[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.”