Elihu’s Second Speech

1Elihu answered:

2“Listen to my words, you wise men;

hear me, you learned men.

3For the ear assesses words

as the mouth tastes food.

4Let us evaluate for ourselves what is right;

let us come to know among ourselves what is good.

5For Job says, ‘I am innocent,

but God turns away my right.

6Concerning my right, should I lie?

My wound is incurable,

although I am without transgression.’

7What man is like Job,

who drinks derision like water!

8He goes about in company with evildoers,

he goes along with wicked men.

9For he says, ‘It does not profit a man

when he makes his delight with God.’

God is Not Unjust

10“Therefore, listen to me, you men of understanding.

Far be it from God to do wickedness,

from the Almighty to do evil.

11For he repays a person for his work,

and according to the conduct of a person,

he causes the consequences to find him.

12Indeed, in truth, God does not act wickedly,

and the Almighty does not pervert justice.

13Who entrusted to him the earth?

And who put him over the whole world?

14If God were to set his heart on it,

and gather in his spirit and his breath,

15all flesh would perish together

and human beings would return to dust.

God Is Impartial and Omniscient

16“If you have understanding, listen to this,

hear what I have to say.

17Do you really think

that one who hates justice can govern?

And will you declare guilty

the supremely righteous One,

18who says to a king, ‘Worthless man’

and to nobles, ‘Wicked men,’

19who shows no partiality to princes,

and does not take note of the rich more than the poor,

because all of them are the work of his hands?

20In a moment they die, in the middle of the night,

people are shaken and they pass away.

The mighty are removed effortlessly.

21For his eyes are on the ways of an individual,

he observes all a person’s steps.

22There is no darkness, and no deep darkness,

where evildoers can hide themselves.

23For he does not still consider a person,

that he should come before God in judgment.

24He shatters the great without inquiry,

and sets up others in their place.

25Therefore, he knows their deeds,

he overthrows them in the night

and they are crushed.

26He strikes them for their wickedness,

in a place where people can see,

27because they have turned away from following him,

and have not understood any of his ways,

28so that they caused the cry of the poor

to come before him,

so that he hears the cry of the needy.

29But if God is quiet, who can condemn him?

If he hides his face, then who can see him?

Yet he is over the individual and the nation alike,

30so that the godless man should not rule,

and not lay snares for the people.

Job Is Foolish to Rebel

31“Has anyone said to God,

‘I have endured chastisement,

but I will not act wrongly any more.

32Teach me what I cannot see.

If I have done evil, I will do so no more.’

33Is it your opinion that God should recompense it,

because you reject this?

But you must choose, and not I,

so tell us what you know.

34Men of understanding say to me –

any wise man listening to me says –

35that Job speaks without knowledge

and his words are without understanding.

36But Job will be tested to the end,

because his answers are like those of wicked men.

37For he adds transgression to his sin;

in our midst he claps his hands,

and multiplies his words against God.”