Elihu Proclaims God's Justice

1Then Elihu continued and said:

2‘Hear my words, you wise men,

and give ear to me, you who know;

3for the ear tests words

as the palate tastes food.

4Let us choose what is right;

let us determine among ourselves what is good.

5For Job has said, “I am innocent,

and God has taken away my right;

6in spite of being right I am counted a liar;

my wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.”

7Who is there like Job,

who drinks up scoffing like water,

8who goes in company with evildoers

and walks with the wicked?

9For he has said, “It profits one nothing

to take delight in God.”

10‘Therefore, hear me, you who have sense,

far be it from God that he should do wickedness,

and from the Almighty34.10 Traditional rendering of Heb Shaddai that he should do wrong.

11For according to their deeds he will repay them,

and according to their ways he will make it befall them.

12Of a truth, God will not do wickedly,

and the Almighty34.12 Traditional rendering of Heb Shaddai will not pervert justice.

13Who gave him charge over the earth

and who laid on him34.13 Heb lacks on him the whole world?

14If he should take back his spirit34.14 Heb his heart his spirit to himself,

and gather to himself his breath,

15all flesh would perish together,

and all mortals return to dust.

16‘If you have understanding, hear this;

listen to what I say.

17Shall one who hates justice govern?

Will you condemn one who is righteous and mighty,

18who says to a king, “You scoundrel!”

and to princes, “You wicked men!”;

19who shows no partiality to nobles,

nor regards the rich more than the poor,

for they are all the work of his hands?

20In a moment they die;

at midnight the people are shaken and pass away,

and the mighty are taken away by no human hand.

21‘For his eyes are upon the ways of mortals,

and he sees all their steps.

22There is no gloom or deep darkness

where evildoers may hide themselves.

23For he has not appointed a time34.23 Cn: Heb yet for anyone

to go before God in judgement.

24He shatters the mighty without investigation,

and sets others in their place.

25Thus, knowing their works,

he overturns them in the night, and they are crushed.

26He strikes them for their wickedness

while others look on,

27because they turned aside from following him,

and had no regard for any of his ways,

28so that they caused the cry of the poor to come to him,

and he heard the cry of the afflicted—

29When he is quiet, who can condemn?

When he hides his face, who can behold him,

whether it be a nation or an individual?—

30so that the godless should not reign,

or those who ensnare the people.

31‘For has anyone said to God,

“I have endured punishment; I will not offend any more;

32teach me what I do not see;

if I have done iniquity, I will do it no more”?

33Will he then pay back to suit you,

because you reject it?

For you must choose, and not I;

therefore declare what you know.34.33 Meaning of Heb of verses 29–33 uncertain

34Those who have sense will say to me,

and the wise who hear me will say,

35“Job speaks without knowledge,

his words are without insight.”

36Would that Job were tried to the limit,

because his answers are those of the wicked.

37For he adds rebellion to his sin;

he claps his hands among us,

and multiplies his words against God.’