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- Moreover Elihu answered and said:
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- Hear my words, ye wise men;
and give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge.
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- For the ear trieth words, as the palate tasteth food.
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- Let us choose for us that which is right;
let us know among ourselves what is good.
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- For Job hath said: "I am righteous, and God hath taken away my right;
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- Notwithstanding my right I am accounted a liar;
my wound is incurable, though I am without transgression."
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- What man is like Job, who drinketh up scorning like water?
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- Who goeth in company with the workers of iniquity, and walketh with wicked men.
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- For he hath said: "It profiteth a man nothing that he should be in accord with God."
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- Therefore 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.
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- For the work of a man will He requite unto him, and cause every man to find according to his ways.
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- Yea, of a surety, God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert justice.
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- Who gave Him a charge over the earth?
Or who hath disposed the whole world?
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- If He set His heart upon man, if He gather unto Himself his spirit and his breath;
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- All flesh shall perish together, and man shall return unto dust.
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- If now thou hast understanding, hear this;
hearken to the voice of my words.
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- Shall even one that hateth right govern?
And wilt thou condemn Him that is just and mighty -
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- Is it fit to say to a king: "Thou art base"?
Or to nobles: "Ye are wicked"? -
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- That respecteth not the persons of princes, nor regardeth the rich more than the poor?
For they all are the work of His hands.
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- In a moment they die, even at midnight;
the people are shaken and pass away, and the mighty are taken away without hand.
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- For His eyes are upon the ways of a man, and He seeth all his goings.
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- There is no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.
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- For He doth not appoint a time unto any man, when he should go before God in judgment.
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- He breaketh in pieces mighty men without inquisition, and setteth others in their stead.
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- Therefore He taketh knowledge of their works;
and He overturneth them in the night, so that they are crushed.
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- He striketh them as wicked men in the open sight of others;
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- Because they turned aside from following Him, and would not have regard to any of His ways;
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- So that they cause the cry of the poor to come unto Him, and He heareth the cry of the afflicted.
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- When He giveth quietness, who then can condemn?
And when He hideth His face, who then can behold Him?
whether it be done unto a nation, or unto a man, alike;
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- That the godless man reign not, that there be none to ensnare the people.
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- For hath any said unto God: "I have borne chastisement, though I offend not;
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- That which I see not teach Thou me;
if I have done iniquity, I will do it no more"?
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- Shall His recompense be as thou wilt?
For thou loathest it, so that thou must choose, and not I;
therefore speak what thou knowest.
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- Men of understanding will say unto me, yea, every wise man that heareth me:
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- "Job speaketh without knowledge, and his words are without discernment."
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- Would that Job were tried unto the end, because of his answering like wicked men.
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- For he addeth rebellion unto his sin, he clappeth his hands among us, and multiplieth his words against God.
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