- 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 regards 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."
|