New King James Version | Christian Standard Bible |
1Elihu further answered and said: | 1Then Elihu continued, saying: |
2“Hear my words, you wise men; Give ear to me, you who have knowledge. | 2Hear my words, you wise ones, and listen to me, you knowledgeable ones. |
3For the ear tests words As the palate tastes food. | 3Doesn't the ear test words as the palate tastes food? |
4Let us choose justice for ourselves; Let us know among ourselves what is good. | 4Let us judge for ourselves what is right; let us decide together what is good. |
5“For Job has said, ‘I am righteous, But God has taken away my justice; | 5For Job has declared, "I am righteous, yet God has deprived me of justice. |
6Should I lie concerning my right? My wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.’ | 6Would I lie about my case? My wound is incurable, though I am without transgression." |
7What man is like Job, Who drinks scorn like water, | 7What man is like Job? He drinks derision like water. |
8Who goes in company with the workers of iniquity, And walks with wicked men? | 8He keeps company with evildoers and walks with wicked men. |
9For he has said, ‘It profits a man nothing That he should delight in God.’ | 9For he has said, "A man gains nothing when he becomes God's friend." |
10“Therefore listen to me, you men of understanding: Far be it from God to do wickedness, And from the Almighty to commit iniquity. | 10Therefore listen to me, you men of understanding. It is impossible for God to do wrong, and for the Almighty to act unjustly. |
11For He repays man according to his work, And makes man to find a reward according to his way. | 11For he repays a person according to his deeds, and he gives him what his conduct deserves. |
12Surely God will never do wickedly, Nor will the Almighty pervert justice. | 12Indeed, it is true that God does not act wickedly and the Almighty does not pervert justice. |
13Who gave Him charge over the earth? Or who appointed Him over the whole world? | 13Who gave him authority over the earth? Who put him in charge of the entire world? |
14If He should set His heart on it, If He should gather to Himself His Spirit and His breath, | 14If he put his mind to it and withdrew the spirit and breath he gave, |
15All flesh would perish together, And man would return to dust. | 15every living thing would perish together and mankind would return to the dust. |
16“If you have understanding, hear this; Listen to the sound of my words: | 16If you have understanding, hear this; listen to what I have to say. |
17Should one who hates justice govern? Will you condemn Him who is most just? | 17Could one who hates justice govern the world? Will you condemn the mighty Righteous One, |
18Is it fitting to say to a king, ‘You are worthless,’ And to nobles, ‘You are wicked’? | 18who says to a king, "Worthless man!" and to nobles, "Wicked men!"? |
19Yet He is not partial to princes, Nor does He regard the rich more than the poor; For they are all the work of His hands. | 19God is not partial to princes and does not favor the rich over the poor, for they are all the work of his hands. |
20In a moment they die, in the middle of the night; The people are shaken and pass away; The mighty are taken away without a hand. | 20They die suddenly in the middle of the night; people shudder, then pass away. Even the mighty are removed without effort. |
21“For His eyes are on the ways of man, And He sees all his steps. | 21For his eyes watch over a man's ways, and he observes all his steps. |
22There is no darkness nor shadow of death Where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves. | 22There is no darkness, no deep darkness, where evildoers can hide. |
23For He need not further consider a man, That he should go before God in judgment. | 23God does not need to examine a person further, that one should approach him in court. |
24He breaks in pieces mighty men without inquiry, And sets others in their place. | 24He shatters the mighty without an investigation and sets others in their place. |
25Therefore He knows their works; He overthrows them in the night, And they are crushed. | 25Therefore, he recognizes their deeds and overthrows them by night, and they are crushed. |
26He strikes them as wicked men In the open sight of others, | 26In full view of the public, he strikes them for their wickedness, |
27Because they turned back from Him, And would not consider any of His ways, | 27because they turned aside from following him and did not understand any of his ways |
28So that they caused the cry of the poor to come to Him; For He hears the cry of the afflicted. | 28but caused the poor to cry out to him, and he heard the outcry of the needy. |
29When He gives quietness, who then can make trouble? And when He hides His face, who then can see Him, Whether it is against a nation or a man alone?— | 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, |
30That the hypocrite should not reign, Lest the people be ensnared. | 30so that godless men should not rule or ensnare the people. |
31“For has anyone said to God, ‘I have borne chastening; I will offend no more; | 31Suppose someone says to God, "I have endured my punishment; I will no longer act wickedly. |
32Teach me what I do not see; If I have done iniquity, I will do no more’? | 32Teach me what I cannot see; if I have done wrong, I won't do it again." |
33Should He repay it according to your terms, Just because you disavow it? You must choose, and not I; Therefore speak what you know. | 33Should God repay you on your terms when you have rejected his? You must choose, not I! So declare what you know. |
34“Men of understanding say to me, Wise men who listen to me: | 34Reasonable men will say to me, along with the wise men who hear me, |
35‘Job speaks without knowledge, His words are without wisdom.’ | 35"Job speaks without knowledge; his words are without insight." |
36Oh, that Job were tried to the utmost, Because his answers are like those of wicked men! | 36If only Job were tested to the limit, because his answers are like those of wicked men. |
37For he adds rebellion to his sin; He claps his hands among us, And multiplies his words against God.” | 37For he adds rebellion to his sin; he scornfully claps in our presence, while multiplying his words against God. |
The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved. | The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. |
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