Job, his eyes constantly watch the behavior of human beings; he carefully observes their every step. | 21For His eyes watch over a man's ways, and He observes all his steps. |
| 22There's no such thing as darkness to him— not even deep darkness— that can conceal those who practice evil. | 22There is no darkness, no deep darkness, where evildoers can hide themselves. |
| 23He won't examine mankind further, that they would go before God to judgment. | 23God does not need to examine a person further, that one should approach Him in court. |
| 24He shatters valiant men without a need to investigate, and he raises others in their place. | 24He shatters the mighty without an investigation and sets others in their place. |
| 25Thus he acknowledges their behavior, and overcomes them; when night time comes, they are crushed. | 25Therefore, He recognizes their deeds and overthrows them by night, and they are crushed. |
| 26"He strikes the wicked among them in a place where they can be seen | 26In full view of the public, He strikes them for their wickedness, |
| 27because they've abandoned their pursuit of him and had no respect for any of his ways. | 27because they turned aside from following Him and did not understand any of His ways |
| 28As a result, the cries of the poor have reached him and he has heard the cry of the afflicted. | 28but caused the poor to cry out to Him, and He heard the outcry of the afflicted. |
| 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, | 29But when God is silent, who can declare Him guilty? When He hides His face, who can see Him? Yet He watches over both individuals and nations, |
| 30to keep the godless man from reigning or laying a snare for the people." | 30so that godless men should not rule or ensnare the people. |
| 31"Has anyone ever really told God, 'I've endured, and I won't act corruptly anymore. | 31Suppose someone says to God, "I have endured my punishment; I will no longer act wickedly. |
| 32What I don't see, instruct me! If I've done anything evil, I won't repeat it!' | 32Teach me what I cannot see; if I have done wrong, I won't do it again." |
| 33"Should you not be paid back, since you have rejected him? You do the choosing! I won't! Tell us what you know! | 33Should God repay you on your terms when you have rejected His? You must choose, not I! So declare what you know. |
| 34"Men of understanding, speak to me! Are any of you men wise? Then listen to me! | 34Reasonable men will say to me, along with the wise men who hear me, |
| 35Job has been speaking from his own ignorance, and what he has to say lacks insight! | 35"Job speaks without knowledge; his words are without insight." |
| 36Oh, how Job needs to be given a full court trial, as a rebuke to those who practice evil, | 36If only Job were tested to the limit, because his answers are like those of wicked men. |
| 37because he has been adding rebellion to his sin; he claps his hands among us, and keeps on ranting against God." | 37For he adds rebellion to his sin; he scornfully claps in our presence, while multiplying his words against God. |
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