| New King James Version | Berean Study Bible |
| 1Elihu further answered and said: | 1Then Elihu continued: |
| 2“Hear my words, you wise men; Give ear to me, you who have knowledge. | 2“Hear my words, O wise men; give ear to me, O men of learning. |
| 3For the ear tests words As the palate tastes food. | 3For the ear tests words as the mouth tastes food. |
| 4Let us choose justice for ourselves; Let us know among ourselves what is good. | 4Let us choose for ourselves what is right; let us learn together what is good. |
| 5“For Job has said, ‘I am righteous, But God has taken away my justice; | 5For Job has declared, ‘I am righteous, yet God has deprived me of justice. |
| 6Should I lie concerning my right? My wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.’ | 6Would I lie about my case? My wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.’ |
| 7What man is like Job, Who drinks scorn like water, | 7What man is like Job, who drinks up derision like water? |
| 8Who goes in company with the workers of iniquity, And walks with wicked men? | 8He keeps company with evildoers and walks with wicked men. |
| 9For he has said, ‘It profits a man nothing That he should delight in God.’ | 9For he has said, ‘It profits a man nothing that he should delight in God.’ |
| 10“Therefore listen to me, you men of understanding: Far be it from God to do wickedness, And from the Almighty to commit iniquity. | 10Therefore listen to me, O men of understanding. Far be it from God to do wrong, and from the Almighty to act unjustly. |
| 11For He repays man according to his work, And makes man to find a reward according to his way. | 11For according to a man’s deeds He repays him; according to a man’s ways He brings consequences. |
| 12Surely God will never do wickedly, Nor will the Almighty pervert justice. | 12Indeed, it is true that God does not act wickedly, and the Almighty does not pervert justice. |
| 13Who gave Him charge over the earth? Or who appointed Him over the whole world? | 13Who gave Him charge over the earth? Who appointed Him over the whole world? |
| 14If He should set His heart on it, If He should gather to Himself His Spirit and His breath, | 14If He were to set His heart to it and withdraw His Spirit and breath, |
| 15All flesh would perish together, And man would return to dust. | 15all flesh would perish together and mankind would return to the dust. |
| 16“If you have understanding, hear this; Listen to the sound of my words: | 16If you have understanding, hear this; listen to my words. |
| 17Should one who hates justice govern? Will you condemn Him who is most just? | 17Could one who hates justice govern? Will you condemn the just and mighty One, |
| 18Is it fitting to say to a king, ‘You are worthless,’ And to nobles, ‘You are wicked’? | 18who says to kings, ‘You are worthless!’ and to nobles, ‘You are wicked,’ |
| 19Yet He is not partial to princes, Nor does He regard the rich more than the poor; For they are all the work of His hands. | 19who is not partial to princes and does not favor rich over poor? For they are all the work of His hands. |
| 20In a moment they die, in the middle of the night; The people are shaken and pass away; The mighty are taken away without a hand. | 20They die in an instant, in the middle of the night. The people convulse and pass away; the mighty are removed without human hand. |
| 21“For His eyes are on the ways of man, And He sees all his steps. | 21For His eyes are on the ways of a man, and He sees his every step. |
| 22There is no darkness nor shadow of death Where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves. | 22There is no darkness or deep shadow where the workers of iniquity can hide. |
| 23For He need not further consider a man, That he should go before God in judgment. | 23For God need not examine a man further or have him approach for judgment. |
| 24He breaks in pieces mighty men without inquiry, And sets others in their place. | 24He shatters the mighty without inquiry and sets up others in their place. |
| 25Therefore He knows their works; He overthrows them in the night, And they are crushed. | 25Therefore, He recognizes their deeds; He overthrows them in the night and they are crushed. |
| 26He strikes them as wicked men In the open sight of others, | 26He strikes them for their wickedness in full view, |
| 27Because they turned back from Him, And would not consider any of His ways, | 27because they turned aside from Him and had no regard for any of His ways. |
| 28So that they caused the cry of the poor to come to Him; For He hears the cry of the afflicted. | 28They caused the cry of the poor to come before Him, and He heard the outcry of the afflicted. |
| 29When He gives quietness, who then can make trouble? And when He hides His face, who then can see Him, Whether it is against a nation or a man alone?— | 29But when He remains silent, who can condemn Him? When He hides His face, who can see Him? Yet He watches over both man and nation, |
| 30That the hypocrite should not reign, Lest the people be ensnared. | 30that godless men should not rule or lay snares for the people. |
| 31“For has anyone said to God, ‘I have borne chastening; I will offend no more; | 31Suppose someone says to God, ‘I have endured my punishment; I will offend no more. |
| 32Teach me what I do not see; If I have done iniquity, I will do no more’? | 32Teach me what I cannot see; if I have done wrong, I will not do it again.’ |
| 33Should He repay it according to your terms, Just because you disavow it? You must choose, and not I; Therefore speak what you know. | 33Should God repay you on your own terms when you have disavowed His? You must choose, not I; so tell me what you know. |
| 34“Men of understanding say to me, Wise men who listen to me: | 34Men of understanding will declare to me, and the wise men who hear me will say: |
| 35‘Job speaks without knowledge, His words are without wisdom.’ | 35‘Job speaks without knowledge; his words lack insight.’ |
| 36Oh, that Job were tried to the utmost, Because his answers are like those of wicked men! | 36If only Job were tried to the utmost for answering like a wicked man. |
| 37For he adds rebellion to his sin; He claps his hands among us, And multiplies his words against God.” | 37For he adds rebellion to his sin; he claps his hands among us and multiplies his words against God.” |
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