Elihu continues

You men think you are wise

1Elihu said:

2You men think you are wise,

but just listen to me!

3Think about my words,

as you would taste food.

4Then we can decide the case

and give a just verdict.

5Job claims he is innocent

and God is guilty

of ill-treating him.

6Job also argues that God

considers him a liar

and that he is suffering severely

in spite of his innocence.

7But to tell the truth,

Job is shameless!

8He spends his time with sinners,

9because he has said,

“It doesn't pay to please God.”

If any of you are clever

10If any of you are clever,

you will listen and learn

that God All-Powerful

does what is right.

11God always treats everyone34.11: Ps 62.12.

the way they deserve,

12and he is never unfair.

13From the very beginning,

God has been in control

of all the world.

14If God took back the breath

that he breathed into us,

15we humans would die

and return to the soil.

16So be wise and listen!

17The mighty God is the one

who brings about justice,

and you are condemning him.

18Indeed, God is the one

who condemns unfair rulers.

19And God created us all;

he has no favourites,

whether rich or poor.

20Even powerful rulers die

in the darkness of night

when they least expect it,

just like the rest of us.

God watches everything we do

21God watches everything we do.

22No evil person can hide

in the deepest darkness.

23And so, God doesn't need

to set a time for judgment.

24Without asking for advice,

God removes mighty leaders

and puts others in their place.

25He knows what they are like,

and he wipes them out

in the middle of the night.

26And while others look on,

he punishes them

because they were evil

27and refused to obey him.

28The persons they ill-treated

had prayed for help,

until God answered

their prayers.

29When God does nothing,

can any person or nation

find fault with him?

30But still, he punishes rulers

who abuse their people.34.30 people: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text of verses 29,30.

31Job, you should tell God

that you are guilty

and promise to do better.

32Then ask him to point out

what you did wrong,

so you won't do it again.

33Do you make the rules,

or does God?

You have to decide—

I can't do it for you;

now make up your mind.

34Job, anyone with good sense

can easily see

35that you are speaking nonsense

and lack good judgment.

36So I pray for you to suffer

as much as possible

for talking like a sinner.

37You have rebelled against God,

time after time,

and have even insulted us.