New Living Translation

Holman Christian Standard Bible

1Then Elihu said:

1Then Elihu continued, saying:

2“Listen to me, you wise men. Pay attention, you who have knowledge.

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

3Job said, ‘The ear tests the words it hears just as the mouth distinguishes between foods.’

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

4So let us discern for ourselves what is right; let us learn together what is good.

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

5For Job also said, ‘I am innocent, but God has taken away my rights.

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

6I am innocent, but they call me a liar. My suffering is incurable, though I have not sinned.’

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

7“Tell me, has there ever been a man like Job, with his thirst for irreverent talk?

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

8He chooses evil people as companions. He spends his time with wicked men.

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

9He has even said, ‘Why waste time trying to please God?’

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

10“Listen to me, you who have understanding. Everyone knows that God doesn’t sin! The Almighty can do no wrong.

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

11He repays people according to their deeds. He treats people as they deserve.

11For He repays a person according to his deeds, and He brings his ways on him.

12Truly, God will not do wrong. The Almighty will not twist justice.

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

13Did someone else put the world in his care? Who set the whole world in place?

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

14If God were to take back his spirit and withdraw his breath,

14If He put His mind to it and withdrew the spirit and breath He gave,

15all life would cease, and humanity would turn again to dust.

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

16“Now listen to me if you are wise. Pay attention to what I say.

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

17Could God govern if he hated justice? Are you going to condemn the almighty judge?

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

18For he says to kings, ‘You are wicked,’ and to nobles, ‘You are unjust.’

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

19He doesn’t care how great a person may be, and he pays no more attention to the rich than to the poor. He made them all.

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 they pass away; the mighty are removed without human hand.

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

21“For God watches how people live; he sees everything they do.

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

22No darkness is thick enough to hide the wicked from his eyes.

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

23We don’t set the time when we will come before God in judgment.

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

24He brings the mighty to ruin without asking anyone, and he sets up others in their place.

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

25He knows what they do, and in the night he overturns and destroys them.

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

26He strikes them down because they are wicked, doing it openly for all to see.

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

27For they turned away from following him. They have no respect for any of his ways.

27because they turned aside from following Him and did not understand any of His ways

28They cause the poor to cry out, catching God’s attention. He hears the cries of the needy.

28but caused the poor to cry out to Him, and He heard the outcry of the afflicted.

29But if he chooses to remain quiet, who can criticize him? When he hides his face, no one can find him, whether an individual or a nation.

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,

30He prevents the godless from ruling so they cannot be a snare to the people.

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

31“Why don’t people say to God, ‘I have sinned, but I will sin no more’?

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

32Or ‘I don’t know what evil I have done—tell me. If I have done wrong, I will stop at once’?

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

33“Must God tailor his justice to your demands? But you have rejected him! The choice is yours, not mine. Go ahead, share your wisdom with us.

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

34After all, bright people will tell me, and wise people will hear me say,

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

35‘Job speaks out of ignorance; his words lack insight.’

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

36Job, you deserve the maximum penalty for the wicked way you have talked.

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

37For you have added rebellion to your sin; you show no respect, and you speak many angry words against God.”

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

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.