New King James Version

English Standard Version

1Elihu further answered and said:

1Then Elihu answered and said:

2“Hear my words, you wise men; Give ear to me, you who have knowledge.

2“Hear my words, you wise men, and give ear to me, you who know;

3For the ear tests words As the palate tastes food.

3for the ear tests words as the palate tastes food.

4Let us choose justice for ourselves; Let us know among ourselves what is good.

4Let us choose what is right; let us know among ourselves what is good.

5“For Job has said, ‘I am righteous, But God has taken away my justice;

5For Job has said, ‘I am in the right, and God has taken away my right;

6Should I lie concerning my right? My wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.’

6in spite of my right I am counted a liar; my wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.’

7What man is like Job, Who drinks scorn like water,

7What man is like Job, who drinks up scoffing like water,

8Who goes in company with the workers of iniquity, And walks with wicked men?

8who travels in 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, ‘It profits a man nothing that he should take delight in God.’

10“Therefore listen to me, you men of understanding: Far be it from God to do wickedness, And from the Almighty to commit iniquity.

10“Therefore, hear me, you men of understanding: far be it from God that he should do wickedness, and from the Almighty that he should do wrong.

11For He repays man according to his work, And makes man to find a reward according to his way.

11For according to the work of a man he will repay him, and according to his ways he will make it befall him.

12Surely God will never do wickedly, Nor will the Almighty pervert justice.

12Of a truth, God will not do wickedly, and the Almighty will not pervert justice.

13Who gave Him charge over the earth? Or who appointed Him over the whole world?

13Who gave him charge over the earth, and who laid on him the whole world?

14If He should set His heart on it, If He should gather to Himself His Spirit and His breath,

14If he should set his heart to it and gather to himself his spirit and his breath,

15All flesh would perish together, And man would return to dust.

15all flesh would perish together, and man would return to dust.

16“If you have understanding, hear this; Listen to the sound of my words:

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

17Should one who hates justice govern? Will you condemn Him who is most just?

17Shall one who hates justice govern? Will you condemn him who is righteous and mighty,

18Is it fitting to say to a king, ‘You are worthless,’ And to nobles, ‘You are wicked’?

18who says to a king, ‘Worthless one,’ and to nobles, ‘Wicked man,’

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.

19who shows no partiality to princes, nor regards the rich more than 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.

20In a moment they die; at midnight the people are shaken and pass away, and the mighty are taken away by no human hand.

21“For His eyes are on the ways of man, And He sees all his steps.

21“For his eyes are on the ways of a man, and he sees all his steps.

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

22There is no gloom or deep darkness where evildoers may hide themselves.

23For He need not further consider a man, That he should go before God in judgment.

23For God has no need to consider a man further, that he should go before God in judgment.

24He breaks in pieces mighty men without inquiry, And sets others in their place.

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

25Therefore He knows their works; He overthrows them in the night, And they are crushed.

25Thus, knowing their works, he overturns them in the night, and they are crushed.

26He strikes them as wicked men In the open sight of others,

26He strikes them for their wickedness in a place for all to see,

27Because they turned back from Him, And would not consider any of His ways,

27because they turned aside from following him and had no regard for 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.

28so that they caused the cry of the poor to come to him, and he heard the cry of the afflicted—

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?—

29When he is quiet, who can condemn? When he hides his face, who can behold him, whether it be a nation or a man?—

30That the hypocrite should not reign, Lest the people be ensnared.

30that a godless man should not reign, that he should not ensnare the people.

31“For has anyone said to God, ‘I have borne chastening; I will offend no more;

31“For has anyone said to God, ‘I have borne punishment; I will not offend any more;

32Teach me what I do not see; If I have done iniquity, I will do no more’?

32teach me what I do not see; if I have done iniquity, I will do it no more’?

33Should He repay it according to your terms, Just because you disavow it? You must choose, and not I; Therefore speak what you know.

33Will he then make repayment to suit you, because you reject it? For you must choose, and not I; therefore declare what you know.

34“Men of understanding say to me, Wise men who listen to me:

34Men of understanding will say to me, and the wise man who hears me will say:

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!

36Would that Job were tried to the end, because he answers like 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 claps his hands among us and multiplies his words against God.”

The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.

ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.