New King James Version

Christian Standard Bible

1Elihu further answered and said:

1Then Elihu continued, saying:

2“Hear my words, you wise men; Give ear to me, you who have knowledge.

2Hear my words, you wise ones, and listen to me, you knowledgeable ones.

3For the ear tests words As the palate tastes food.

3Doesn't the ear test words as the palate tastes food?

4Let us choose justice for ourselves; Let us know among ourselves what is good.

4Let us judge for ourselves what is right; let us decide 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? He drinks 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, "A man gains nothing when he becomes God's friend."

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, you men of understanding. It is impossible for God to do wrong, and for 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 he repays a person according to his deeds, and he gives him what his conduct deserves.

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 authority over the earth? Who put him in charge of the entire world?

14If He should set His heart on it, If He should gather to Himself His Spirit and His breath,

14If he put his mind to it and withdrew the spirit and breath he gave,

15All flesh would perish together, And man would return to dust.

15every living thing 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 what I have to say.

17Should one who hates justice govern? Will you condemn Him who is most just?

17Could one who hates justice govern the world? Will you condemn the mighty Righteous One,

18Is it fitting to say to a king, ‘You are worthless,’ And to nobles, ‘You are wicked’?

18who says to a king, "Worthless man!" and to nobles, "Wicked men!"?

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.

19God is not partial to princes and does not favor the rich over the 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 suddenly in the middle of the night; people shudder, then pass away. Even the mighty are removed without effort.

21“For His eyes are on the ways of man, And He sees all his steps.

21For his eyes watch over a man's ways, and he observes all his steps.

22There is no darkness nor shadow of death Where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.

22There is no darkness, no deep darkness, where evildoers can hide.

23For He need not further consider a man, That he should go before God in judgment.

23God does not need to examine a person further, that one should approach him in court.

24He breaks in pieces mighty men without inquiry, And sets others in their place.

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

25Therefore He knows their works; He overthrows them in the night, And they are crushed.

25Therefore, he recognizes their deeds and overthrows them by night, and they are crushed.

26He strikes them as wicked men In the open sight of others,

26In full view of the public, he strikes them for their wickedness,

27Because they turned back from Him, And would not consider any of His ways,

27because they turned aside from following him and did not understand 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.

28but caused the poor to cry out to him, and he heard the outcry of the needy.

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 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,

30That the hypocrite should not reign, Lest the people be ensnared.

30so that godless men should not rule or ensnare 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 no longer act wickedly.

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 won't 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 terms when you have rejected his? You must choose, not I! So declare what you know.

34“Men of understanding say to me, Wise men who listen to me:

34Reasonable men will say to me, along with the wise men who hear me,

35‘Job speaks without knowledge, His words are without wisdom.’

35"Job speaks without knowledge; his words are without insight."

36Oh, that Job were tried to the utmost, Because his answers are like those of wicked men!

36If only Job were tested to the limit, because his answers are like those of wicked men.

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 scornfully claps in our presence, while multiplying his words against God.

The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.