| New International Version | King James Bible |
| 1Then Elihu said: | 1Furthermore Elihu answered and said, |
| 2"Hear my words, you wise men; listen to me, you men of learning. | 2Hear my words, O ye wise men; and give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge. |
| 3For the ear tests words as the tongue tastes food. | 3For the ear trieth words, as the mouth tasteth meat. |
| 4Let us discern for ourselves what is right; let us learn together what is good. | 4Let us choose to us judgment: let us know among ourselves what is good. |
| 5"Job says, 'I am innocent, but God denies me justice. | 5For Job hath said, I am righteous: and God hath taken away my judgment. |
| 6Although I am right, I am considered a liar; although I am guiltless, his arrow inflicts an incurable wound.' | 6Should I lie against my right? my wound is incurable without transgression. |
| 7Is there anyone like Job, who drinks scorn like water? | 7What man is like Job, who drinketh up scorning like water? |
| 8He keeps company with evildoers; he associates with the wicked. | 8Which goeth in company with the workers of iniquity, and walketh with wicked men. |
| 9For he says, 'There is no profit in trying to please God.' | 9For he hath said, It profiteth a man nothing that he should delight himself with God. |
| 10"So listen to me, you men of understanding. Far be it from God to do evil, from the Almighty to do wrong. | 10Therefore 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. |
| 11He repays everyone for what they have done; he brings on them what their conduct deserves. | 11For the work of a man shall he render unto him, and cause every man to find according to his ways. |
| 12It is unthinkable that God would do wrong, that the Almighty would pervert justice. | 12Yea, surely God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert judgment. |
| 13Who appointed him over the earth? Who put him in charge of the whole world? | 13Who hath given him a charge over the earth? or who hath disposed the whole world? |
| 14If it were his intention and he withdrew his spirit and breath, | 14If he set his heart upon man, if he gather unto himself his spirit and his breath; |
| 15all humanity would perish together and mankind would return to the dust. | 15All flesh shall perish together, and man shall turn again unto dust. |
| 16"If you have understanding, hear this; listen to what I say. | 16If now thou hast understanding, hear this: hearken to the voice of my words. |
| 17Can someone who hates justice govern? Will you condemn the just and mighty One? | 17Shall even he that hateth right govern? and wilt thou condemn him that is most just? |
| 18Is he not the One who says to kings, 'You are worthless,' and to nobles, 'You are wicked,' | 18Is it fit to say to a king, Thou art wicked? and to princes, Ye are ungodly? |
| 19who shows no partiality to princes and does not favor the rich over the poor, for they are all the work of his hands? | 19How much less to him that accepteth not the persons of princes, nor regardeth the rich more than the poor? for they all are the work of his hands. |
| 20They die in an instant, in the middle of the night; the people are shaken and they pass away; the mighty are removed without human hand. | 20In a moment shall they die, and the people shall be troubled at midnight, and pass away: and the mighty shall be taken away without hand. |
| 21"His eyes are on the ways of mortals; he sees their every step. | 21For his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his goings. |
| 22There is no deep shadow, no utter darkness, where evildoers can hide. | 22There is no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves. |
| 23God has no need to examine people further, that they should come before him for judgment. | 23For he will not lay upon man more than right; that he should enter into judgment with God. |
| 24Without inquiry he shatters the mighty and sets up others in their place. | 24He shall break in pieces mighty men without number, and set others in their stead. |
| 25Because he takes note of their deeds, he overthrows them in the night and they are crushed. | 25Therefore he knoweth their works, and he overturneth them in the night, so that they are destroyed. |
| 26He punishes them for their wickedness where everyone can see them, | 26He striketh them as wicked men in the open sight of others; |
| 27because they turned from following him and had no regard for any of his ways. | 27Because they turned back from him, and would not consider any of his ways: |
| 28They caused the cry of the poor to come before him, so that he heard the cry of the needy. | 28So that they cause the cry of the poor to come unto him, and he heareth the cry of the afflicted. |
| 29But if he remains silent, who can condemn him? If he hides his face, who can see him? Yet he is over individual and nation alike, | 29When he giveth quietness, who then can make trouble? and when he hideth his face, who then can behold him? whether it be done against a nation, or against a man only: |
| 30to keep the godless from ruling, from laying snares for the people. | 30That the hypocrite reign not, lest the people be ensnared. |
| 31"Suppose someone says to God, 'I am guilty but will offend no more. | 31Surely it is meet to be said unto God, I have borne chastisement, I will not offend any more: |
| 32Teach me what I cannot see; if I have done wrong, I will not do so again.' | 32That which I see not teach thou me: if I have done iniquity, I will do no more. |
| 33Should God then reward you on your terms, when you refuse to repent? You must decide, not I; so tell me what you know. | 33Should it be according to thy mind? he will recompense it, whether thou refuse, or whether thou choose; and not I: therefore speak what thou knowest. |
| 34"Men of understanding declare, wise men who hear me say to me, | 34Let men of understanding tell me, and let a wise man hearken unto me. |
| 35Job speaks without knowledge; his words lack insight.' | 35Job hath spoken without knowledge, and his words were without wisdom. |
| 36Oh, that Job might be tested to the utmost for answering like a wicked man! | 36My desire is that Job may be tried unto the end because of his answers for wicked men. |
| 37To his sin he adds rebellion; scornfully he claps his hands among us and multiplies his words against God." | 37For he addeth rebellion unto his sin, he clappeth his hands among us, and multiplieth his words against God. |
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