Christian Standard Bible

King James Bible

1Then Elihu continued, saying:

1Furthermore Elihu answered and said,

2Hear my words, you wise ones, and listen to me, you knowledgeable ones.

2Hear my words, O ye wise men; and give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge.

3Doesn't the ear test words as the palate tastes food?

3For the ear trieth words, as the mouth tasteth meat.

4Let us judge for ourselves what is right; let us decide together what is good.

4Let us choose to us judgment: let us know among ourselves what is good.

5For Job has declared, "I am righteous, yet God has deprived me of justice.

5For Job hath said, I am righteous: and God hath taken away my judgment.

6Would I lie about my case? My wound is incurable, though I am without transgression."

6Should I lie against my right? my wound is incurable without transgression.

7What man is like Job? He drinks derision like water.

7What man is like Job, who drinketh up scorning like water?

8He keeps company with evildoers and walks with wicked men.

8Which goeth in company with the workers of iniquity, and walketh with wicked men.

9For he has said, "A man gains nothing when he becomes God's friend."

9For he hath said, It profiteth a man nothing that he should delight himself with God.

10Therefore listen to me, you men of understanding. It is impossible for God to do wrong, and for the Almighty to act unjustly.

10Therefore hearken unto me, ye men of understanding: far be it from God, that he should do wickedness; and from the Almighty, that he should commit iniquity.

11For he repays a person according to his deeds, and he gives him what his conduct deserves.

11For the work of a man shall he render unto him, and cause every man to find according to his ways.

12Indeed, it is true that God does not act wickedly and the Almighty does not pervert justice.

12Yea, surely God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert judgment.

13Who gave him authority over the earth? Who put him in charge of the entire world?

13Who hath given him a charge over the earth? or who hath disposed the whole world?

14If he put his mind to it and withdrew the spirit and breath he gave,

14If he set his heart upon man, if he gather unto himself his spirit and his breath;

15every living thing would perish together and mankind would return to the dust.

15All flesh shall perish together, and man shall turn again unto dust.

16If you have understanding, hear this; listen to what I have to say.

16If now thou hast understanding, hear this: hearken to the voice of my words.

17Could one who hates justice govern the world? Will you condemn the mighty Righteous One,

17Shall even he that hateth right govern? and wilt thou condemn him that is most just?

18who says to a king, "Worthless man!" and to nobles, "Wicked men!"?

18Is it fit to say to a king, Thou art wicked? and to princes, Ye are ungodly?

19God is not partial to princes and does not favor the rich over the poor, for they are all the work of his hands.

19How much less to him that accepteth not the persons of princes, nor regardeth the rich more than the poor? for they all are the work of his hands.

20They die suddenly in the middle of the night; people shudder, then pass away. Even the mighty are removed without effort.

20In a moment shall they die, and the people shall be troubled at midnight, and pass away: and the mighty shall be taken away without hand.

21For his eyes watch over a man's ways, and he observes all his steps.

21For his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his goings.

22There is no darkness, no deep darkness, where evildoers can hide.

22There is no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.

23God does not need to examine a person further, that one should approach him in court.

23For he will not lay upon man more than right; that he should enter into judgment with God.

24He shatters the mighty without an investigation and sets others in their place.

24He shall break in pieces mighty men without number, and set others in their stead.

25Therefore, he recognizes their deeds and overthrows them by night, and they are crushed.

25Therefore he knoweth their works, and he overturneth them in the night, so that they are destroyed.

26In full view of the public, he strikes them for their wickedness,

26He striketh them as wicked men in the open sight of others;

27because they turned aside from following him and did not understand any of his ways

27Because they turned back from him, and would not consider any of his ways:

28but caused the poor to cry out to him, and he heard the outcry of the needy.

28So that they cause the cry of the poor to come unto him, and he heareth the cry of the afflicted.

29But when God is silent, who can declare him guilty? When he hides his face, who can see him? Yet he watches over both individuals and nations,

29When he giveth quietness, who then can make trouble? and when he hideth his face, who then can behold him? whether it be done against a nation, or against a man only:

30so that godless men should not rule or ensnare the people.

30That the hypocrite reign not, lest the people be ensnared.

31Suppose someone says to God, "I have endured my punishment; I will no longer act wickedly.

31Surely it is meet to be said unto God, I have borne chastisement, I will not offend any more:

32Teach me what I cannot see; if I have done wrong, I won't do it again."

32That which I see not teach thou me: if I have done iniquity, I will do no more.

33Should God repay you on your terms when you have rejected his? You must choose, not I! So declare what you know.

33Should it be according to thy mind? he will recompense it, whether thou refuse, or whether thou choose; and not I: therefore speak what thou knowest.

34Reasonable men will say to me, along with the wise men who hear me,

34Let men of understanding tell me, and let a wise man hearken unto me.

35"Job speaks without knowledge; his words are without insight."

35Job hath spoken without knowledge, and his words were without wisdom.

36If only Job were tested to the limit, because his answers are like those of wicked men.

36My desire is that Job may be tried unto the end because of his answers for wicked men.

37For he adds rebellion to his sin; he scornfully claps in our presence, while multiplying his words against God.

37For he addeth rebellion unto his sin, he clappeth his hands among us, and multiplieth his words against God.

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.

King James Bible, text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.