| New International Version | New American Standard Bible 1995 |
| 1Then Elihu said: | 1Then Elihu continued and said, |
| 2"Hear my words, you wise men; listen to me, you men of learning. | 2"Hear my words, you wise men, And listen to me, you who know. |
| 3For the ear tests words as the tongue tastes food. | 3"For the ear tests words As the palate tastes food. |
| 4Let us discern for ourselves what is right; let us learn together what is good. | 4"Let us choose for ourselves what is right; Let us know among ourselves what is good. |
| 5"Job says, 'I am innocent, but God denies me justice. | 5"For Job has said, 'I am righteous, But God has taken away my right; |
| 6Although I am right, I am considered a liar; although I am guiltless, his arrow inflicts an incurable wound.' | 6Should I lie concerning my right? My wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.' |
| 7Is there anyone like Job, who drinks scorn like water? | 7"What man is like Job, Who drinks up derision like water, |
| 8He keeps company with evildoers; he associates with the wicked. | 8Who goes in company with the workers of iniquity, And walks with wicked men? |
| 9For he says, 'There is no profit in trying to please God.' | 9"For he has said, 'It profits a man nothing When he is pleased 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. | 10"Therefore, listen to me, you men of understanding. Far be it from God to do wickedness, And from the Almighty to do wrong. |
| 11He repays everyone for what they have done; he brings on them what their conduct deserves. | 11"For He pays a man according to his work, And makes him find it according to his way. |
| 12It is unthinkable that God would do wrong, that the Almighty would pervert justice. | 12"Surely, God will not act wickedly, And the Almighty will not pervert justice. |
| 13Who appointed him over the earth? Who put him in charge of the whole world? | 13"Who gave Him authority over the earth? And who has laid on Him the whole world? |
| 14If it were his intention and he withdrew his spirit and breath, | 14"If He should determine to do so, If He should gather to Himself His spirit and His breath, |
| 15all humanity would perish together and mankind would return to the dust. | 15All flesh would perish together, And man would return to dust. |
| 16"If you have understanding, hear this; listen to what I say. | 16"But if you have understanding, hear this; Listen to the sound of my words. |
| 17Can someone who hates justice govern? Will you condemn the just and mighty One? | 17"Shall one who hates justice rule? And will you condemn the righteous mighty One, |
| 18Is he not the One who says to kings, 'You are worthless,' and to nobles, 'You are wicked,' | 18Who says to a king, 'Worthless one,' To nobles, 'Wicked ones'; |
| 19who shows no partiality to princes and does not favor the rich over the poor, for they are all the work of his hands? | 19Who shows no partiality to princes Nor regards the rich above 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. | 20"In a moment they die, and at midnight People are shaken and pass away, And the mighty are taken away without a hand. |
| 21"His eyes are on the ways of mortals; he sees their every step. | 21"For His eyes are upon the ways of a man, And He sees all his steps. |
| 22There is no deep shadow, no utter darkness, where evildoers can hide. | 22"There is no darkness or deep shadow Where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves. |
| 23God has no need to examine people further, that they should come before him for judgment. | 23"For He does not need to consider a man further, That he should go before God in judgment. |
| 24Without inquiry he shatters the mighty and sets up others in their place. | 24"He breaks in pieces mighty men without inquiry, And sets others in their place. |
| 25Because he takes note of their deeds, he overthrows them in the night and they are crushed. | 25"Therefore He knows their works, And He overthrows them in the night, And they are crushed. |
| 26He punishes them for their wickedness where everyone can see them, | 26"He strikes them like the wicked In a public place, |
| 27because they turned from following him and had no regard for any of his ways. | 27Because they turned aside from following Him, And had no regard for 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 caused the cry of the poor to come to Him, And that He might hear 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 keeps quiet, who then can condemn? And when He hides His face, who then can behold Him, That is, in regard to both nation and man?-- |
| 30to keep the godless from ruling, from laying snares for the people. | 30So that godless men would not rule Nor be snares of the people. |
| 31"Suppose someone says to God, 'I am guilty but will offend no more. | 31"For has anyone said to God, 'I have borne chastisement; I will not offend anymore; |
| 32Teach me what I cannot see; if I have done wrong, I will not do so again.' | 32Teach me what I do not see; If I have done iniquity, I will not do it again '? |
| 33Should God then reward you on your terms, when you refuse to repent? You must decide, not I; so tell me what you know. | 33"Shall He recompense on your terms, because you have rejected it? For you must choose, and not I; Therefore declare what you know. |
| 34"Men of understanding declare, wise men who hear me say to me, | 34"Men of understanding will say to me, And a wise man who hears me, |
| 35Job speaks without knowledge; his words lack insight.' | 35'Job speaks without knowledge, And his words are without wisdom. |
| 36Oh, that Job might be tested to the utmost for answering like a wicked man! | 36'Job ought to be tried to the limit, Because he answers like wicked men. |
| 37To his sin he adds rebellion; scornfully he claps his hands among us and multiplies his words against God." | 37'For he adds rebellion to his sin; He claps his hands among us, And multiplies his words against God.'" |
| New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. | New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit //www.lockman.org |
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