Elihu Confirms God's Justice
1Furthermore Elihu answered and said,
2Hear my words, O ye wise men; and give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge.
3For the ear trieth words, as the mouth tasteth meat.
4Let us choose to us judgment: let us know among ourselves what is good.
5For Job hath said, I am righteous: and God hath taken away my judgment.
6Should I lie against my right? my wound is incurable without transgression.
7What man is like Job, who drinketh up scorning like water?
8Which goeth in company with the workers of iniquity, and walketh with wicked men.
9For he hath said, It profiteth a man nothing that he should delight himself with God.
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.
11For the work of a man shall he render unto him, and cause every man to find according to his ways.
12Yea, surely God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert judgment.
13Who hath given him a charge over the earth? or who hath disposed the whole world?
14If he set his heart upon man, if he gather unto himself his spirit and his breath;
15All flesh shall perish together, and man shall turn again unto dust.
16If now thou hast understanding, hear this: hearken to the voice of my words.
17Shall even he that hateth right govern? and wilt thou condemn him that is most just?
18Is it fit to say to a king, Thou art wicked? and to princes, Ye are ungodly?
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.
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.
21For his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his goings.
22There is no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.
23For he will not lay upon man more than right; that he should enter into judgment with God.
24He shall break in pieces mighty men without number, and set others in their stead.
25Therefore he knoweth their works, and he overturneth them in the night, so that they are destroyed.
26He striketh them as wicked men in the open sight of others;
27Because they turned back from him, and would not consider any of his ways:
28So that they cause the cry of the poor to come unto him, and he heareth the cry of the afflicted.
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:
30That the hypocrite reign not, lest the people be ensnared.
31Surely it is meet to be said unto God, I have borne chastisement, I will not offend any more:
32That which I see not teach thou me: if I have done iniquity, I will do no more.
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.
34Let men of understanding tell me, and let a wise man hearken unto me.
35Job hath spoken without knowledge, and his words were without wisdom.
36My desire is that Job may be tried unto the end because of his answers for wicked men.
37For he addeth rebellion unto his sin, he clappeth his hands among us, and multiplieth his words against God.
King James Bible
Text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.
Elihu Confirms God’s Justice
1 Moreover Elihu answered,
2 “Hear my words, you wise men. Give ear to me, you who have knowledge.
3 For the ear tries words, as the palate tastes food.
4 Let us choose for us that which is right. Let us know among ourselves what is good.
5 For Job has said, ‘I am righteous, God has taken away my right:
6 Notwithstanding my right I am considered a liar. My wound is incurable, though I am without disobedience.’
7 What man is like Job, who drinks scorn like water,
8 Who goes in company with the workers of iniquity, and walks with wicked men?
9 For he has said, ‘It profits a man nothing that he should delight himself with God.’
10 “Therefore listen to me, you men of understanding: far be it from God, that he should do wickedness, from the Almighty, that he should commit iniquity.
11 For the work of a man he will render to him, and cause every man to find according to his ways.
12 Yes surely, God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert justice.
13 Who put him in charge of the earth? or who has appointed him over the whole world?
14 If he set his heart on himself, If he gathered to himself his spirit and his breath,
15 all flesh would perish together, and man would turn again to dust.
16 “If now you have understanding, hear this. Listen to the voice of my words.
17 Shall even one who hates justice govern? Will you condemn him who is righteous and mighty?—
18 Who says to a king, ‘Vile!’ or to nobles, ‘Wicked!’?
19 Who doesn’t respect the persons of princes, nor respects the rich more than the poor; for they all are the work of his hands.
20 In a moment they die, even at midnight. The people are shaken and pass away. The mighty are taken away without a hand.
21 “For his eyes are on the ways of a man. He sees all his goings.
22 There is no darkness, nor thick gloom, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.
23 For he doesn’t need to consider a man further, that he should go before God in judgment.
24 He breaks in pieces mighty men in ways past finding out, and sets others in their place.
25 Therefore he takes knowledge of their works. He overturns them in the night, so that they are destroyed.
26 He strikes them as wicked men in the open sight of others;
27 because they turned aside from following him, and wouldn’t pay attention to any of his ways,
28 so that they caused the cry of the poor to come to him. He heard the cry of the afflicted.
29 When he gives quietness, who then can condemn? When he hides his face, who then can see him? Alike whether to a nation, or to a man,
30 that the godless man may not reign, that there be no one to ensnare the people.
31 “For has any said to God, ‘I am guilty, but I will not offend any more.
32 Teach me that which I don’t see. If I have done iniquity, I will do it no more’?
33 Shall his recompense be as you desire, that you refuse it? For you must choose, and not I. Therefore speak what you know.
34 Men of understanding will tell me, yes, every wise man who hears me:
35 ‘Job speaks without knowledge. His words are without wisdom.’
36 I wish that Job were tried to the end, because of his answering like wicked men.
37 For he adds rebellion to his sin. He claps his hands among us, and multiplies his words against God.”
Elihu Confirms God’s Justice
1 Then Elihu continued:
2 “Hear my words, O wise men;
give ear to me, O men of learning.
3 For the ear tests words
as the mouth tastes food.
4 Let us choose for ourselves what is right;
let us learn together what is good.
5 For Job has declared, ‘I am righteous,
yet God has deprived me of justice.
6 Would I lie about my case?
My wound is incurable,
though I am without transgression.’
7 What man is like Job,
who drinks up derision like water?
8 He keeps company with evildoers
and walks with wicked men.
9 For he has said, ‘It profits a man nothing
that he should delight in God.’
10 Therefore listen to me,
O men of understanding.
Far be it from God to do wrong,
and from the Almighty to act unjustly.
11 For according to a man’s deeds He repays him;
according to a man’s ways He brings consequences.
12 Indeed, it is true that God does not act wickedly,
and the Almighty does not pervert justice.
13 Who gave Him charge over the earth?
Who appointed Him over the whole world?
14 If He were to set His heart to it
and withdraw His Spirit and breath,
15 all flesh would perish together
and mankind would return to the dust.
16 If you have understanding, hear this;
listen to my words.
17 Could one who hates justice govern?
Will you condemn the just and mighty One,
18 who says to kings, ‘You are worthless!’
and to nobles, ‘You are wicked,’
19 who is not partial to princes
and does not favor rich over poor?
For they are all the work of His hands.
20 They 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 a man,
and He sees his every step.
22 There is no darkness or deep shadow
where the workers of iniquity can hide.
23 For God need not examine a man further
or have him approach for judgment.
24 He shatters the mighty without inquiry
and sets up others in their place.
25 Therefore, He recognizes their deeds;
He overthrows them in the night and they are crushed.
26 He strikes them for their wickedness
in full view,
27 because they turned aside from Him
and had no regard for any of His ways.
28 They caused the cry of the poor to come before Him,
and He heard the outcry of the afflicted.
29 But 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,
30 that godless men should not rule
or lay snares for the people.
31 Suppose someone says to God,
‘I have endured my punishment; I will offend no more.
32 Teach me what I cannot see;
if I have done wrong, I will not do it again.’
33 Should 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 will declare to me,
and the wise men who hear me will say:
35 ‘Job speaks without knowledge;
his words lack insight.’
36 If only Job were tried to the utmost
for answering like a wicked man.
37 For he adds rebellion to his sin;
he claps his hands among us
and multiplies his words against God.”
Elihu Confirms God's Justice
1And Elihu answereth and saith:
2Hear, O wise men, my words, And, O knowing ones, give ear to me.
3For the ear doth try words, And the palate tasteth to eat.
4Judgment let us choose for ourselves, Let us know among ourselves what is good.
5For Job hath said, 'I have been righteous, And God hath turned aside my right,
6Against my right do I lie? Mortal is mine arrow -- without transgression.'
7Who is a man like Job? He drinketh scoffing like water,
8And he hath travelled for company With workers of iniquity, So as to go with men of wickedness.
9For he hath said, 'It doth not profit a man, When he delighteth himself with God.'
10Therefore, O men of heart, hearken to me; Far be it from God to do wickedness, And from the Mighty to do perverseness:
11For the work of man he repayeth to him, And according to the path of each He doth cause him to find.
12Yea, truly, God doth not do wickedly, And the Mighty doth not pervert judgment.
13Who hath inspected for Himself the earth? And who hath placed all the habitable world?
14If He doth set on him His heart, His spirit and his breath unto Him He gathereth.
15Expire doth all flesh together, And man to dust returneth.
16And if there is understanding, hear this, Give ear to the voice of my words.
17Yea, doth one hating justice govern? Or the Most Just dost thou condemn?
18Who hath said to a king -- 'Worthless,' Unto princes -- 'Wicked?'
19That hath not accepted the person of princes, Nor hath known the rich before the poor, For a work of His hands are all of them.
20In a moment they die, and at midnight Shake do people, and they pass away, And they remove the mighty without hand.
21For His eyes are on the ways of each, And all his steps He doth see.
22There is no darkness nor death-shade, For workers of iniquity to be hidden there;
23For He doth not suffer man any more, To go unto God in judgment,
24He breaketh the mighty -- no searching! And He appointeth others in their stead.
25Therefore He knoweth their works, And He hath overturned by night, And they are bruised.
26As wicked He hath stricken them, In the place of beholders.
27Because that against right They have turned aside from after Him, And none of His ways have considered wisely,
28To cause to come in unto Him The cry of the poor, And the cry of the afflicted He heareth.
29And He giveth rest, and who maketh wrong? And hideth the face, and who beholdeth it? And in reference to a nation and to a man, It is the same.
30From the reigning of a profane man, From the snares of a people;
31For unto God hath any said: 'I have taken away, I do not corruptly,
32Besides that which I see, shew Thou me, If iniquity I have done -- I do not add?'
33By thee doth He recompense, That thou hast refused -- That thou dost choose, and not I? And what thou hast known, speak.
34Let men of heart say to me, And a wise man is hearkening to me.
35Job -- not with knowledge doth he speak, And his words are not with wisdom.
36My Father! let Job be tried -- unto victory, Because of answers for men of iniquity,
37For he doth add to his sin, Transgression among us he vomiteth, And multiplieth his sayings to God.
