1 |
Elihu further answered and said:
|
2 |
“Hear my words, you wise men; Give ear to me, you who have knowledge.
|
3 |
For the ear tests words As the palate tastes food.
|
4 |
Let us choose justice for ourselves; Let us know among ourselves what is good.
|
5 |
“For Job has said, ‘I am righteous, But God has taken away my justice;
|
6 |
Should I lie concerning my right? My wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.’
|
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 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.
|
11 |
For He repays man according to his work, And makes man to find a reward according to his way.
|
12 |
Surely God will never do wickedly, Nor will the Almighty pervert justice.
|
13 |
Who gave Him charge over the earth? Or who appointed Him over the whole world?
|
14 |
If He should set His heart on it, If He should gather to Himself His Spirit and His breath,
|
15 |
All flesh would perish together, And man would return to dust.
|
16 |
“If you have understanding, hear this; Listen to the sound of my words:
|
17 |
Should one who hates justice govern? Will you condemn Him who is most just?
|
18 |
Is it fitting to say to a king, ‘You are worthless,’ And to nobles, ‘You are wicked’?
|
19 |
Yet 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.
|
20 |
In 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.
|
21 |
“For His eyes are on the ways of man, And He sees all his steps.
|
22 |
There is no darkness nor shadow of death Where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.
|
23 |
For He need not further consider a man, That he should go before God in judgment.
|
24 |
He breaks in pieces mighty men without inquiry, And sets others in their place.
|
25 |
Therefore He knows their works; He overthrows them in the night, And they are crushed.
|
26 |
He strikes them as wicked men In the open sight of others,
|
27 |
Because they turned back from Him, And would not consider any of His ways,
|
28 |
So that they caused the cry of the poor to come to Him; For He hears the cry of the afflicted.
|
29 |
When 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?—
|
30 |
That the hypocrite should not reign, Lest the people be ensnared.
|
31 |
“For has anyone said to God, ‘I have borne chastening; I will offend no more;
|
32 |
Teach me what I do not see; If I have done iniquity, I will do no more’?
|
33 |
Should He repay it according to your terms, Just because you disavow it? You must choose, and not I; Therefore speak what you know.
|
34 |
“Men of understanding say to me, Wise men who listen to me:
|
35 |
‘Job speaks without knowledge, His words are without wisdom.’
|
36 |
Oh, that Job were tried to the utmost, Because his answers are like those of wicked men!
|
37 |
For he adds rebellion to his sin; He claps his hands among us, And multiplies his words against God.”
|