¹ Then Elihu said:
² “Hear my words, you wise men;
listen to me, you men of learning.
³ For the ear tests words
as the tongue tastes food.
⁴ Let us discern for ourselves what is right;
let us learn together what is good.
⁵ “Job says, ‘I am innocent,
but God denies me justice.
⁶ Although I am right,
I am considered a liar;
although I am guiltless,
his arrow inflicts an incurable wound.’
⁷ Is there anyone like Job,
who drinks scorn like water?
⁸ He keeps company with evildoers;
he associates with the wicked.
⁹ For he says, ‘There is no profit
in trying to please God.’
¹⁰ “So listen to me, you men of understanding.
Far be it from God to do evil,
from the Almighty to do wrong.
¹¹ He repays everyone for what they have done;
he brings on them what their conduct deserves.
¹² It is unthinkable that God would do wrong,
that the Almighty would pervert justice.
¹³ Who appointed him over the earth?
Who put him in charge of the whole world?
¹⁴ If it were his intention
and he withdrew his spirit and breath,
¹⁵ all humanity would perish together
and mankind would return to the dust.
¹⁶ “If you have understanding, hear this;
listen to what I say.
¹⁷ Can someone who hates justice govern?
Will you condemn the just and mighty One?
¹⁸ Is he not the One who says to kings, ‘You are worthless,’
and to nobles, ‘You are wicked,’
¹⁹ who shows no partiality to princes
and does not favor the rich over the poor,
for they are all the work of his hands?
²⁰ They die in an instant, in the middle of the night;
the people are shaken and they pass away;
the mighty are removed without human hand.
²¹ “His eyes are on the ways of mortals;
he sees their every step.
²² There is no deep shadow, no utter darkness,
where evildoers can hide.
²³ God has no need to examine people further,
that they should come before him for judgment.
²⁴ Without inquiry he shatters the mighty
and sets up others in their place.
²⁵ Because he takes note of their deeds,
he overthrows them in the night and they are crushed.
²⁶ He punishes them for their wickedness
where everyone can see them,
²⁷ because they turned from following him
and had no regard for any of his ways.
²⁸ They caused the cry of the poor to come before him,
so that he heard the cry of the needy.
²⁹ But if he remains silent, who can condemn him?
If he hides his face, who can see him?
Yet he is over individual and nation alike,
³⁰ to keep the godless from ruling,
from laying snares for the people.
³¹ “Suppose someone says to God,
‘I am guilty but will offend no more.
³² Teach me what I cannot see;
if I have done wrong, I will not do so again.’
³³ Should God then reward you on your terms,
when you refuse to repent?
You must decide, not I;
so tell me what you know.
³⁴ “Men of understanding declare,
wise men who hear me say to me,
³⁵ ‘Job speaks without knowledge;
his words lack insight.’
³⁶ Oh, that Job might be tested to the utmost
for answering like a wicked man!
³⁷ To his sin he adds rebellion;
scornfully he claps his hands among us
and multiplies his words against God.”