New King James Version

New Living Translation

1Elihu further answered and said:

1Then Elihu said:

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

2“Listen to me, you wise men. Pay attention, you who have knowledge.

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

3Job said, ‘The ear tests the words it hears just as the mouth distinguishes between foods.’

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

4So let us discern 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 also said, ‘I am innocent, but God has taken away my rights.

6Should I lie concerning my right? My wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.’

6I am innocent, but they call me a liar. My suffering is incurable, though I have not sinned.’

7What man is like Job, Who drinks scorn like water,

7“Tell me, has there ever been a man like Job, with his thirst for irreverent talk?

8Who goes in company with the workers of iniquity, And walks with wicked men?

8He chooses evil people as companions. He spends his time with wicked men.

9For he has said, ‘It profits a man nothing That he should delight in God.’

9He has even said, ‘Why waste time trying to please 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.

10“Listen to me, you who have understanding. Everyone knows that God doesn’t sin! The Almighty can do no wrong.

11For He repays man according to his work, And makes man to find a reward according to his way.

11He repays people according to their deeds. He treats people as they deserve.

12Surely God will never do wickedly, Nor will the Almighty pervert justice.

12Truly, God will not do wrong. The Almighty will not twist justice.

13Who gave Him charge over the earth? Or who appointed Him over the whole world?

13Did someone else put the world in his care? Who set the whole world in place?

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

14If God were to take back his spirit and withdraw his breath,

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

15all life would cease, and humanity would turn again to dust.

16“If you have understanding, hear this; Listen to the sound of my words:

16“Now listen to me if you are wise. Pay attention to what I say.

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

17Could God govern if he hated justice? Are you going to condemn the almighty judge?

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

18For he says to kings, ‘You are wicked,’ and to nobles, ‘You are unjust.’

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.

19He doesn’t care how great a person may be, and he pays no more attention to the rich than to the poor. He made them all.

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.

20In a moment they die. In the middle of the night they 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.

21“For God watches how people live; he sees everything they do.

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

22No darkness is thick enough to hide the wicked from his eyes.

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

23We don’t set the time when we will come before God in judgment.

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

24He brings the mighty to ruin without asking anyone, and he sets up others in their place.

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

25He knows what they do, and in the night he overturns and destroys them.

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

26He strikes them down because they are wicked, doing it openly for all to see.

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

27For they turned away from following him. They have no respect 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 cause the poor to cry out, catching God’s attention. He hears the cries 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 if he chooses to remain quiet, who can criticize him? When he hides his face, no one can find him, whether an individual or a nation.

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

30He prevents the godless from ruling so they cannot be a snare to the people.

31“For has anyone said to God, ‘I have borne chastening; I will offend no more;

31“Why don’t people say to God, ‘I have sinned, but I will sin no more’?

32Teach me what I do not see; If I have done iniquity, I will do no more’?

32Or ‘I don’t know what evil I have done—tell me. If I have done wrong, I will stop at once’?

33Should He repay it according to your terms, Just because you disavow it? You must choose, and not I; Therefore speak what you know.

33“Must God tailor his justice to your demands? But you have rejected him! The choice is yours, not mine. Go ahead, share your wisdom with us.

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

34After all, bright people will tell me, and wise people will hear me say,

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

35‘Job speaks out of ignorance; his words lack insight.’

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

36Job, you deserve the maximum penalty for the wicked way you have talked.

37For he adds rebellion to his sin; He claps his hands among us, And multiplies his words against God.”

37For you have added rebellion to your sin; you show no respect, and you speak many angry words against God.”

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

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.