New Living Translation | New International Version |
1Then Elihu said: | 1Then Elihu said: |
2“Listen to me, you wise men. Pay attention, you who have knowledge. | 2"Hear my words, you wise men; listen to me, you men of learning. |
3Job said, ‘The ear tests the words it hears just as the mouth distinguishes between foods.’ | 3For the ear tests words as the tongue tastes food. |
4So let us discern for ourselves what is right; let us learn together what is good. | 4Let us discern for ourselves what is right; let us learn together what is good. |
5For Job also said, ‘I am innocent, but God has taken away my rights. | 5"Job says, 'I am innocent, but God denies me justice. |
6I am innocent, but they call me a liar. My suffering is incurable, though I have not sinned.’ | 6Although I am right, I am considered a liar; although I am guiltless, his arrow inflicts an incurable wound.' |
7“Tell me, has there ever been a man like Job, with his thirst for irreverent talk? | 7Is there anyone like Job, who drinks scorn like water? |
8He chooses evil people as companions. He spends his time with wicked men. | 8He keeps company with evildoers; he associates with the wicked. |
9He has even said, ‘Why waste time trying to please God?’ | 9For he says, 'There is no profit in trying to please God.' |
10“Listen to me, you who have understanding. Everyone knows that God doesn’t sin! The Almighty can do no wrong. | 10"So listen to me, you men of understanding. Far be it from God to do evil, from the Almighty to do wrong. |
11He repays people according to their deeds. He treats people as they deserve. | 11He repays everyone for what they have done; he brings on them what their conduct deserves. |
12Truly, God will not do wrong. The Almighty will not twist justice. | 12It is unthinkable that God would do wrong, that the Almighty would pervert justice. |
13Did someone else put the world in his care? Who set the whole world in place? | 13Who appointed him over the earth? Who put him in charge of the whole world? |
14If God were to take back his spirit and withdraw his breath, | 14If it were his intention and he withdrew his spirit and breath, |
15all life would cease, and humanity would turn again to dust. | 15all humanity 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. | 16"If you have understanding, hear this; listen to what I say. |
17Could God govern if he hated justice? Are you going to condemn the almighty judge? | 17Can someone who hates justice govern? Will you condemn the just and mighty One? |
18For he says to kings, ‘You are wicked,’ and to nobles, ‘You are unjust.’ | 18Is he not the One who says to kings, 'You are worthless,' and to nobles, 'You are wicked,' |
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. | 19who shows no partiality 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 in an instant, in the middle of the night; the people are shaken and they pass away; the mighty are removed without human hand. |
21“For God watches how people live; he sees everything they do. | 21"His eyes are on the ways of mortals; he sees their every step. |
22No darkness is thick enough to hide the wicked from his eyes. | 22There is no deep shadow, no utter darkness, where evildoers can hide. |
23We don’t set the time when we will come before God in judgment. | 23God has no need to examine people further, that they should come before him for judgment. |
24He brings the mighty to ruin without asking anyone, and he sets up others in their place. | 24Without inquiry he shatters the mighty and sets up others in their place. |
25He knows what they do, and in the night he overturns and destroys them. | 25Because he takes note of their deeds, he overthrows them in the night and they are crushed. |
26He strikes them down because they are wicked, doing it openly for all to see. | 26He punishes them for their wickedness where everyone can see them, |
27For they turned away from following him. They have no respect for any of his ways. | 27because they turned from following him and had no regard for any of his ways. |
28They cause the poor to cry out, catching God’s attention. He hears the cries of the needy. | 28They caused the cry of the poor to come before him, so that he heard the cry of the needy. |
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 if he remains silent, who can condemn him? If he hides his face, who can see him? Yet he is over individual and nation alike, |
30He prevents the godless from ruling so they cannot be a snare to the people. | 30to keep the godless from ruling, from laying snares for the people. |
31“Why don’t people say to God, ‘I have sinned, but I will sin no more’? | 31"Suppose someone says to God, 'I am guilty but will offend no more. |
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 will not do so 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 then reward you on your terms, when you refuse to repent? You must decide, not I; so tell me what you know. |
34After all, bright people will tell me, and wise people will hear me say, | 34"Men of understanding declare, wise men who hear me say to me, |
35‘Job speaks out of ignorance; his words lack insight.’ | 35Job speaks without knowledge; his words lack insight.' |
36Job, you deserve the maximum penalty for the wicked way you have talked. | 36Oh, that Job might be tested to the utmost for answering like a wicked man! |
37For you have added rebellion to your sin; you show no respect, and you speak many angry words against God.” | 37To his sin he adds rebellion; scornfully he claps his hands among us and multiplies 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. | New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. |
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