New King James Version | International Standard Version |
1Elihu further answered and said: | 1Elihu continued speaking, and said: |
2“Hear my words, you wise men; Give ear to me, you who have knowledge. | 2"Listen to what I have to say, you wise men! Pay attention to me, you educated people! |
3For the ear tests words As the palate tastes food. | 3Since the ear tests words like a palate tastes food, |
4Let us choose justice for ourselves; Let us know among ourselves what is good. | 4let's choose what's right for us. Let's consider among ourselves what is good." |
5“For Job has said, ‘I am righteous, But God has taken away my justice; | 5Now this is Job's claim: 'Even though I'm innocent, God has stopped treating me righteously. |
6Should I lie concerning my right? My wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.’ | 6Have I lied concerning the justice that I deserve? My wound is incurable, though transgression cannot be attributed to me.' |
7What man is like Job, Who drinks scorn like water, | 7"What man is like Job, who drinks mockery like water, |
8Who goes in company with the workers of iniquity, And walks with wicked men? | 8traffics in those who practice evil, and walks with wicked people? |
9For he has said, ‘It profits a man nothing That he should delight in God.’ | 9Because he says, 'There's no profit for a man to find joy with 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 you men of understanding, listen to me! Far be it for God to practice wickedness, or the Almighty to do what is wrong, |
11For He repays man according to his work, And makes man to find a reward according to his way. | 11because he repays a person for his behavior; and according to a person's conduct, he lets it happen to him. |
12Surely God will never do wickedly, Nor will the Almighty pervert justice. | 12Truly, God doesn't practice wickedness, and the Almighty doesn't pervert justice. |
13Who gave Him charge over the earth? Or who appointed Him over the whole world? | 13Who entrusted the earth to him? Who made him responsible for the entire inhabited world? |
14If He should set His heart on it, If He should gather to Himself His Spirit and His breath, | 14If he were to decide to do so, that is, to take back to himself his spirit and breath of life, |
15All flesh would perish together, And man would return to dust. | 15every living thing would die all at once, and mankind would return to dust." |
16“If you have understanding, hear this; Listen to the sound of my words: | 16If you have understanding, listen to this! Pay attention to what I have to say: |
17Should one who hates justice govern? Will you condemn Him who is most just? | 17Can one who hates justice really govern? And if God is righteous and mighty, can you condemn him? |
18Is it fitting to say to a king, ‘You are worthless,’ And to nobles, ‘You are wicked’? | 18Can one say to a king, 'You're vile!' or to nobles, 'You're wicked!'? |
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 isn't partial to princes? Who doesn't give preference to the nobles over the poor? Nevertheless, all of them are his handiwork. |
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. | 20"They die suddenly, in the middle of the night; people suffer seizures and pass away; even valiant men can be taken away— and not by human hands. |
21“For His eyes are on the ways of man, And He sees all his steps. | 21Yes, Job, his eyes constantly watch the behavior of human beings; he carefully observes their every step. |
22There is no darkness nor shadow of death Where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves. | 22There's no such thing as darkness to him— not even deep darkness— that can conceal those who practice evil. |
23For He need not further consider a man, That he should go before God in judgment. | 23He won't examine mankind further, that they would go before God to judgment. |
24He breaks in pieces mighty men without inquiry, And sets others in their place. | 24He shatters valiant men without a need to investigate, and he raises others in their place. |
25Therefore He knows their works; He overthrows them in the night, And they are crushed. | 25Thus he acknowledges their behavior, and overcomes them; when night time comes, they are crushed. |
26He strikes them as wicked men In the open sight of others, | 26"He strikes the wicked among them in a place where they can be seen |
27Because they turned back from Him, And would not consider any of His ways, | 27because they've abandoned their pursuit of him and had no respect 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. | 28As a result, the cries of the poor have reached him and he has 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?— | 29"If he remains silent, who will condemn him? If he conceals his face, who can see him? He watches over both nation and individual alike, |
30That the hypocrite should not reign, Lest the people be ensnared. | 30to keep the godless man from reigning or laying a snare for the people." |
31“For has anyone said to God, ‘I have borne chastening; I will offend no more; | 31"Has anyone ever really told God, 'I've endured, and I won't act corruptly anymore. |
32Teach me what I do not see; If I have done iniquity, I will do no more’? | 32What I don't see, instruct me! If I've done anything evil, I won't repeat it!' |
33Should He repay it according to your terms, Just because you disavow it? You must choose, and not I; Therefore speak what you know. | 33"Should you not be paid back, since you have rejected him? You do the choosing! I won't! Tell us what you know! |
34“Men of understanding say to me, Wise men who listen to me: | 34"Men of understanding, speak to me! Are any of you men wise? Then listen to me! |
35‘Job speaks without knowledge, His words are without wisdom.’ | 35Job has been speaking from his own ignorance, and what he has to say lacks insight! |
36Oh, that Job were tried to the utmost, Because his answers are like those of wicked men! | 36Oh, how Job needs to be given a full court trial, as a rebuke to those who practice evil, |
37For he adds rebellion to his sin; He claps his hands among us, And multiplies his words against God.” | 37because he has been adding rebellion to his sin; he claps his hands among us, and keeps on ranting against God." |
The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved. | The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. |
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