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- ¶ MOREOVER Elihu continued and said.
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- Hear my words, O you wise men, and give ear to me, you that have knowledge.
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- For the ear tries words, and the palate tastes food.
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- Let us choose for us a judge;
let him know among ourselves what is good.
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- For Job has said, I am righteous;
and God has turned aside my judgment.
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- Who is the man who has perished without transgression?
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- What man is like Job, who drinks up scorning like water?
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- Who is a companion and friend of the workers of iniquity, and walks with wicked men?
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- For he has said that a man is not justified because he fears God.
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- ¶ Therefore hearken to me, O you men of understanding;
far be it from God that he should do wickedness; and far be it from him that he should commit iniquity.
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- For he compensates a man according to his works, and causes every man to be rewarded according to his ways.
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- Truly, God does not commit iniquity, neither does God pervert justice.
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- Who has control over the earth?
Or who has made all the world?
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- If he should turn his heart against man, man’s spirit and his breath will be gathered to him.
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- Then all flesh would perish together, and man would return again to dust.
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- ¶ If now you have understanding, hear this;
hearken to the voice of my words.
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- He who hates justice cannot be declared innocent, and he who is innocent will not be condemned justly;
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- He who says concerning the king that he is wicked, and yet he is a good ruler over princes and governors;
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- And not partial to princes, and does not discriminate against the poor (for they are all the work of his hands);
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- In a moment shall he die, and he shall be consumed at midnight, and pass away;
he will be rendered powerless by the Almighty.
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- For his eyes are upon all the ways of man, and he sees 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 has not set a time for a man that he should enter into judgment with God.
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- For he has brought misfortune to many men without number, and sets others in their places.
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- Therefore he knows them by their works, and he overturns them in the night.
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- Their works shall be crushed under the weight of their wickedness in a land of terror;
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- Because they turned aside from following him, and did not consider any of his ways.
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- The prayer of the poor comes to him, and he hears the cry of the afflicted.
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- When he forgives, who then can condemn?
And when he turns his face away, who can forgive the people, or mankind altogether?
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- He sees to it that an impious and wicked man shall not reign over the people.
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- ¶ For God has said, I have forgiven, I will not destroy men who are without sin.
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- Inform me now, teach me, if you have committed iniquity;
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- I will not answer you any more, because you have sinned, for you have been examined, and not I;
therefore speak out what you know.
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- Let men of understanding tell me, and let a wise man hearken to me.
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- Job has spoken without knowledge, and his words are without understanding.
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- Truly, Job has been tested to the end, and yet he is not counted among the wicked.
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- And if Job should add to his sins, then his transgression will affect us all, and he still will bring his complaint before God.
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