1 T hen Elihu said,

2 “ Hear my words, you wise men. Listen to me, you who know.

3 F or the ear tests words as the mouth tastes food.

4 L et us choose for ourselves what is right. Let us know among ourselves what is good.

5 F or Job has said, ‘I am right and good, but God has taken away my right.

6 W ould I lie about my right? I have been hurt so that I cannot be healed, but I have done no wrong.’

7 W hat man is like Job, who drinks up words against him like water?

8 H e goes among those who do wrong, and walks with sinful men.

9 F or he has said, ‘A man gets nothing by trying to please God.’

10 “ So listen to me, you men of understanding. Far be it from God to do what is sinful, and from the All-powerful to do wrong.

11 F or He pays a man by the work he does. He will see that a man is paid for what he does.

12 F or sure God will not do wrong. The All-powerful will not turn what is right into sin.

13 W ho gave Him the power over the earth? Who gave Him the whole world to take care of?

14 I f He should take back His spirit and His breath,

15 a ll flesh would die together, and man would return to dust.

16 “ If you have understanding, hear this. Listen to what I say.

17 S hould one who hates what is right be the one to rule? Will you say that He Who is right and good and strong is guilty?

18 W ho says to a king, ‘You are of no worth,’ and to rulers, ‘You are sinful’?

19 W ho shows no favor to princes, or thinks of the rich as more important than the poor? They are all the work of His hands.

20 I n a short time they die. At midnight the people are shaken and pass away. And the powerful are taken away by no human hand.

21 “ For God’s eyes are upon the ways of a man, and He sees all his steps.

22 T here is no darkness or shadow where sinners can hide themselves.

23 F or God does not need to set a time for man to go before Him and be judged.

24 H e breaks powerful men in pieces without asking any reason, and puts others in their place.

25 F or He knows their works. He puts them down in the night, and they are crushed.

26 G od punishes them for their sin where everyone can see them.

27 B ecause they turned aside from following Him. They did not care about any of His ways.

28 S o they caused the cry of the poor to come to Him. And He heard the cry of those in need.

29 W hen He keeps quiet, who can say He is wrong? When He hides His face, who can see Him? But He is over both nation and man.

30 S o men without God should not rule and should not be a trap for the people.

31 “ For has any one said to God, ‘I have suffered punishment, and will not cause any more trouble?

32 T each me what I cannot see. If I have sinned, I will do it no more’?

33 W ill God ask what you want to do, when you will not do what He says? You must decide, and not I. So tell what you know.

34 M en of understanding will say to me, and wise men who hear me say,

35 ‘ Job speaks without much learning. His words are without wisdom.

36 J ob should be tried to the end, because he answers like sinful men.

37 T o his sin he adds a strong will against God. Making fun he claps his hands among us, and speaks many words against God.’”